Nova Retro vs RetroPocket
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Nova Retro
This app allows you to play your own classic console and arcade games locally. It supports saving game states, fast-forwarding, and cheats, with customizable touch controls for mobile devices. You can also host or join local multiplayer rooms.
- Local game library
- Save states
- Fast-forward and cheats
- Customizable touch controls
- Local network multiplayer
- Import your own games
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Bring your own games. Nova Retro brings six classic console types and validated arcade titles together in one local library. Save states, fast-forward and cheats are available according to system and game capabilities. Edit touch layouts on iPhone and iPad, with normal, turbo and combo buttons. Host, join or watch rooms on a mutually reachable local network. Player counts depend on the game; no internet matchmaking or relay service is provided. No games, game downloads or commercial firmware are included. Import only files you legally own and have the right to use. Compatibility and save-state support depend on the exact game set, firmware and save-state version. Optional support purchases unlock no emulation features.
RetroPocket
This app allows you to manage and play your owned retro game files. Import your game ROMs, save progress, and customize controls for a personalized gaming experience. Supports GBA, GB, and GBC formats.
- Import and manage retro game files
- Save and resume game progress
- Customizable on-screen controls
- Multiple controller styles and themes
- Fast forward gameplay
- Sound and haptic feedback options
- Landscape mode optimization
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RetroPocket: Retro Games offers a simple and modern way to manage and play the retro games you own. Import your own game files, build your personal library, save your progress, and customize your gaming experience to match your style. Supported game file formats: - GBA-compatible files - GB-compatible files - GBC-compatible files Key Features: - Save & Resume: Use Save State to quickly save your current game state and Load State to return to the exact moment you want. - Automatic Progress Saving: RetroPocket helps preserve your latest game progress, making it easier to return to your games whenever you want. - Customizable Controls: Choose between left-handed or right-handed layouts, adjust button sizes and positions, and customize the appearance of your controls. - Multiple Controller Styles: Refresh your gaming experience with a variety of controller styles, colors, and themes. - Fast Forward: Speed up gameplay whenever you want to skip slow or repetitive sections. - Sound & Haptic Feedback: Customize your experience with sound and haptic feedback options. - Landscape Mode: Take advantage of a wider screen with a layout optimized for landscape mode. Important Notice: - RetroPocket is a tool for managing and playing game files imported by the user. - RetroPocket does not provide, sell, distribute, or host game files or ROMs. - Users should only use game files that they legally own or have the right to use. - Users are responsible for the content and files they import into the application. Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/retrogbapocket/trang-ch%E1%BB%A7 Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Support: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560933465584 If you have any feedback about the RetroPocket: Retro Games, please leave a comment below or email the developer. We will always monitor your feedback to improve and create a better app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Nova Retro at none against RetroPocket's shown. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Nova Retro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and RetroPocket sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. 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 Nova Retro against 5.0 for RetroPocket. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
Nova Retro ships an update every 3 weeks, RetroPocket every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Nova Retro | RetroPocket |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | +4 |
| Developer | 振东 史 | Duc Tran Trung |
Customer experience
Nova Retro
RetroPocket
In-app purchases
Nova Retro
- A Small Tip$0.99
- Buy Me a Coffee$1.99
- Big Support$12.99
RetroPocket
- GBA Emulator Monthly$5.991 Month
- GBA Emulator Yearly$24.991 Year
- Lifetime Membership$34.99







