Folium
Folium is a paid iPhone and iPad app for emulating retro consoles and handhelds.
What Folium is
Folium is a paid iPhone and iPad app for emulating retro consoles and handhelds. Its supported systems include WonderSwan, WonderSwan Color, ColecoVision, Nintendo 3DS and DS, Game Boy models, NES, SNES, Genesis, Mega Drive, and PlayStation 1. It supports save states, cheats, and online multiplayer; update notes describe online play through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection using custom servers. You can import game and system files and custom artwork, and the Grape core supports save-state and in-game saving. Folium does not supply games or system files, so you must provide them. Listed controllers include Backbone One, Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and Pro Controller, PlayStation DualSense and DualShock 4, and Xbox Series S and X controllers. The Folium plan costs $2.99, paid once for iPhone and iPad. The listing also shows an Extra Features in-app purchase for $1.99. It requires iOS 16.0 or later on iPhone and iPadOS 16.0 or later on iPad; emulation may be slow on older devices. A dark interface is listed as an accessibility feature.
Good
- Supports a broad range of listed console and handheld systems
- Includes save states, cheats, and online multiplayer
- Supports several listed game controllers
- Custom artwork and file import are described in update notes
Watch out
- Users must provide games and system files
- Requires iOS 16.0 or iPadOS 16.0
- Emulation may be slow on older devices
- Paid plan costs $2.99, paid once
Who it suits
Folium suits iPhone and iPad users who want to emulate its listed retro systems and are prepared to provide their own game and system files. It may be less suitable for older devices where emulation can be slow.
Verdict
Folium brings multiple retro systems, save states, cheats, and online multiplayer to iPhone and iPad. Check device requirements and be ready to supply your own game and system files before choosing it.
Plans and prices
From Folium's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Folium | $2.99, paid once | iPhone and iPad · Requires iOS 16.0 or later / iPadOS 16.0 or later |
The facts
Each one read from Folium's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility
- The listing identifies a dark interface as a supported accessibility feature.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Controllers
- Listed supported controllers include Backbone One, Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and Pro Controller, PlayStation DualSense and DualShock 4, and Xbox Series S and X controllers.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Extra purchase
- The listing shows an in-app purchase named Extra Features for $1.99.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Multiplayer
- Update notes describe Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support for online multiplayer using custom servers.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Organization location
- The Folium GitHub organization profile lists Australia.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Performance limitation
- The listing says emulation may be slow on older devices depending on the emulated console or handheld.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Privacy
- The developer indicates that the app does not collect data; Apple says this developer-provided privacy information has not been verified by Apple.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- Folium is a multi-system emulation app for retro console and handheld gaming on Apple devices.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Recent features
- The listing’s update notes describe importing custom artwork, game and system file import controls, and save-state and in-game saving support for the Grape core.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Support channel
- The listing’s update notes ask users to add issues to the Folium GitHub repository.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Supported systems
- The listing names WonderSwan, WonderSwan Color, ColecoVision, Nintendo 3DS, DS, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, NES, SNES, Genesis, Mega Drive, and PlayStation 1.checked 3 Oct 2001
- User supplied files
- Folium does not provide games or system files; users must provide them.checked 3 Oct 2001
Where it runs
- Device requirements
- The listing requires iOS 16.0 or later on iPhone and iPadOS 16.0 or later on iPad.checked 3 Oct 2001
The company
- Maker
- The App Store identifies Jarrod Norwell as the developer and seller.checked 3 Oct 2001
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