# SameBoy vs iMSX2

The clearest difference is price: SameBoy at Free against iMSX2's $1.99. SameBoy also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.4) and review sentiment (84% vs 59%). iMSX2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

SameBoy is free to download; iMSX2 costs $1.99 up front. SameBoy sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. iMSX2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

SameBoy holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SameBoy has 110 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of SameBoy's written reviews are positive against 59% of iMSX2's.

SameBoy ships an update every 4 months, iMSX2 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SameBoy | iMSX2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.5 (110 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sameboy/id6496971295/reviews)** | [3.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imsx2/id6499231192/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **110** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **83.6% of reviews** | 59.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 7 MB | 8 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) | [Enrique Enguix](https://appshunter.io/developer/1723324154) |

## 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, Apple Watch app

**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


### iMSX2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imsx2/id6499231192)

Play classic MSX and MSX2 games on your iPhone or iPad. Load games from ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK, or ZIP files. Features include save states, Bluetooth controller support, customizable buttons, and screen filters for an authentic retro experience.

**Highlights:** Play classic MSX/MSX2 games, Load games from ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK, ZIP, Save and load game states, Bluetooth keyboard and controller support, Customizable button layouts, CRT and scanline screen filters, Load BASIC programs

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SameBoy free?

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

### Is iMSX2 free?

iMSX2 costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SameBoy or iMSX2?

SameBoy is rated higher. SameBoy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 110 ratings, while iMSX2 averages 3.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do SameBoy or iMSX2 have ads?

Neither SameBoy nor iMSX2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SameBoy or iMSX2?

SameBoy ships an update every 4 months, and iMSX2 every 3 weeks. Most recently, SameBoy was updated on October 10, 2026 and iMSX2 on October 12, 2026.

---

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