# Retro Emulator vs MudMonster

The clearest difference is update cadence: MudMonster at every 3 weeks against Retro Emulator's every 3 months. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Retro Emulator against 5.0 for MudMonster. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

Retro Emulator ships an update every 3 months, MudMonster every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro Emulator | MudMonster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-emulator-4-buttons/id6761195769/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mudmonster-mud-client/id6762086513/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 3 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Vu Bach](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869520433) | [CodeSquatch, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892844476) |

## What reviewers say

### Retro Emulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-emulator-4-buttons/id6761195769)

Play classic 8-bit console games on your device with this fast and lightweight emulator. Import your own game files or access public domain titles, and save your progress anytime. Enjoy smooth emulation with on-screen controls and sharp display filters.

**Highlights:** Import your own games, Save progress anytime, On-screen controls with turbo, Sharp display filters, No ads or tracking, Public domain game library

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### MudMonster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mudmonster-mud-client/id6762086513)

This app is a feature-rich client for text-based multiplayer RPGs, allowing you to connect to any MUD, automate gameplay with custom scripts and aliases, and view live game data. It offers customizable controls, character profiles, and session syncing across devices.

**Highlights:** Connect to any MUD, Automate gameplay with reflexes, aliases, and timers, Live game data overlay (GMCP), Customizable radial and directional controls, Character profiles and avatars, Cross-device sync and session logs, MUD directory and community voting

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retro Emulator free?

Retro Emulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MudMonster free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retro Emulator or MudMonster?

Retro Emulator and MudMonster are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do Retro Emulator or MudMonster have ads?

Neither Retro Emulator nor MudMonster shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retro Emulator or MudMonster?

Retro Emulator ships an update every 3 months, and MudMonster every 3 weeks. Most recently, Retro Emulator was updated on October 20, 2026 and MudMonster on October 24, 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.*