EmulationStation AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Game Emulators

The best Game Emulator alternative to EmulationStation is RetroArch, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to EmulationStation and many of them are Game Emulators so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Game Emulator alternatives to EmulationStation are Lakka, Mame, LaunchBox and Batocera.linux.

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Alternatives list

  1. RetroArch icon

    RetroArch

     330 likes

    A fast, modular emulator frontend offering portability and extensive support for systems from arcade consoles to mobile platforms, featuring game engines like Doom and Quake, and capabilities for real-time rewinding and shader support on a variety of devices.

    159 RetroArch alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    • Steam
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
    • Haiku
    Main view
     
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    4
    RetroArch vs EmulationStation Comments
    Oktay Mercan
    Positive
    0

    RetroArch is core (emulator) but emulationStation is like a interface or GUI.

    Guest
    Negative
    4

    RetroArch allows you to emulate directly using "cores" included with the program and downloadable from their website. EmulationStation does not do emulation, and only acts as a front-end for other emulators installed on the system.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    EmulationStation is an interface for retroarch.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    • RetroArch is Free and Open SourceEmulationStation is also Free and Open Source
  2. Lakka icon

    Lakka

     38 likes

    Lakka is the official Linux distribution of RetroArch and the libretro ecosystem. Each game system is implemented as a libretro core, while the frontend RetroArch takes care of inputs and display.

    37 Lakka alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Cubieboard
    • HummingBoard
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Odroid
    Splash screen
     
  4. Mame icon

    Mame

     95 likes

    MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. When used in conjunction with images of the original arcade game's ROM and disk data, MAME attempts to reproduce that game as faithfully as possible on a more modern general-purpose computer.

    24 Mame alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AmigaOS
    • MorphOS
    Mame screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Mame vs EmulationStation Comments
    munnie
    Negative
    0

    MAME is an emulator, while EmulationStation is an interface that allows to sort MAME's games

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Emulationstation is an interface for mame

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Mame is Free and Open SourceEmulationStation is also Free and Open Source
  5. LaunchBox icon

    LaunchBox

     49 likes

    LaunchBox was originally built as an attractive frontend to DOSBox, but has since expanded to support both modern PC games and emulated console platforms. LaunchBox aims to be the one-stop shop for gaming on your computer, for both modern and...

    57 LaunchBox alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    Immerse Yourself
     
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    1
    LaunchBox vs EmulationStation Comments
    munnie
    Positive
    0

    It's a nice alternative to EmulationStation-DE (The DE version specifically), but only works on Windows and Android.

    • LaunchBox is Freemium and ProprietaryEmulationStation is Free and Open Source
    • LaunchBox is LightweightEmulationStation is not according to our users
  6. Batocera.linux icon

    Batocera.linux

     21 likes

    Batocera.linux is an operating system specialized in retrogaming available for your pc and different nano computers like the Raspberry and the Odroids.

    17 Batocera.linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Odroid
    Batocera.linux screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Batocera.linux vs EmulationStation Comments
    munnie
    Positive
    0

    It's an operating system that uses EmulationStation as it's interface so I recommend it if you only want to use a device for gaming and some other features only.

    • Batocera.linux is Free and Open SourceEmulationStation is also Free and Open Source
    • Batocera.linux is Lightweight and Privacy focusedEmulationStation is not according to our users
  7. Retropie icon

    Retropie

     23 likes

    RetroPie allows you to turn your Raspberry Pi or PC into a retro-gaming machine. It builds upon Raspbian, EmulationStation, RetroArch and many other projects to enable you to play your favourite classic games with the minimum set-up.

    13 Retropie alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
    Retropie screenshot 1
     
  9. WinDS PRO icon

    WinDS PRO

     13 likes

    WinDS PRO contains the latest versions of the emulators for the Nintendo, Sega and Playstation consoles for PC including:

    34 WinDS PRO alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Main Screen
     
  10. RetroX icon

    RetroX

     6 likes

    RetroX is an Android application that will help you organize and play your own Retro Games with the less possible effort. Put your collection in your device and RetroX will take care of the rest.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    RetroX screenshot 1
     
  11. RomStation icon

    RomStation

     12 likes

    Simple and all in one emulation with RomStation!

    Features

    • All in one GB, GBC, GBA, NDS, NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, Game Gear, Master System, MegaDrive, 32X, Mega-CD, Dreamcast, Neo-Geo, PS1, PS2 and Arcade together in one program.

    • Fast access to games The entire RomSt.

    24 RomStation alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    overview
     
  12. Mednafen icon

    Mednafen

     20 likes

    Mednafen is a portable, utilizing OpenGL and SDL, argument(command-line)-driven multi-system emulator with many advanced features. The Atari Lynx, GameBoy (Color), GameBoy Advance, NES, PC Engine (TurboGrafx 16), SuperGrafx, Neo Geo Pocket (Color), PC-FX, and WonderSwan (Color)...

    39 Mednafen alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Mednafen screenshot 1
     
  13. MESS icon

    MESS

     14 likes

    MESS emulates portable and console gaming systems, computer platforms and calculators. The project strives for accuracy and portability and therefore is not always the fastest emulator for any one particular system.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Menu
     
  14. RetriX icon

    RetriX

     7 likes

    RetriX is an emulator front end for UWP, on all the hardware platforms it supports: it serves the same purpose as RetroArch but is built from the ground up to integrate as well as possible with Windows.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Windows Mobile
    • Windows Phone
    • Xbox
    RetriX screenshot 1
     
12 of 21 EmulationStation alternatives