RetroArch is described as 'A portable, fast, and lightweight emulator frontend supporting classic and modern gaming systems with features like real-time rewinding and shader support' and is a very popular Game Emulator in the gaming software category. There are more than 100 alternatives to RetroArch for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and iPhone apps. The best RetroArch alternative is DuckStation, which is free. Other great apps like RetroArch are Lemuroid, PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac, OpenEmu and Lakka.
DuckStation is an emulator, whereas RetroArch is a front-end for multiple emulators and the games using them.