Comparison

iMSX2 vs Surume

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

Surume

Experience classic PlayStation 2 games on your iPhone and iPad. This emulator offers a console-like home screen and supports various controllers, allowing you to play anywhere, on your device or streamed to a TV. Save your progress and customize controls for a personalized gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Console-style home screen
  • TV output support
  • On-device interpreter engine
  • Wireless and wired gamepad support
  • Customizable on-screen controls
  • Save states
  • In-game overlay
Features
Read full description

Surume is an all-in-one PlayStation emulator for iPhone and iPad. It supports PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita, with partial PlayStation 1 support through PS2 backwards compatibility.Games run directly on your device. No Mac, pc, external app, or jit required. Features: • The fastest PS2, PS3, & Vita emulator on the Appstore • First ps4 emulator on the App Store • Automatic game tuning applies optimized settings for supported titles • Adjust frame rate, emulation speed, graphics, audio, controls, and other settings for each game • Increase rendering resolution and enhance game graphics, textures, and artwork with Upscale Studio • Extract supported videos, images, and soundtracks directly from game discs • Keep games from every supported console in one organized library • Edit artwork and metadata, search and filter games, and choose different library layouts • Use wired and wireless controllers or fully customizable touch controls • Create save states and manage them from the library or in-game menu • Access saves, settings, controls, filters, and performance options without leaving your game • Connect to a TV for a wide console-style interface • Use layouts designed for iPhone, iPad, and external displays • Sign in with Apple and use SharkPond Network for friends, profiles, trophies, presence, and supported multiplayer games • Choose from dozens of themes, animated backgrounds, materials, colors, fonts, app icons, and library animations • Receive announcements and notifications while automatic crash and performance reports help improve the app Surume does not include games, BIOS files, firmware, or other copyrighted system software. Use your own legally obtained game, BIOS, and firmware files.

Screenshots

iMSX24 screens
Surume4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iMSX2 at none against Surume's 1. iMSX2 also leads on price ($1.99 vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Surume's advantage is chart position (#50 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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

iMSX2 costs $1.99 and Surume $5.99 up front. Surume sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iMSX2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.4 for iMSX2 against 3.4 for Surume. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 26 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 59% and 60% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iMSX2 ships an update every 3 weeks, Surume monthly. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
iMSX2 versus Surume: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriMSX2Surume
Price$1.99 — better$5.99
Rating3.4 (10 ratings)3.4 (26 ratings)
Positive reviews59.3% of reviews60.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1026 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#50 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB274 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEnrique EnguixDylan Mathurin

Customer experience

iMSX2

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

Surume

All ratings26 ratings
Positive57.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative38.5%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral11.4%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

None

iMSX2

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Surume

One-time1
  • Tip 1$$0.99

Questions

Is iMSX2 free?
iMSX2 costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Surume free?
Surume costs $5.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iMSX2 or Surume?
iMSX2 and Surume are both rated 3.4 out of 5 on the App Store, from 10 and 26 ratings respectively.
Do iMSX2 or Surume have ads?
Neither iMSX2 nor Surume shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iMSX2 or Surume?
iMSX2 ships an update every 3 weeks, and Surume monthly. Most recently, iMSX2 was updated on October 14, 2026 and Surume on October 14, 2026.

Other comparisons