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, Batocera.linux and LaunchBox.

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Alternatives list

  1. RetroArch icon
     343 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.

    160 RetroArch alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    • Steam
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
    • Haiku
     
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    4
  2. Lakka icon
     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
     
  3. Mame icon
     96 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
     
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    2
  4. Batocera.linux icon
     22 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
     
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    1
  5. LaunchBox icon
     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

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
     
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    1
  6. Retropie icon
     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
     
  7. WinDS PRO icon
     13 likes

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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. RetroX icon
     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.

    103 RetroX alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
     
  9. RomStation icon
     13 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
     
  10. Mednafen icon
     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)...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  11. Matsu icon
     4 likes

    Matsu is a free and ad-supported emulator for Android supporting multiple videogame systems from SNES to PSX and featuring save states, fast forward and rewind.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
     
  12. MESS icon
     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
     
12 of 21 EmulationStation alternatives