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[[File:openemu-wimp.png|thumb|[[OpenEmu]] with a <abbr title="Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointer">WIMP</abbr> interface]]
{{For|frontend and launcher software that runs on consoles and handhelds|Homebrew and ROM hacks#Launchers}}
[[File:attractmode-htpc.png|thumb|Attract-Mode with a HTPC interface]]
'''Frontends''' are programs that address a quality-of-life issue that emulators may not fulfill. For example, some emulator developers skip the user interface portion of development by having the user launch them from the command line. This usually means opening Command Prompt in the folder where the emulator is installed and typing something like <code>emulator.exe game.rom</code>. From a usability perspective, this is not optimal; running emulators from a shell can be considered tedious if commands aren't already scripted by the user (and they can't be expected to know how to set up such a thing if their first time loading the program is a black window that pops up and then disappears). To avoid this, many emulators will try to incorporate some kind of ''graphical user interface (GUI)'' in their standalone builds. For the emulators that never receive one however, a separate frontend project usually emerges.
'''Frontends''' are programs that address a quality-of-life issue that emulators may not fulfill. For example, some emulator developers skip the user interface portion of development by having the user launch them from the command line. This usually means opening Command Prompt in the folder where the emulator is installed and typing something like <code>emulator.exe game.rom</code>. From a usability perspective, this is not optimal; running emulators from a shell can be considered tedious if commands aren't already scripted by the user (and they can't be expected to know how to set up such a thing if their first time loading the program is a black window that pops up and then disappears). To avoid this, many emulators will try to incorporate some kind of ''graphical user interface (GUI)'' in their standalone builds. For the emulators that never receive one however, a separate frontend project usually emerges.


The term 'Frontend application' can sometimes be confused with [[Multi-system_emulators|multi-system emulators]]. placeholder text
The term "Frontend application" can sometimes be confused with [[Multi-system_emulators|multi-system emulators]] and [[ROM managers]].


==Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="420px" style="float: right;">
openemu-wimp.png|[[OpenEmu]] with a <abbr title="Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointer">WIMP</abbr> interface
attractmode-htpc.png|Attract-Mode with a HTPC interface
</gallery>
 
== Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) ==
Frontends have different types of GUIs, here we have categorized them as follows:
Frontends have different types of GUIs, here we have categorized them as follows:
;WIMP:[[wikipedia:WIMP (computing)|WIMP]] stands for "Windows, Icons, Menus and a Pointer". This is a GUI based on one or several window(s) and it's normally controlled by a mouse. Examples of this type of interface are [[LaunchBox]] and [[OpenEmu]].
; WIMP : [[wikipedia:WIMP (computing)|WIMP]] stands for "Windows, Icons, Menus and a Pointer". This is a GUI based on one or several window(s) and it's normally controlled by a mouse. Examples of this type of interface are [[LaunchBox]] and [[OpenEmu]].
;HTPC:This type of interface is often intended for viewing on a big screen, such as a TV or arcade monitor. Normally the navigation is optimized for joysticks or gamepads, although they often work with keyboard controls as well. [[RetroArch]], [[HyperSpin]] and [[MAME]]'s integrated frontend ''MEWUI'' or Steam, PCSX2 and DuckStation's ''Big Picture Mode'' are examples of this interface.
; HTPC : [[wikipedia:Home theater PC|HTPC]] stands for "Home theater PC". This type of interface is often intended for viewing on a big screen, such as a TV or arcade monitor. Normally the navigation is optimized for joysticks or gamepads, although they often work with keyboard controls as well. [[RetroArch]], [[HyperSpin]] and [[MAME]]'s integrated frontend ''MEWUI'' or Steam, PCSX2 and DuckStation's ''Big Picture Mode'' are examples of this interface.
;Touch:A touch interface is often similar to a HTPC interface, the difference is that they are intended for touch screens. This is mostly found in Android frontends intended for smartphones and tablet computers.
; Touch : A touch interface is often similar to a HTPC interface, the difference is that they are intended for touch screens. This is mostly found in Android frontends intended for smartphones and tablet computers.
; CLI : A command-line interface operated through terminal commands or executable arguments, offering no graphical elements.


==Launcher types==
== Launcher types ==
These "Launchers" or "Executors" use their own graphical interface to start emulators. They're generally very adaptive and can support different arguments between emulators to ease integration. These frontends can be used with almost any emulator of your choosing, as long as they support command-line arguments.
These "Launchers" or "Executors" use their own graphical interface to start emulators. They're generally very adaptive and can support different arguments between emulators to ease integration. These frontends can be used with almost any emulator of your choosing, as long as they support command-line arguments.<!--
 
TODO: Should probably find a multi-platorm WIMP and HTPC type to recommend. -->
<!--
TODO: Should probably find a multi-platorm WIMP and HTPC type to recommend
-->


