RetroEMU vs GBDev
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RetroEMU
Transform your smartphone into a powerful retro gaming console. Play thousands of classic titles, organize your game library, and customize your controls for an enhanced nostalgic experience. Includes advanced tools like save states and fast forward.
- Play classic console games on mobile
- Organize and manage game collections
- Customizable on-screen controllers
- Save State and Load State functionality
- Fast Forward gameplay option
- Built-in private browser for secure discovery
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Imagine carrying thousands of legendary gaming memories right in your pocket. Are you ready to transform your smartphone into the ultimate retro powerhouse and finally conquer the levels you never finished years ago? RetroEMU is a full-featured version of a classic game player that makes your gaming life smarter. You just change your phone into a powerful handheld system that will never break, that you'll never lose. This emulator will do much more than just a basic retro game player. RETROEMU: ARCADE GAME EMULATOR - MAIN FEATURES PLAY ICONIC CONSOLE CLASSICS ON MOBILE - RetroEMU functions as a high-performance hub with broad support for various classic console systems. It is engineered to handle multiple architectures seamlessly, allowing you to run a wide range of legacy titles from different generations on a single mobile device. CURATE YOUR ULTIMATE RETRO COLLECTION - Organize and manage your collection effortlessly. RetroEMU allows you to import and categorize your own game files. Your entire library of classic titles is now stored in one organized place, ready to launch at any moment. ICONIC STYLES FOR A TRUE HARDWARE FEEL - Customize your on-screen controller with various artistic skins. These themes provide an astonishing realism, replicating the look and feel of iconic handheld devices to enhance your nostalgic journey. PRO-LEVEL ENHANCEMENTS FOR EVERY CHALLENGE - Our advanced gaming tools help you conquer difficult stages with ease. Use "Save State" and "Load State" to resume your progress instantly. Need to save time? Use the "Fast Forward" feature to skip long dialogues or speed up your gameplay. You can also utilize integrated tools to unlock new possibilities in every level. SECURE DISCOVERY WITH STEALTH BROWSING - RetroEMU assists you to search for information and manage your files with a built-in private browser. It ensures your discovery process is secure and discrete, allowing you to find what you need without leaving a trace on your device. OTHER IMPORTANT FEATURES - Smooth and responsive touch controls for precision gameplay. - Automatically detects and organizes imported game files. - Support for various file formats to ensure wide compatibility. - High-quality visual rendering for a crisp retro experience. - Fast automatic connection to your stored library. SUBSCRIPTION PRICING & TERMS - Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase. - You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase. - Subscriptions will renew automatically unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. The renewal cost will be charged to your account 24 hours before the end of the current period. - When the subscription is canceled, it will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded. - If offered, any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. DISCLAIMER RetroEMU is an emulator application designed to play user-provided content. RetroEMU does not provide any game files or copyrighted material. We are not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, any hardware or software manufacturers. Privacy policy: https://viet-jouney-jsc.web.app/policy.html Terms of service: https://viet-jouney-jsc.web.app/terms.html
GBDev
Play your favorite Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on your iPhone with this emulator. It features a beautiful game library, responsive on-screen controls, and customizable palettes and themes for a comfortable gaming experience.
- Game Boy & Game Boy Color ROM support
- Personalized game library with box art
- Save states for instant progress capture
- Customizable on-screen controls
- Adjustable game palettes and app themes
- Integrated cheat engine
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GBDev is a fast multi emulator with an immersive feel and lots of good ways to customize your emulation experience. Emulates: GB • GBC • GBA • NES • SNES • DS • DSI • 3DS • GC • Wii Get cozy under the covers with our screen bleed and crt scanlines options. Reposition the screens and buttons to maximize the emulation feel. Enhance the look with animated themes and custom buttons. Landscape mode goes hard too especially when a bluetooth controller is connected. SNES Mouse works for mar10 pain7 too!! GBDev even has 3ds mii support. Connect to a tv with airplay, connect some controllers via bluetooth, and set the phone on charge for a night of retro gatherings. Button haptics make you feel more immersed so we have that too. Our game library is seperated by console. Thank you for using GBDev!!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: RetroEMU at 100% against GBDev's 13%. RetroEMU also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). GBDev's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (19 vs 2). On price, device support 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
Both are free to download. GBDev sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RetroEMU asks for nothing beyond the download.
RetroEMU holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GBDev has 19 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of RetroEMU's written reviews are positive against 13% of GBDev's.
| Parameter | RetroEMU | GBDev |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 3.3 (19 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 12.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 19 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 4 days |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 163 MB | 100 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Viet Nam Tourism | Winter Bagley |
Customer experience
RetroEMU
GBDev
In-app purchases
RetroEMU
No in-app purchases
GBDev
- GBDev Pro$2.99







