R.TYPE in IOS

Action

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Expert Score

90/100

R-Type is the definitive mobile port of one of the most influential 'shoot 'em ups' in gaming history. For retro fans, this is a pitch-perfect recreation of the 1987 arcade classic. The port handles the notoriously high difficulty of the original by offering both an 'Unlimited' mode for casual play and a 'Classic' mode for purists. The touch controls are surprisingly responsive, allowing for the pixel-perfect maneuvering required to survive the alien Bydo Empire.

The 'Force' mechanic—a remote-controlled pod that can be attached to your ship or sent out as a shield—remains one of the coolest power-ups in gaming. The boss designs, especially the iconic Stage 1 boss Dobkeratops, still look fantastic with their biomechanical aesthetic. It’s a brutal, rewarding, and visually striking game that proves that great design is timeless. If you enjoy bullet-hell or classic arcade shooters, this is a mandatory download.

Dinsun reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 2.4.6Thu Jul 15 2021

Updated for the latest devices and Oses. UI issues fixed


R-TYPE, THE CLASSIC ARCADE SHOOTER, RETURNS AS A UNIVERSAL APP!

Revisit the 80's (mesh half-shirts and Keds optional) with this classic, old-school shoot 'em up! One of the decade’s most popular arcade games will awaken fond memories of jangling quarters, Jolt Cola and week-old popcorn. Fire up your iPhone or iPad and get ready to go back... to R-Type!

FEEL THE BLAST!

Blast off and attack the evil Bydo Empire. Use everything in your arsenal to take them down – don’t be shy! It's retro, it's fun and it's a “10” on the difficulty scale. Finish this masterpiece and carve your name amongst the greats!

INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL FEATURES…

Remember how damnably difficult R-Type was? Well it still is, because we stayed true to the original, just the way you remember it! Choose between two difficulty settings, utilize two different control options and soar through eight jam-packed levels, each with its own unique boss. Upgrade to new weapons, power-ups, and attachments as you battle wave after wave of enemies.

... AND SOME NEW FEATURES TOO!

- Universal version

- Enhanced Touch mode

- Eight levels and two different control options: touch and virtual D-pad

- Two difficulty settings

- Available in 10 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Portuguese

- Full Retina Display support

- Game Center: unlockable achievements + online leaderboards


Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

R-TYPE, THE CLASSIC ARCADE SHOOTER, RETURNS AS A UNIVERSAL APP!

Revisit the 80's (mesh half-shirts and Keds optional) with this classic, old-school shoot 'em up! One of the decade’s most popular arcade games will awaken fond memories of jangling quarters, Jolt Cola and week-old popcorn. Fire up your iPhone or iPad and get ready to go back... to R-Type!

FEEL THE BLAST!

Blast off and attack the evil Bydo Empire. Use everything in your arsenal to take them down – don’t be shy! It's retro, it's fun and it's a “10” on the difficulty scale. Finish this masterpiece and carve your name amongst the greats!

INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL FEATURES…

Remember how damnably difficult R-Type was? Well it still is, because we stayed true to the original, just the way you remember it! Choose between two difficulty settings, utilize two different control options and soar through eight jam-packed levels, each with its own unique boss. Upgrade to new weapons, power-ups, and attachments as you battle wave after wave of enemies.

... AND SOME NEW FEATURES TOO!

- Universal version

- Enhanced Touch mode

- Eight levels and two different control options: touch and virtual D-pad

- Two difficulty settings

- Available in 10 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Portuguese

- Full Retina Display support

- Game Center: unlockable achievements + online leaderboards


Ratings & Reviews

3.3 out of 5 with 61 Counts
Age Rating 4+

Screenshots

R.TYPE screenshot 1R.TYPE screenshot 2R.TYPE screenshot 3R.TYPE screenshot 4R.TYPE screenshot 5R.TYPE screenshot 6R.TYPE screenshot 7R.TYPE screenshot 8R.TYPE screenshot 9R.TYPE screenshot 10

R-Type is the gold standard of side-scrolling shooters. Take control of the R-9 fighter and deploy the 'Force'—a powerful technological orb—to shield yourself or blast through waves of bio-mechanical enemies. With 8 original levels, epic boss fights, and multiple difficulty modes, this mobile version brings the full arcade experience to your pocket. Master the charge shot and find the perfect power-ups to save humanity.

Features

1

Faithful arcade port with original graphics

2

Innovative 'Force' power-up system

3

Classic and Unlimited game modes

4

Customizable touch controls

5

Iconic biomechanical boss designs

Tips

Promotion Videos

R-TYPE iOS - Official Trailer - YouTube

Related Videos

News on this game

'R-Type II' Review – Don't Bydo More Than You Can Chew – TouchArcade

Seeing the Irem logo come up when starting a game still makes me a little sad. We've seen a lot of important game companies go softly into...

TouchArcade - Sun Aug 02 2015

R-Type iPhone Review

Look, beating R-Type is hard enough with an actual controller. But what happens when you strip away a stick and buttons?

IGN - Fri Mar 02 2012

DotEmu: Retro-Digital-Distribution Interview

Read our exclusive interview with DotEmu, the leading platform for retro digital distribution. Learn about their innovative approach and...

CGMagazine - Fri Aug 02 2013

How Shredder's Revenge continues the side-scrolling beat 'em up revival

One of the great pleasures of recent years has been the revival of the side-scrolling beat 'em up - a genre whose prime…

Eurogamer.net - Sat Dec 02 2023

DotEmu Releases Classic Adventure Game 'I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream' On Android

DotEmu is in the habit of porting older but well-liked games to Android. With titles like R-Type, Double Dragon, and Another World under its...

Android Police - Sun Jul 02 2017

Cyrille Imbert, the Man Who Brings Gaming’s Past Back to Life

The Dotemu CEO on the challenges and rewards of resurrecting old games and franchises.

EGMNOW - Sun May 02 2021

R-Type, Street Fighter And Alien Crush Are All Flocking To The Japanese 3DS Virtual Console

Retro heavyweights flex their muscles on Nintendo's handheld - If you're a fan of blasting aliens, punching robots and playing demented...

Nintendo Life - Sun Aug 02 2015

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap lets you switch from HD to 8-bit at any time

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap will have a “Retro Feature” that lets you switch between modern and 8-bit retro graphics modes at any time…

Gematsu - Thu Aug 02 2018

R-Type Final retrospective

The R-Type series needs little introduction. From its stunning arcade debut in 1987, R-Type captured the hearts and min…

Eurogamer.net - Tue Dec 02 2014

The best arcade games you can play right now

Arcade apps get us back to basics in terms of gameplay loops, graphics, and design philosophy. The arcade games of yore focused on refining...

Android Police - Wed Apr 02 2025

Gameplays

Q&A

Yes, R-Type on iOS is fully compatible with MFi, Xbox, and PlayStation controllers for a true arcade feel.

More by Developer

You Might Also Like

All Categories

Puzzle Game

Action Game

Simulation Game

Casual Game

Card Game

Adventure Game

Roleplaying Game

Board Game

Sports Game

Strategy Game

Racing Game

Family Game

Casino Game

Music Game

Word Game

Trivia Game

Education Game

Games Game

Entertainment Game

Utilities Game

Social Networking Game

Books Game

Health & Fitness Game

Lifestyle Game