Retra vs HandCube
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Retra
Experience classic gaming with this retro console emulator. Relive childhood memories with support for multiple consoles, customizable skins, and controller integration. Unlock the full experience through a subscription or a lifetime purchase.
- Support for 5+ retro consoles
- 10+ visual skins
- Customizable settings
- Controller support
- Cloud game saving
- Fast ROM import
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Retra – a retro console emulator crafted with love for classic games. We’re excited to introduce Retra, an app inspired by the authentic style of old-school games that live deep in your childhood memories. We’ve added support for your favorite retro consoles — the ones you spent countless hours with. A wave of unforgettable nostalgia and pure fun awaits you inside the app. We’re happy to share that with a subscription, you’ll unlock the full experience: • Support for 5 retro consoles • 10+ visual skins – both vertical and horizontal layouts • Custom settings tailored to your playstyle • Controller support for a classic feel • cloud game saving Relive the magic. Play your past — today. Subscription & Terms Unlock the full Retra experience with either a weekly subscription ($7.99/week) or a one-time lifetime purchase ($39.99). By upgrading, you gain access to all premium emulator features: • Support for 5+ retro consoles • 10+ visual skins — including vertical and horizontal layouts • Fast and easy ROM import • Save game progress anytime • Full external controller support The weekly subscription auto-renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your Apple ID account will be charged at confirmation. Manage or cancel your subscription anytime via your App Store account settings. The lifetime option is a one-time purchase with no recurring charges. For more details, please review our https://retra.app/Terms/ and https://retra.app/Privacy/
HandCube
Relive the joy of a classic handheld puzzle game on your mobile device. Enjoy intuitive tap and swipe controls to fit falling blocks, clear rows, and achieve high scores. Explore a new challenge mode with progressively difficult levels for endless fun.
- Classic block-fitting gameplay
- Intuitive tap and swipe controls
- Challenge mode with increasing difficulty
- Unlockable gameplay elements
- Stress-relieving casual experience
- Timeless nostalgic appeal
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The world-famous Tetris, a handheld classic loved globally for decades, is now officially on mobile! No fancy gear needed—pull out your phone anytime, anywhere, and relive the pure joy etched in your childhood memories. Tap and swipe to control the blocks—move, rotate, and place them precisely. Watch different-shaped pieces fit perfectly on the screen, clear full rows in an instant, and score big with satisfying crisp sounds. It’s addictive fun that keeps you coming back for more! With simple, intuitive controls and zero learning curve, kids, teens, and seniors alike can jump right in and get hooked. That’s the core charm that makes it a timeless, household name across generations. Plus, an all-new carefully designed challenge mode awaits! Tons of levels progress with gradually increasing difficulty—from beginner to master, every stage brings fresh excitement and a sense of achievement. Earn points to unlock hidden gameplay, beat your personal best, and feel the thrill of self-improvement. Classics never fade, and nostalgia lives on! Whether you want to revisit your childhood handheld days or find a relaxing, stress-relieving casual game, Classic Tetris is your perfect choice. If you have any suggestions or questions during gameplay, feel free to leave a review. We value every piece of feedback and will keep optimizing your gaming experience!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: HandCube at 100% against Retra's 14%. HandCube also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). Retra's advantage is ratings volume (3K vs 1) and update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). On price and device support 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
Both are free to download. Retra sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. HandCube asks for nothing beyond the download.
HandCube holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retra has 3K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Retra's written reviews are positive against 100% of HandCube's.
Retra ships an update every 4 days, HandCube fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Retra | HandCube |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (3K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.4% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 80 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MODERN DEV LP | KAI WANG |
Customer experience
Retra
HandCube
Bugs and requests
Retra
Reported bugs
2 issues- Games freeze
- Inability to play without paying
Requested features
2 requests- Option to exit free trial
- Improve mobile optimization
HandCube
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Retra
- Weekly access to emulator$6.997 Days
- Weekly access to emulator7 Days trial$6.997 Days
- Lifetime access to emulator$39.99
HandCube
No in-app purchases







