Comparison

emu vs RetroOne

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

Head to head
About

emu

This app allows you to play classic games from seventeen different systems on your iPhone without complex setup. It supports various file formats and offers features like a unified library, customizable controls, and rollback saves. Enjoy local or online multiplayer with friends.

Highlights
  • Supports seventeen retro game systems
  • No downloads or configuration needed
  • Unified game library with search and favorites
  • Customizable on-screen and gamepad controls
  • Automatic saves and rewind functionality
  • Two-player online multiplayer
  • Supports various archive and disc image formats
Features
Read full description

emu runs seventeen game systems on one iPhone, from 8-bit cartridges to the disc-based 3D era. There are no cores to download and no configuration files to write. GETTING STARTED TAKES THREE STEPS 1. Pick a backup of a game you own from the Files app. 2. The system is identified from the file's contents, so you never choose one. 3. Tap it in your library and play. Files can stay inside a ZIP or 7z archive, and a CUE and its BIN files can be selected together. If a CUE points at a filename that no longer matches, emu repairs it on import. Large disc images are streamed into place rather than expanded in memory. ONE LIBRARY FOR EVERYTHING Search by name, star what you keep coming back to, and resume from the recent row. Import the same game under a different filename, or as both an archive and its extracted copy, and the CRC-and-size fingerprint still leaves you with a single entry. THE LAYOUT MOVES TO YOUR THUMBS The on-screen pad is multi-touch, with true diagonals and slide-to-change between buttons. Move the pad up or down, and pull the landscape buttons inward or outward. ANY GAMEPAD, MAPPED YOUR WAY Bluetooth and USB controllers connect on their own. Buttons are matched by position rather than by the vendor's printed labels, so a different controller still plays the same way. Reassign a button by pressing it, keep sticky 1P/2P assignment, and tune the stick dead zone. Touch input stays live alongside the gamepad. SAVES HAPPEN QUIETLY, MISTAKES ROLL BACK In-game and memory-card saves are written every 30 seconds, and again when you leave the player. SAVE and LOAD give you a quick state at any moment, and holding REWIND rolls the last seconds back for one more attempt at the jump you just missed. TWO IPHONES, TWO PLAYERS One player hosts and a code appears; the other types it in and joins as player 2. The player joining does not need a copy of the game. The two devices connect directly — gameplay never passes through a server, and a relayed route is detected after connecting and torn down. Two-player games for NES, SNES, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, Mega Drive, Master System and PC Engine can be hosted. BRING YOUR OWN GAMES — REQUIREMENTS DIFFER BY SYSTEM No games and no BIOS files are bundled, and nothing can be obtained from inside the app. Use backups of software you are legally entitled to use. Runs with just your game file: NES, SNES, Game Boy / Color, Mega Drive / Genesis, Master System, Game Gear, PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16, WonderSwan / Color, Nintendo 64, GameCube, PlayStation 2, PSP Also needs a BIOS you dumped from your own console: PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Game Boy Advance, Neo Geo Pocket / Color If you are here for Xbox: It needs three files you supply yourself — an MCPX ROM, a compatible Flash BIOS, and a hard-disk image. An unmodified retail Flash BIOS will not boot. Treat Xbox as experimental and for advanced users. ABOUT SPEED GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and Sega Saturn support is experimental. The App Store build runs without a JIT, so how well a game plays depends on the title and your device. Please don't buy on the assumption that a particular game will run smoothly. FREE TO START The free version shows one banner and needs an internet connection. That banner only ever promotes the developer's own apps; there is no tracking-based advertising. A one-time in-app purchase hides it on every device signed in to your Apple Account. iPhone, iOS 17 or later. English and Japanese. emu is built on open-source emulators including ares, PPSSPP, Mupen64Plus, Dolphin, xemu, Play! and Yaba Sanshiro. Licenses and corresponding source links are under Settings > Licenses. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. emu is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any hardware manufacturer.

About

RetroOne

This app allows you to play your legally owned retro game collection on your iPhone and iPad. It supports multiple classic gaming systems and offers features like a beautiful library, customizable themes, and multiplayer options.