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" style="width: 75%"
{| class="wikitable" style="border-width: 2px; text-align: center; width: 67%;"
! scope="col"|Name
! Name
! scope="col"|Platform(s)  
! Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! Latest version
! scope="col"|Interface(s)
! Interface(s)
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>
! [[Licensing|License]]
! scope="col"|Active
! Active
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! [[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
|-
|-
!colspan="7"|PC / x86
! colspan="7" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | PC / x86
|-
! [[EmulationStation|ES-DE]]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
| [https://www.es-de.org/#Download {{EmulationStation Desktop EditionVer}}]
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
! [[Playnite]]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://playnite.link/download.html {{PlayniteVer}}]
| WIMP • HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
! [[LaunchBox]]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://www.launchbox-app.com/download {{LaunchBoxVer}} (Free)]<br>[https://www.launchbox-app.com/premium Premium (US$75)]
| WIMP • HTPC<ref group="A" name="launchbox">This feature is called ''Big Box'' and is only available in the premium (paid) version.</ref>
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|-
! [https://github.com/quinton-ashley/nostlan Nostlan]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
| [https://qashto.itch.io/nostlan {{NostlanVer}}]
| WIMP • HTPC • Touch
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|-
! [https://lutris.net Lutris]
| {{Icon|Linux}}
| [https://lutris.net/downloads 0.5.7.1]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|-
! [https://github.com/purelogiccode/SimpleLauncher Simple Launcher]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://github.com/purelogiccode/SimpleLauncher/releases 5.7.0]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|-
! [http://guerilla.bplaced.net/x86WinSoft.html All Stars Launcher]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [http://guerilla.bplaced.net/x86WinSoft.html 2024.030]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://www.mgalaxy.com mGalaxy]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://www.mgalaxy.com/download.html {{mgalaxyVer}}]
| HTPC
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://pegasus-frontend.org Pegasus]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
| [https://pegasus-frontend.org/#downloads Alpha 16]
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Intermittent}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://www.gameex.com GameEx]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://www.gameex.info/forums/files/category/33-gameex-installs {{GameExVer}} (Free)]<br>[https://www.gameex.info/forums/store/category/4-gameex-pinballx-and-spesoft-products Lifetime pass (US$60)]
| HTPC
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://github.com/tkashkin/gamehub GameHub]
| {{Icon|Linux}}
| [https://github.com/tkashkin/GameHub/releases/tag/0.16.3-2-master 0.16.3-2-master]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [http://attractmode.org Attract-Mode]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
| [http://attractmode.org/download.html 2.7.0]
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [http://quickplay.sourceforge.net QuickPlay]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://sourceforge.net/projects/quickplay/files/latest/download?source=files 4.7.6]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://www.simui.net SimUI]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
| [https://www.simui.net/api/download.php?url=12 3.1 (Windows)]<br>[https://down.simui.net/simUI_v2.6.dmg 2.6 (macOS)]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [[RetroFE]]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
| [http://retrofe.nl/download 0.10.31]
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [[EmulationStation]]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
| [https://emulationstation.org/index.html#download 2.0.1a]<br/ >[https://github.com/RetroPie/EmulationStation RetroPie fork]
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://www.metropolis-launcher.net Metropolis Launcher]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://github.com/theMK2k/MetropolisLauncher/releases git]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [http://feelfrontend.altervista.org FEEL]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [http://feelfrontend.altervista.org/download 1.9.8.5]
| HTPC
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://oldtools.github.io/skeletonkey/index.html skeletonKeY]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://github.com/oldtools/skeletonkey git]
| WIMP • CLI
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [[HyperSpin]]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://hyperspin-fe.com/files/category/761-hyperspin-windows 1.5.1]
| HTPC
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://emuloader.mameworld.info Emu Loader]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://emuloader.mameworld.info/downloads.htm {{Emu LoaderVer}}]
| WIMP
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://terminallaunch.blogspot.com Terminal Launch]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://terminallaunch.blogspot.com {{Terminal LaunchVer}}]
| CLI
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://www.maximus-arcade.com Maximus Arcade]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://www.maximus-arcade.com/pages/maximus-arcade-trial ?.? (30-day trial)]<br>[https://www.maximus-arcade.com/products/maximus-arcade-software-registration-code Licenced (US$24.99)]
| HTPC
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://emuloader.mameworld.info/emucon EmuCon]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://emuloader.mameworld.info/emucon/downloads.htm 2.7.7]
| WIMP
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [http://emucenter.2.free.fr EmuCenter 2]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [http://emucenter.2.free.fr/website/ENG/download.html 7.1.0.1]<br>[http://emucenter.2.free.fr/dev Dev 7.1.0.232]
| WIMP
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [http://lusspace.free.fr LusSpace]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [http://lusspace.free.fr/modules/news 1.23]
| WIMP
