[Hot!] 7 Best Game Emulators to Download on Your iOS Devices in 2023

Emulator software allows you to run games and apps on your mobile device. obtaining classic games like Pokémon and supermario from your apple store may not seem possible, but with an emulator on your iPhone, you can play almost any game.

Apple does not permit the download of emulators from its app store but you can get this software by visiting the official website of the emulator you wish to download and then downloading the APK file and installing it on your iPhone. To know some of the best emulators for iOS as well as an alternative, keep reading this guide.

Part 1: 7 Best Game Emulators for iPhone and iPad

If you have tried out the Apple Xcode simulator and you are unsatisfied with the gaming performance, you can consider some emulators that will work just well on your iPhone. These emulators are also helpful in terms of playing some android games that may not be supported by iOS. Below are some of these emulators.

Delta emulator

Delta is considered one of the best emulators for iPhone as it supports a lot of Nintendo consoles like Game Boy (Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance), NES and SNES, N64, and Nintendo DS. It has a quick save feature that allows you to save your progress on an external controller or in Google drive, it also offers a wide range of customization options.

How to use Delta emulator to play games on iPhones and iPad

1. Visit the official website of this app and download the latest version of this app on your iPhone. Follow the instructions provided to download this app to your mobile phone.
2. Download and open Altstore to install the delta emulator. 
3. On the homepage of your Altstore, go to ‘my apps’ and tap on the ‘+’ at the top left corner. This will lead you to all the recently downloaded files on your iPhone, tap on the delta emulator to start the installation, if it’s your first time using Altstore, you will be required to create an account before installing the emulator.
4. After installing the emulator, open it and search for a game then download it. After the selected game is downloaded, you can then launch it in the delta emulator.

DolphiniOS emulator

This iOS emulator is derived from the dolphin emulator for desktop computers. It is known for its ability to run Nintendo Wii and GameCube ROMs on iPhones and iPads. With this emulator, you can improve the graphics of your game without altering the performance.

How to use DolphiniOS emulator

1. Download Altstore on your iPhone or iPad and tap on the ‘browse’ tab.
2. Open ‘sources’ which is located at the top right corner of your screen. Tap on the add button right next to the Oatmealdome’s. 
3. After adding Oatmealdome’s as a source, when you scroll down you will find the DolphiniOS app with ‘free’ written beside it. Tap on this icon to install the emulator.
4. Open this emulator and tap on the ‘+’ button, and add ROMs manually by adding the files to files app.

GBA emulator for iOS

The GBA4iOS emulator is specially developed for iOS and it promises a superb gaming experience. You can utilize various controls when using this emulator and you even get access to cheat sheets to make playing games exciting. It has a Dropbox synchronization feature that guarantees that all your gaming data is stored across all your devices.

How to use the GBA4iOS emulator

1. To download this GBA emulator iOS (iPhone or iPad), visit the AppValley installer on your browser and type ‘GBA4iOS’ into the search bar.
2. Install the emulator with the button provided, after the app is installed, it may become visible on your home screen or you may need Altstore to launch this app.
3. Go to your Altstore and tap the ‘+’ icon, you will be shown all the available files on your device. All you need to do is choose the GBA4iOS file and then launch it.
4. There is an in-built browser in this emulator that allows you to search for the game of your choice. After selecting a game, download and save it.

iNDS emulator

If you miss Nintendo games but not its console, then you may just find this emulator helpful when it comes to playing Nintendo games on your iPhone or iPad. iNDS emulator is the best way to play Nintendo DS games on your portable device, it offers cheats and allows you to save some of your favorite game combos. With this iPhone emulator online you get a Dropbox account and the ability to change speed and video filters.

How to use iNDS emulator

1. To download this emulator, you will need to use a third-party app store like the AppValleystore. Type iNDS into the search bar and wait for the results.
2. Install the emulator and go to your settings to assign trust to this app.
3. iNDS will then be displayed on the home screen of your iOS device, 
4. to play games on this emulator, select a game with the search bar provided and download the selected game, after this, you can play Nintendo DS games on your iOS device.

PPSSPP emulator for iOS

PPSSPP by Sony is one of the best emulators for running PS2 games as it is dedicated to emulating Playstation portable (PSP) games on your iOS device. This emulator allows you to add cheats and save states for easier access next time, you are allowed to transfer your existing saves so you can continue a game from where you left it.

