# Retro Classics vs ArcEmu

The clearest difference is price: ArcEmu at Free against Retro Classics's $3.99. ArcEmu also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 60%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 57 months). Retro Classics's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 16.0). On rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

ArcEmu is free to download; Retro Classics costs $3.99 up front. ArcEmu sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Retro Classics asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Retro Classics against 4.9 for ArcEmu. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of Retro Classics's written reviews are positive against 95% of ArcEmu's.

Retro Classics ships an update every 57 months, ArcEmu every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro Classics | ArcEmu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-classics-collection-2/id853727709/reviews)** | [4.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **1.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **94.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 57 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 46 MB | 234 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rob Wilmot](https://appshunter.io/developer/520672432) | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) |

## What reviewers say

### Retro Classics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-classics-collection-2/id853727709)

Relive the golden age of arcade gaming with this collection of four classic 80s tabletop electronic games. Experience authentic retro graphics, sounds, and addictive gameplay that defined an era. Perfect for nostalgic gamers and new players alike.

**Highlights:** Four classic 80s tabletop arcade games, Authentic retro graphics and sounds, Addictive old-school gameplay, Accurate machine simulations, i-Cade controller support, Score tracking and combined scores, Game Center integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All (Upgrade 4) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Game Boy Advance | $0.99 | one-time |
| SNES | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pokémon Mini | $0.99 | one-time |
| Atari 2600 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mega Drive / Genesis | $0.99 | one-time |
| Game Gear | $0.99 | one-time |
| Master System | $0.99 | one-time |
| SG-1000 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All (Upgrade 3) | $1.99 | one-time |

**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 Retro Classics free?

Retro Classics costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ArcEmu free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retro Classics or ArcEmu?

Retro Classics is rated higher. Retro Classics averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while ArcEmu averages 4.9 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Retro Classics or ArcEmu have ads?

Neither Retro Classics nor ArcEmu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retro Classics or ArcEmu?

Retro Classics ships an update every 57 months, and ArcEmu every 2 weeks. Most recently, Retro Classics was updated on October 26, 2026 and ArcEmu on October 27, 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.*