# GameMory vs Nova Retro

The clearest difference is update cadence: GameMory at every 4 days against Nova Retro's every 4 weeks. Nova Retro's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GameMory sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Nova Retro sells 3 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 GameMory against 5.0 for Nova Retro. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

GameMory ships an update every 4 days, Nova Retro every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GameMory | Nova Retro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gamemory-game-emulator/id6795968903/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-retro/id6799106990/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 130 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [晶 黄](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896594046) | [振东 史](https://appshunter.io/developer/6799051561) |

## What reviewers say

### GameMory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gamemory-game-emulator/id6795968903)

This app lets you play your retro game files on your device. It supports nine classic systems and offers features like save states, custom skins, and adjustable emulation speed. Pro features include cheats and local multiplayer.

**Highlights:** Supports nine classic systems, Save states for any game moment, Customizable console skins, Cheat code management (Pro), Local Wi-Fi multiplayer (Pro), Controller and keyboard support, Adjustable emulation speed

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Pro | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Pro | $5.99 | per month |
| Annual Pro | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $19.99 | one-time |


### Nova Retro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-retro/id6799106990)

Emulate classic gaming consoles on your iPhone and iPad. Bring your own legally owned games and customize touch controls. Enjoy local multiplayer with friends on the same network.

**Highlights:** Emulates NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, Import your own legally owned games, Customizable on-screen touch controls, Local network multiplayer, Save and load game states, Supports multiple languages

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy Me a Coffee | $1.99 | one-time |
| Big Support | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GameMory free?

GameMory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Nova Retro free?

Nova Retro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, GameMory or Nova Retro?

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

### Do GameMory or Nova Retro have ads?

Neither GameMory nor Nova Retro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GameMory or Nova Retro?

GameMory ships an update every 4 days, and Nova Retro every 4 weeks. Most recently, GameMory was updated on October 29, 2026 and Nova Retro on October 25, 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.*