Play retro games from Game Boy, Nintendo DS, PSP, N64, PlayStation, and more on your iPhone or iPad.
Great News! As of 2024, emulators are officially allowed on the App Store! Many emulators like Delta, PPSSPP, and RetroArch are now available for direct download.
Are Emulators Legal?
Yes, emulators themselves are completely legal. Emulators are software that mimics hardware - they don't contain any copyrighted code from the original consoles.
However, the ROMs (game files) are a different matter. It's legal to create backups of games you own, but downloading ROMs for games you don't own is piracy.
Quick Comparison
| Emulator | Systems | App Store? | Best For | |----------|---------|------------|----------| | Delta | NES, SNES, N64, GBC, GBA, DS | Yes | Nintendo fans | | PPSSPP | PSP | Yes | PSP games | | RetroArch | 50+ systems | Yes | Power users | | Provenance | 30+ systems | Sideload | All-in-one | | DolphiniOS | GameCube, Wii | Sideload | GC/Wii games | | Play! | PlayStation 2 | Sideload | PS2 games |
Delta Emulator
Delta is the most popular and polished emulator for iOS. Created by Riley Testut (also behind AltStore), it offers an incredibly smooth, native-feeling experience.
Supported Systems
- Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
- Super Nintendo (SNES)
- Nintendo 64 (N64)
- Game Boy / Game Boy Color
- Game Boy Advance (GBA)
- Nintendo DS
Key Features
- iCloud Sync - Save games sync across all your devices
- Controller Support - MFi, Xbox, PlayStation, and Backbone controllers
- Custom Skins - Change the on-screen controller appearance
- Save States - Save and load at any point
- Fast Forward - Speed up gameplay
- Local Multiplayer - Play with friends locally
How to Get Delta
App Store: Search "Delta - Game Emulator" on the App Store. AltStore: Built into AltStore by default.
Performance Tip: N64 and DS games are more demanding. For best performance, close other apps and ensure your device isn't in Low Power Mode.
PPSSPP - PSP Emulator
PPSSPP is the best PSP (PlayStation Portable) emulator available. It offers excellent compatibility (95%+ of games work) and impressive graphics upscaling.
Key Features
- HD Upscaling - Render games at up to 5x resolution
- Save States - Quick save/load functionality
- Controller Support - Full controller support
- Cheats - Built-in cheat support
- Multiplayer - Ad-hoc multiplayer for some games
- Homebrew Store - Download free homebrew games
Popular PSP Games
- God of War: Chains of Olympus / Ghost of Sparta
- Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
- Final Fantasy Crisis Core
- Gran Turismo
- Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
- Persona 3 Portable
How to Get PPSSPP
App Store: Search "PPSSPP - PSP emulator" (free version available, Gold for $4.99).
RetroArch - Multi-System Frontend
RetroArch isn't a single emulator - it's a frontend that lets you run multiple emulator "cores" for different systems. It's extremely powerful but has a steeper learning curve.
Supported Systems (50+)
- NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, GBA, DS
- PlayStation 1, PSP
- Sega Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast
- Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, Jaguar, Lynx
- Neo Geo, Arcade (MAME)
- And many more...
Key Features
- Shader Support - CRT filters, smoothing, etc.
- Achievements - RetroAchievements integration
- Netplay - Online multiplayer for some cores
- Highly Configurable - Customize everything
When to Use RetroArch
- You want to play obscure/older systems
- You want advanced features like shaders
- You prefer one app for all emulation
- You're comfortable with complex settings
How to Get RetroArch
App Store: Search "RetroArch" (Note: iOS App Store version has some limitations). Sideload: Full version available via AltStore for more features.
Provenance - All-in-One Emulator
Provenance is a multi-system emulator with a beautiful, native iOS interface. It's easier to use than RetroArch while still supporting many systems.
Supported Systems
- Nintendo: NES, SNES, N64, GB/GBC/GBA
- Sega: Master System, Genesis, CD, 32X, Game Gear
- Sony: PlayStation 1
- Atari: 2600, 5200, 7800, Jaguar, Lynx
- Neo Geo, PC Engine, WonderSwan, and more
How to Get Provenance
Sideload Only: Available via AltStore sources.
Other Notable Emulators
- DolphiniOS - GameCube and Wii emulator. Good performance on newer iPhones.
- Play! - PlayStation 2 emulator. Still in development, compatibility varies.
- iNDS - Dedicated Nintendo DS emulator. Lightweight alternative to Delta for DS.
- Flycast - Sega Dreamcast emulator with good compatibility.
Getting ROMs
Emulators need ROM files (game data) to work. Here are legal ways to obtain ROMs:
Legal Options
- Dump your own games - Create backups from cartridges/discs you own
- Homebrew games - Many free, legal homebrew games exist
- Public domain ROMs - Some older games are now public domain
- Developer releases - Some developers release old games for free
Legal Notice: Downloading ROMs for games you don't own is piracy and illegal. We don't link to ROM sites. Please respect developers' intellectual property.
Adding ROMs to Emulators
- Download ROM files to your device (Files app)
- Open the emulator
- Use the import or "+" function to add ROMs
- Or share ROM files to the emulator via Share Sheet
Recommendations by Use Case
"I just want to play Pokemon/Mario"
Use Delta. It's on the App Store, beautifully designed, and perfect for Nintendo games.
"I want to play PSP games"
Use PPSSPP. Available on App Store with excellent performance and HD upscaling.
"I want every retro system"
Use RetroArch for power and flexibility, or Provenance for ease of use.
"I want GameCube/Wii games"
Use DolphiniOS. Requires sideloading but offers great GC/Wii emulation.