You’ve probably seen the hype. Ever since Apple finally cracked the door open for emulators on the App Store, Delta has basically become the king of the hill for iPhone and iPad gamers. It’s slick, it’s purple, and it’s surprisingly stable. But if you're standing there with a library of old files wondering what actually runs, I’ve got you. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag of nostalgia, mostly focused on the Nintendo family, though things are starting to branch out.
The Core List: Delta What Games Does It Support?
Basically, Delta is a "multi-system" emulator. It doesn't just do one thing; it uses different "cores" to handle a bunch of different consoles. If you grew up with a handheld in your pocket or a grey box under your TV, you’re likely in luck.
Here is the current breakdown of what you can play:
- Nintendo Entertainment System (NES): The absolute classics. Think original Mario, Zelda, and Metroid.
- Super Nintendo (SNES): Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger, and Donkey Kong Country. This is where the 16-bit beauty lives.
- Nintendo 64 (N64): GoldenEye 007, Ocarina of Time, and Mario Kart 64. (Side note: these look surprisingly good on a modern iPhone screen).
- Game Boy & Game Boy Color (GBC): Everything from the original Tetris to Pokémon Crystal.
- Game Boy Advance (GBA): This is where most people spend their time. Pokémon Emerald, Fire Emblem, and Metroid Fusion run like a dream here.
- Nintendo DS (DS): This is the crown jewel for a lot of people, but it’s a little finicky. You’ll need some extra files—more on that in a second.
- Sega Genesis (Mega Drive): This was recently added in the 2.0 update. It’s technically in beta for some users or accessible via Patreon/AltStore builds depending on your version, but it's officially part of the ecosystem now.
What about the "Other" stuff?
I get asked this a lot: "Can it play PlayStation games?" or "What about GameCube?"
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Short answer: No.
Longer answer: Delta is built on specific cores like Nestopia, Snes9x, and melonDS. These are lightweight and designed for older, 2D or early 3D hardware. If you’re looking to play Final Fantasy VII (the original) or Resident Evil, you’re looking for a different app like Gamma or RetroArch. Delta stays in the Nintendo-centric lane for the most part. It doesn't support PSP, 3DS, or anything from the modern era either.
The DS "Gotcha" (The BIOS files)
If you just download Delta and try to fire up Pokémon Black, you’re going to get an error message. It sucks, I know. Unlike the SNES or GBA, the Nintendo DS emulation requires "BIOS files" to work.
These are basically the soul of the original hardware. Specifically, you need three files: bios7.bin, bios9.bin, and firmware.bin. Because of legal copyright stuff, Riley Testut (the dev) can't include them in the app. You have to find them yourself. Once you have them, you go into Settings > Core Settings > Nintendo DS and tap each slot to link the file.
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Without these, the DS section is basically just a paperweight.
Does it support controllers and skins?
One of the best things about Delta isn't even the games—it's how they look. The app supports custom "skins," which are digital overlays that make your screen look like a real Game Boy or N64 controller.
If you hate touch controls (and let’s be real, platformers on a glass screen are rough), Delta supports:
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- Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers and Joy-Cons.
- PS4 and PS5 (DualSense) controllers.
- Xbox One and Series X/S controllers.
- MFi (Made for iPhone) controllers like the Backbone One or Razer Kishi.
It even supports AirPlay. You can basically turn your iPhone into a console by beaming the game to your TV and using your phone (or a connected controller) to play. It's a trip.
File formats you need to know
You can't just throw any file at Delta and expect it to work. It’s picky about extensions. Generally, if you have your games in a .zip folder, Delta can usually handle it, but if you're looking at the raw files, look for these:
- NES: .nes
- SNES: .smc or .sfc
- N64: .n64 or .z64
- GBA: .gba
- GBC/GB: .gbc or .gb
- DS: .nds
- Sega Genesis: .gen or .md
If you have a file that ends in something weird like .exe or .7z, it’s not going to work. Stick to the basics.
Actionable Tips for New Users
Don't just install it and hope for the best. To get the most out of Delta, do these three things immediately:
Set up Delta Sync. Go into settings and link your Google Drive or Dropbox. This is a lifesaver. It keeps your save states and game library synced across your iPhone and iPad. If your phone dies or you upgrade, you don't lose those 40 hours you put into Pokémon.
Fix the N64 joystick. Sometimes the default N64 skin is a bit cramped. Go to a site like Skins4Delta and download a "Landscape" skin. It makes playing Zelda much less of a thumb-cramping experience.
Long-press for shortcuts. Most people don't realize you can long-press a game's box art in the menu to "Deep Link" it. You can actually create a shortcut on your iOS Home Screen that launches directly into a specific game. It makes your iPhone feel like a dedicated gaming handheld.
The reality is that Delta is the most user-friendly way to play classics on an iPhone. It isn't the most powerful—RetroArch has more "stuff"—but Delta just works. As long as you stick to the supported Nintendo and Sega systems and remember those pesky DS BIOS files, you're golden.