Frontends
Contents
Launcher type
the "Launcher" or "Executor" kind of frontend allow a user to execute an emulator program using a graphical interface. These frontends can be used with almost any emulator of your choosing, as long as they support command-line arguments.
| Name | Platform(s) | Latest Version | Active | Recommended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC / x86 | |||||||
| LaunchBox | 
|
10.0 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Attract-Mode |  
|
2.6.1 | ✓ | ? | |||
| Mobile / ARM | |||||||
| LaunchBox | 
|
0.33 ($) | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Attract-Mode | 
|
2.6.1 | ✓ | ? | |||
Comparisons
LaunchBox was originally built as an attractive front-end 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 gaming on your computer, for both modern and historical games. Probably the most customizable emulator on here, alongside HyperSpin, if you buy a license. You can customize the interface to however you like and the metadata of each game and comes with a metadata scraper. Has integrated support for launching from Kodi (XBMC). There is one version free, but also has a premium version that gives you access to Big Box which is an HTPC version of Launch Box along with some other features..
Emulators included type
These "frontends" have a graphical user interface and let you launch included emulators, it's not possible to use non-included emulators. They may or may not contain original emulator cores. If a program has mostly original cores, then it's called a multi-system emulator and is not included here.
| Name | Platform(s) | Latest Version | Active | Recommended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC / x86 | |||||||
| OpenEmu |
|
2.4.1 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| BizHawk |
|
2.9.1 | ✓ | ? | |||
| RetroPie |
|
4.5.1 | ✓ | ? | |||
| Mobile / ARM | |||||||
| RetroPie |
|
4.5.1 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
Comparisons
- OpenEmu
Add-ons to other programs
| Name | Platform(s) | Latest Version | Active | Recommended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC / x86 | |||||||
| Steam ROM Manager |
|
2.2.22 | ✓ | ? | |||
| Ice |
|
1.0.0 | ✗ | ✗ | |||
Comparisons
- Steam ROM Manager
Specific frontends
Libretro
| Name | Platform(s) | Latest Version | Active | Recommended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC / x86 | |||||||
| RetroArch | 
|
1.18.0 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Ludo |
|
0.10.4 | ✓ | ? | |||
| Mobile / ARM | |||||||
| RetroArch | 
|
1.18.0 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Ludo |
|
0.10.4 | ✓ | ? | |||
| Consoles | |||||||
| RetroArch |      
|
1.18.0 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
MAME
MAME used to be command line only, but as of Feb 2016 they merged the frontend MEWUI to be used as the default GUI. MEWUI is keyboard driven, if you prefer mouse driven or something else these are the alternatives.
| Name | Platform(s) | Latest Version | Active | Recommended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC / x86 | |||||||
| QMC2 | 
|
0.195 | ✓ | ? | |||
| MAMEUI64 |
|
0.264 | ✓ | ? | |||
| Negatron |
|
0.99.7 | ✓ | ? | |||
| Mobile / ARM | |||||||
Mednafen
| Name | Platform(s) | Latest Version | Active | Recommended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC / x86 | |||||||
| Mednaffe |
|
0.8.8 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| MedGui Reborn |
|
0.110 | ✓ | ? | |||
| MedLaunch |
|
0.5.25.3 | ✗ | ? | |||
| MedGui |
|
1.99999 | ✗ | ✗ | |||
Others
Mupen64 Model 2 Model 3
