LaunchBox AlternativesTop Game Library Managers and other similar apps like LaunchBox

LaunchBox is described as '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' and is a game library manager in the gaming software category. There are more than 50 alternatives to LaunchBox for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and iPhone apps. The best LaunchBox alternative is Playnite, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like LaunchBox are Lutris, RetroArch, Retrom and Lemuroid.

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LaunchBox alternatives are mainly Game Emulators but may also be Game Library Managers or Compatibility Layer Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of LaunchBox.
LaunchBox iconLaunchBox
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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...

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LaunchBox alternatives page was last updated Feb 7, 2025
  1. Playnite icon
     204 likes

    Video game library manager and launcher with support for 3rd party libraries like Steam, GOG, Origin and Uplay, providing one unified interface for your games.

    36 Playnite alternatives
    Playnite screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Games library
    2.  Game Launcher
    3.  Multiple Account support
    4.  Import from Epic Games
    5.  Front End Emulation
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7. Steam icon  Import from Steam
    8.  Search metadata
    9.  Launcher
    10.  API Integration
    11.  Controller Support
    12.  Auto Update
    Playnite iconLaunchBox Icon

    Playnite VS LaunchBox

    Is Playnite a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
    Comments about Playnite as an Alternative to LaunchBox
     
    Eyji

    Does the same job for free (completely) and uses the Internet Games Datab which I find better

    Positive commentMar 10, 2019
    1
    LaunchBox Icon
    Playnite icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Playnite is a great LaunchBox alternative.

    • Playnite is the most popular Windows alternative to LaunchBox.

    • Playnite is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to LaunchBox.

    • Playnite is Free and Open SourceLaunchBox is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Playnite is CustomizableLaunchBox is not according to our users
  2. Lutris icon
     207 likes

    Lutris is an open source gaming platform for GNU/Linux. It allows you to gather and manage (install, configure and launch) all your games acquired from any source, in a single interface.

    48 Lutris alternatives
    Lutris screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Game Launcher
    2.  Custom Scripts
    3.  Multi System Emulator
    4.  Compatibility Layer
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Two-factor Authentication
    Lutris iconLaunchBox Icon

    Lutris VS LaunchBox

    Is Lutris a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
    Comments about Lutris as an Alternative to LaunchBox
     
    Guest

    Launchbox is internally capable of batch imports for supported platforms. Lutris can only batch import from a few sources.

    Negative commentJan 20, 2019
    0
    Guest

    Launchbox is primarily designed for importing libraries of retro game roms and then setting up as a frontend to launch external emulators.

    Lutris is primarily a community driven frontend for managing wine and proton emulation configs for modern windows games.

    Negative commentMar 10, 2020
    0
    Guest

    Lets you collect and run all your games, no matter how you are running them, from one place.

    Positive commentJul 11, 2016
    0
    LaunchBox Icon
    Lutris icon
    • Most users think Lutris is a great LaunchBox alternative.

    • Lutris is the most popular Web-based & Linux alternative to LaunchBox.

    • Lutris is Free and Open SourceLaunchBox is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Lutris is LightweightLaunchBox is not according to our users
  3. RetroArch icon
     283 likes

    RetroArch is a graphical frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players.

    148 RetroArch alternatives
    Main view

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • iPad
    • OpenPandora
    • Steam
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Playstation
    • Xbox

    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 iconLaunchBox Icon

    RetroArch VS LaunchBox

    Is RetroArch a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
    • RetroArch is the most popular Android, Mac, iPhone & iPad alternative to LaunchBox.

    • RetroArch is Free and Open SourceLaunchBox is Freemium and Proprietary
  4. Retrom icon
     23 likes

    Centralized game library management service, allowing you to host games on one device and connect multiple clients, supporting cross-platform play and emulation. Easily manage emulator profiles, with web client access for metadata and artwork showcase.

    36 Retrom alternatives
    Retrom screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Achievements Supported
    Retrom iconLaunchBox Icon

    Retrom VS LaunchBox

    Is Retrom a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
    • Retrom is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to LaunchBox.

    • Retrom is Free and Open SourceLaunchBox is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Retrom is Privacy focusedLaunchBox is not according to our users
  5. Lemuroid icon
     25 likes

    Lemuroid is an open-source emulation project based on Libretro. It's completely free, without ads and focused on ease of use and good user experience.

    25 Lemuroid alternatives
    Lemuroid screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Playstation
    2.  Gameboy emulation
    3.  Emulation
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Controller Support
    7.  Works Offline
    Lemuroid iconLaunchBox Icon

    Lemuroid VS LaunchBox

    Is Lemuroid a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
  6. VisualBoyAdvance icon
     155 likes

    VisualBoyAdvance (VBA) is a free software (GNU GPL) emulator targeted for the Game Boy, Super Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance handheld game consoles sold by Nintendo.

    35 VisualBoyAdvance alternatives
    VisualBoyAdvance screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • MorphOS

    VisualBoyAdvance Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Emulation
    Discontinued

    The project is no longer developed. Last version, 1.8.0 beta 3, released in October 2005, can be still downloaded from FileHippo

    VisualBoyAdvance iconLaunchBox Icon

    VisualBoyAdvance VS LaunchBox

    Is VisualBoyAdvance a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
  7. mGBA icon
     30 likes

    mGBA is an open source emulator of the Game Boy Advance. The goals are speed and accuracy.

    33 mGBA alternatives
    mGBA screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Ad-free
    mGBA iconLaunchBox Icon

    mGBA VS LaunchBox

    Is mGBA a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
  8. GameHub icon
     38 likes

    Games library manager. Supports: Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle, Humble Trove, Wine and RetroArch.

    37 GameHub alternatives
    GameHub allows to view, download, install, run and uninstall games from supported sources.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Flatpak

    GameHub Features

    1. Steam icon  Import from Steam
    2. GOG.com icon  Import from GoG
    3.  Multi System Emulator
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Controller Support
    6.  Proton support for linux
    7.  Gameboy emulation
    8.  Flatpak
    GameHub iconLaunchBox Icon

    GameHub VS LaunchBox

    Is GameHub a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
    Comments about GameHub as an Alternative to LaunchBox
     
    Guest

    It's focus is on launching native linux games. Doesn't support adding a complete no-intro romset, and it's wine/proton support is dismal

    Negative commentAug 17, 2020
    1
    LaunchBox Icon
    GameHub icon
    • GameHub is Free and Open SourceLaunchBox is Freemium and Proprietary
  9. Pegasus icon
     26 likes

    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.

    38 Pegasus alternatives
    Pegasus screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Raspberry Pi

    Pegasus Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Game Launcher
    Pegasus iconLaunchBox Icon

    Pegasus VS LaunchBox

    Is Pegasus a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
  10. Lakka icon
     33 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.

    28 Lakka alternatives
    Splash screen

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Cubieboard
    • HummingBoard
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Odroid

    Lakka Features

    1.  Emulation
    2.  Linux-based
    Lakka iconLaunchBox Icon

    Lakka VS LaunchBox

    Is Lakka a good alternative to LaunchBox?
     
    Comments about Lakka as an Alternative to LaunchBox
     
    Guest

    Linux-OS not meant to be used as game library organizer.

    Negative commentNov 23, 2020
    0
    LaunchBox Icon
    Lakka icon
    • Lakka is Free and Open SourceLaunchBox is Freemium and Proprietary
10 of 55 LaunchBox alternatives