Nova Retro vs Snapemu
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Nova Retro
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.
- 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
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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.
Snapemu
This app lets you play classic video games on your mobile device. Organize your library, customize controls, and use save states to pick up where you left off. You need to provide your own legally owned game files.
- Organize game library with cover artwork
- View favorites and recently played
- Automatic and manual save states
- Customize virtual controls and vibration
- Play with compatible controllers/keyboards
- Multiple retro video filters
- Backup and restore saves
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Snapemu is here! Snapemu is a retro game emulator designed for mobile devices. KEY FEATURES - Organize your game library with cover artwork - View favorites and recently played games - Use automatic and manual save states - Customize virtual controls and vibration - Play with compatible controllers and keyboards - Choose from multiple retro video filters - Back up and restore your saves IMPORTANT Snapemu does not include, provide, sell, or download games. You must supply game files that you legally own or have permission to use. Please follow all applicable laws and copyright requirements in your region. ------ Privacy Policy:https://snapemu.gavinliu.cn/en/legal/privacy.html Terms of Use:https://snapemu.gavinliu.cn/en/legal/terms.html EULA:https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Nova Retro at free against Snapemu's freemium. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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 Snapemu sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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 Snapemu. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
| Parameter | Nova Retro | Snapemu |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 129 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 振东 史 | 云龙 刘 |
In-app purchases
Nova Retro
- A Small Tip$0.99
- Buy Me a Coffee$1.99
- Big Support$12.99
Snapemu
- Premium (1 Month)3 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Premium (1 Year)7 Days trial$8.991 Year
- Premium (LifeTime)$12.99






