EmulationStation Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to EmulationStation for Windows and since it's discontinued a lot of people are looking for a replacement. The best Windows 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 19 are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to EmulationStation are Mame, Pegasus, Lakka and LaunchBox.

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.
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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
Mame
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Emulator
Mac
Windows
Linux
AmigaOS
MorphOS
15 Mame alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Mame Features
1. PortableMame can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Integrated Android Emulator
Comments about Mame as a Alternative to EmulationStation
Some users think Mame is a great EmulationStation alternative, some don't.
Guest
Emulationstation is an interface for mame
Negative comment•
0
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.
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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.
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Lakka Features
Emulation
Linux-based
Gaming-focused
Opinions about Lakka as a Alternative to EmulationStation
Most users think Lakka is a great EmulationStation alternative.
LaunchBox
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Game Library Manager
Windows
Android
35 LaunchBox alternatives
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...
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LaunchBox Features
1. PortableLaunchBox can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Front End Emulation
Game Launcher
Batch import
Launcher
Opinions about LaunchBox as a Alternative to EmulationStation
Almost everyone thinks LaunchBox is a great EmulationStation alternative.
Mednafen
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Emulator
Windows
Linux
29 Mednafen alternatives
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)...
Suggest and vote on features
Mednafen Features
1. PortableMednafen can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Multi System Emulator
Happy Chick
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
Android
iPhone
iPad
32 Happy Chick alternatives
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...
Suggest and vote on features
Happy Chick Features
Multi System Emulator
Emulation
Opinions about Happy Chick as a Alternative to EmulationStation
Most users think Happy Chick is a great EmulationStation alternative.
MESS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Game Emulator
Mac
Windows
Linux
100 MESS alternatives
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.
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MESS Features
Emulation
Multi System Emulator
RetriX
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Emulator
Windows
Windows Mobile
Windows Phone
Xbox
102 RetriX alternatives
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.
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RetriX Features
Windows Compatible
Emulation
Multi System Emulator
RomStation
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Game Emulator
Windows
18 RomStation alternatives
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.
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RomStation Features
Emulation
Multi System Emulator
Integrated Search
Skinnable
Gamecube
Playstation
Multiple languages
Nostlan
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Library Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
115 Nostlan alternatives
A front-end or user interface (UI) is the presentation and interaction layer of an app or website. Most modern emulator apps have basic game list UIs that you can interact with using a mouse/keyboard but not a game controller.
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Nostlan Features
1. Controller SupportNostlan supports the use of a controller (XBOX, PlayStation, etc.).
Game Launcher
Emulation
Xbox
BizHawk
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Game Emulator
Windows
Linux
15 BizHawk alternatives
BizHawk is a multi-system emulator designed predominantly around the production of Tool Assisted Speedruns (TAS). BizHawk focuses on core accuracy and power user tools while still being an easy-to-use emulator for casual gaming.
Suggest and vote on features
BizHawk Features
Multi System Emulator
Hex Editor
Lua scripting