Best emulators to play retro games on your iPhone

One of the standout features of the newest Pro iPhones – the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max – is the A17 Pro chipset being able to run console-level games like Death Stranding or the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Mirage. However, iPhone gamers who may want to keep all that aside soon, especially if they’re a fan of retro games.

This is because a number of retro gaming emulator apps have made it to the Apple App Store for the first time. These emulators, a frequent sight on Android phones, allow iPhone users to play games from eras bygone, including titles from the Game Boy, the first PlayStation, or even the Sony PSP.

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The best part? These emulators are not just limited to the Pro iPhones. Here’s a quick look at the best emulator apps you can try out right now.

Disclaimer: Whiles these apps themselves are safe, and officially available on the App Store, the same cannot be said for the games and their ROM/ISO files you will need. We recommend choosing your source for the game files carefully and proceeding with extreme caution when dealing with third-party websites.

Delta Game Emulator

Delta Game Emulator was the first emulator app to surface on the App Store, quickly gaining fame by becoming the most downloaded app within a couple of weeks.

Delta Game Emulator supports games from multiple handheld consoles, including the Game Boy, the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo 64. The app is free and requires no signup to use.

PPSSPP

Those who’ve used Android phones for some retro gaming may be well-versed with PPSSPP, but for those new to the segment, it is a free emulator that brings all your favourite games from the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) to your smartphones.

Also, a free app, PPSSPP has a full-fledged in-app UI and will work with all PSP games that support landscape orientation in HD resolution. There’s also a paid version called PPSSPP Gold that gives you a new golden icon and is a good way to support the app’s developers.

Gamma

For those who want to play games from a really long time ago, Gamma is an emulator that works as a stand in for one console – the original Sony PlayStation.

Bringing games from the PS1 to your phone, Gamma works in both portrait and landscape resolutions, allowing you practically turn your PS1 gameplay into a Game Boy-like experience. Gamma is also available on the App Store as a free download.

RetroArch

RetroArch is not exactly an emulator, but what’s called an emulator frontend. The app is a central platform where users can load up multiple emulation cores for various gaming platforms like the Atari 2600, the Game Boy Colour, or even the Sony PlayStation. It’s essentially like a single app that replaces multiple other emulators.

However, this also makes things slightly complex, and RetroArch may not be for you if you don’t want to switch emulators in the settings multiple times. However, if you are planning to try out games from multiple platforms, you should still give it a try.

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These are the best console emulators you can try out on your iPhones today. Most of these apps will work fine with all newer iPhones, irrespective of whether you have the Pro or base versions. However, do note that the performance of the emulated games themselves may depend on what device you are using.