The best Compatibility Layer alternative to RetroArch is PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to RetroArch and nine of them are Compatibility Layer Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Compatibility Layer Tool alternatives to RetroArch are GameHub, CrossOver, Mythic and WineGUI.
PlayOnLinux is a graphical frontend for the Wine software compatibility layer which allows Linux and Mac users to install Windows-based video games, Microsoft Office (2000 to 2010), Microsoft Internet Explorer, as well as many other applications.
Games library manager. Supports: Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle, Humble Trove, Wine and RetroArch.
Cross-platform utility enables seamless installation and execution of Windows applications on macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS. No Windows license required—facilitates easy app management with a few clicks, eliminates the need for virtual machines and reboots, delivering efficient compatibility layer operation.
CrossOver runs desktop software. RetroArch runs retro games.
An open-source Epic Games Launcher alternative and normal game launcher for macOS written in Swift. We started this project to create a GUI frontend for Legendary and to play Windows games using game porting toolkit by Apple.
Phoenicis is a graphical front-end for Wine, a tool to help Linux and Mac users run games and programs for Windows. The future of PlayOnLinux and PlayOnMac.
WineZGUI (pronounced Wine-Zee-Goo-Eee) is a wine frontend for playing windows games with wine easily. It is a collection of Bash scripts for Wine Prefix Management and Linux Desktop Integration for easier wine gaming experience using Zenity.
This is Hangover, a project started by André Zwing and Stefan Dösinger in 2016 to run (x86_64)/x86_32 Windows applications on aarch64/(ppc64le)/x86_64 Wine. (Architectures in brackets are currently not supported).
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.
France
EU
Ukraine
United States
PlayOnLinux is a compatibility layer to play Windows games (or other software) on Linux. Retroarch is a multi-platform emulator frontend. They are not at all similar.