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [[RetroDECK]]
| {{Icon|Linux}}
| [https://flathub.org/apps/details/net.retrodeck.retrodeck {{RetroDECKVer}}]
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
|-
|[[LaunchBox]]
! [[EmuHub]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://www.launchbox-app.com/download {{LaunchBoxVer}} (Free)]<br />[https://www.launchbox-app.com/premium Premium ($75)]
| [https://github.com/Tw1tchy0/EmuHub/releases {{EmuHubVer}}]
|WIMP, HTPC<ref group=A name=launchbox>This feature is called ''Big Box'' and is only available in the paid premium version.</ref>
| WIMP • HTPC
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
| {{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[[EmulationStation|ES-DE]]
| {{TBD}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|-
|[https://www.es-de.org/#Download {{EmulationStation Desktop EditionVer}}]
! [https://neostation.dev/ NeoStation]
|HTPC
| {{Icon|Windows|Linux|LinuxARM|macOS}}
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
| [https://github.com/miguelsotobaez/neostation-frontend/releases beta]
|-
| HTPC
|[[Playnite]]
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✓|text=}}
|[https://playnite.link/download.html {{PlayniteVer}}]
| {{TBD}}
|WIMP, HTPC
|-
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
! colspan="7" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | Mobile / ARM
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/quinton-ashley/nostlan Nostlan]
! [https://github.com/purelogiccode/SimpleLauncher Simple Launcher]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
| {{Icon|WoA}}
|[https://github.com/quinton-ashley/nostlan/releases {{NostlanVer}}]
| [https://github.com/purelogiccode/SimpleLauncher/releases 5.7.0]
|WIMP, HTPC, Touch
| WIMP
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{~}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://lutris.net Lutris]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}
|-
|[https://lutris.net/downloads 0.5.7.1]
! [https://cocoon-shell.com/ Cocoon Shell]
|WIMP
| {{Icon|Android}}
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
| [https://github.com/inssekt/CocoonFE/ Beta 3.0]
|-
| Touch
|[https://github.com/drpetersonfernandes/SimpleLauncher Simple Launcher]
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://github.com/drpetersonfernandes/SimpleLauncher/releases 3.1.0]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|WIMP
|-
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{}}
![https://iisu.network/ iiSU]
|-
|{{Icon|Android}}
|[http://guerilla.bplaced.net/x86WinSoft.html All Stars Launcher]
|[https://github.com/iisu-network/iiSU {{iiSUVer}}]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|Touch
|[http://guerilla.bplaced.net/x86WinSoft.html 2024.030]
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|WIMP
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
|-
|[https://www.mgalaxy.com mGalaxy]
! [[Daijishō]] (台字章)
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{Icon|Android}}
|[https://www.mgalaxy.com/download.html {{mgalaxyVer}}]
| [https://github.com/magneticchen/Daijishou {{DaijishōVer}}]
|HTPC
| HTPC • Touch
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://pegasus-frontend.org Pegasus]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|-
|[https://pegasus-frontend.org/#downloads Alpha 16]
! [[EmulationStation|ES-DE]]
|HTPC
| {{Icon|Android}}
|{{}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}}
| [https://www.es-de.org/#Download {{EmulationStation Desktop EditionVer}}] ([https://www.patreon.com/es_de US$5.50]<br>[https://galaxystore.samsung.com/detail/org.es_de.frontend.galaxy US$6.50])
|-
| Touch
|[https://www.gameex.com GameEx]
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}<ref group="A" name="esde">[https://gitlab.com/es-de/emulationstation-de/-/blob/master/FAQ-ANDROID.md#is-it-available-for-free-and-is-it-open-source Android release is not free and contains proprietary code.]</ref>
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://www.gameex.info/forums/files/category/33-gameex-installs {{GameExVer}} (Free)]<br />[https://www.gameex.info/forums/store/category/4-gameex-pinballx-and-spesoft-products Lifetime pass ($60)]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|HTPC
|-
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
! [https://github.com/utkarshdalal/GameNative GameNative]
|-
| {{Icon|Android}}
|[https://tkashkin.github.io/projects/gamehub/ GameHub]
| [https://github.com/utkarshdalal/GameNative/releases/tag/v0.8.1 0.8.1]<br>[https://github.com/utkarshdalal/GameNative/releases/tag/v0.9.0-prerelease 0.9.0] <small>(pre-release)</small>
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}
| Touch
|[https://tkashkin.github.io/projects/gamehub/ 0.16.3-6-dev]
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|WIMP
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|-
|-
|[http://attractmode.org Attract-Mode]
! [https://github.com/oxters168/Pluvia Pluvia]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
| {{Icon|Android}}
|[http://attractmode.org/download.html 2.7.0]
| [https://github.com/oxters168/Pluvia/releases 1.3.2]
|HTPC
| Touch
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[http://quickplay.sourceforge.net QuickPlay]
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|-
|[https://sourceforge.net/projects/quickplay/files/latest/download?source=files 4.7.6]
! [[EmulationStation]]
|WIMP
| {{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
| [https://emulationstation.org/index.html#download 2.0.1a]<br>[https://github.com/RetroPie/EmulationStation RetroPie fork]
|-
| HTPC
|[https://www.simui.net SimUI]
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}<ref group="A" name="emulationstation">Only the [https://github.com/RetroPie/EmulationStation RetroPie fork]</ref>
|[https://www.simui.net/api/download.php?url=12 3.1 (Windows)]<br />[https://down.simui.net/simUI_v2.6.dmg 2.6 (macOS)]
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}<ref group="A" name="emulationstation"/>
|WIMP
|-
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
! [https://gamehub.xiaoji.com GameSir GameHub]
|-
| {{Icon|Android}}
|[[RetroFE]]
| [https://gamehub.xiaoji.com 3.0.5]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
| Touch
|[http://retrofe.nl/download 0.10.31]
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|HTPC
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
| {{|text=❌}}<ref group="A" name="gamesirgamehub">Some users have expressed concerns about the app's stability and security.</ref>
