RetroArch Alternatives

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, Lakka and VisualBoyAdvance.

filter to find the best alternatives

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 Android, Linux, Windows and iPhone. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to RetroArch.
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Alternatives list

  1. melonDS icon
     16 likes

    A Nintendo DS emulator with support for commercial games.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Android
     
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    1
    Comments about melonDS as an Alternative to RetroArch
    Douze
    Negative
    1

    melonDS is an emulator, whereas RetroArch is a front-end for multiple emulators and the games using them.

    melonDS icon
    melonDS icon
    • melonDS is Free and Open SourceRetroArch is also Free and Open Source
  2. Kega Fusion icon
     46 likes

    Kega Fusion is an emulator for the Sega Genesis / Megadrive, Master System, Game Gear, 32x, SegaCD/MegaCD, SVP, Pico, SG-1000, SC-3000, and SF-7000 emulator for Win9x/ME/2000/XP/Vista/Win7, Mac OSX (Intel), and Linux.

    37 Kega Fusion alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  3. gopher64 icon
     6 likes

    gopher64 is an N64 emulator written in Rust.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
     
  4. RetriX icon
     7 likes

    RetriX is an emulator front end for UWP, on all the hardware platforms it supports: it serves the same purpose as RetroArch but is built from the ground up to integrate as well as possible with Windows.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Windows Mobile
    • Windows Phone
    • Xbox
     
  5. Ares Emulator icon
     5 likes

    ares is a multi-system emulator that began development on October 14th, 2004. It is a descendent of higan and bsnes, and focuses on accuracy and preservation.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  6. Kazeta icon
     4 likes

    Retro 90s style gaming operating system.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  7. RomStation icon
     12 likes

    Simple and all in one emulation with RomStation!

    Features

    • All in one GB, GBC, GBA, NDS, NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, Game Gear, Master System, MegaDrive, 32X, Mega-CD, Dreamcast, Neo-Geo, PS1, PS2 and Arcade together in one program.

    • Fast access to games The entire RomSt.

    24 RomStation alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. RESET Collection is an emulation frontend that is easy to set up and beautiful to look at! Users are amazed by how simple, quick, and painless it is to add your games and have a sleek game collection UI with box art, backdrops, and more!.

    13 RESET Collection (Emulator Frontend) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
     
  9. Snes9x EX+ icon
     19 likes

    Advanced open-source SNES emulator based on Snes9x with a minimalist UI and a focus on low audio/video latency, supporting a wide variety of devices from the original Xperia Play to modern devices like the Nvidia Shield and Pixel phones.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
     
  10. Happy Chick icon
     8 likes

    Happy Chick emulates more than 18 systems all in one APP, some of the included emulators are FAB/MAME/MAMEPLUS,PS,PSP,FC(NES),SFC(SNES),GBA,GBC,MD,NDS,DC,NGP,WS(WSC),PCE, ONS…etc. More games will be updated in the future...

    39 Happy Chick alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
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    1
    Comments about Happy Chick as an Alternative to RetroArch
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Simple,fast easy to use and you can also get your roms here tho

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Happy Chick icon
    Happy Chick icon
    • Happy Chick is Free and ProprietaryRetroArch is Free and Open Source
  11. iiSU icon
     3 likes

    Dual-screen Android launcher designed for handhelds like AYANEO Pocket DS, Odin 2, and Retroid Dual-Screen. Currently in Alpha.

    25 iiSU alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Online
     
  12. BizHawk icon
     6 likes

    BizHawk is a multi-system emulator designed predominantly around the production of Tool Assisted Speedruns (TAS). BizHawk focuses on core accuracy and power user tools while still being an easy-to-use emulator for casual gaming.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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