In need of the best emulators for iPad? We got you covered!
Apple has sold more than 500 million iPad tablets since its launch in 2010.
Needless to say the covid pandemic also boosted the sale and use of tablets, and it was reported that Apple shipped over 14 million during the main lockdown period in Q2 2020.
And the latest iteration of the device are the eighth generation, launched at the end of 2020, and it is expected that we will see the new model to launch later this year.
If you are both an iPad user and a retro game enthusiast, than surely you are wondering what emulation options are out there for you.
We are here to share the good news that there are in fact some pretty awesome programs available for the iPad to play some of your favorite retro consoles. Here are our favs:
(in no particular order)
1. Eclipse
Eclipse emulator is one of the absolute best for the iPad… And for one very good reason:
It is a totally web based program that you play right on your web browser.
That means you can play your favorite retro games on nearly any modern device with a web browsing application.
With console support focused on NES, GB, GBC, and GBA games… the Eclipse emulator is going to be perfect for people like me who are obsessed with Nintendo.
So if that sounds like you, why not try Eclipse now? Easily one of the best emulators for iPad in 2023.
2. Citra
Citra is a Nintendo 3DS emulator, which not all that common to see in retro game emulation.
3DS emulation has really only popped in the last few years, so it is still pretty new to the scene.
But the team over at Citra have made some giant strides, and are constantly updating their emulator to grow the list of playable titles.
Citra has ports available for Windows, Mac, Linux… and also has two new experimental ports for Android and iOS that are being tested.
So the time has never been better to jump into Nintendo 3DS emulation on iPad.
Why not take a look at the 20 Best Nintendo 3DS Games Of All Time while you are at it?
3. PPSSPP
PPSSPP is an amazing emulation programmed developed specifically for the Sony Playstation Portable.
And with its many features for HD gameplay, there has never been a better time to jump back into some of your favorite PSP games.
And of course, if you play on your iPad, you are gonna get absolutely beautiful upscaling at twice the original resolution.
So this is potentially the best way to play PSP games in 2023.
4. RetroArch
Y’all probably already knew this was coming: RetroArch is up next on our best iPad emulators list, the absolute best all-in-one emulation solutions on any device.
It was on our 7 Best Mac Emulators and the 10 Best Emulators For PC, so you didn’t think this list would be any different, didja?
With an absolutely giant list of supported retro consoles, including NES, SNES, GB, GBA, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, Atari 2600, Nintendo DS, Sega Dreamcast, Sony Playstation just to name a few.
And yes, it has a port for the iOS, making it the best emulator for the iPad in 2023. Easily.
RetroArch is pretty much the best multi-emulator program out there.
We highly recommend it for anybody who wants a single solution for all of their retro game emulation.
5. Delta
Fans of Pokemon looking for a stellar emulator for the iPad should definitely check out Delta.
Delta boasts some incredible skins to turn your iPad into your favourite consoles.
Temporarily, obviously!
Delta is known for emulating some off Nintendo’s best consoles. We’re talking all three original Gameboys, the SNES and the N64.
Think of all the Pokemon games you can play on there!
Make save states and add cheats into the mix too. And, you don’t need to jailbreak your iPad either. Just download the AltStore app and follow the instructions!
6. DolphiniOS
Fancy playing GameCube and Wii titles on your iPad? DolphiniOS has you covered!
This is a pretty hefty task for any iOS device, so make sure that you’re rocking a newer iPad that has at least an A9 processor.
Otherwise, the games are going to so laggy you’ll be throwing your table through the window!
Dolphin has always served us well in the past, and the iPad offering has impressed us so far. Let’s hope it keeps receiving regular updates and goes from strength to strength!
Anthony has been a video game lover ever since he can remember. He became a fulltime nomad in 2018, living throughout most of Asia. He focused his passion in retro gaming and began creating a game for the Game Boy Color while living in Nara, Japan during the 2020 pandemic. He is now in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where he spends most of his time gaming, going on long walks and meeting as many stray dogs as possible.
