ArcEmu2.0.1 - App Store

ArcEmu brings retro game emulation to Apple Watch.
It also works on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, delivering a seamless gaming experience across your Apple devices.

Supported Consoles

- Game Boy (.gb)
- Game Boy Color (.gbc)
- Game Boy Advance (.gba)
- Pokémon Mini (.min)
- Nintendo Entertainment System (.nes)
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System (.sfc and .smc)
- Atari 2600 (.a26 and .bin)

Main Features

- Accurate, high-performance emulation powered by the mGBA and Ares cores
- Game Link Cable support with online multiplayer for up to four players*
- Cheat-code support with a built-in database of popular codes**
- Frame-independent emulation at 30 or 60 FPS
- Multi-touch and Digital Crown support on Apple Watch
- Support for all screen orientations on iPhone and iPad
- Precise, thoughtfully designed on-screen controls
- Customizable control position and transparency on iPhone and iPad
- Fast-forward at 2x, 4x, or maximum speed
- Slow motion at 0.5x speed
- Touch-based light gun controls for NES and SNES
- Custom color palettes for Game Boy games
- Button hold/sustain feature
- Accelerometer support
- Gyroscope support on iPhone and iPad, with Digital Crown input on Apple Watch
- Haptic feedback on iPhone
- Game controller support with customizable button mappings
- ZIP archive support
- Automatic saving
- Save-state sharing between devices
- iCloud support for ROMs and save states
- ROM sharing through iCloud using share codes
- Support for Apple Watch devices configured with Family Setup
- ROM sorting and search

Apple Watch Compatibility

- Apple Watch Series 4 or later
- Apple Watch SE or later
- Apple Watch Ultra or later

ArcEmu does not include any games or ROMs.
You can import compatible ROM files from your iPhone and store them in iCloud. Your Apple Watch can then download them directly from iCloud.
On an Apple Watch configured with Family Setup, ROMs can be downloaded from iCloud using share codes.

Games Featured in the Screenshots

- Acorn Grove: https://gibbongl.itch.io/acorn-grove
- Anguna: https://gauauu.itch.io/anguna
- Hauntsfield: https://alliemackie.itch.io/hauntsfield
- µCity Advance: https://skylyrac.itch.io/ucity-advance

* Requires a Game Center account.
** Cheat codes may cause unexpected behavior or affect game stability and save data.

