# 2 vs ArcEmu

The clearest difference is rating: ArcEmu at 4.9 against 2's 3.4. ArcEmu also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (95% vs 63%). 2's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $1.99) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 15.5). On ads there is nothing between them.

2 costs $0.99 and ArcEmu $1.99 up front. 2 sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. ArcEmu asks for nothing beyond the download.

ArcEmu holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of 2's written reviews are positive against 95% of ArcEmu's.

2 ships an update monthly, ArcEmu every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | 2 | ArcEmu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [3.4 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2-bit-cowboy/id850089184/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 20 | **1.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 62.8% of reviews | **94.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 40 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cascadia Games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/311034757) | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) |

## What reviewers say

### 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2-bit-cowboy/id850089184)

Embark on a Western adventure in this retro-styled action platformer. Play as a customizable cowboy or cowgirl, explore vast levels, and engage in classic Wild West activities like gambling and riding horses. Become a legend of the old West.

**Highlights:** Customizable cowboy characters, Huge levels to explore, Gamble at casinos, Ride horses and minecarts, Retro Gameboy style graphics, Gamepad support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coin Doubler | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3,000 Cents | $1.99 | one-time |
| 9,000 Cents | $2.99 | one-time |
| 18,000 Cents | $3.99 | one-time |


### ArcEmu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733)

Experience retro gaming on your Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad. This emulator supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges. Enjoy features like multiplayer, cheats, and customizable controls.

**Highlights:** Game Boy, GBC, GBA emulation, Multiplayer support, Cheat codes, Customizable on-screen controls, Save State sharing, iCloud support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fully functional
- 🚀 Impressive emulation on Apple Watch
- 👍 Great emulator for both phone and watch
- 👍 Seamless save state transfer between devices
- 👍 Customizable controls and layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with some games
- 🐛 Audio quality problems on certain games
- 👎 Limited functionality on Apple Watch
- 👎 Difficult controls for action-heavy games on watch

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes
- Graphical glitches with certain ROMs
- Save data not transferring properly between devices

**Requested features**

- Add cheat/GameShark support
- Improve volume controls
- Implement fast forward/slow motion options
- Allow multiple save slots per game
- Improve Game Boy Color support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 2 free?

2 costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is ArcEmu free?

ArcEmu costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 2 or ArcEmu?

ArcEmu is rated higher. 2 averages 3.4 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while ArcEmu averages 4.9 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do 2 or ArcEmu have ads?

Neither 2 nor ArcEmu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 2 or ArcEmu?

2 ships an update monthly, and ArcEmu every 2 weeks. Most recently, 2 was updated on October 21, 2026 and ArcEmu on October 21, 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.*