Vision Pro introduced its first Virtual Boy emulator, an app called VirtualFriend. This app allows you to dive back into those classic games in immersive 3D. You can also use VirtualFriend on your iPhone or iPad, though you’ll miss out on the 3D effect.
Dive back into your favourite childhood games
When you download VirtualFriend, you will find that classics like Red Alarm, Wario Land, and Mario’s Tennis are all there. And while there are a few minor audio glitches in Red Alarm, the games still run smoothly.
With VirtualFriend, you can use Bluetooth controllers and keyboard controls on your Vision Pro. If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, you’ll also have the option to use touchscreen buttons. The visuals are as good as you can expect for Virtual Boy games, and you can even customise the console’s two-tone colour palette to suit your preference. An eye adjustment slider lets you tweak the image if a game doesn’t look quite right to you.
Missing features, but still worth it
You might notice some missing features, like the ability to map your controller or save your game at any point using save states. These are features you might be used to in other emulators, but unfortunately, they’re not available yet in VirtualFriend. The developer, Adam Gastineau, has acknowledged this on the project’s GitHub page, so there’s hope these features might be added.
Despite these limitations, VirtualFriend is still a great app to explore if you’re curious about Virtual Boy games or once owned and loved the console. It’s free to download and doesn’t show ads, and according to its App Store listing, it won’t collect your data so that you can enjoy your gaming without any interruptions.
VirtualFriend offers a trip back to the mid-90s with good, clean VR fun. Whether you’re using Vision Pro, iPhone, or iPad, this app lets you revisit some old favourites and experience a bit of gaming nostalgia.