How to use PPSSPP emulator

1. Visit the official website of PPSSPP and install the application for iOS devices.
2. You will be redirected to your phone settings to trust this emulator, tap the “trust” icon.
3. After installing the androids emulator, you can play games already available in the directory of this app or you can load a game file from your iOS device.

Happy Chick Emulator

Happy Chick is capable of running 18 consoles and their respective apps, it has a synchronization feature that allows players to store already existing data in the cloud for easier access next time. If you love multiplayer games, then you may just love this emulator as it supports multiplayer mode and an external controller can be used.

How to use the Happy Chick emulator

1. On your browser, open the AppValley store and type "happy chick" into the search bar.
2. Install Happy Chick from the result provided.
3. Open the Happy Chick emulator and search for the game you want to play, then download and save it.

Eclipse Emulator

Eclipse is a new emulator that has gotten popular for its ability to install very easily without getting revoked. This emulator supports ROMs from NES, SNES, Game Boy and Game boy color, Sega game gear, and Sega master system.

How to use Eclipse Emulator

1. Visit the official website of this emulator and install the app version for iOS devices.
2. After installing Eclipse, you can run your ROMs or you can simply use the game library in this app to get games.

Part 2: Comparison of Best Game Emulators for iOS

The following table provides a detailed comparison of the popular game emulators for iOS devices:

Part 3: Try Best Alternative to Emulator - AirDroid Cast

If you are in search of a less complicated way to play games on your iOS device, then you should consider the AirDroid Cast App. This is a mirroring app that allows you to cast the screen of your iPhone or iPad to a bigger screen, with this software, you can mirror your iOS devices to your laptop.

You can also use the remote keyboard and mouse on AirDroid Cast to control your mobile phone from your PC. It makes playing games much easier and fun as you can easily navigate the game through your phone while looking at the bigger screen.

In order to use AirDroid Cast to play games, you should follow these steps:

A huge benefit of using an app like AirDroid Cast is that you no longer have to be limited by various compatibility issues. Instead, you can enjoy different gaming consoles on your iOS devices or any other smart device with the useful features of AirDroid Cast.

Part 4: iOS Emulators VS. iOS Simulators

What Is the Difference between iOS Emulators and iOS Simulators?

If you have come across an iOS emulator and an iOS simulator, you are probably confused and wondering what the difference between these two is. An iOS simulator is used to imitate software from the real environment.

An emulator, however, allows you to mimic software on a host device and with an emulator,
you are allowed to manipulate controls like battery state, geolocation, and Wi-Fi. In an iOS simulator, you cannot control these hardwares. Emulators are compatible with most operating systems but an iOS simulator is only compatible with a macOS.

Xcode:the official iOS simulator

Xcode is software used by developers to test apps and other software. It usually makes the task of developing an app easier because, with this simulation, the app is being tested on a bigger and stronger device instead of on your iPhone.

To use Xcode, you need to install it from the Mac App Store and then install the necessary command lines in this software. After these steps, you then proceed to run your app on Xcode like a simulation.

Xcode can be used to play games but it is not the best option because some hardware components (audio input, geolocation, camera, Wi-Fi, and motion support) are absent.

Part 5: Final Verdict

This guide has provided a list of the best emulators for iOS devices. This way you can play games from consoles on your devices for free. We listed the pros and cons of using each emulator as well as how to use these emulators.

An alternative to using these emulators on your iOS devices is to use AirDroid Cast as it allows multiplayer gaming and you get to play these games on a larger screen. Check out the steps on how to use this app as well as its benefits and downsides.

Hottest FAQs about Emulators for iOS

Is it safe to run console emulators for iOS?

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It is safe to run console emulators on your iOS device, an issue will only arise if illegal activities are involved with running this app. fortunately, most console emulators are secure for playing games on your device.

What are the benefits of using an emulator on iPhone?

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You get a different experience playing games on a different device and with different controls and advanced settings. It is also beneficial when it comes to playing games available on only consoles. 

Where can I find ROMs?

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ROMs are downloadable versions of console games. You will find some ROMs in these emulators, but if you still want more, there are various websites where they can be gotten for free. Be cautious not to download one with a virus.