Emulators on iOS

This page is about emulators that run on IOS.

For software that emulates IOS on other hardware, see iOS emulators.

Outdated note: update info and links due to App Store policy change.

iPadOS

Developer	Apple Inc.
Initial release	iPadOS 13 (2019)
Latest release	/ iPadOS 18 (2024)

iOS

Developer	Apple Inc.
Initial release	iPhone OS 1.0 (2007)
Latest release	/ iOS 18 (2024)

Before diving in;

• See each Wiki Category Consoles, Computers and Arcade for individual dedicated system pages to see more detailed comparisons and information about software emulators. Dedicated system pages provide more up-to-date listings and in-depth information on specific aspects like hardware features, peripheral support, and compatibility etc.
• Some games have Game engine recreations and source ports that run on iOS, which can be the better than emulators for their specific games.

Background Information (WIP)

Emulators were banned-Apple allowed them. JIT is still not allowed.

Installation Methods

App Store

The best and safest method to install most emulators is the App Store. (A few require JIT/sideloading).

Sideloading

Due to Apple restrictions, up to three apps can be sideloaded at a time (including Alt/SideServer, if applicable) and must be refreshed within one week to prevent from expiring without a paid Apple Developer account ($99/year). On iOS versions below 16.1.2 (excluding 15.7.2), MacDirtyCow's WDBRemoveThreeAppLimit exploit removes this restriction (compatible with AltStore).

AltStore

An effective method to sideload by Riley Testut which doesn't require jailbreaking your iDevice. It requires a connected AltServer running on a computer connected by cable or Wi-Fi to install and sideload other apps.

SideStore

A fork of AltStore that doesn't require a computer post-installation, instead using a Jitterbug paring file and WireGuard VPN Anisette servers.

Sideloadly

Xcode

Apps can be

Just-In-Time Enablers

Apple doesn't allow Just-In-Time Recompilation (or JIT), some emulators require it in order to run, requiring sideloading and a JIT server/enabler. Some popular JIT Servers:

StikJIT

Created by Blu and jkcoxson, requires a Jitterbug pairing file, the SideStore VPN, and Wi-Fi (due to Apple's limitations). Supersedes JitStreamer (EB).

AltJIT

Uses AltServer and AltStore to enable JIT, requires a Mac.

SideJITServer

Basically AltJIT for SideStore.

iOS/iPadOS

Multi-Systems

Name	Latest version	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
MAME
MAME4iOS	git	✓	✓	✓
libretro
RetroArch	1.20.0 Website	✓	✓	✓
Provenance	3.0.6 AltStore git	✓	✓	✓
Others
Delta	1.7 git	✓	✓	✓
Ignited	1.0.3 (GBA) AltStore git	✓	✓	TBD
Folium	1.17	✓	✓	~
UTM	4.6.2 (SE) AltStore git	✓	✓	✓

Sony

PlayStation 2

Name	Latest version	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended	JIT
Play!	Builds git	Low	BSD-2-Clause (Permissive)	✓	✓	✓

PlayStation Portable

Name	Latest version	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended
PPSSPP	1.18 Builds	High	GPLv2 (Copyleft)	✓	✓

Nintendo

GameCube / Wii

Name	Latest version	WiiWare	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended	JIT
DolphiniOS	AltStore git	~	?	GPLv2 (Copyleft)	✓	✓ (Beta)	✓

Nintendo Switch

Name	Latest version	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended	JIT
MeloNX	git	?	AGPLv3 (Copyleft)	✓	✓	✓
Pomelo	git	?	GPLv3 (Copyleft)	✗	✗	✓
Sudachi	git	?	GPLv3 (Copyleft)	✗	✗	✓

Sega

Dreamcast

Name	Latest version	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended	JIT
Flycast	AltStore Build git	High	GPLv2 (Copyleft)	✓	✓	✓

Apple Inc.

Macintosh 68k

Name	Latest version	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended
Mini vMac	git	?	GPLv2 (Copyleft)	✗	✓

Game Engine

ScummVM (point-and-click adventure game engine)

Name	Latest version	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended
ScummVM	2.9.0 git	?	GPLv2 (Copyleft)	✓	✓

OpenBOR

Name	Latest version	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended
OpenBOR-iOS	git	?	Non-commercial	~	✓

CHIP-8 / SCHIP

Name	Latest version	Libretro Core	License	Active	Recommended
iPhone-Chip-8-Emulator	git	✗	3.0 (Non-commercial)	✗	~

watchOS

watchOS

Developer	Apple Inc.
Initial release	watchOS 1 (2015)
Latest release	/ watchOS 11 (2024)

watchOS is an operating system based on iOS developed for the Apple Watch.

Nintendo

Game Boy / Color

Name	Latest versions	Hardware features and accessories	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended
SameBoy	1.0 git	~	High	MIT (Permissive)	✓	TBD
ArcEmu	1.7.1	~	?	TBD	✓	TBD

Game Boy Advance

Name	Lastest Versions	Accuracy	License	Active	Recommended
ArcEmu	1.7.1	?	TBD	✓	TBD

NES

Name	Latest versions	License	Active	Recommended
NESEmulator	WatchOS 8 fork Original version	MIT (Permissive)	✗	TBD

CHIP-8

Name	License	Active	Recommended
Chip-8-WatchOS	MIT (Permissive)	✗	!

See also

Guide to avaliable emulators for iOS

Emulators on other systems(edit)

• Calculators: Casio • NumWorks • TI • HP
• Handheld computers: Pandora • DragonBox Pyra • PocketChip
• Mobile: Android • iOS • iPadOS • MRE • Java • LineageOS • GrapheneOS
• Microcontrollers: STM32 • ESP8266 • ESP32 • TM4C
• Home computers: Commodore 64 • VIC-20 • BBC Micro • Tandy Color Computer 2 • Dragon 32/64 • Coleco Adam • ZX Spectrum • Cambridge Z88 • Atari 8-bit • Atari ST • PC-8800 • PC-9800
• Other: Rockbox • watchOS • visionOS • tvOS • webOS • iPod • UEFI • browsers • RetroFW • Arduino • PocketSprite • PICO-8 • TIC-80
• Operating systems:
  • Modern: Windows • Linux • macOS • Windows on ARM • Raspberry Pi • BSD
  • Legacy (Microsoft): DOS • Windows 3.x • Windows 9x • Enterprise Windows NT• Windows XP • Windows 7
  • Legacy (other): IRIX • BeOS • Towns OS • Classic Mac OS • NeXTSTEP • OS/2 • TempleOS • SunsOS
  • Legacy mobile (Microsoft): Windows CE • Pocket PC • Windows Mobile • Windows Phone • Windows RT
  • Legacy mobile (other): MeeGo • Palm OS • Symbian • EPOC • Blackberry OS • MediOS • Zaurus
  • Other: Amiga • AROS • RISC OS • QNX • KaiOS • KolibriOS • MorphOS • Haiku • Maemo • ToaruOS • Solaris • ZealOS • Redox • Fiwix • Minix3 • Sortix