Mobile Gaming & Mobile Emulators

Mobile gaming, with a focus on the emulator angle that became newly viable on iOS in 2024 thanks to EU DMA / Apple App Store policy reversals. For PC / handheld emulators see Multi-system emulators and per-platform pages. For mobile gamepads see Controllers & accessories. For Android-based retro handhelds (a different form factor) see Handhelds. For developer-side mobile distribution see Mobile (Native).

The 2024–26 reality, briefly: Apple reversed its emulator policy in April 2024. Delta and PPSSPP are now in the App Store globally. EU DMA made third-party iOS app stores (AltStore PAL) legal in the EU, which opened up additional emulator distribution. Android has always been emulator-friendly. AetherSX2 was sunset in 2023, with NetherSX2 being the leading community fork.

iOS (post-2024 policy reversal)

• ★ Delta — free; iOS App Store global. Riley Testut. NES / SNES / GBA / GBC / DS / N64 / Genesis (added 2024+). Polished UI, sync via iCloud, controller support, custom skins. The default iOS retro emulator.
• ★ PPSSPP — free OSS; iOS App Store global. PSP emulation; mature.
• ★ RetroArch — free OSS; iOS App Store global (post-2024-policy-reversal). Multi-system frontend; uglier than Delta but supports far more systems.
• DolphiniOS — community; Dolphin (GameCube / Wii) on iOS. Honest flag: AltStore PAL (EU) or sideload required; not in the global App Store.
• Provenance — free OSS; multi-system iOS emulator; older but actively maintained.
• Folium — paid (App Store); 3DS / DS / GBA emulator (Citra fork + others) for iOS. Pioneer of post-policy 3DS emulation on iPhone.
• PlayCover — free OSS; runs ARM iPad / iPhone games on M-series Macs (different problem; same family).

iOS sideloading (EU + worldwide)

• ★ AltStore PAL (EU) — free + paid (~€1.50/yr Apple notarization fee). EU-only legitimate third-party iOS app store under DMA. Hosts emulators / apps Apple still won't approve. Distribution channel.
• AltStore Classic — free; pre-DMA sideloading via personal Apple ID + Mac/Win companion. Worldwide.
• TrollStore — free; sideloading via specific older iOS exploit; firmware-version-pinned.
• SideStore / Esign — alternatives.

Android emulators

• ★ RetroArch — free OSS; Play Store + F-Droid + APK. Multi-system, libretro cores.
• ★ PPSSPP — free OSS; Play Store. PSP.
• Dolphin — free OSS; Play Store. GameCube / Wii.
• AetherSX2 — closed; sunset 2023 after harassment of the developer.
• ★ NetherSX2 — community continuation of AetherSX2 (Android PS2). Honest flag: distributed outside the Play Store; verify provenance.
• DraStic — paid; Android DS; long the best mobile DS option, eclipsed in some respects by melonDS.
• ★ melonDS — free OSS; Android DS; modern accuracy.
• ★ mGBA — free OSS; Android GBA.
• DuckStation — free OSS; Android PS1.
• RPCSX / Skyline — early-stage Switch / PSP-and-up community emulators on Android; status varies. Most Switch-on-Android effort post-Yuzu has fragmented (Sudachi-Android, Citron-Android, Strato).
• Citra Android (Lime3DS Android) — free OSS; community continuation of 3DS on Android.
• PCSX2 nightly Android (community) — early but improving.

Android app stores beyond Google Play

• ★ F-Droid — free OSS; the OSS-only app store. RetroArch, mGBA, melonDS, DuckStation, others.
• ★ Aurora Store — free OSS; anonymous Play-Store frontend; install Play Store apps without a Google account.
• APKMirror — free; community APK archive of legitimate apps.
• Epic Games Store on Android (post-EU DMA 2024+) — paid; carries Fortnite + Epic catalog.
• Galaxy Store (Samsung) — first-party.

Mobile gamepads

• See Controllers & accessories — Backbone One, Razer Kishi V2, GameSir.

Cloud-streaming clients on mobile

• See Cloud gaming — GeForce Now, xCloud, PS Plus all have iOS / Android clients.
• Moonlight (mobile) — free OSS; pairs with Sunshine. The OSS self-host path on phones.

Pick this if…

• iOS retro emulator, easy: Delta.
• iOS PSP: PPSSPP.
• iOS DS / 3DS / GameCube / Wii: AltStore PAL (EU) for the more aggressive emulators, otherwise Folium / DolphiniOS via sideload.
• Android multi-system, default: RetroArch.
• Android PS2: NetherSX2.
• Android DS: melonDS or DraStic (paid).
• Side-loading Play Store apps anonymously: Aurora Store.
• OSS-only Android: F-Droid.