Highlights
  • Supports 8 classic gaming systems
  • Import and organize game collection
  • Customizable themes
  • Portrait and landscape orientation
  • Play on big screen
  • Multiplayer with 'Use as Controller'
  • Save and continue progress
Features
Read full description

Rediscover the golden age of gaming with RetroOne — a beautifully designed multi-system emulator built for smooth, flexible play on iPhone and iPad. 8 CLASSIC GAMING SYSTEMS Enjoy support for eight popular retro systems: • ARCADE • GBA • GB • GBC • NES • SNES • GEN • NEOGEO From classic handheld adventures to the unforgettable arcade games of the past, RetroOne brings your legally owned game collection together in one convenient place. RELIVE THE ARCADE ERA Experience the atmosphere of classic arcade machines wherever you go. Enjoy responsive controls, smooth gameplay, colorful pixel graphics, and an interface inspired by the golden age of gaming. YOUR GAMES, ONE EASY IMPORT Import supported game files directly from your device. RetroOne automatically detects compatible systems and organizes your collection, making it easy to browse, search, sort, and favorite your games. A BEAUTIFUL LIBRARY Keep your entire collection organized with: • Recently played games • Favorites • Search and sorting • Automatic system detection • Quick access to saved games • Easy game management MULTIPLE THEMES Make RetroOne feel truly yours. Choose from multiple visual styles, including: • Classic • Midnight • Retro Handheld • Neon • Chrome Each theme offers a distinctive look while keeping the controls clear, responsive, and comfortable. PORTRAIT OR LANDSCAPE Play from the angle that works best for you. RetroOne supports both portrait and landscape orientations, allowing every game and controller layout to adapt naturally to your preferred way of playing. PLAY ON THE BIG SCREEN Share gameplay with a compatible TV and enjoy your favorite classics on a larger display. Turn your phone or tablet into a convenient game controller while the action stays on the big screen. PLAY WITH FRIENDS Use the “Use as Controller” feature to connect additional devices and play together with friends. Connect through the same Wi-Fi network, use each device as a controller, and enjoy a shared gaming experience. SAVE AND CONTINUE EASILY Save your progress and continue whenever you want. RetroOne makes it easy to return to recently played games without starting over. SMOOTH AND RESPONSIVE RetroOne is designed to deliver stable performance, responsive touch controls, and smooth gameplay across supported systems. Compatible external game controllers can also be used for a more traditional gaming experience. PLAY ANYTIME, ANYWHERE Whether you have a few free minutes or want a longer gaming session, RetroOne keeps your classic game library ready on iPhone and iPad — at home, while traveling, or together with friends. IMPORTANT INFORMATION RetroOne does not include games, ROMs, BIOS files, or copyrighted game content. Users must import game files created from titles they legally own. RetroOne is independently developed and is not affiliated with, sponsored, authorized, or endorsed by any console manufacturer or game publisher. All trademarks and copyrighted materials belong to their respective owners. SUBSCRIPTION AND LEGAL RetroOne Plus is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewable subscription, or as a one-time purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://mmtstudio.site/privacy

Screenshots

emu4 screens
RetroOne4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: emu at none against RetroOne's shown. emu also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). RetroOne's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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. emu sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and RetroOne sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for emu against 5.0 for RetroOne. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

emu ships an update every 2 days, RetroOne fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 4 level
emu versus RetroOne: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteremuRetroOne
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size145 MB179 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCode and DESIGN incNguyen Dinh Gioi

Customer experience

emu

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

RetroOne

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

emu

One-time1
  • Hide Ads$4.99
3 purchases

RetroOne

Subscriptions2
  • RetroOne Plus Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • RetroOne Plus Yearly$44.991 Year
One-time1
  • RetroOne Plus Lifetime$79.99

Questions

Is emu free?
emu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RetroOne free?
RetroOne is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, emu or RetroOne?
emu and RetroOne are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do emu or RetroOne have ads?
RetroOne shows ads; emu does not.
Which is updated more often, emu or RetroOne?
emu ships an update every 2 days, and RetroOne fortnightly. Most recently, emu was updated on October 31, 2026 and RetroOne on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons