Best Retro Art Apps & Games

247+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
19 free apps & games
Updated October 2026

Out of 247+ retro art apps and games on iOS, 19 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 Retro Art Apps & Games (October 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1RetroArchRetroArchFree4.3โ˜… (1.9K)NoNoNov 2026
2Retro Art StudioRetro Art StudioFree4.7โ˜… (3)YesYesMay 2026
3Ditherable: Retro & Pixel artDitherable: Retro & Pixel artFree4.8โ˜… (80)NoYesOct 2026
4Lite-Brite Numbers Retro ArtLite-Brite Numbers Retro ArtFree4.4โ˜… (120)NoYesOct 2026
5Vintage Film Camera: Retro ArtVintage Film Camera: Retro ArtFree4.6โ˜… (4.4K)YesYesOct 2026
6PhotoShaders: Retro Photo ArtPhotoShaders: Retro Photo ArtFreeโ€”NoYesSep 2026
7Retro 80s ShapesRetro 80s Shapes$0.99โ€”NoNoMay 2026
8Retro Tech CollectorRetro Tech CollectorFreeโ€”NoYesOct 2026

Top Picks for Retro Art

RetroArch#1

RetroArch by Libretro

A frontend for emulators
Editor's Choice
๐ŸŽฎ Games
4.3๐Ÿ˜Š(1.9K 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

  • ๐Ÿš€ Smooth emulation performance
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Wide range of supported systems
  • ๐Ÿ•น๏ธ Controller support
  • ๐Ÿ’ฏ Comprehensive emulation features
  • ๐Ÿ”“ No ads or tracking
  • ๐ŸŽ‰ Brings retro gaming to iOS

Room to Improve

  • ๐Ÿคฏ Steep learning curve
  • ๐Ÿค– Unintuitive user interface
  • ๐Ÿ› Stability issues and crashes
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Slow loading times
  • ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ Inconsistent core support
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Subpar touch controls
4.7๐Ÿ˜ž(3 ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Retro Art Studio screenshot 1
Retro Art Studio screenshot 2
Retro Art Studio screenshot 3
Retro Art Studio screenshot 4
Retro Art Studio screenshot 5

Unleash your creativity with three classic-inspired art tools. Design pixel art, create vibrant peg-style designs, or sketch with playful dial controls. This app offers a simple, satisfying, and mess-free way to make art for all ages.

What We Love

  • ๐ŸŽจ Good for pixel art
  • ๐Ÿ•น๏ธ Nostalgic feel
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Simple and easy to use
  • ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Clear saving to gallery
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Good for educational purposes (K-2)
  • โœจ Realistic etch-a-sketch emulation
  • ๐ŸŒŸ Lite-brite emulation
  • ๐Ÿ’ฏ Honest and as advertised
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Great user interface

Room to Improve

  • ๐Ÿ’ฅ Frequent crashes
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ Low quality etch-a-sketch
  • ๐Ÿค Tiny icons
  • ๐Ÿšซ Too many ads
  • โŒ No undo feature
  • ๐ŸŽจ Limited color palette
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ Drawing templates too small (after update)
  • ๐Ÿ˜ต Glitchy overall
  • ๐Ÿค” Confusing interface
  • ๐Ÿ‘Ž Bad update
  • ๐Ÿชฒ Pixel art only gives 5 colors
  • ๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ Waste of time
  • ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ Can't do anything cool
  • ๐Ÿ’ธ Not worth paying for
  • โš ๏ธ Icons off screen on some devices
  • ๐Ÿšซ Facebook button not working
  • ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Save image is a screenshot of the whole screen

More Retro Art apps to explore

FAQ about Retro Art

What are the best retro art apps & games for iPhone?
RetroArch tops our retro art apps & games ranking as of October 2026, with a 4.3-star average from 1.9K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes โ€” 19 of the top retro art apps & games we rank are free to download, including RetroArch and Retro Art Studio.
RetroArch has no ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of October 2026.
We track 247+ retro art apps & games on the iOS App Store as of October 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.

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