Hydra emulator AlternativesGame Emulators and other similar apps like Hydra emulator

Hydra emulator is described as 'A multi-system emulator' and is a Game Emulator in the gaming software category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Hydra emulator for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android and Mac apps. The best Hydra emulator alternative is RetroArch, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Hydra emulator are Bazzite, Lakka, Ludo and Batocera.linux.

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Hydra emulator alternatives page was last updated Nov 30, 2025

RetroArch
319 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.
154 RetroArch alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
Game Emulator
Origin
France
EU
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Blackberry
iPad
F-Droid
Steam
Raspberry Pi
Playstation
Xbox
+6
Is RetroArch a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
RetroArch is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to Hydra emulator.
RetroArch is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Hydra emulator.
RetroArch is Free and Open SourceHydra emulator is also Free and Open Source
Bazzite
30 likes
Bazzite is a custom gaming Linux distro built from ublue-os/main and ublue-os/nvidia using Fedora technology, which means expanded hardware support and built in drivers are included.
17 Bazzite alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application types
Linux Distro
Operating System
Origin
International
Platforms
Linux
+3
Is Bazzite a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
Lakka
37 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
Game Emulator
Linux Distro
Origin
France
EU
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Cubieboard
HummingBoard
Raspberry Pi
Nintendo Switch
Odroid
+4
Is Lakka a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
Ludo
21 likes
Ludo is an Emulator Frontend able to run retro video games. Ludo does not emulate the consoles itself, but does it through emulator plugins called libretro cores. Libretro cores are well known emulators (like Snes9x or Genesis Plus GX or PCSX) stripped from their user interface.
35 Ludo alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
Game Emulator
Origin
France
EU
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
+2
Is Ludo a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
Batocera.linux
20 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
Game Emulator
Linux Distro
Platforms
Linux
Raspberry Pi
Odroid
Is Batocera.linux a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
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...
54 LaunchBox alternatives
Cost / License
Freemium (Pay once)
Proprietary
Application type
Game Library Manager
Origin
United States
Platforms
Windows
Android
+4
Is LaunchBox a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
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
Game Emulator
Platforms
Linux
Raspberry Pi
Is Retropie a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
iiSU
2 likes
Dual-screen Android launcher designed for handhelds like AYANEO Pocket DS, Odin 2, and Retroid Dual-Screen. Currently in Alpha.
Cost / License
Freemium (Pay once)
Open Source
Application type
Game Emulator
Origin
United States
Platforms
Android
Online
+1
Is iiSU a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
RetroBat
5 likes
RetroBat is a set of Batch and Powershell scripts written to easily configure and launch EmulationStation for Windows. This frontend software is intended to gather your ROMs collection and run games with compatible emulators such as RetroArch.
17 RetroBat alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Platforms
Windows
Is RetroBat a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
GLF OS
2 likes
GLF OS is a gaming-oriented live Linux distribution based on NixOS. Developed by a French-speaking community called Gaming Linux France (GLF), the distribution includes everything one would need for gaming on Linux, including Steam, Lutris, Heroic Games Launcher, as well as...
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
Linux Distro
Origin
France
EU
Platforms
Linux
Is GLF OS a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
Recalbox
15 likes
Recalbox is a light embedded system created to run on the raspberryPi ,raspberryPI 2 and others!
11 Recalbox alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Origin
France
EU
Platforms
Linux
Raspberry Pi
Odroid
Is Recalbox a good alternative to Hydra emulator?
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
Game Emulator
Origin
International
Platforms
Windows
Windows Mobile
Windows Phone
Xbox
Is RetriX a good alternative to Hydra emulator?