Best Emulators to Install with Scarlet iOS in 2026
One of the most popular uses for Scarlet iOS is installing game emulators. These apps let you play classic console games on your iPhone or iPad. Here are the best emulators you can install with Scarlet in 2026.
Why Use Emulators on iOS?
Emulators allow you to play retro games from consoles like Nintendo, PlayStation, and more on your iPhone. While Apple has started allowing some emulators on the App Store, many great options are still only available through sideloading with Scarlet. For original PlayStation games, the App Store already has good choices: see PS1 emulators for iPhone.
Top Emulators Available Through Scarlet
1. Delta – Nintendo Emulator
Delta is a widely known emulator for iOS, offering support for multiple Nintendo systems in one app. For more choices by system, see our guides to Game Boy Advance emulators and Nintendo DS emulators.
Systems Supported:
- Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
- Super Nintendo (SNES)
- Nintendo 64 (N64)
- Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance
- Nintendo DS
Features:
- Save states
- Controller support
- Cheat codes
- Cloud sync
- Custom skins
2. PPSSPP – PlayStation Portable Emulator
PPSSPP lets you play PSP games on your iPhone with excellent performance.
Features:
- HD graphics upscaling
- Save states
- Controller support
- Cheat support
- Network multiplayer
Popular Games:
- God of War: Chains of Olympus
- Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
- Grand Theft Auto games
- Final Fantasy titles
- Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
3. RetroArch – Multi-System Emulator
RetroArch is an all-in-one emulator frontend that supports dozens of systems through cores. Step-by-step setup is in our RetroArch on iPhone guide.
Systems Supported:
- Most retro consoles (NES, SNES, Genesis, etc.)
- Arcade games (MAME)
- PlayStation 1
- And many more
Features:
- Unified interface
- Shader support
- Netplay
- Achievement support
- Highly customizable
4. DolphiniOS – GameCube and Wii Emulator
DolphiniOS brings GameCube and Wii games to your iPhone. It is not on the App Store and needs JIT, so install it with SideStore or AltStore Classic rather than Scarlet; see our DolphiniOS guide.
Requirements:
- iOS 14 or later on an A9 chip or newer; 4 GB of RAM or more (such as iPhone 11) recommended
- Plenty of storage for game files
- JIT: without it, the developer says games run at “unplayably slow frame rates”
Popular Games:
- Super Smash Bros. Melee
- The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
- Mario Kart: Double Dash
- Super Mario Galaxy
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
5. Provenance – Multi-System Retro Gaming
Provenance offers a beautiful interface for playing retro games from many systems. Our Provenance guide lists every system it runs and what Provenance Plus adds.
Systems Supported:
- Atari systems
- Sega Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast
- NES, SNES, N64
- PlayStation 1
- And more
6. Play! – PlayStation 2 Emulator
Play! is a free, open-source PS2 emulator that is still in development. On iOS it needs JIT, so it does not work from a shared-certificate install; see our Play! setup guide.
Note: PS2 emulation is demanding. Expect varying compatibility and performance based on your device and the game.
App Store or Scarlet: Where to Get Each Emulator
Since 2024 Apple allows retro game emulators on the App Store, and several of the emulators above are now there for free (checked against their App Store listings, October 27, 2026):
- Delta: on the App Store since April 2024 (iOS 17.4 or later)
- PPSSPP: since May 15, 2024 (iOS 13 or later), with a paid Gold version to support the developer
- RetroArch: since May 2024 (iOS 12 or later)
- Provenance: since January 2025 (iOS 16 or later)
An App Store copy is signed by Apple, updates itself and is never revoked, so it is the safer choice when one exists. Scarlet iOS is still useful for emulators that are not on the App Store (although JIT-dependent ones such as DolphiniOS and the Switch emulator MeloNX need SideStore or AltStore Classic instead), for test builds, and when your iOS version is too old for the App Store release. For details, see our guides to PPSSPP on iOS and the best N64 emulators for iOS.
How to Install Emulators with Scarlet
- Open Scarlet on your device
- Go to the Repos/Sources section
- Search for the emulator you want
- Tap Install
- Wait for download and installation
- Trust the certificate in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management
- Open the emulator and add your game ROMs
Getting Game ROMs
Emulators are legal, but downloading ROMs for games you do not own is piracy. You should:
- Dump ROMs from games you own
- Use homebrew games that are free to distribute
- Support indie developers creating retro-style games
Controller Options
For the best gaming experience, pair a controller with your iPhone (our iPhone setup for mobile gamers covers the rest of the setup):
- PlayStation DualShock 4 or DualSense
- Xbox One or Series X controller
- Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
- MFi certified controllers
- Backbone or Razer Kishi mobile controllers
Performance Tips
- Close other apps to free up RAM
- Turn off Low Power Mode while playing, because it lowers performance
- Reduce emulator graphics settings if needed
- Use newer iPhones for demanding emulators
- Keep your device cool during extended play
- For the iOS settings that help most, see our guide to the best iPhone settings for gaming with emulators
Conclusion
Scarlet iOS opens up a world of retro gaming on your iPhone. From classic Nintendo games with Delta to PSP titles with PPSSPP, there is an emulator for almost every classic gaming system, and for old PC games, UTM SE runs DOS and classic Windows. Install Scarlet, add your favorite emulators, and start reliving your favorite gaming memories on the go.
