Nova Emulator vs Let's NES
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Nova Emulator
Play classic console games on your smartphone with this high-performance emulator. Enjoy smooth gameplay, save states, fast forward, and display filters. Supports a wide range of retro consoles and offers cheat code functionality.
- High-performance emulation (60fps)
- Virtual gamepad with radial dial
- Save and load game states
- Fast forward gameplay (2x-4x)
- Display filters (CRT, LCD)
- Cheat code support
- Play time statistics
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Play your favorite emulator games again on your smartphone. A high-performance retro game emulator that lets you play game ROMs. SUPPORTED CONSOLES • GBA, GB, GBC, NES, N64, NDS, PSX, PCE, Lynx, NGP, NGPC KEY FEATURES • High-Performance Emulation — 60fps smooth gameplay powered by libretro cores • Virtual Gamepad — Lemuroid-style radial dial with glass morphism design • Save & Load States — Save your progress anytime • Fast Forward — Speed up gameplay from 2x to 4x • Display Filters — Sharp, Smooth, CRT scanline, LCD pixel grid • Cheat Codes — GameShark, Action Replay, Game Genie and more • 11 Languages — English, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, French, German, Chinese (Traditional) NOVA PREMIUM Upgrade to Nova Premium and enjoy all features. • Remove all ads • Unlimited game library • Cheat mode activation • Unlock all save & load slots • Full weekly play time statistics PLAY HISTORY Track your gaming habits with weekly play time charts, daily breakdowns, and per-game statistics. LEGAL NOTICE • Nova does NOT provide or distribute any ROM files • You must only use ROMs of games you legally own • Downloading or distributing copyrighted ROMs is your responsibility • Nova does not encourage the use of illegal ROMs • Nova does not transmit any of your game data externally This app is subject to Apple's Standard End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Let's NES
Experience classic 8-bit and 16-bit gaming with a beautifully designed retro interface. Enjoy exclusive online multiplayer for two players and save your progress instantly. Bring your favorite childhood games to life on your iPhone and iPad.
- Exclusive online multiplayer for 2 players
- Gorgeous pixel-art and skeuomorphic UI
- Tactile retro controller experience
- Smart save states for instant progress saving
- Import your own legally obtained ROMs
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LetsNES is a retro game emulator designed for phones, tablets, and Macs. We have perfectly preserved the soul of the classic NES, SNES, and GBA, while reimagining them with stunning, high-quality pixel art interfaces and skeuomorphic console designs. No dry, cold modern menus, no complex online setups—from visuals to performance, it’s top-tier in every way. Key Features: 【Global Online Two-Player Co-op — Jump In with Friends Anywhere】 Want to relive classic games with old friends miles away? LetsNES makes remote multiplayer as easy as sending a text! Simply create a room with one tap, share your unique room code, and your friend can join instantly as Player 2. We support shared-screen online play for NES and SNES, as well as zero-cable LAN and remote multiplayer for GBA. With no complex network configuration required, our completely overhauled network architecture guarantees ultra-low latency co-op fun! It's also perfect for live streams and party gaming. 【Exquisite Pixel Art & Skeuomorphic UI for Detail Lovers】 LetsNES features custom-crafted pixel art interfaces and retro console aesthetics. Every menu, icon, and transition is designed to capture the essence of retro gaming while looking crisp, high-end, and extremely detailed on modern HD displays. 【Effortless Rewind & Save States — No More Frustration】 Stuck on a tough level? LetsNES features an incredibly intuitive Rewind function that lets you pull back time and try again whenever you slip up. Enjoy real-time Save and Load states with single-tap pause, allowing you to resume your adventure anytime, anywhere. 【Tactile Retro Controller — Feel Every Button Press】 We carefully crafted a skeuomorphic virtual controller that authentically recreates the look and feel of classic gamepads. Combined with fine-tuned button layouts, rapid response times, and subtle haptic feedback, it delivers an addictively physical touch on touchscreen displays. (Supports key mapping for up to 4 physical controllers or keyboards as well.) User Notice (Legal Disclaimer): LetsNES is strictly a software emulator and media player. This application DOES NOT contain, embed, or bundle any games or ROM files. Users must provide their legally obtained game ROM files (NES/SNES/GBA formats) to play. Simply import your game files via the built-in Files app or from your computer to start playing!
Screenshots
Verdict
Nova Emulator and Let's NES are too close to call on the numbers: across 9 compared parameters — price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. Nova Emulator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Let's NES sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Nova Emulator against 5.0 for Let's NES. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
Nova Emulator ships an update every 3 weeks, Let's NES every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Nova Emulator | Let's NES |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 67 MB | 87 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | IDEATAG STUDIO | yu zhu |
In-app purchases
Nova Emulator
- NOVA Premium$1.991 Month
- NOVA Premium$4.993 Months
- NOVA Premium$7.996 Months
Let's NES
- 500 Energy$0.99
- Infinite Energy$4.99






