RetroArch

Category
Games

Description of App

RetroArch is a free, ad-free, open source, and cross platform frontend/framework for emulators, game engines, video games, media players, and other applications. Supported systems come in the form of libretro cores. The following cores are included:

  • 2048
  • Amstrad - CPC (CrocoDS)
  • Amstrad - CPC/GX4000 (Caprice32)
  • Arcade (FinalBurn Neo)
  • Atari - 2600 (Stella 2014)
  • Atari - 2600 (Stella)
  • Atari - 5200 (Atari800)
  • Atari - 5200 (a5200)
  • Atari - 7800 (ProSystem)
  • Atari - Lynx (Handy)
  • Bandai - WonderSwan/Color (Beetle Cygne)
  • Cave Story (NXEngine)
  • Commodore - Amiga (PUAE)
  • Commodore - C128 (VICE x128)
  • Commodore - C64 (VICE x64, fast)
  • Commodore - C64 (VICE x64sc, accurate)
  • Commodore - C64 SuperCPU (VICE xscpu64)
  • Commodore - CBM-II 5x0 (VICE xcbm5x0)
  • Commodore - CBM-II 6x0/7x0 (VICE xcbm2)
  • Commodore - PET (VICE xpet)
  • Commodore - PLUS/4 (VICE xplus4)
  • Commodore - VIC-20 (VICE xvic)
  • Dinothawr
  • Doom (PrBoom)
  • DOS (DOSBox-Pure)
  • Fairchild ChannelF (FreeChaF)
  • GCE - Vectrex (vecx)
  • Game Music Emu
  • Handheld Electronic (GW)
  • MSX/SVI/ColecoVision/SG-1000 (blueMSX)
  • Mattel - Intellivision (FreeIntv)
  • NEC - PC Engine / CD (Beetle PCE FAST)
  • NEC - PC Engine / SuperGrafx / CD (Beetle PCE)
  • NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx (Beetle SuperGrafx)
  • NEC - PC-98 (Neko Project II Kai)
  • Nintendo - DS (DeSmuME)
  • Nintendo - DS (melonDS DS)
  • Nintendo - Game Boy / Color (Gambatte)
  • Nintendo - Game Boy / Color (Gearboy)
  • Nintendo - Game Boy / Color (SameBoy)
  • Nintendo - Game Boy / Color (TGB Dual)
  • Nintendo - Game Boy Advance (VBA Next)
  • Nintendo - Game Boy Advance (VBA-M)
  • Nintendo - Game Boy Advance (gpSP)
  • Nintendo - Game Boy Advance (mGBA)
  • Nintendo - NES / Famicom (FCEUmm)
  • Nintendo - NES / Famicom (Mesen)
  • Nintendo - NES / Famicom (Nestopia UE)
  • Nintendo - NES / Famicom (QuickNES)
  • Nintendo - Nintendo 64 (Mupen64Plus-Next)
  • Nintendo - Pokemon Mini (PokeMini)
  • Nintendo - SNES / SFC (Snes9x 2005)
  • Nintendo - SNES / SFC (Snes9x 2010)
  • Nintendo - SNES / SFC (Snes9x)
  • Nintendo - SNES / SFC (bsnes)
  • Nintendo - SNES / SFC (bsnes-hd beta)
  • Nintendo - SNES / SFC / Game Boy / Color (Mesen-S)
  • Nintendo - Virtual Boy (Beetle VB)
  • Palm OS (Mu)
  • PocketCDG
  • Quake (TyrQuake)
  • Rick Dangerous (XRick)
  • SNK - Neo Geo AES/MVS (Geolith)
  • SNK - Neo Geo CD (NeoCD)
  • SNK - Neo Geo Pocket / Color (Beetle NeoPop)
  • SNK - Neo Geo Pocket / Color (RACE)
  • ScummVM
  • Sega - MS/GG (SMS Plus GX)
  • Sega - MS/GG/MD/CD (Genesis Plus GX Wide)
  • Sega - MS/GG/MD/CD (Genesis Plus GX)
  • Sega - MS/GG/MD/CD/32X (PicoDrive)
  • Sega - MS/GG/SG-1000 (Gearsystem)
  • Sega - Saturn (Beetle Saturn)
  • Sharp - X68000 (PX68k)
  • Sinclair - ZX Spectrum (Fuse)
  • Sony - PlayStation (Beetle PSX HW)
  • Sony - PlayStation (Beetle PSX)
  • Sony - PlayStation (PCSX ReARMed)
  • Sony - PlayStation Portable (PPSSPP)
  • Texas Instruments TI-83 (Numero)
  • Thomson - MO/TO (Theodore)
  • Vircon32
  • VirtualXT
  • WASM-4
  • Watara - Supervision (Potator)

RetroArch supports a broad range of features, including:

  • Netplay
  • Soft patching
  • RetroAchievements
  • Save states
  • MFi controller support
  • Key remapping per core or per game
  • Gyro
  • Cheats
  • Custom overlays
  • Shaders
  • Fast forward and rewind
  • Game artwork
  • AI translations
  • Advanced latency management

