Comparison

Retroly vs Super Emu

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

Head to head
About

Retroly

Enjoy your classic game backups on iPhone with this retro gaming hub. It offers authentic emulation, a visual game library, and customizable on-screen controls. Supports external controllers and various display filters for an enhanced experience.

Highlights
  • Authentic emulation for Game Boy, GBC, GBA
  • Visual game showcase and library
  • Customizable on-screen gamepad
  • Save states with screenshot previews
  • Display filters and screen correction
  • Bluetooth & MFi controller support
Features
Read full description

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 personal collection, and jump back into gameplay instantly with a fast, distraction-free interface built specifically for retro sessions. Features: • Authentic emulation for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance • Visual game showcase and library with instant resume • Responsive on-screen gamepad with customizable skins and haptic feedback • 8 visual save state slots with live screenshot previews and timestamps • Display filters (Sharp Pixel, LCD, LCD Subpixel, Bilinear, Smooth xBRZ) • Screen stretching and color correction tailored for handheld classics • Full support for external Bluetooth & MFi game controllers Important Notice: Retroly does not include, host, sell, or distribute copyrighted games or ROMs. Users must supply their own legally obtained game backups that they are authorized to play. Premium Upgrade: Retroly Premium is available as a one-time in-app purchase that permanently removes all banner, rewarded, and interstitial ads, unlocking the ultimate ad-free retro experience forever. No subscriptions or recurring charges. Terms of Use: https://retroly.app/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://retroly.app/privacy/ Support & Contact: https://retroly.app

About

Super Emu

This application allows you to play classic handheld and console games on your iPhone and iPad. It supports multiple systems, offers customizable controls, and includes features like save states and rewind.

Highlights
  • Supports Game Boy Advance, Color, NES, and SNES games
  • Customizable multitouch controls with haptic feedback
  • Full controller and keyboard support
  • Rewind, save states, and fast-forward options
  • iCloud syncing for saves and progress
  • Online multiplayer via Room Link
Features
Read full description

SuperEmu is a fast, beautiful emulator for the handhelds and consoles you grew up with, built natively for iPhone and iPad with the new Liquid Glass design. ONE LIBRARY FOR YOUR CLASSICS • Plays Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, Game Boy, Super Nintendo (SNES) and NES games. • Add games from the Files app, “Open in…”, or by copying them into the SuperEmu folder. • Artwork is captured automatically from your last session. Filter by system or search by title. CONTROLS MADE FOR EVERY CONSOLE • Multitouch buttons laid out for each system, with an 8-way D-pad, sliding between buttons and haptic feedback. • Full support for MFi, Xbox and PlayStation controllers and hardware keyboards. • Touch controls step aside automatically when you pick up a controller. REWIND, SAVE, SPEED UP • Rewind: hold L2 + R2 and jump back up to 20 seconds, then pick the exact moment to play from. • Save states: 4 slots per game with thumbnails and timestamps. • Fast-forward at 2×, 3× or 4×. SYNCED WITH iCLOUD • In-game saves, save states and thumbnails sync between your iPhone and iPad through your own iCloud Drive. • Games are matched by their file’s fingerprint, so progress follows you across devices. ROOM LINK — PLAY TOGETHER ONLINE • Create a room, share the 5-letter code, and play with a friend over the internet through Game Center. • Handheld games connect like a link cable: trade, battle and play versus modes. • Console games play like two controllers plugged into the same machine. LOOKS THE WAY YOU REMEMBER • Pixel-perfect scaling plus Metal filters: Sharp, Smooth, LCD Grid, Scanline, CRT, color correction, Retro Green and Scale2x. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No accounts, no ads, no tracking. Your games and saves stay on your devices and in your own iCloud. IMPORTANT SuperEmu does not include any games. Play only games you own or that are legally free to use, such as homebrew. SuperEmu is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Nintendo. All product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Open-source emulation cores: mGBA (MPL 2.0), Snes9x (Snes9x license, non-commercial) and FCEUmm (GPL 2.0).

Screenshots

Retroly4 screens
Super Emu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Super Emu at none against Retroly's 1. Super Emu also leads on ads (none vs shown). Retroly's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and device support 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

Both are free to download. Retroly sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Super Emu asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Retroly against 5.0 for Super Emu. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Retroly versus Super Emu: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetrolySuper Emu
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEray KiyakKiet Nguyen Tuan

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Retroly

One-time1
  • Retroly Premium$3.99
None

Super Emu

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Retroly free?
Retroly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Super Emu free?
Super Emu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Retroly or Super Emu?
Retroly and Super Emu are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Retroly or Super Emu have ads?
Retroly shows ads; Super Emu does not.

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