Comparison

RetroGo vs Digital Rain

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

Head to head
About

RetroGo

This application allows users to play classic games from various retro consoles on their iOS devices. It offers a smart game library, metadata discovery, and supports multiple emulation cores for a comprehensive gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Supports GBA, NDS, PSP, PS1, Saturn, NES, SNES, N64, DOS, Arcade
  • Smart game library with folder, tag, and core browsing
  • Import files from iOS Files app
  • Discover game metadata and cover artwork
  • SpriteKit touch controls and custom button mapping
  • Save states, auto-save, and fast-forward
  • Physical controller support
Features
Read full description

Relive classic games in a native iOS way with RetroGo. RetroGo is a high-performance retro game emulator for iPhone and iPad, built on RetroArch / Libretro cores and redesigned with native UIKit and SpriteKit interfaces. Smarter Game Library RetroGo is more than a ROM list: • Browse by folder, tree, tag, or emulator core • Switch between icon and list layouts • Import files or folders from the iOS Files app • Long-press files and folders to rename, move, tag, assign cores, or delete Built for Retro Collections • Intelligent detection for supported multi-file games • Clean grouping for formats such as CUE, M3U, GDI, and related files • Multi-disc games merged into one entry automatically, with disc switching • Core assignment for games that need a specific emulator core Discover Game Metadata Browse RetroArch RDB platform databases with metadata, region, checksums, and cover art. All-in-One Emulation Includes 19 built-in emulation cores: • PSP, PlayStation, Saturn, Dreamcast • Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, Mega-CD, Master System, Game Gear, SG-1000 • Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS • NES, SNES, Nintendo 64 • Arcade: Neo Geo, CPS1/2/3, PGM, Cave, NAOMI, Atomiswave • DOS Gameplay Features • SpriteKit touch controls • Per-system control layouts • Save states and auto save • Physical controller support • Per-core and per-game settings Cheat Codes • Create, edit, and organize your own cheat codes • Browse built-in cheat template databases for supported platforms • Automatic template matching by CRC32 — when your ROM is recognized, RetroGo binds a matching cheat template for you • Turn cheats on during gameplay (Pro) Arcade Over 4,000 classic arcade games powered by MAME 0.289: • Automatic set recognition, BIOS placement, and parent-set linking • Library health check with one-tap repair and backups • Import Pugsy's MAME Cheat Collection • Six- and four-button arcade layouts • LAN play for arcade games LAN Multiplayer • Host or join a game session over the same Wi-Fi network • Automatic Bonjour discovery — no setup, no accounts Play Free, Go Pro for More Play free with no time limit on each platform's free core. RetroGo Pro unlocks: • Every emulator core • Cheats, including built-in templates • Fast-forward up to 6x • Unlimited save slots and overwriting saves • Custom controller button mapping • More custom control layouts and your own combos Purchase options: monthly or yearly subscription, or a one-time lifetime unlock. Prices may vary by country or region and will be shown before purchase. Subscription Terms Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Renewal is charged within 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your Apple ID account settings. Privacy & Open Source RetroGo is open-sourced under the GPLv3 license. RetroGo does not collect or track personal information. Your game files, saves, settings, and app data are stored locally on your device. GitHub: https://github.com/askrsw/RetroGo-iOS Privacy Policy: https://matrix4x4.com/retrogo/policy Terms of Use: https://matrix4x4.com/retrogo/eula About Screenshots The games shown in the App Store screenshots are homebrew games, open-source games, or games used with permission. They are shown only to demonstrate RetroGo's features. RetroGo does not include or provide commercial game ROMs or BIOS files. Users must import their own legally owned game files. Disclaimer RetroGo is not affiliated with Nintendo, Sony, Sega, Microsoft, Apple, RetroArch, Libretro, MAME, or any other console manufacturer, platform owner, publisher, developer, or trademark holder. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

About

Digital Rain

Features
Read full description

Transform your device into a mesmerizing cascade of falling digital characters — the iconic green code-rain effect, reimagined. Digital Rain brings glowing streams of glyphs to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV with stunning Metal-accelerated graphics and deep customization. FEATURES • Beautiful Metal-powered rain with silky-smooth 60+ fps animation • Multiple color themes: Classic Green, Ice Blue, Fire Red, Purple Haze, Gold, and more • Various glyph styles: Japanese Katakana, Latin alphabet, Binary, Hexadecimal, and Braille • Adjustable rain personality: Classic columns, Chaotic scatter, Gentle drift • Full control over speed, density, and brightness • Save your favorite combinations as default settings NIGHTSTAND MODE (iPhone/iPad) Turn your device into an elegant bedside clock with rain in the background. Nightstand Mode activates automatically when charging in landscape orientation — perfect for StandBy. The large, elegant clock adapts its color to your selected theme. LIVE WALLPAPER (iPhone) Export your customized rain effect as a Live Photo and set it as your Lock Screen wallpaper. Press and hold your Lock Screen to see the rain come alive. APPLE TV Enjoy the rain on your big screen with focus-driven Siri Remote controls. Perfect as ambient background or for relaxation. macOS Run Digital Rain as a standalone app with hover-to-reveal controls, or install it as a screensaver that uses your saved settings. TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE • Native Metal rendering for maximum performance • Adaptive frame rate in Low Power Mode to save battery • Persistent settings across launches • No ads, no tracking, no subscriptions Whether you're a cyberpunk enthusiast, need a relaxing visual focus, or just want something beautiful to look at, Digital Rain delivers a premium experience across all your Apple devices. DEMO VIDEO: A screen recording captured on a physical iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro Max, latest iOS) is attached in the Attachment field above. It begins at app launch and shows the typical flow — the live digital-rain animation, opening the customization panel (Speed, Density, Color, Glyph, Style, Brightness), and saving a Live Photo / Live Wallpaper.

Screenshots

RetroGo4 screens
Digital Rain3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RetroGo at Free against Digital Rain's $0.99. Digital Rain's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and device support (4 vs 2). 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

RetroGo is free to download; Digital Rain costs $0.99 up front. RetroGo sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Digital Rain asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
RetroGo versus Digital Rain: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetroGoDigital Rain
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.5 (68 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings68 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size235 MB2 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperJinan Matrix Information Technology Co., Ltd.MAXXSOFTWARE Inc.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

RetroGo

Subscriptions2
  • RetroGo Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
  • RetroGo Pro Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • RetroGo Pro Lifetime Offer$6.99
  • RetroGo Pro Lifetime Unlock$12.99
None

Digital Rain

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RetroGo free?
RetroGo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Digital Rain free?
Digital Rain costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do RetroGo or Digital Rain have ads?
Neither RetroGo nor Digital Rain shows ads.

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