Every fact on this page applies to update 1.05, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Unicorn Overlord runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
Gameplay video
How Unicorn Overlord runs
Unicorn Overlord is playable on the iPhone at 60 fps. When the project developers last published sizes, the iPhone app came to about 4 GB.
How it runs
The game asks for 60 fps itself, and on the iPhone it holds a median frame time of 16.7 ms. On an iPhone with the A20 Pro chip, it used about 2.9 GB of memory with at least 3.2 GB still free. On the Mac, the logos, the title, a new game and the opening story scene played without errors.
The game comes from Vanillaware, the studio behind 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. A crash right after the title screen was fixed using what was learned from that Game.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 2D touch layout. On the Switch the game can read a USB mouse, but it does not read the touch screen, so use the virtual gamepad or a controller.
Good to know
- Unicorn Overlord does not vibrate, on the Switch either, so the lack of rumble is not an nxnative problem.
- Tested with update 1.05. Other versions may behave differently.
Known issues
- The game reads a mouse but not the touch screen, so tapping its menus does nothing.
Packing command
Run this in your nxnative folder on the Build Mac. Replace the game folder and the keys path with your own. Add --platform mac-app to get a Mac app instead of an iPhone and iPad app.
python3 scripts/build_ipa_from_nsp.py ~/Games/unicorn-overlord -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Unicorn Overlord work with nxnative?
Yes. Unicorn Overlord is tested with nxnative on update 1.05.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Unicorn Overlord?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later) or an iPad with an M1 chip or later, on iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, or a Mac with Apple silicon. iPads with the A17 Pro chip (iPad mini) have the iPhone 15 Pro's chip but are untested by nxnative. Packing needs a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later and Xcode 27.1.
Is Unicorn Overlord included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Unicorn Overlord from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Unicorn Overlord?
Online play in Unicorn Overlord is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
