Retroly vs RetroNexus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Retroly
Play your classic game backups on iPhone with this retro gaming hub. Import ROMs, organize your collection, and enjoy a fast, distraction-free interface with customizable on-screen controls. Save your progress and adjust settings for a personalized experience.
- Game Boy, GBC, GBA support
- ROM import from local storage
- Organized game library
- Recent play history
- Responsive on-screen controls
- Gameplay customization
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Retroly is a polished retro gaming hub designed for players who want a clean, modern way to enjoy their own classic game backups on iPhone. Import compatible ROM files from local storage, organize your collection, and jump back into gameplay instantly with a fast, distraction-free interface built for retro sessions. Features: • Support for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance gameplay • Clean game library with recent play history • Responsive on-screen controls • Save-friendly experience for long sessions • Gameplay customization and performance settings Retroly does not include, host, sell, or provide copyrighted games or ROMs. Users must supply legally owned game backups that they are permitted to use. Premium is available as a one-time in-app purchase that permanently removes banner, rewarded, and full-screen ads.
RetroNexus
This app allows you to play classic retro games from multiple console systems on your iOS device. It offers features like customizable controls, save states, fast-forward, and a smart library organizer for your game ROMs.
- Multi-system emulation (NES, SNES, GBA, Genesis)
- Customizable gamepad themes
- Save and load game states
- Fast forward gameplay
- Smart library organizer
- Supports custom cheat codes
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RetroNexus is the ultimate multi-system game emulator designed exclusively for iOS! Experience the magic of retro gaming with high-fidelity emulation and modern features. Relive your childhood classics or discover retro masterpieces from standard-setting consoles of the past. Supported Systems: - Nintendo Entertainment System (NES): Play all your beloved 8-bit classics. - Super Nintendo (SNES): Immerse yourself in epic 16-bit adventures. - Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance (GBA): Bring the best portable games directly to your screen. - Sega Genesis: Speed through Sega classics with maximum fidelity. - Chip-8: Experience classic indie-style gameplay cores. Powerful Modern Features: - Customized Gamepad Themes: Tailor the look and feel of your controls with beautifully crafted skins. - Custom Cheat Codes: Add, manage, and toggle cheat codes (Action Replay, Game Genie) easily on the fly. - Save & Load States: Never lose progress! Save and load at any point using multiple available slots. - Fast Forward: Speed up dialogue-heavy sequences or long grinding sessions. - Smart Library Organizer: Import game ROMs from .zip files quickly, browse games by console, and read helpful guides. - Completely Localized: Beautifully translated into multiple languages for retro fans worldwide. Unlock your retro gaming paradise today with RetroNexus! Note: RetroNexus does not bundle or provide any game ROMs. Users must supply their own legally acquired game files to play.
Screenshots
Verdict
Retroly and RetroNexus 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. Retroly sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and RetroNexus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. 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 Retroly against 5.0 for RetroNexus. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
Retroly ships an update every 3 weeks, RetroNexus every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Retroly | RetroNexus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 70 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Eray Kiyak | Quoc Huynh |
Customer experience
Retroly
RetroNexus
In-app purchases
Retroly
- Retroly Premium$3.99
RetroNexus
- Premium Weekly Pass$0.997 Days
- Premium Yearly Pass7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Premium Lifetime Pass$19.99





