Best Arcade Emulator Apps & Games

245+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.3 avg rating
20 free apps & games
Updated September 2026

Out of 245+ arcade emulator apps and games on iOS, 20 are free and the rest sit in the paid tier. This page sorts them so you can compare both sides before you commit.

Compare top Arcade Emulator Apps & Games (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1ArcadeManiaArcadeManiaFree4.4★ (122)NoNoAug 2026
2RetroArchRetroArchFree4.3★ (1.8K)NoNoSep 2026
3RetroPlay - Console EmulatorRetroPlay - Console EmulatorFree4.6★ (103)YesYesSep 2026
4Arcade Emulator:GBA/FC/MD/NDSArcade Emulator:GBA/FC/MD/NDSFree4.2★ (79)YesYesSep 2026
5iFBAs -Arcade EmulatoriFBAs -Arcade EmulatorFree3.8★ (101)NoNoAug 2026
6Delta - Game EmulatorDelta - Game EmulatorFree4.8★ (28K)NoYesSep 2026
7Retropa: Arcade & GBA EmulatorRetropa: Arcade & GBA EmulatorFree5.0★ (2)NoYesSep 2026
8Manic EMU - Game EmulatorManic EMU - Game EmulatorFree4.7★ (15K)NoYesSep 2026

Top Picks for Arcade Emulator

ArcadeMania#1

ArcadeMania by Infinite Evolution Technologies

Arcade Emulation and More
Editor's Choice
🎬 Entertainment
4.4😊(122 ratings)
Free
ArcadeMania screenshot 1
ArcadeMania screenshot 2
ArcadeMania screenshot 3

Relive classic arcade, computer, and electronic games from over three decades. This app utilizes the MAME emulation core to support thousands of titles, offering enhanced graphics and extensive controller support for an authentic retro gaming experience.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Smooth emulation
  • 👍 Great UI and options
  • 🎮 Flawless ROM importing and controller support
  • 💰 Free with no ads or IAPs

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Crashes on older iPad models
  • 🔊 No sound or music in some games
RetroArch#2

RetroArch by Libretro

A frontend for emulators
Strong Contender
🎮 Games
4.3😊(1.8K ratings)
Free
RetroArch screenshot 1
RetroArch screenshot 2
RetroArch screenshot 3
RetroArch screenshot 4

This application serves as a versatile frontend for emulators and game engines, supporting a vast array of systems through downloadable cores. It offers advanced features like netplay, save states, and customizable controls for an enhanced gaming experience.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Smooth emulation performance
  • 🎮 Wide range of supported systems
  • 🕹️ Controller support
  • 💯 Comprehensive emulation features
  • 🔓 No ads or tracking
  • 🎉 Brings retro gaming to iOS

Room to Improve

  • 🤯 Steep learning curve
  • 🤖 Unintuitive user interface
  • 🐛 Stability issues and crashes
  • 🔌 Slow loading times
  • 🤷‍♂️ Inconsistent core support
  • 🎮 Subpar touch controls
RetroPlay - Console Emulator#3

RetroPlay - Console Emulator by Hamza El karmouni

Play GBA, GBC, SNES & N64
Worth Considering
🎬 Entertainment
4.6(103 ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
RetroPlay - Console Emulator screenshot 1
RetroPlay - Console Emulator screenshot 2
RetroPlay - Console Emulator screenshot 3
RetroPlay - Console Emulator screenshot 4
RetroPlay - Console Emulator screenshot 5

Play classic games from GBA, SNES, N64, and more on your iPhone or iPad. This emulator offers smooth performance, customizable controls, and easy ROM import. Relive your favorite retro titles with enhanced audio and visual filters.

More Arcade Emulator apps to explore

FAQ about Arcade Emulator

What are the best arcade emulator apps & games for iPhone?
ArcadeMania tops our arcade emulator apps & games ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.4-star average from 122 App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top arcade emulator apps & games we rank are free to download, including ArcadeMania and RetroArch.
ArcadeMania has no ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 245+ arcade emulator apps & games on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
ArcadeMania allows you to play a vast library of classic games, including over 5,000 arcade titles, as well as vintage computer and electronic games from the past 30+ years. It uses the robust MAME emulation core to ensure compatibility with a wide range of classic software.
No, ROM files for the games are not included with ArcadeMania. Users are responsible for providing their own ROM files. You can import these ROMs directly into the app using its file import functionality or through the Files app on your device.

Related searches