|-
|-
|[[EmulationStation]]
! [https://digdroid.com Dig]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
| {{Icon|Android}}
|[https://emulationstation.org/index.html#download 2.0.1a]<br />[https://github.com/RetroPie/EmulationStation {{EmulationStationVer}} (RetroPie fork)]
| [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digdroid.alman.dig 1.44.3] {{IAP}}
|HTPC
| Touch
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}}
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://www.metropolis-launcher.net Metropolis Launcher]
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|-
|[https://github.com/theMK2k/MetropolisLauncher/releases git]
! [http://attractmode.org Attract-Mode]
|WIMP
| {{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
| [http://attractmode.org/download.html 2.7.0]
|-
| HTPC
|[http://feelfrontend.altervista.org FEEL]
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[http://feelfrontend.altervista.org/download 1.9.8.5]
| {{TBD}}
|HTPC
|-
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
! [https://pegasus-frontend.org Pegasus]
|-
| {{Icon|Android}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|[https://oldtools.github.io/skeletonkey/index.html skeletonKeY]
| [https://pegasus-frontend.org/#downloads Alpha 16]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| HTPC • Touch
|[https://github.com/oldtools/skeletonkey git]
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|WIMP, CLI
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
|-
|[[HyperSpin]]
! RESET Collection
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{Icon|Android}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|AndroidTV}}
|[https://hyperspin-fe.com/files/category/761-hyperspin-windows 1.5.1]
| [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroloungelab.resetcollection 1.1.29 (US$4.99)]
|HTPC
| Touch
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://emuloader.mameworld.info Emu Loader]
| {{TBD}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|-
|[https://emuloader.mameworld.info/downloads.htm {{Emu LoaderVer}}]
! [https://arcbrowser.com/ ARC Browser]
|WIMP
| {{Icon|Android}}
|{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}}
| [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.floatingpoint.android.arcturus 1.26.1 (US$7.49)]
|-
| Touch
|[https://terminallaunch.blogspot.com Terminal Launch]
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://terminallaunch.blogspot.com {{Terminal LaunchVer}}]
| {{TBD}}
|CLI
|-
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
! [[HyperSpin]]
|-
| {{Icon|Android}}
|[https://www.maximus-arcade.com Maximus Arcade]
| [https://hyperspin-fe.com/files/category/445-hyperspin-android 1.1]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| Touch
|[https://www.maximus-arcade.com/pages/maximus-arcade-trial ?.? (30-day trial)]<br />[https://www.maximus-arcade.com/products/maximus-arcade-software-registration-code Licenced ($24.99)]
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|HTPC
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
|-
|[https://emuloader.mameworld.info/emucon EmuCon]
! [https://neostation.dev/ NeoStation]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{Icon|Android|AndroidTV}}
|[https://emuloader.mameworld.info/emucon/downloads.htm 2.7.7]
| [https://github.com/miguelsotobaez/neostation-frontend/releases beta]
|WIMP
| HTPC • Touch
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[http://emucenter.2.free.fr EmuCenter 2]
| {{TBD}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|-
|[http://emucenter.2.free.fr/website/ENG/download.html 7.1.0.1]<br />[http://emucenter.2.free.fr/dev Dev 7.1.0.232]
! colspan="7" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | Misc
|WIMP
|-
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
! RetroAssembly
|-
| {{Icon|Web}}
|[http://lusspace.free.fr LusSpace]
| [https://github.com/arianrhodsandlot/retroassembly/releases/ {{RetroAssemblyVer}}]<br>[https://retroassembly.com/demo Live demo]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| HTPC
|[http://lusspace.free.fr/modules/news 1.23]
| {{Green}} {{License|MIT}}
|WIMP
| {{|text=}}
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
!colspan="7"|Mobile / ARM
|-
|[https://digdroid.com Dig]
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digdroid.alman.dig 1.44.3] {{IAP}}
|Touch
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[[Daijishō]] (台字章)
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|[https://github.com/magneticchen/Daijishou {{DaijishouVer}}]
|HTPC, Touch
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[[EmulationStation|ES-DE]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|[https://www.es-de.org/#Download {{EmulationStation Desktop EditionVer}}]
|Touch
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[[EmulationStation]]
|align=left|{{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|[https://emulationstation.org/index.html#download 2.0.1a]<br />[https://github.com/RetroPie/EmulationStation {{EmulationStationVer}} (RetroPie fork)]
|HTPC
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}}<ref group=A name=emulationstation>Only the [https://github.com/RetroPie/EmulationStation RetroPie fork]</ref> ||{{~}}<ref group=A name=emulationstation></ref>
|-
|[http://attractmode.org Attract-Mode]
|align=left|{{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|[http://attractmode.org/download.html 2.7.0]
|HTPC
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
|-
|[https://pegasus-frontend.org Pegasus]
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|LinuxARM}}
|[https://pegasus-frontend.org/#downloads Alpha 16]
|HTPC, Touch
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
|-
|RESET Collection
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|AndroidTV}}
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroloungelab.resetcollection 1.1.29 ($4.99)]
|Touch
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
|-
|[https://arcbrowser.com/ ARC Browser]
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.floatingpoint.android.arcturus 1.26.1 ($7.49)]
|Touch
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
|-
|[[HyperSpin]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|[https://hyperspin-fe.com/files/category/445-hyperspin-android 1.1]
|Touch
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{TBD}}
|}
|}
<references group="A"/>
<references group="A"/>