ArcEmu is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nintendo. Nintendo and the names of its game systems are trademarks of Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Version History - Restored the button hold/sustain feature on watchOS.
- Improved iCloud ROM management.
- Various bug fixes. 2.0.1 Sep 24 - Added Atari 2600 support, use the Digital Crown as a paddle controller
- Added Multi-touch support and expanded controls on Apple Watch
- Added Nintendo Game Boy Camera support
- Added touch-based light gun controls for NES and SNES
- Introduced a new home screen
- Added ROM sorting and search
- Added customizable controller button mappings 2.0 Sep 16 - Added support for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
- Added support for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
- Added support for Pokémon Mini.
- Improved cheat support, with the ability to specify the cheat type.
- Bug fixes and improvements. 1.11.1 Sep 6 - Added support for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
- Added support for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
- Added support for Pokémon Mini.
- Improved cheat support, with the ability to specify the cheat type.
- Bug fixes and improvements. 1.11 Sep 5 - Added Apple TV support
- Added iCloud save support on Apple Watch.
- Added timestamps to save slots.
- Added a “Max” fast-forward option, which runs games as fast as your device allows.
- Replaced the 3× fast-forward option with 4×.
- Improved rumble support and vibration feedback.
- Added the option to hide the shoulder buttons (L and R) on Apple Watch.
- Implemented support for stickless pads with no extended profile (like 8BitDo FlipPad)
- Improved button layout when resizing the app on iPadOS 1.10.6 Aug 26 - Added Apple TV support
- Added iCloud save support on Apple Watch.
- Added timestamps to save slots.
- Added a “Max” fast-forward option, which runs games as fast as your device allows.
- Replaced the 3× fast-forward option with 4×.
- Improved rumble support and vibration feedback.
- Added the option to hide the shoulder buttons (L and R) on Apple Watch. 1.10.5 Aug 19 - Added Apple TV support
- Added iCloud save support on Apple Watch.
- Added timestamps to save slots.
- Added a “Max” fast-forward option, which runs games as fast as your device allows.
- Replaced the 3× fast-forward option with 4×.
- Improved rumble support and vibration feedback.
- Added the option to hide the shoulder buttons (L and R) on Apple Watch. 1.10.4 Aug 17 - Added Apple TV support
- Added iCloud save support on Apple Watch.
- Added timestamps to save slots.
- Added a “Max” fast-forward option, which runs games as fast as your device allows.
- Replaced the 3× fast-forward option with 4×.
- Improved rumble support and vibration feedback.
- Added the option to hide the shoulder buttons (L and R) on Apple Watch. 1.10.3 Aug 4 - Added Apple TV support
- Added iCloud save support on Apple Watch.
- Added timestamps to save slots.
- Added a “Max” fast-forward option, which runs games as fast as your device allows.
- Replaced the 3× fast-forward option with 4×.
- Improved rumble support and vibration feedback.
- Added the option to hide the shoulder buttons (L and R) on Apple Watch. 1.10.2 Jul 22 This update brings full iCloud integration to your ROM library:
- Your ROMs can now be stored and synced with iCloud
- Transferring ROMs to Apple Watch is now easier: the watch downloads them directly from iCloud
- Share your ROMs with friends through iCloud using simple share codes
- Standalone Apple Watch users can now download ROMs from iCloud with share codes, replacing direct downloads 1.10.1 Jul 10 This update brings full iCloud integration to your ROM library:
- Your ROMs can now be stored and synced with iCloud
- Transferring ROMs to Apple Watch is now easier: the watch downloads them directly from iCloud
- Share your ROMs with friends through iCloud using simple share codes
- Standalone Apple Watch users can now download ROMs from iCloud with share codes, replacing direct downloads 1.10 Jun 11 - Fixed audio distortion in GBA games
- Improved Link Cable multiplayer performance and connection stability 1.9.2 May 14 Added cheat support with a preloaded database of popular codes, allowing quick and easy activation of enhancements for supported games.

Disclaimer: Using cheats may cause unexpected behavior or affect game stability and save data. 1.9.1 12/13/2025 Added cheat support with a preloaded database of popular codes, allowing quick and easy activation of enhancements for supported games.

Disclaimer: Using cheats may cause unexpected behavior or affect game stability and save data. 1.9 11/24/2025 - Support for the latest Apple devices, including Apple Watch Ultra 3, iPhone Air, and more.
- Fixed assorted bugs and improved performance. 1.8 09/12/2025 - Added Game Link Cable Support: Connect and play with up to 4 players online in GB and GBA games.
This feature replicates the original Link Cable functionality, allowing players to trade, battle, or cooperate in multiplayer modes, just like on the original hardware.

Note: Requires a compatible ROM and a Game Center account. 1.7.1 01/23/2025 - Added support for the Game Link Cable (Online Multiplayer for up to 4 players).
The Link Cable requires a Game Center account. 1.7 01/14/2025 - Fixed a bug that caused a black screen when playing GB and GBC games on watchOS 9 and earlier versions.
- Emulation speed settings now persist after performing a reset.
- Resolved layout issues that occurred during screen rotation. 1.6.3 11/18/2024 - Fixed the bug that caused a black screen in GB and GBC games on watchOS 9 and earlier
- Emulation speed no longer resets when you perform a Reset 1.6.2 11/15/2024 - Added support for the new Apple Watch Series 10
- Added support for the new iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max
- Added icons for dark mode and tinted mode of iOS 18 1.6.1 09/18/2024 - Improved performance and reduced battery consumption.
- ROM Options (name, color, palette, and more) are now shared between Apple Watch and iPhone.
- Added iCloud support for save states.
- Added the feature to download ROMs directly on the Watch via a direct link (no iPhone transfer needed).
- Added support for Family Setup (standalone Apple Watch) by downloading ROMs via direct link.
- New animated D-Pad on iPhone and iPad, compatible with the Sustain/Hold button feature.
- Added the ability to press multiple buttons simultaneously if close together, such as A + B.
- Added new in-game menu buttons for rotation and more.
- Improved ZIP file import, now searching for ROMs recursively, not stopping at the first folder.
- Bug fixes. 1.6 08/12/2024 ** This update is not compatible with existing GB and GBC (SameBoy) save states. To avoid losing progress, please save normally in-game before updating. **

