Comparison

iMSX2 vs LocoLink

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iMSX2

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
Read full description

Experience Classic MSX and MSX2 Games on your iPhone/iPad with iMSX2! Turn your iPhone/iPad into a portable MSX2 emulator with iMSX2! Emulate classic MSX and MSX2 games in ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK or ZIP format Key Features: · Play Classic Games: Relive the nostalgia of playing your favorite MSX and MSX2 games right on your iPhone/iPad. · Run Your Cartridges: Reproduce MSX and MSX2 cartridges from ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK and ZIP files and enjoy them on your device anytime, anywhere. · Save States: Save and load game states and the configuration type easily (iCloud) · Bluetooth Compatibility: Support for Bluetooth keyboards and game controllers. · Customizable button layouts: Edit the button positions for each orientation and enjoy full compatibility with shells like GAMEBABY and PlayCase. · Choose Your ROM Type: If your rom is not loaded correctly, try to select from various ROM configurations including "Normal", "Type K", "Type K SCC", "Type ASC16", "Type ASC16 SRAM", "Type ASC8", "Type ASC8 SRAM" and "Type ASCII16-X". · Screen filters: Enjoy a more authentic and customizable retro experience with CRT and scanline filters. · Fast forward: Speed through gameplay with the new fast forward mode. · Load Your Own BASIC Programs: Run your own programs in BASIC format directly on your iPhone/iPad. · Powered by C-bios: iMSX2 is built using C-bios for the utmost accuracy and compatibility. · Custom BIOS support: Import your own BIOS files to enhance compatibility and personalize your emulation experience. · Improved Disk Support: Play more MSX disk games with improved DSK compatibility, multi-disk support, on-the-fly disk swapping, and user disks for saving data in supported games. · Auto-fire: Added switches to enable auto-fire for the A and B buttons. · Designed to be very basic: With a beautiful and user-friendly interface for both portrait and landscape orientations. · The app does not require an internet connection, contains no ads, and does not store user data. It also takes up little space. What's Next: Stay tuned for even more enhancements! Constantly working on improving iMSX2 and adding new features to provide you with the best MSX experience on iOS. LZ4 Library Copyright (c) 2011-2020, Yann Collet C-BIOS Copyright (c) 2002-2005 BouKiCHi. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2003 Reikan. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2006,2008-2010 Maarten ter Huurne. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2006,2008-2011 Albert Beevendorp. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2005 Patrick van Arkel. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004,2010-2011 Manuel Bilderbeek. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2006 Joost Yervante Damad. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2006 Jussi Pitkänen. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2007 Eric Boon. All rights reserved. emu2413 Copyright (c) 2001-2019 Mitsutaka Okazaki Z80 Emulator micro MSX2+ Copyright (c) 2023 Yoji Suzuki.

About

LocoLink

Control your model railway layout wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Manage locomotives, switch turnouts and signals, and even automate train movements. Features include a track plan editor, block system, and CV programming.

Highlights
  • Wireless DCC command station control
  • Locomotive speed and function control
  • Turnout and signal switching
  • Interactive track plan editor
  • Block system and automation
  • CV programming and speed table editing
  • Game controller support
Features
Read full description

LocoLink is the ultimate model railway control app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Connect wirelessly to your digital command station and take full control of your layout. DRIVE & CONTROL - Control locomotives with an intuitive speed lever (vertical or horizontal) - Switch between Forward, Reverse and Emergency Stop instantly - Toggle decoder functions F0-F28 (lights, sound, smoke, couplers and more) - Use speed presets (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) for quick speed changes - Swipe between locomotives on iPhone, or use the sidebar on iPad/Mac TURNOUTS & SIGNALS - Switch turnouts and signals with one tap - Create routes that switch multiple turnouts and signals at once - Support for DCC and Motorola (MM2) address modes TRACK PLAN (SWITCHBOARD) - Draw your layout with tracks, turnouts, signals and stations - Operate everything visually from your track plan - Multiple tabs for different layout sections BLOCK SYSTEM & AUTOMATION - Automatic train detection with S88 feedback modules - Block routes with automatic stopping and departing - Shuttle service between two points - Timetables with model clock (1x to 60x speed) - Drive schedules with customizable steps CV PROGRAMMING - Step-by-step programming wizard - Expert mode for direct CV read/write - Speed table editing (CV67-94) GAME CONTROLLER - Use PlayStation via Bluetooth - Configurable button mapping Requires a compatible digital command station and WiFi connection. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://locolink.io/privacy.html

Screenshots

iMSX24 screens
LocoLink4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LocoLink at Free against iMSX2's $1.99. LocoLink also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.4) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). iMSX2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (59% vs 33%). On ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

LocoLink is free to download; iMSX2 costs $1.99 up front. LocoLink sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. iMSX2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LocoLink holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iMSX2 has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of iMSX2's written reviews are positive against 33% of LocoLink's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iMSX2 ships an update every 3 weeks, LocoLink every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
iMSX2 versus LocoLink: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriMSX2LocoLink
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating3.4 (10 ratings)4.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.3% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings10 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEnrique EnguixTom Westerman

Customer experience

iMSX2

All ratings10 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive59.3%
Neutral22.2%
Negative18.5%

LocoLink

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

iMSX2

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

LocoLink

Subscriptions7
  • LocoLink Pro iOS1 Month trial$5.991 Month
  • LocoLink Pro Mac1 Month trial$8.991 Month
  • LocoLink Pro All Devices1 Month trial$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • LocoLink+ iOS1 Month trial$29.991 Year
  • LocoLink Pro iOS1 Month trial$59.991 Year
  • LocoLink Pro Mac1 Month trial$69.991 Year
  • LocoLink Pro All Devices1 Month trial$79.991 Year
One-time3
  • LocoLink Pro iOS Forever$249.99
  • LocoLink Pro Mac Forever$299.99
  • LocoLink Pro All Forever$399.99

Questions

Is iMSX2 free?
iMSX2 costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is LocoLink free?
LocoLink is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iMSX2 or LocoLink?
LocoLink is rated higher. iMSX2 averages 3.4 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while LocoLink averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do iMSX2 or LocoLink have ads?
Neither iMSX2 nor LocoLink shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iMSX2 or LocoLink?
iMSX2 ships an update every 3 weeks, and LocoLink every 5 days. Most recently, iMSX2 was updated on October 14, 2026 and LocoLink on October 14, 2026.

Other comparisons