EmulationStation Alternatives for Android

EmulationStation is not available for Android but there are some alternatives with similar functionality. The best Android alternative 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 nine of them are available for Android so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Android alternatives to EmulationStation are LaunchBox, Pegasus, RetroX and Happy Chick.

EmulationStation iconEmulationStation
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A graphical and themeable emulator front-end that allows you to access all your favorite games in one place, even without a...

More about EmulationStation
More about EmulationStation
EmulationStation alternatives page was last updated Jun 27, 2023
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  1. RetroArch icon

    RetroArch

     293 likes
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    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.

    135 RetroArch alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    • Steam
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
    Mobile main view

    RetroArch Features

    1.  Multi System Emulator
    2.  Multiplatform
    3.  Emulation
    4.  Controller Support
    5.  Modular System
    6.  Gameboy emulation
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Variety
    9.  Rewind button
    10.  Portable

    RetroArch VS EmulationStation

     
    Comments about RetroArch as an Alternative to EmulationStation
    Most Recent Comment
    Oktay Mercan
    Positive May 1, 2019
    0

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

    Guest
    Negative Feb 15, 2018
    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.

    Guest
    Negative Jun 27, 2023
    0

    EmulationStation is an interface for retroarch.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    EmulationStation Icon
    RetroArch icon

    • Some users think RetroArch is a great EmulationStation alternative, some don't.

    • RetroArch is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to EmulationStation.

    • RetroArch is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to EmulationStation.

    • RetroArch is Free and Open SourceEmulationStation is also Free and Open Source
  2. LaunchBox icon

    LaunchBox

     48 likes
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    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...

    52 LaunchBox alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    Immerse Yourself

    LaunchBox Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Front End Emulation
    3.  Game Launcher
    4.  Batch import
    5.  Launcher

    LaunchBox VS EmulationStation

     
  4. Pegasus icon

    Pegasus

     27 likes
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    Pegasus is a graphical frontend for browsing your game library (especially retro games) and launching them from one place. It's focusing on customizability, cross platform support (including embedded devices) and high performance.

    43 Pegasus alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • HU flagHungary
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Raspberry Pi
    Pegasus screenshot 1

    Pegasus Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Game Launcher

    Pegasus VS EmulationStation

     
  5. RetroX icon

    RetroX

     6 likes
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    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.

    96 RetroX alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    RetroX screenshot 1

    RetroX VS EmulationStation

     
  6. Happy Chick icon

    Happy Chick

     8 likes
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    Happy Chick emulates more than 18 systems all in one APP, some of the included emulators are FAB/MAME/MAMEPLUS,PS,PSP,FC(NES),SFC(SNES),GBA,GBC,MD,NDS,DC,NGP,WS(WSC),PCE, ONS…etc. More games will be updated in the future...

    35 Happy Chick alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Happy Chick screenshot 1

    Happy Chick Features

    1.  Multi System Emulator
    2.  Emulation

    Happy Chick VS EmulationStation

     
  7. Matsu icon

    Matsu

     3 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Matsu screenshot 1

    Matsu VS EmulationStation

     

    • Matsu is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to EmulationStation.

    • Matsu is Freemium and ProprietaryEmulationStation is Free and Open Source
  9. DroidEmu icon

    DroidEmu

     6 likes
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    DroidEmu is a game system to play SNES, NES, GameBoy Advanced, GameBoy/Color, SEGA GameGear, SEGA Genesis games on your Android phone. It runs thousands of games at full speed.

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    DroidEmu screenshot 1
    DroidEmu screenshot 2
    DroidEmu screenshot 3
    Discontinued

    No longer available.

    DroidEmu Features

    1.  Multi System Emulator

    DroidEmu VS EmulationStation

     
  10. John GBC icon

    John GBC

     2 likes
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    GBC emulator for android powered devices.

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    John GBC screenshot 1

    John GBC VS EmulationStation

     
  11. GameEx icon

    GameEx

     3 likes
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    Feature rich gaming front-end for MAME, GameBase, Daphne, PC Games and all command line based game emulators, along with being a complete Home Theatre PC solution or plug in for windows media center.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Android
    GameEx screenshot 1

    GameEx Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Windows XP Compatibility

    GameEx VS EmulationStation

     
9 of 9 EmulationStation alternatives