===Comparisons===
=== Comparisons ===
<!--
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*** READ THIS FIRST ***


Recommended frontends are the best in their category.
Recommended frontends are the best in their category. If two frontends have different (common) use cases they can both be recommended. Different use cases might include: available on another platform, different interface type, etc.
If two frontends have different (common) use cases they can both be recommended.  
Different use cases might include: available on another platform, different interface type, etc.
 
The comparison text should compare the frontend to other frontends.
Why should, or shouldn't you use this frontend?
 
**********************


The comparison text should compare the frontend to other frontends. Why should, or shouldn't you use this frontend?
-->
-->
;[[LaunchBox]]
==== x86 ====
[[File:LaunchBox-Screenshot-Nintendo-64.jpg|100px|left]]
; [[LaunchBox]] : Was originally built as an attractive front-end for [[DOSBox]] but has since expanded to support both modern PC games and emulated console platforms. It comes with an integrated metadata scraper, and the interface is highly customizable, likely the most customizable alongside HyperSpin, but only with a license for the premium version. Premium also includes Big Box, which is an HTPC version of the frontend. Launchbox can also be launched natively from Kodi.
:Was originally built as an attractive front-end for [[DOSBox]] but has since expanded to support both modern PC games and emulated console platforms. It comes with an integrated metadata scraper, and the interface is highly customizable, likely the most customizable alongside HyperSpin, but only with a license for the premium version. Premium also includes Big Box, which is an HTPC version of the frontend. Launchbox can also be launched natively from Kodi.
; [http://attractmode.org Attract-Mode] : A graphical frontend for command-line emulators with a completely customizable appearance. It hides the underlying operating system and is intended to be controlled with a joystick, gamepad or spin dial, making it ideal for use in arcade cabinets. Attract-Mode is open source and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
 
:; [https://github.com/oomek/attractplus/ Attract-Mode Plus] : Attract-Mode Plus is a fork of Attract-Mode, enhanced by numerous community-driven improvements, fixes, and features. Licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 3 or later.
;[http://attractmode.org Attract-Mode]
; [http://quickplay.sourceforge.net QuickPlay] : An excellent FOSS alternative to LaunchBox. It has a WIMP style interface and is Windows only. Compared to LaunchBox it has less eye-candy but it requires a lot less system resources, it's blazing-fast and slow down-free.
:A graphical frontend for command line emulators with a completely customizable appearance. It hides the underlying operating system and is intended to be controlled with a joystick, gamepad or spin dial, making it ideal for use in arcade cabinets. Attract-Mode is open source and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
; [https://github.com/purelogiccode/SimpleLauncher Simple Launcher] : Simple Launcher is a WIMP Open Source emulator frontend that streamlines retro gaming on Windows. It offers cover art display, multi-emulator support, gamepad functionality, and user-friendly features, all without the need for rom databases. Users can easily configure cover art size, gamepad support, systems, emulators, rom folders, and more. Has Windows-x64 and Windows-ARM64 versions.
 
; [https://romjacket.github.io/skeletonkey/index.html skeletonKeY] : According to the author, skeletonKeY is ''a unified interface for ROMs emulators and frontends''. A dynamic GUI provides granular options for MAME, snes9x, mednafen, emulationStation, retroFE, PegasusFE and a very comprehensive interface for RetroArch (including netplay). SkeletonKeY integrates and supports the installation of hundreds of emulators. SkeletonKeY is free, open source and very ugly.
;[http://quickplay.sourceforge.net QuickPlay]
; [https://playnite.link Playnite] : A great general gaming frontend for Windows. Version 9 greatly expanded emulation support, and better arcade support is planned. For something similar on Linux, check out Lutris.
:An excellent FOSS alternative to LaunchBox. It has a WIMP style interface and is Windows only. Compared to LaunchBox it has less eye-candy but it requires a lot less system resources, it's blazing-fast and slowdown free.
; [https://lutris.net Lutris] : A great general gaming frontend for GNU/Linux, with support for running Windows games with [[Wine]] and [[Proton]]. However, for the emulation use cases it has some downsides, such as: there is no bulk import for ROMs. There is a [https://github.com/hwangeug/lutris-bulk-adder lutris-bulk-adder] script which might solve this.
 
