# Video Game vs TV Gamepad

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TV Gamepad at 100% against Video Game's 46%. TV Gamepad also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). Video Game's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Video Game sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. TV Gamepad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Video Game ships an update every 6 weeks, TV Gamepad every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Video Game | TV Gamepad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (407 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/video-game-play-and-explore/id6612028428/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **407** | — |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 151 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Actduck Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761336860) | [Neuplay Ventures LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816417519) |

## What reviewers say

### Video Game

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/video-game-play-and-explore/id6612028428)

Play classic games from multiple retro consoles on your device. Supports local multiplayer with customizable controls and advanced graphics filters. Save your progress automatically and organize your game library.

**Highlights:** Supports 10 retro gaming platforms, Local multiplayer for up to 4 players, Customizable touch controls, Automatic save state backups, In-game screenshots, Multiple display filters, Rendering acceleration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| 60C | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| 200C | $2.99 | one-time |
| 360C | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Emulator works well
- 👍 Variety of console emulations
- 👍 Good graphics and performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Games not appearing
- 🔧 Complicated controls and configuration
- 💰 Monetization model is frustrating

**Reported bugs**

- Games not loading or functioning
- Compatibility issues with certain devices

**Requested features**

- Increase controller sensitivity and customization
- Improve compatibility with larger display sizes


### TV Gamepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-gamepad-nexbox-controller/id6746357791)

Transform your smartphone into a wireless game controller for TV games. Connect your phone and TV via Wi-Fi for responsive gameplay without extra hardware. Enjoy a seamless and accessible gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Smartphone as wireless game controller, Wi-Fi pairing for TV games, Works with Nexbox TV games, No ads or subscription fees, Continuous updates

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Video Game free?

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

### Is TV Gamepad free?

TV Gamepad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Video Game or TV Gamepad have ads?

Video Game shows ads; TV Gamepad does not.

### Which is updated more often, Video Game or TV Gamepad?

Video Game ships an update every 6 weeks, and TV Gamepad every 4 months. Most recently, Video Game was updated on November 5, 2026 and TV Gamepad on October 30, 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.*