- Core change for GB and GBC games (SameBoy -> mGBA)
- Exceptional performance and battery consumption improvements
- Fast-Forward feature (2x and 3x) to speed up the game
- Slow-mo feature (0.5x) to slow down the game
- Save file import feature (.sav)
- Color Palette modification feature for GB games
- New in-game menu with many features easily accessible without returning to the main menu (Save, Load, Reset, Volume, Vibration, Hold/Sustain, Fast Forward, Crown Mapping, D-Pad ways)
- Autosaving when the screen goes to sleep, the app goes to the background, and when returning to the menu
- Modified Hold/Sustain button function, now activatable on all buttons from the new in-game menu
- Minor bug fixes 1.5.3 07/19/2024 ** This update is not compatible with existing GB and GBC (SameBoy) save states. To avoid losing progress, please save normally in-game before updating. **

- Core change for GB and GBC games (SameBoy -> mGBA)
- Exceptional performance and battery consumption improvements
- Fast-Forward feature (2x and 3x) to speed up the game
- Slow-mo feature (0.5x) to slow down the game
- Save file import feature (.sav)
- Color Palette modification feature for GB games
- New in-game menu with many features easily accessible without returning to the main menu (Save, Load, Reset, Volume, Vibration, Hold/Sustain, Fast Forward, Crown Mapping, D-Pad ways)
- Autosaving when the screen goes to sleep, the app goes to the background, and when returning to the menu
- Modified Hold/Sustain button function, now activatable on all buttons from the new in-game menu
- Minor bug fixes 1.5.2 07/17/2024 ** This update is not compatible with existing GB and GBC (SameBoy) save states. To avoid losing progress, please save normally in-game before updating. **

- Core change for GB and GBC games (SameBoy -> mGBA)
- Exceptional performance and battery consumption improvements
- Fast-Forward feature (2x and 3x) to speed up the game
- Slow-mo feature (0.5x) to slow down the game
- Save file import feature (.sav)
- Color Palette modification feature for GB games
- New in-game menu with many features easily accessible without returning to the main menu (Save, Load, Reset, Volume, Vibration, Hold/Sustain, Fast Forward, Crown Mapping, D-Pad ways)
- Autosaving when the screen goes to sleep, the app goes to the background, and when returning to the menu
- Modified Hold/Sustain button function, now activatable on all buttons from the new in-game menu
- Minor bug fixes 1.5.1 07/17/2024 ** This update is not compatible with existing GB and GBC (SameBoy) save states. To avoid losing progress, please save normally in-game before updating. **

- Core change for GB and GBC games (SameBoy -> mGBA)
- Exceptional performance and battery consumption improvements
- Fast-Forward feature (2x and 3x) to speed up the game
- Slow-mo feature (0.5x) to slow down the game
- Save file import feature (.sav)
- Color Palette modification feature for GB games
- New in-game menu with many features easily accessible without returning to the main menu (Save, Load, Reset, Volume, Vibration, Hold/Sustain, Fast Forward, Crown Mapping, D-Pad ways)
- Autosaving when the screen goes to sleep, the app goes to the background, and when returning to the menu
- Modified Hold/Sustain button function, now activatable on all buttons from the new in-game menu
- Minor bug fixes 1.5 07/15/2024