; [https://github.com/tkashkin/gamehub GameHub] : A general gaming frontend for Linux. At the moment it's not useful for huge ROM collections as it [https://github.com/tkashkin/GameHub/issues/103 seems to crash] when bulk importing.
;[https://github.com/drpetersonfernandes/SimpleLauncher Simple Launcher]
:Simple Launcher is a WIMP Open Source emulator frontend that streamlines retro gaming on Windows. It offers cover art display, multi-emulator support, gamepad functionality, and user-friendly features, all without the need for rom databases. Users can easily configure cover art size, gamepad support, systems, emulators, rom folders, and more.


;[https://romjacket.github.io/skeletonkey/index.html skeletonKeY]
; [https://neogamelab.com/ NeoStation]: A modern, lightweight cross-platform frontend that emphasizes UX/UI and features NeoSync, a built-in cloud service for syncing RetroArch save states across devices.
:According to the author, skeletonKeY is ''a unified interface for ROMs emulators and frontends''. A dynamic GUI provides granular options for MAME, snes9x, mednafen, emulationStation, retroFE, PegasusFE and a very comprehensive interface for retroArch (including netplay).  SkeletonKeY integrates and supports the installation of hundreds of emulators.  SkeletonKeY is free, open source and very ugly.


;[https://playnite.link Playnite]
==== ARM ====
:A great general gaming frontend for Windows. Version 9 greatly expanded emulation support, and better arcade support is planned. For something similar on Linux, check out Lutris.
; [[Daijishō]] : Gives a console-like user interface for Android devices, capable of scraping boxart and providing metadata for many games and platforms, launching games for any compatible emulator app or core on Android, and applying custom wallpaper themes, including downloadable themes. Also has widgets and can track the user's RetroAchievements profile.
; [[EmulationStation|ES-DE]] : An Android port of ES-DE, this also provides a console-like user interface for Android devices; however, the Android version requires a one-time payment/Patreon subscription to download and use, and can be updated for free. It has similar features to Daijisho, but theming the user interface is more customizable than Daijisho.
; [https://digdroid.com/ Dig] : An older frontend for Android with a simple touch-friendly user interface, capable of launching games for any compatible emulator app.


;[https://lutris.net Lutris]
== Integrated emulator types ==
:A great general gaming frontend for GNU/Linux, with support for running Windows games with [[Wine]] and [[Proton]]. However, for the emulation use cases it has some downsides, such as: there is no bulk import for ROMs. There is a [https://github.com/hwangeug/lutris-bulk-adder lutris-bulk-adder] script which might solve this.
These "frontends" have a graphical user interface that lets you launch emulators that are included with the system, meaning it's not possible (or difficult) to incorporate other emulators. They may or may not contain original emulator cores. If a program has mostly original cores, then it's called a [[Multi-system emulators|multi-system emulator]] and is not included here. If you're looking for a full Linux distribution to run on a Raspberry Pi or similar, check out our [[Emulation Boxes#DIY Solutions|Emulation Boxes]] page.


;[https://tkashkin.github.io/projects/gamehub/ GameHub]
{| class="wikitable" style="border-width: 2px; text-align: center; width: 67%;"
:A general gaming frontend for Linux. At the moment it's not useful for huge ROM collections as it [https://github.com/tkashkin/GameHub/issues/103 seems to crash] when bulk importing.
! Name
 
! Platform(s)
==Integrated emulator types==
! Latest version
These "frontends" have a graphical user interface that lets you launch emulators that are included with the system, meaning it's not possible (or difficult) to incorporate other emulators. They may or may not contain original emulator cores. If a program has mostly original cores, then it's called a [[Multi-system emulators|multi-system emulator]] and is not included here. If you're looking for a full Linux distribution to run on a Raspberry Pi or similar, check out our [[Emulation_Boxes#DIY_Solutions|Emulation Boxes]] page.
! Interface(s)
 
