Emulators are finally allowed on the App Store and that opens a whole world of possibilities for playing retro games on iPhone. The world of emulation can feel a little overwhelming at times, but this guide to the best gaming emulators for iPhone and iPad should give you a good idea of where to start.
With recent changes to Apple's App Store rules, new emulators are starting to appear daily, so keep an eye on this list to make sure you've got the best ones available.
If you're in the EU, the ability to download emulators via third-party app stores like AltStore means you have more software options to choose from. But fret not, those of us outside the EU, have direct access to some of the best options out there at the moment and more emulators will follow.
Here are the best gaming emulators for iPhone and iPad in 2024.
Emulators and ROMs 101 Risks and benefits
An emulator is a device or program that imitates another computer or program. For example, a PSP emulator mimics the PSP and can play compatible PSP games on whatever device it is on. The second half of an emulator is the ROMs. A ROM is the downloadable version of the game necessary for playing said game. So, you can think of the emulator as a digital console while the ROM is a digital game.
Users often need to jailbreak their iOS device in order to run emulators and ROMs, which can open the device to some security risks. Only do so if you know what you are doing and are ok with the possible consequences. Emulators can be very helpful for game preservation and allow you to run apps you usually couldn't on the device that hosts them. However, they also tend to run slower than the device they're mimicking since they're reproducing a behavior rather than having been built for it.
Users need to be careful when downloading emulators and ROMs since it is possible for a virus or malware to pretend to be either one of these things. Only download from sources you've researched and trust. Additionally, while emulators are mostly legal, the ROMs or programs you download to use on said emulators are often illegal copies making you party to pirating. You should look into any ROM you plan on downloading along with regulations in your area before downloading anything. Because of this uncertain background, Apple does not allow many emulators on the App Store. So you'll need to download many of them from their own sites.
Delta
Delta is a very popular emulator designed to emulate retro gaming systems like Nintendo 64, NES, SNES, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, DS, and more. It also offers support for PS4, PS5, Xbox One S, and Xbox Series X controllers for more comfortable play. You'll just want to choose the best iPhone or iPad controller that works with these emulators. Among its many convenient features, it automatically saves as you progress and supports quick saves if you're using a controller. What's more, even cheat codes are made accessible through various Game Genie and Game Shark programs.
DolphiniOS Emulator
This emulator is "based on an open-source Dolphin emulator for Desktop." It's specifically designed to be able to run Nintendo Wii and GameCube ROMs on compatible iOS devices. Users must first jailbreak the iOS device and then download the emulator. Once it's running, players can access their ROM library from within DolphiniOS or can easily add more to the library by pressing the plus button in the upper right-hand corner.
Provenance
The Provenance emulator works incredibly well on iOS and mimics programs for Nintendo, Sony, Sega, and more. The program allows you to save whenever you'd like so you can pick up wherever you left off. Plus, it's compatible with the iCade, MFi, or Steam controllers if you happen to have any of those. You will need to go to the Provenance Wiki to download and install it.
Eclipse
Eclipse is built for ROMs from NES, SNES, Game Boy Color, Sega Genesis, and Sega Game Gear. It's a relatively new multi-emulator and totes itself as being unrevokable. The interface is smooth, allowing you to simply tap on an icon to open any given ROM you've previously downloaded. You can save or fast forward through long cutscenes whenever you'd like. Users can also get access to a large library of games by downloading them from Game Hub.
Happy Chick
Happy Chick is built to run 18 gaming systems, including PlayStation 1-3, Nintendo 64, DS, Game Boy, PSP, and more. It is compatible with a large list of ROMS and even supports online multiplayer for compatible ROMs. Players can use the GameSire G3s or the GameSir G4s controllers to play more comfortably. Instructions for downloading and installing the emulator on iPhone and iPad are available on the official website.
Retro Arch
Retro Arch is yet another multi-emulator that is compatible with several older platforms. Downloading it on your iPhone or iPad can allow you to access ROMs for several gaming systems like Sega Genesis, Atari, DOS, Neo Geo Pocket, and more. Save when you want, rewind to play through a section better, and much more with its convenience features.
Where to find ROMs
Simply performing a Google Search for ROMs isn't the best way to go about it since you're never quite sure if you're landing on a safe downloading link or not. Instead, you should only download from trusted locations. Archive.org is a great choice. Just remember that you should only download ROMS from files and games you own. Doing otherwise is considered pirating and violates intellectual property laws.
To better keep track of your ROMs, we suggest making a new folder and keeping them all within it. It can also make it easier to access them from the emulator if they're all in one place.
Best controllers for iPad and iPhone
Many emulators also offer gaming controller support on iPhone and iPad to make playing more convenient. However, you'll need to check with each emulator to see which controllers are compatible with both the emulator and your device. Some of the most common controllers to support are the Xbox controller or a PlayStation controller.
Plenty to choose from
You can always trust iMore. Our team of Apple experts have years of experience testing all kinds of tech and gadgets, so you can be sure our recommendations and criticisms are accurate and helpful. Find out more about how we test.
There must be hundreds of gaming emulators out there, but not all of them are created equally. To get the best experiences and avoid malicious viruses we recommend sticking to the ones we've listed. If you're only going to do one, we recommend Delta. It works with a number of different controllers and ROMs and has several convenience features.
Another popular choice is the DolphiniOS. Before being able to use it, users will need to jailbreak their iPhone or iPad. However, it has a good interface and works very well. Lastly, the Eclipse emulator offers an intuitive interface and is easy to use. It allows players to fast forward through slow bits of games and save whenever they want to.
Switch fan's choice
Anyone with the iOS 16 update can now use the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller with their iPhone or iPad. It has a comfortable design with large buttons and joysticks that feel great for gaming.
A perfect choice
Many people believe that Xbox Controllers are the most comfortable ones to hold. They have good button placement and offer a great ergonomic grip.
A worth competitor
Sony's PS4 controller is also a popular choice that many people find comfortable holding. Just make sure that it's compatible with whatever you're planning to use it with.