RetroArch and Libretro are in no way affiliated with Nintendo. The name "Nintendo" and all associated game console names are registered trademarks of Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Version

1.18.3

Free or Paid

Free

Apple Watch Support

No

Device(s) App Was Tested On

iPhone

iOS Version

17.5

Accessibility Comments

When VoiceOver is running, Retroarch's accessibility mode will be enabled automatically. You will need a game controller to use this app and play the games. You can use Made For iPhone controllers (either Bluetooth or wired), or PS4/5 or XBox controllers if you have any. Other Bluetooth controllers, or keyboards, will also likely work. You can use screen recognition in games to read menus, character dialog, information, pause screens, and some character select screens.

VoiceOver Performance

Not applicable for this app.

Button Labeling

Not applicable for this app.

Usability

The app is fully accessible without the use of VoiceOver

Other Comments

After Apple began allowing retro game emulators into the App Store, I eagerly awaited the release of Retroarch for iOS. Once it was, I talked to one of the devs about including accessibility support like there is for MacOS. After some reworking of the code, and adding in support for turning on accessibility when VoiceOver is detected, I can use it and safely say that it works amazingly well! For getting started with Retroarch, please read This guide from the Retroarch site. For the most part, update all the stuff in content updater, put some games in the Retroarch Downloads folder or make a games folder, load content, load the game, and you're good. Note that you'll need to obtain games yourself, through legal means. Please note that cores that require JIT performance improvements, like Gamecube or PS2, are not included in the App Store release of Retroarch. I eagerly await the day when Apple allows JIT in more than just Safari.

App Store Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/retroarch/id6499539433

Developer's Website

https://www.retroarch.com/

Developer's Twitter Username

@libretro

Recommendations

2 people have recommended this app

Most recently recommended by Devin Prater 8 months 1 week ago

Options

Comments

By Brian on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

I used to play around with some old SNES fighting games using RetroArch for macOS. While admittedly it took some time to setup, the end goal was worth it. For a time. Got to play some old 90s games like the early Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat games.

Anyway, I am wondering how the usability and accessibility compares with this version?

Thanks in advance. šŸ™‚

By Firefly on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

When you say game controllers that are made for iPhone, can you give me some examples possibly? That are not too expensive? This sounds like a very interesting app and Iā€™d love to give it a spin, I remember when my brother and sister used to play these Nintendo games when they were growing up, but at that time, I was too young, to really play them, and the technology for the blind is not like it is today.

By Devin Prater on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

Retroarch for iOS should have everything the Mac version has, except for emulators like Dolphin for Gamecube/Wii, and PS2/PS3. For MFI game controllers, these are like the GameVice, Nimbus, and stuff like this. This page has a good list of controllers. Don't get too hung up on those though, since you can easily use a PS4/PS%, or XBox controller.

By Firefly on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

Thank you for the info, now I just have to figure out where to obtain some of these games that are compatible with this engine. I am brand new at this type of thing as far as emulators go, but I want to learn and give it a try.

By ming on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

well,
when I first download this app...I thought it is not accessible at all...
compare with delta
my question is:
how to add games to the app?

By Joe on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

Use files and go to on this iPad for me since I am using a iPad. Once you look at folders on your device you will find a retro arch folder. Go in there and find downloads put the games in that folder.

By ming on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

so, if I put any games in the download's folder...
it willautomatically find it when open the app?

By Devin Prater on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

Two ways you can then load the games:

  • Load content, you can browse the directory to find your games.
  • Import content, Go left two times, to the playlist menu, then choose Import content. This will scan your folders for games.

By ming on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

one more question:
do we need to care about the Bios
or we just put the roms of the game. in to the download's folder
and then we are good?

By ming on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

well,
I think I successfully inport one of the game in there.

but, seems the joystick is not working
I only can use the D pad
I am using ps5 controler

By Devin Prater on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

If the core requires it, you will need bios. Check the input settings and make sure your controller is set up and such.

By Joe on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

Does the stick work in the menus of retroarch? If so its possible the emulator doesn't support it. For example Mortal Kombat doesn't let you use the sticks on the nentendo because the nentendo didn't have sticks.

By ming on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

the joystick's problem fixed.
do we need to use the online updater to get the bios?

By Devin Prater on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

You'll need to get any needed bios from other places, legally by dumping them from your own console.

By ming on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

got it! thanks!
one more question...
how to change the naration voices...
do we need to do something in the setting app in our IPhone?
right now the voice is Samantha!

By Devin Prater on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

You'll go to settings, accessibility, spoken content, voices.

By Chad Blanco on Monday, May 27, 2024 - 19:44

I wonder if they could add accessibility to the retro arch app on tv os. That's the one thing I want. I've got everything else. But for a controller. Which will be fixed soon.

By Boris on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 19:44

Hello.
Can i play Warsim through this app?