! [[Licensing|License]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" style="width: 75%"
! Active
! scope="col"|Name
! [[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! scope="col"|Platform(s)  
|-
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! colspan="7" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | PC / x86
! scope="col"|Interface(s)
|-
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free and Open-Source Software">FOSS</abbr>
! [[OpenEmu]]
! scope="col"|Active
| {{Icon|macOS}}
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
| [http://openemu.org {{OpenEmuVer}}]
|-
| WIMP
!colspan="8"|PC / x86
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|-
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Stalled}}
|[[OpenEmu]]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|align=left|{{Icon|macOS}}
|-
|[http://openemu.org {{OpenEmuVer}}]
! [https://www.emudeck.com/ EmuDeck]
|WIMP
| {{Icon|Win}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
|{{}}
| [https://www.emudeck.com/#download {{EmuDeckVer}}]
|{{}}
| HTPC
|{{✓}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://www.emudeck.com/ EmuDeck]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Win|Linux}}
|-
|[https://www.emudeck.com/#download 2.1.0]
! [[Lakka]]
|HTPC
| {{Icon|Linux|LinuxARM}}
|{{}}
| [https://www.lakka.tv {{LakkaVer}}]
|{{✓}}
| HTPC
|{{✓}}
| {{Unknown}}
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[[Lakka]]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}
|-
|[https://www.lakka.tv {{LakkaVer}}]
! [[RetroPie]]
|HTPC
| {{Icon|Linux}}<ref group="I" name="retropie">RetroPie for x86 Linux is only available for Ubuntu- (16.04 LTS or later) and Debian-based distributions. See these [https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Debian installation instructions].</ref>
|{{}}
| [https://retropie.org.uk/download {{RetroPieVer}}]
|{{✓}}
| HTPC
|{{✓}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[[RetroPie]]
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}<ref group=I name=retropie>RetroPie for x86 Linux is only available in Ubuntu (16.04 LTS or later) and Debian based distros. See these [https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Debian install instructions].</ref>
|-
|[https://retropie.org.uk/download {{RetroPieVer}}]
! [[BizHawk]]
|HTPC
| {{Icon|Win}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
|{{}}
| [http://tasvideos.org/Bizhawk.html {{BizHawkVer}}]
|{{✓}}
| WIMP
|{{~}}
| {{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})&ensp;•&ensp;{{License|GPL}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[[BizHawk]]
| {{TBD}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|-
|[http://tasvideos.org/Bizhawk.html {{BizHawkVer}}]
! [[RetroBat]]
|WIMP
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|{{~}}
| [https://www.retrobat.org/download/ {{RetroBatVer}}]
|{{✓}}
| HTPC
|{{TBD}}
| {{Green}} {{License|LGPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[[RetroBat]]
| {{TBD}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|-
|[https://www.retrobat.org/download/ {{RetroBatVer}}]
! [[Provenance]]
|HTPC
| {{Icon|iOS}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|AppleTV}}
|{{}}
| [https://github.com/Provenance-Emu/Provenance/releases {{ProvenanceVer}}]
|{{✓}}
| HTPC
|{{TBD}}
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[[Provenance]]
| {{TBD}}
|align=left|{{Icon|iOS|ATV}}
|-
|[https://github.com/Provenance-Emu/Provenance/releases {{ProvenanceVer}}]
! [https://github.com/bmsuseluda/emuze/ emuze]
|HTPC
| {{Icon|Win}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
|{{✓}}
| [https://github.com/bmsuseluda/emuze/releases/ {{EmuzeVer}}]
|{{✓}}
| HTPC • WIMP
|{{TBD}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|-
| {{✓|text=✅}}
!colspan="8"|Mobile / ARM
| {{TBD}}
|-
|-
|[[RetroPie]]
! colspan="7" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | Mobile / ARM
|align=left|{{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|-
|[https://retropie.org.uk/download {{RetroPieVer}}]
! [[RetroPie]]
|HTPC
| {{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
| [https://retropie.org.uk/download {{RetroPieVer}}]
|-
| HTPC
|[[Lakka]]
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|align=left|{{Icon|LinuxARM}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://www.lakka.tv {{LakkaVer}}]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|HTPC
|-
|{{}}
! [https://www.emudeck.com/ EmuDeck]
|{{}}
| {{Icon|Android}}
|{{}}
| [https://www.emudeck.com/#download 2.1.0]
-
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
! colspan="7" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | Console
|-
! CoinOPS
| {{Icon|Xbox}}
| {{Unknown}}
| HTPC
| {{Unknown}}
| {{TBD}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
|-
|[https://www.emudeck.com/ EmuDeck]
!Tico
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|{{Icon|Switch}}
|[https://www.emudeck.com/#download 2.1.0]
|[https://github.com/ticohq/tico/releases/tag/0.7.9 0.7.9]
|HTPC
|HTPC
|{{}}
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{}}
|{{✓|text=✅}}
|TBD
|{{✓|text=✅}}
|-
!colspan=8"|Consoles
|-
|CoinOPS
|align=left|{{Icon|Xbox}}
|??
|HTPC
|? ||{{TBD}} ||{{TBD}}
|}
|}
<references group="I"/>
<references group="I"/>


===Comparisons===
=== Comparisons ===
;OpenEmu:A frontend for various emulators that run under macOS.
; OpenEmu : A frontend for various emulators that run under macOS.


