iPhone: we tried the first Nintendo game emulator

© Monsieur Pixel /

As a direct consequence of the new European directives, Apple's iOS ecosystem is opening up to the world. This involves the end of the monopoly of the AppStore and the arrival of alternative stores, to which is added the end of the monopoly of Apple Pay or that of Safari as as default browser. And from alternative stores, it is now possible to enjoy… emulators!

Delta, the first Nintendo emulator is available on iPhone!

Indeed, as we recently mentioned, Apple proposed additional changes to the rules of the App Store and its iOS platform. Among the new rules is the approval of retro game console emulator applications. While waiting to really benefit from it from the official AppStore, it's the alternative store that lives up to its name, Altstore, which hosts an application called Delta.

Delta is an emulator that will allow you to play NES, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game Boy Color and even Nintendo DS games on the screen of your iPhone.

So obviously, if the emulator itself has nothing illegal, the fact of downloading games (ROMS) falls under the law, unless you have the originals. Thus, when downloading, Delta does not include any games.

© Monsieur Pixel /

It is therefore up to the user to install the ROMS of their choice. Without giving too much away, the operation can be carried out 100% from the iPhone, directly through Safari. From then on, Delta will be responsible for launching the games in question, with the possibility of using adapted touch controls (and support for haptic feedback).

© Monsieur Pixel /

Of course, you can also use a gamepad for greater comfort, to which is added the possibility of saving your game and even using good old ’ #8220;cheat codes”.

© Monsieur Pixel /

We can now get back into Secret of Mana on Super Nintendo, but also dive back into Zelda: The Minish Cap on GBA, without forgetting Mario Kart DS, Super Mario World or even the # 8217;excellent Paper Mario from Nintendo 64.

© AltStore

For each console, the emulator obviously adapts its interface, taking (as much as possible) the shape of the original controller. Excellent.

And it’s free ? Well… no! To access Delta (and the Altstore), you must agree to pay the (symbolic) sum of €1.80/year. The price to pay to be able to take advantage of this Nintendo emulator which obviously delights Apple fans. and a bit of a laughing stock for Android users, the latter not hesitating to mock their best enemies, with a shambles of emulators available from Google for several years already.

How to install Altstore (and Delta) on your iPhone?

First of all, you should go to the official AltStore website, then click on Get Altstore, opting for the PAL version . This is where you will have to agree to pay a little more than €1.80 to access the download. From then on, you can download the alternative store, even though iOS won't make it easy for you.

© Altstore

In fact, initially, Apple will tell you that it is not possible to install this third-party store without going through a specific setting. Don't panic, we access the phone settings, and at the very top of the menu, we validate the command “Authorize developer's online marketplace AltStore“. From then on, the download can start.

iOS will then warn you that the program wants to install “a marketplace”, which you will need to confirm. Once the store is installed, all you have to do is search for Delta and confirm its installation. And from then on, the joys of the (good) games of yesteryear are yours!

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