The new free app you should download right now
Ditch the regular old iPhone game and dive into a piece of history
So recently some laws happened or something, and Apple is now allowing retro game emulators on the iPhone. This is great news for someone who has had an emulator on every iPhone and iPod touch they have ever had and currently has multiple dedicated emulators (devices dedicated to doing exactly what this app does), but it’s also great news for you!
Let’s start with the very basic; an emulator is a program that acts like it is an old video game machine and lets you play digital versions of old video games. Each old system has it’s own version, and lots of people make them with different touches and features. The one that is out now that is the first really good one on the App Store is called Delta. It is currently the number one free app, so a lot of people already know about this, but it should be exciting for anyone that might want to play some games on their iPhone.
The reason this is special is because since this used to be blocked by Apple, there hasn’t been a ton of iPhone dedicated support, and you had to “side-load” emulators before. For a while this meant jailbreaking your iPhone. While this step was actually the most fun part of all this for me, it created a barrier that meant most people were out. It was too risky to throw out your warranty coverage or accidentally ‘brick’ your only phone. Now you can get this straight from the same place you get any app, Apple’s regular app store, so it has none of that inconvenience. Hopefully, now that this is all legal, someone will make a truly great new one with lots of features that utilize the awesome screen and high power of modern iPhones, but for now, Delta is great and has been in development for a long time.
If you’re already convinced, I’ll just link you to my favorite YouTube channel about things like this, Retro Game Corps. Russ already has a good video about setup and that’s not really what I’m here to talk about anyway. But if you don’t think this is for you, here’s a few reasons you may be interested.
Pictured are my Miyoo Mini Plus and Retroid Pocket 2+ which I will be sharing more about in the future as they are another very fun way to utilize emulation.
These games are a huge hit of nostalgia, even for people who didn’t really play many games growing up. I definitely played plenty of Nintendo 64 when I was young, and this can play N64, but a lot of these games I never played. There is still an intense vibe that comes with retro games. The music and the aesthetic and the simplicity, it all comes together to make something really special. I wasn’t allowed to have handheld video games growing up, so I missed out on playing the Pokemon games, but eventually fell in love with them through an emulator.
This is all very easy. This thing sets up right away and you’re a google away from each game. You don’t need any other hardware or cords. If you have any games on your phone, consider the decades of options that are available here. If you’ve never played a classic Pokemon game, you’re in for a treat and it can be played with one hand like a lot of other iOS games. I recommend Pokemon Fire Red. It has the graphics of a Game Boy Advance game, but it is the classic Pokemon game retold. The art is downright gorgeous and the music is so so good. I’ve talked a bit about my love for video game music before and this series is a highlight.
These games are an interesting piece of culture. I will be writing more bits about a few of my favorites in due time, but I think it’s so interesting to think of the evolution of some of these series. Zelda alone has had a huge impact on popular culture since before I was born, and you can now play more than half of them on the piece of tech you have on you all the time anyway. There are lots of games I want to play, and now that they are available on my phone, which is the only device I always have nearby, I think it might be able to chip away at some of the more elusive ones.
Saving on an emulator is a dream because of ‘save states.’ A lot of the challenge of older games came from having to beat long sections of the game in a row or be forced to go back. With save states you can save anywhere and you no longer have to go long stretches without being able to save. That plus it means you can stop playing right away when your bus stop comes up or your food is ready or it’s your turn at the DMV, so it’s easier than ever to jump in and out. You would be surprised how much of a game you can play by popping in here and there when you’re just killing time.
This may not be a universal truth, but playing through a game is much more rewarding to me than scrolling through social media. Social media is a good way to keep in touch and up to date on friends lives, but scrolling becomes lost time. I feel like I’ve done nothing at all for the past 30 minutes sometimes when I finally get off YouTube shorts. By the way is being into YouTube shorts the boomer way of not getting TikTok? I know adding TikTok to the rotation won’t decrease my time spent scrolling short form videos, but Ellie makes a lot of fun of me for the Shorts thing…Anyway, I find screen time alone doesn’t cause this feeling, and making my way through a game that I can think about and digest and appreciate truly adds to my experience in a meaningful way. If you never play games like this, I would recommend trying a true classic and seeing how you feel about it. If you get stuck on anything or confused, YouTube is right there for tips and tricks!
If you like Stardew Valley, check out Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town for the GBA. I know that I am going to play some Animal Crossing Wild World for the Nintendo DS. This thing can play DS and the touch screen works like a charm. Nintendo brought Animal Crossing Pocket Camp to iOS, but I would much rather play WIld World, and now I can. Whether you’ve never ‘gamed’ before or it’s been a while or you play your Switch often, I think anyone can find a meaningful experience in a retro game, and it’s never been easier. Check out Delta on the app store and comment below if you need a recommendation, I have many!