LaunchBox Alternatives for Mac

LaunchBox is not available for Mac but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on macOS with similar functionality. The best Mac alternative is RetroArch, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to LaunchBox and 14 are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to LaunchBox are Retrom, Pegasus, Lakka and Attract-Mode.

filter to find the best alternatives

LaunchBox alternatives are mainly Game Emulators, but if you're looking for Game Library Managers or Linux Distros you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to LaunchBox.
LaunchBox iconLaunchBox
  48
  • ...

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...

More about LaunchBox
More about LaunchBox
LaunchBox alternatives page was last updated Mar 22, 2025
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. RetroArch icon

    RetroArch

     293 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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
    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 LaunchBox

     

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

    • RetroArch is Free and Open SourceLaunchBox is Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Retrom icon

    Retrom

     28 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    40 Retrom alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    Retrom screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

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

    Retrom VS 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
  4. Pegasus icon

    Pegasus

     27 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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 LaunchBox

     
  5. Lakka icon

    Lakka

     33 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    30 Lakka alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Gaming-focused

    Features

    1.  Emulation
    2.  Linux-based

    Lakka VS LaunchBox

     
    Comments about Lakka as an Alternative to LaunchBox
    Guest
    Negative Nov 23, 2020
    0

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

    LaunchBox Icon
    Lakka icon
    • Lakka is Free and Open SourceLaunchBox is Freemium and Proprietary
  6. Attract-Mode icon

    Attract-Mode

     1 like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A graphical front-end for command line emulators that hides the underlying operating system and is intended to be controlled with a joystick, gamepad or spin dial. Ideal for use on arcade cabinet setups.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
    Attract-Mode screenshot 1

    Attract-Mode Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Portable
    3.  Front End Emulation
    4.  Windows XP Compatibility
    5.  Game Launcher

    Attract-Mode VS LaunchBox

     
  7. GameEx icon

    GameEx

     3 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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 LaunchBox

     
  9. Nostlan icon

    Nostlan

     4 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Dolphin (Wii, Gamecube, Virtual Console) [Linux, macOS, & Windows]

    Nostlan Features

    1.  Controller Support
    2.  Game Launcher
    3.  Emulation
    4.  Xbox

    Nostlan VS LaunchBox

     
  10. DBGL icon

    DBGL

     7 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    DBGL is a Java frontend for DOSBox, based largely upon the proven interface of D-Fend.

    15 DBGL alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • NL flagNetherlands
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • DOSBox
    DBGL screenshot 1

    DBGL Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Game Launcher
    3.  Batch processing
    4.  Multiple languages

    DBGL VS LaunchBox

     
  11. Boxer icon

    Boxer

     10 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Boxer plays all the MS-DOS games of your misspent youth, right here on your Mac.

    21 Boxer alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Boxer screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The project is no longer developed. Last version, 1.4.0, released in February 2016, can be still downloaded from the official website

    Boxer Features

    1.  Emulation

    Boxer VS LaunchBox

     
  12. GR-lida icon

    GR-lida

     3 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    GR-lida is a graphical interface for managing the most used emulators like DOSBox abandonware VDMSound and ScummVM . This way you can easily run any game prepared for each emulator in today's computers.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Main

    GR-lida Features

    1.  Artwork
    2.  Graphical User Interface
    3.  Multiple languages

    GR-lida VS LaunchBox

     
    Comments about GR-lida as an Alternative to LaunchBox
    Guest
    Positive Mar 4, 2020
    0

    It's cross platform, it looks good and it works well

    LaunchBox Icon
    GR-lida icon
    • GR-lida is Free and Open SourceLaunchBox is Freemium and Proprietary
10 of 14 LaunchBox alternatives