Best Retro Nes Emulator Apps & Games

249+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.5 avg rating
19 free apps & games
Updated September 2026

With an average user rating of 4.5★, the retro nes emulator category is one of the App Store's strongest. Browse all 249+ apps and games we track, sorted so the most loved ones surface first.

Compare top Retro Nes Emulator Apps & Games (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Retro NES EmulatorRetro NES EmulatorFree5.0★ (2)NoYesAug 2026
2Delta - Game EmulatorDelta - Game EmulatorFree4.8★ (28K)NoYesSep 2026
3eNES: NES & SNES Retro EmueNES: NES & SNES Retro EmuFree4.4★ (176)YesYesSep 2026
4Game Emulator - PS1, GBA, DSGame Emulator - PS1, GBA, DSFree4.6★ (64)NoYesSep 2026
5EmuTribe: Retro EmulatorEmuTribe: Retro EmulatorFree3.7★ (3)YesYesAug 2026
6Game Emulator: GB4 Retro GamesGame Emulator: GB4 Retro GamesFree4.7★ (364)YesYesSep 2026
7Pro Nes EmulatorPro Nes EmulatorFree5.0★ (1)NoYesSep 2026
8Video Game - Play & ExploreVideo Game - Play & ExploreFree3.9★ (96)YesYesSep 2026

Top Picks for Retro Nes Emulator

Retro NES Emulator#1

Retro NES Emulator by Tao Cheng

Library manager & game player.
Editor's Choice
🔧 Utilities
5.0(2 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Retro NES Emulator screenshot 1
Retro NES Emulator screenshot 2
Retro NES Emulator screenshot 3
Retro NES Emulator screenshot 4
Retro NES Emulator screenshot 5

Transform your device into a classic 8-bit and 16-bit gaming console. This emulator supports multiple retro systems and allows you to organize your legally owned game files with custom metadata and artwork. Enjoy a pro gaming experience with customizable controls and an in-app browser for game guides.

Delta - Game Emulator#2

Delta - Game Emulator by Testut Tech

An AltStore app
Strong Contender
🎬 Entertainment
4.8😊(28K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#86in Entertainment
Delta - Game Emulator screenshot 1
Delta - Game Emulator screenshot 2
Delta - Game Emulator screenshot 3
Delta - Game Emulator screenshot 4

This app allows you to play classic games from various retro consoles on your iOS or iPadOS device. It supports multiple systems, online multiplayer for some games, and extensive controller customization. You can also manage game saves, use cheats, and sync your data across devices.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Smooth performance
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 🎮 Great controller support
  • 💾 Convenient save/load states
  • 🔥 Awesome emulation quality
  • 🎨 Customizable skins
  • 🔍 Easy game management
  • 🔒 No ads or in-app purchases

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes
  • 🔇 Audio issues (crackling, skipping)
  • 📱 Limited screen space for DS games
  • 🎮 Sensitivity issues with touch controls
  • 🔋 Potential battery drain
  • 🔍 Confusing file management
eNES: NES & SNES Retro Emu#3

eNES: NES & SNES Retro Emu by Mattia La Spina

NES & SNES Games with TAS
Worth Considering
🛠️ Developer Tools
4.4😐(176 ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#82in Developer Tools
eNES: NES & SNES Retro Emu screenshot 1
eNES: NES & SNES Retro Emu screenshot 2
eNES: NES & SNES Retro Emu screenshot 3
eNES: NES & SNES Retro Emu screenshot 4
eNES: NES & SNES Retro Emu screenshot 5

Relive classic NES and SNES gaming on iOS with this lightweight retro emulator. Enjoy features like automatic saving, external controller support, and customizable on-screen controls for an optimized nostalgic experience.

What We Love

  • 👍 Great emulator for retro games
  • 🚀 Supports Dendy, Sega, and SNES games
  • 📦 Lightweight and easy to use
  • 🌟 Good support from developers
  • ✅ No ads reported by one user

Room to Improve

  • 👎 Controls are difficult and unresponsive
  • 👎 Directional buttons are problematic
  • 👎 Games often unplayable due to controls
  • 👎 Lacks essential buttons like reset
  • 👎 Some games have missing audio tracks
  • 👎 ROM compatibility issues
  • 👎 Difficult to add ROMs
  • 👎 Subscription required for progress saving
  • 👎 App crashes frequently
  • 👎 Not user-friendly
  • 👎 Some games are not included
  • 👎 Small touch buttons
  • 👎 No local netplay
  • 👎 Limited emulator support for mappers
  • 👎 Can't press A and B buttons simultaneously
  • 👎 ROMs larger than 200K not supported
  • 👎 No turbo button functionality
  • 👎 Screen controller needs improvement
  • 👎 Diagonal directions not working
  • 👎 Left direction sometimes not working
  • 👎 No fluid switch for directions
  • 👎 Back button doesn't work
  • 👎 Some ROMs don't load
  • 👎 User interface not customizable
  • 👎 No corner buttons for shooting

More Retro Nes Emulator apps to explore

FAQ about Retro Nes Emulator

What are the best retro nes emulator apps & games for iPhone?
Retro NES Emulator tops our retro nes emulator apps & games ranking as of September 2026, with a 5.0-star average from 2 App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 19 of the top retro nes emulator apps & games we rank are free to download, including Retro NES Emulator and Delta - Game Emulator.
Retro NES Emulator has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 249+ retro nes emulator apps & games on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
No, Retro NES Emulator is a game emulator and does not come with any games, ROMs, or copyrighted software. Users must provide their own legally owned game files.
Retro NES Emulator supports NES, SNES (SFC), Game Boy (GB), Game Boy Advance (GBA), and Sega Mega Drive (MD) systems.