# SameBoy vs Game Emulator

SameBoy and Game Emulator both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 84% of SameBoy's written reviews are positive against 42% of Game Emulator's. SameBoy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Game Emulator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ratings volume (630 vs 105). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SameBoy sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Game Emulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for SameBoy against 4.5 for Game Emulator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Game Emulator has 630 ratings behind it against 105, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of SameBoy's written reviews are positive against 42% of Game Emulator's.

SameBoy ships an update every 4 months, Game Emulator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SameBoy | Game Emulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (105 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sameboy/id6496971295/reviews) | [4.5 (630 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-emulator-retrohub/id6499185185/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 105 | **630** |
| Positive reviews | **83.6% of reviews** | 41.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lior Halphon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1741211844) | [友财 徐](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637405734) |

## What reviewers say

### SameBoy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sameboy/id6496971295)

Experience classic handheld gaming with a highly accurate emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy. Enjoy advanced features like save states, rumble support, and controller compatibility. Play on your Apple Watch and customize your experience with various filters and themes.

**Highlights:** Accurate Game Boy emulation, Save states with gesture support, Rumble support, Apple Watch playability, Scaling filters, Game Boy Camera emulation, Controller support

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter | $0.99 | per month |
| Supporter Plus | $2.99 | per month |
| Supporter Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Theme Access | $4.99 | one-time |
| SameBoy for Apple Watch | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 No ads or intrusive monetization
- 🎮 Highly accurate Game Boy/GBC emulation
- 💡 Innovative gesture controls (swipe to save/load/fast-forward)
- 🎨 Beautiful, authentic design with multiple themes
- ⚙️ Extensive customization and emulation options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Apple Watch support requires paid subscription
- 🐛 iPad portrait mode menu bug
- ❌ No Game Boy Advance emulation despite claims
- 🎮 Small button sizes for large hands
- ⚠️ Cheats feature limited or non-functional

**Reported bugs**

- iPad portrait mode triggers menu on A button/Up arrow press
- Game Boy Camera crashes on iPhone 17 Pro Max when switching cameras
- Rewind function causes game data loss in some titles
- 200% and 400% speed boost settings don't work
- Cheats don't function properly for certain games

**Requested features**

- Game Boy Advance emulation support
- Cheat code functionality
- Multiplayer/wireless linking for Pokémon games
- Online multiplayer support
- Adjustable screen and button sizes


### Game Emulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-emulator-retrohub/id6499185185)

Relive classic gaming memories with this emulator app. It supports multiple retro game formats and offers optimized performance for a smooth experience. Enjoy intuitive controls, orientation flexibility, and fast-forward options to rediscover childhood joys.

**Highlights:** Supports multiple game formats (*.gba, *.gb, *.gbc, *.nds, *.nes, *.smc), Optimized emulator engine for ultimate gaming pleasure, Portrait and Landscape Orientation support, Recreated classic game console button functionality, Acceleration functionality for game progress control, Simple and user-friendly interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast emulator
- 👍 Great for playing old-school games
- 🎮 Supports many systems (GBA, GBC, NES, SNES, DS)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Saves files getting deleted or corrupted
- 🔍 Compatibility issues with certain games
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 📺 Small screen size for some systems
- 🔊 Audio issues like glitches and cuts

**Reported bugs**

- Games not loading or freezing during gameplay
- Inability to import certain game files
- Incorrect button mapping for NES games

**Requested features**

- Add option to mute games or app
- Improve controls (add diagonals, support for multiple buttons)
- Increase screen size options
- Add support for more systems (Dreamcast, PSP, etc.)
- Implement better game save/load functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SameBoy free?

SameBoy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Game Emulator free?

Game Emulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SameBoy or Game Emulator?

SameBoy and Game Emulator are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 105 and 630 ratings respectively.

### Do SameBoy or Game Emulator have ads?

Game Emulator shows ads; SameBoy does not.

### Which is updated more often, SameBoy or Game Emulator?

SameBoy ships an update every 4 months, and Game Emulator every 3 months. Most recently, SameBoy was updated on September 18, 2026 and Game Emulator on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*