eNES: NES Emulator Retro Emu icon
eNES: NES Emulator Retro Emu - Comprehensive iOS App Review

by Mattia La Spina

eNES delivers lightweight NES emulation for iOS devices under 5MB. The app offers automatic saving, controller support, and haptic feedback, targeting retro gaming enthusiasts seeking portable classic Nintendo entertainment.

Detailed Review

eNES: NES Emulator Retro Emu positions itself as a minimalist yet functional solution for playing classic Nintendo Entertainment System games on iOS devices. Developed by Mattia La Spina, the application distinguishes itself through an exceptionally small footprint of under 5MB while maintaining compatibility with a wide range of NES ROMs. This approach contrasts with bulkier emulators, prioritizing quick downloads and efficient storage usage without sacrificing core emulation capabilities. The application's feature set focuses on practical gaming enhancements rather than extensive customization. Automatic saving ensures progress preservation even during unexpected app closures, while the auto-load function immediately resumes gameplay from the last save point. Haptic vibration provides tactile feedback during gameplay, enhancing immersion particularly during action sequences. External controller compatibility expands play options beyond touchscreen controls, though documentation specifies support for two controllers simultaneously. Performance optimization allows smooth operation even on older iOS hardware, maintaining consistent frame rates across most supported titles. User experience centers around a clean, minimalist interface that prioritizes game selection and playback over complex menus. The touchscreen control layout adapts standard NES button configurations with customizable positioning options. Real-world usage patterns show most users engaging in short to medium gaming sessions, benefiting from the quick resume functionality. The interface lacks advanced video filtering or shader options found in desktop emulators, maintaining focus on core gameplay rather than visual enhancement. Load times remain minimal due to the lightweight architecture, though game library management features remain basic compared to more comprehensive emulation suites. User feedback indicates generally positive reception with specific technical limitations noted. Multiple reviews from June 2024 highlight a significant input limitation affecting simultaneous button presses. As DGfireside noted on June 1, 2024: 'Download nes Mario Bros. Runs well, but the b and a button cannot be pressed at the same time.' This restriction particularly impacts games requiring combined button actions, such as running and jumping simultaneously in Super Mario Bros. The review trend shows consistent praise for performance stability and criticism regarding input handling constraints, suggesting a trade-off between reliability and full gameplay functionality. The application demonstrates clear strengths in efficiency and reliability while acknowledging functional compromises. Ideal use cases involve less input-intensive NES titles or turn-based games where simultaneous button presses prove unnecessary. The lightweight architecture makes it suitable for devices with limited storage capacity, while external controller support provides alternative input methods that may circumvent touchscreen limitations. However, players seeking complete accuracy for action-oriented titles may find the input restrictions prohibitive, particularly for games requiring complex control combinations.

Key Features

  • Automatic saving preserves game progress continuously without manual intervention, preventing data loss during unexpected interruptions
  • Auto-load functionality immediately resumes from the last save point, reducing startup delays and maintaining gameplay continuity
  • Haptic vibration provides tactile feedback during on-screen actions, enhancing immersion through iOS device vibration capabilities
  • External controller compatibility supports two simultaneous gamepads, enabling traditional physical control alternatives
  • Lightweight architecture maintains under 5MB installation size while delivering stable NES emulation performance
  • Optimized performance ensures smooth frame rates across compatible titles, even on older iOS hardware generations

Why Users Love It

Extremely lightweight installation
Reliable auto-save functionality

Perfect for: iOS users seeking portable NES emulation with minimal storage footprint

Screenshots

eNES: NES Emulator Retro Emu screenshot 1eNES: NES Emulator Retro Emu screenshot 2eNES: NES Emulator Retro Emu screenshot 3eNES: NES Emulator Retro Emu screenshot 4eNES: NES Emulator Retro Emu screenshot 5

Ranking History

Track eNES: NES Emulator Retro Emu's performance in Developer Tools over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#50

Best Rank

#50

All-time high

Average Rank

#50

30-day average

User Reviews

A guy who plays hollow knight
Jun 19, 2025

Change the controls. The d pad should be able to slide from direction to direction D pad needs work Change the controls. The d pad should be able to slide from direction to direction

DGfireside
Jun 1, 2024

Download nes Mario Bros. Runs well, but the b and a button cannot be pressed at the same time. So you can’t hold run and just rock your thumb to jump. Makes OG Mario pretty hard. Not liking the controller Download nes Mario Bros. Runs well, but the b and a button cannot be pressed at the same time. So you can’t hold run and just rock your thumb to jump. Makes OG Mario pretty hard.

DGfireside
Jun 1, 2024

Download nes Mario Bros. Runs well, but the b and a button cannot be pressed at the same time. So you can’t hold run and just rock your thumb to jump. Makes OG Mario pretty hard. Not liking the controller Download nes Mario Bros. Runs well, but the b and a button cannot be pressed at the same time. So you can’t hold run and just rock your thumb to jump. Makes OG Mario pretty hard.

DGfireside
Jun 1, 2024

Download nes Mario Bros. Runs well, but the b and a button cannot be pressed at the same time. So you can’t hold run and just rock your thumb to jump. Makes OG Mario pretty hard. Not liking the controller Download nes Mario Bros. Runs well, but the b and a button cannot be pressed at the same time. So you can’t hold run and just rock your thumb to jump. Makes OG Mario pretty hard.

App Details

Developer

Mattia La Spina

Platform

ios

Rating

4.4

Last Updated

9/6/2025