Demand for emulator apps has only increased with Apple lifting the ban on retro game emulators on the App Store. Now, classic emulator RetroArch has made its way onto the platform, supporting Atari 2600, PSP, and SNES games among various options.
The app has been around for over 20 years and was first developed in 2010, becoming one of the first few established emulators, boasting advanced GPU shader support, dynamic rate control, and audio DSP plugins.
The best part is that it’s entirely free-to-play, and its diverse range of supported console types means you can play hundreds of games on it, from Asteroids to Castlevania, and practically any libretro core game.
The app supports iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices running iOS 14 or later, and is currently unavailable on Mac devices. Loading up a game works the same way as any other emulator —download the desired ROM, import it into the app, and you’ll be able to play.
And if you’ve played solo for long enough, the app also has an online multiplayer function where you can challenge players across the globe, or grab a few friends for a gaming session. There’s plenty of customisation in RetroArch that might take a while to get used to, but it enables users to remap buttons or keys for each emulation core or game, fast-forward and rewind, and access gyro controls.
RetroArch is currently free to play on the App Store.
Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.
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