RetroArch AlternativesTop Game Emulators and other similar apps like RetroArch

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 PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like RetroArch are DuckStation, Lemuroid, OpenEmu and Lakka.

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RetroArch alternatives are mainly Game Emulators, but if you're looking for Game Library Managers or Compatibility Layer Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows, Linux, Android and iPhone. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to RetroArch.
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Alternatives
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Alternatives list

  1. 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.

    45 PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Wine
    • FreeBSD
    Good alternative?
     
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  2. DuckStation icon
     55 likes

    DuckStation is an simulator/emulator of the Sony PlayStation(TM) console, focusing on playability, speed, and long-term maintainability.

    15 DuckStation alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    Good alternative?
     
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  3. Lemuroid icon
     42 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.

    36 Lemuroid alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    Good alternative?
     
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    4
  4. OpenEmu icon
     70 likes

    Open Emu is an open source project to bring game emulation to OS X as a first class citizen, leveraging modern OS X technologies such as Cocoa, Core Animation and Quartz, and 3rd party libraries like Sparkle for auto-updating.

    56 OpenEmu alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Good alternative?
     
  5. Lakka icon
     38 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.

    38 Lakka alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Cubieboard
    • HummingBoard
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Odroid
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Super ZSNES icon
     13 likes

    GPU-powered SNES emulator offering advanced CPU, audio, and PPU accuracy, high-res Mode 7, redesigned high-definition interface, fast forward, rewind, cheats, save states, and a Super Enhancement Engine for game-specific enhancements, available on multiple platforms.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Good alternative?
     
  7. PPSSPP icon
     92 likes

    Run PSP games across platforms in crisp HD, enjoy sharper textures, post-processing effects, anisotropic filtering, save or restore progress, customize input controls, transfer existing saves, play on low-spec devices with JIT-optimized performance, and more features.

    9 PPSSPP alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Windows Mobile
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Symbian S60
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Blackberry 10
    • Flathub
    • Maemo
    • F-Droid
    • Android TV
    • MeeGo
    • Nintendo Switch
    • visionOS
    • Xbox
    • Meta Quest
    • Nintendo Wii / Wii U
    • OpenAPK
    Good alternative?
     
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  8. Ludo icon
     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.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  9. CrossOver icon
     78 likes

    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.

    47 CrossOver alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    Good alternative?
     
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  10. ScummVM icon
     129 likes

    ScummVM is a program which allows you to run certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure games, provided you already have their data files.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Windows Mobile
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Symbian S60
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • MorphOS
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  11. VisualBoyAdvance icon
     158 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.

    44 VisualBoyAdvance alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • MorphOS
    Good alternative?
     
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    2
  12. Delta Emulator icon
     30 likes

    Delta is an iOS emulator that supports multiple game systems such as NES, SNES, N64, and DS, improving upon its predecessor, GBA4iOS.

    42 Delta Emulator alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • AltStore
    • iPad
    Good alternative?
     
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