EmulationStation Alternatives for Raspberry Pi

There are many alternatives to EmulationStation for Raspberry Pi and since it's discontinued a lot of people are looking for a replacement. The best Raspberry Pi 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 eight of them are available for Raspberry Pi so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Raspberry Pi alternatives to EmulationStation are Batocera.linux, Pegasus, Lakka and Retropie.

EmulationStation alternatives are mainly Game Emulators but may also be Game Library Managers or Linux Distros. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of EmulationStation.

EmulationStation alternatives page was last updated

EmulationStation

Free • Open Source
Game Emulator

EmulationStation is a graphical and themeable emulator front-end that allows you to access all your favorite games in one...

More about EmulationStation

RetroArch
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Emulator
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Blackberry
iPad
OpenPandora
Steam
Raspberry Pi
Playstation
Xbox
143 RetroArch alternatives
RetroArch is a graphical frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players.
- - RetroArch is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to EmulationStation.
- - RetroArch is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to EmulationStation.
Suggest and vote on features
RetroArch Features
1. Controller SupportRetroArch supports the use of a controller (XBOX, PlayStation, etc.).
2. Dark ModeRetroArch supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Multi System Emulator
Multiplatform
Emulation
FOSS
Modular System
Gameboy emulation
Variety
Rewind button
Comments about RetroArch as a Alternative to EmulationStation
Some users think RetroArch is a great EmulationStation alternative, some don't.
Oktay Mercan
RetroArch is core (emulator) but emulationStation is like a interface or GUI.
Positive comment•
0

Guest
EmulationStation is an interface for retroarch.
Negative comment•
0

Guest
You need retroarch for emulationstation... they work together not alternates
Negative comment•
0

Guest
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.
Negative comment•
4
Batocera.linux
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Emulator
Linux Distro
Linux
Raspberry Pi
Odroid
10 Batocera.linux alternatives
Batocera.linux is an operating system specialized in retrogaming available for your pc and different nano computers like the Raspberry and the Odroids.
Suggest and vote on features
Batocera.linux Features
Multi System Emulator
Opinions about Batocera.linux as a Alternative to EmulationStation
Almost everyone thinks Batocera.linux is a great EmulationStation alternative.
Pegasus
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Library Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
Raspberry Pi
26 Pegasus alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Pegasus Features
1. PortablePegasus can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Game Launcher
Lakka
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Emulator
Linux Distro
Operating System
Mac
Windows
Linux
Cubieboard
HummingBoard
Raspberry Pi
Nintendo Switch
Odroid
22 Lakka alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Lakka Features
Emulation
Linux-based
Gaming-focused
Opinions about Lakka as a Alternative to EmulationStation
Most users think Lakka is a great EmulationStation alternative.
Retropie
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Emulator
Linux
Raspberry Pi
8 Retropie alternatives
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.
Retropie has no features, suggest some!
Recalbox
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
Raspberry Pi
Odroid
7 Recalbox alternatives
Recalbox is a light embedded system created to run on the raspberryPi ,raspberryPI 2 and others!
Suggest and vote on features
Recalbox Features
Emulation
Multi System Emulator
Playstation
Pi Entertainment System
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
Raspberry Pi
4 Pi Entertainment System alternatives
PES is a graphical front end for a variety of games console emulators that has been written in Python which is intended for use on the Raspberry Pi. For ease of use on the Raspberry Pi, PES has been packaged into a SD card image using ArchLinux as the OS together with various...
Suggest and vote on features
Pi Entertainment System Features
Emulation
Linux-based
Playstation
Ignition (gaming OS)
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Emulator
Linux
Raspberry Pi
4 Ignition (gaming OS) alternatives
A fully customizable "console" in your living room that not only plays all the classic games you grew up with, but also brings modern features such as Gaming Achievements, Gaming Profiles, Online play, Social Interaction and more?.
Ignition (gaming OS) has no features, suggest some!
Discontinued
The official website is no longer accessible, but has been archived by Archive.org (https://web.archive.org/web/20160317030645/http://ignition.io/) and the source code is available on GitHub: https://github.com/alexjstubbs/ignition-dev