==Launcher mods==
== Launcher mods ==
These programs aren't launchers themselves, but instead tools for changing other launchers.
These programs aren't launchers themselves, but instead tools for changing other launchers.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" style="width: 75%"
{| class="wikitable" style="border-width: 2px; text-align: center; width: 67%;"
! scope="col"|Name
! Name
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
! Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! Latest version
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free and Open-Source Software">FOSS</abbr>
! Interface(s)
! scope="col"|Active
! [[Licensing|License]]
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! Active
|-
|-
!colspan="8"|PC / x86
! colspan="6" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | PC
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/doZennn/steam-rom-manager Steam ROM Manager]
! [https://github.com/doZennn/steam-rom-manager Steam ROM Manager]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
|[https://github.com/doZennn/steam-rom-manager/releases 2.4.17]
| [https://github.com/doZennn/steam-rom-manager/releases 2.5.29]
|{{✓}}
| placeholder text
|{{✓}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
| {{✓|text=}}
|-
|-
|[https://scottrice.github.io/Ice Ice]
! [https://scottrice.github.io/Ice Ice]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/scottrice/Ice/releases 1.0.0]
| [https://github.com/scottrice/Ice/releases 1.0.0]
|{{✓}}
| placeholder text
|{{✗}}
| {{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{✗}}
| {{|text=❌}}
|}
|-
 
! [https://www.byond.com/games/Mistamage123/UIXEmulatorinatorforCoolpeople UIX Emulatorinator]
===Comparisons===
| {{Icon|Windows}}
;Steam ROM Manager:A tool that adds emulator launching capabilities to the Steam client.
| 2.8
 
| placeholder text
==Project-specific Frontends==
| {{Yellow}} Open-source planned
 
| {{|text=✅}}
===[[Libretro]]===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" style="width: 75%"
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! scope="col"|Core support
! scope="col"|Interface(s)
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free and Open-Source Software">FOSS</abbr>
! scope="col"|Active
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
|-
!colspan="8"|PC / x86
|-
|[[RetroArch]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}
|[https://www.retroarch.com/index.php?page=platforms {{RetroArchVer}}]
|Full<ref group=B name=retroarch>Limited by system hardware</ref>
|HTPC, WIMP<ref group=B name=retroarch2>Press F5 for WIMP interface. Only available on Windows and Linux.</ref>
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://ludo.libretro.com Ludo]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[https://github.com/libretro/ludo/releases {{LudoVer}}]
|Most non GL cores
|HTPC
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Games Games (Gnome)]
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}
|[https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Games/Documentation#Installing_Games 3.36]
|[https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Games/Documentation#Supported_platforms Limited]
|WIMP
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
|-
|[https://www.retrix.me RetriX]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/Aftnet/RetriX/releases/tag/RetriX-2.1.77.0 2.1.77.0]
|[https://gitlab.com/aftnet/LibRetriX#available-libretro-cores Limited]
|WIMP, Touch
|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|minir
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/Alcaro/minir git]
|Limited
|WIMP
|{{~}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[[Phoenix (frontend)|Phoenix]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[https://github.com/team-phoenix/Phoenix/releases git (pre-alpha)]
|Limited
|WIMP
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
!colspan="8"|Mobile / ARM
|-
|[[RetroArch]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|ATV|LinuxARM|SL|Web}}
|[https://www.retroarch.com/index.php?page=platforms {{RetroArchVer}}]
|Full <ref group=B name=retroarch>Limited by system hardware</ref>
|HTPC, Touch
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
||[http://blast16.tripware.es/ Blast16]
|align=left|{{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|[http://blast16.tripware.es/#downloads 1.0.18 (2020-01-18)]
|Genesis Plus GX, PicoDrive
|HTPC
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
||[http://sneses.tripware.es/ SNESES]
|align=left|{{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|[http://sneses.tripware.es/#downloads 1.0.7 (2020-01-22)]
|Snes9X?
|HTPC
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://ludo.libretro.com Ludo]
|align=left|{{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|[https://github.com/libretro/ludo/releases git]
|Most non GL cores
|HTPC
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://www.retrix.me RetriX]
|align=left|{{Icon|Win|W10P}}
|[https://github.com/Aftnet/RetriX/releases/tag/RetriX-2.1.77.0 2.1.77.0]
|[https://gitlab.com/aftnet/LibRetriX#available-libretro-cores Limited]
|WIMP, Touch
|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{~}}
|-
|[[Lemuroid]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swordfish.lemuroid 1.15.0]
|[https://github.com/Swordfish90/Lemuroid#supported-systems Limited]
|Touch
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
!colspan="8"|Consoles
|-
|[[RetroArch]]
|align=left style="width: 20%"|{{Icon|XB1|Xbox}}{{Icon|PS4|PS3|PS2}}{{Icon|PSV|PSP}}{{Icon|NX|WiiU|Wii|GCN|3DS}}
|[https://www.retroarch.com/index.php?page=platforms {{RetroArchVer}}]
|Full<ref group=B name=retroarch>Limited by system hardware</ref>
|HTPC
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://www.retrix.me RetriX]
|align=left|{{Icon|XB1}}
|[https://github.com/Aftnet/RetriX/releases/tag/RetriX-2.1.77.0]
|[https://gitlab.com/aftnet/LibRetriX#available-libretro-cores Limited]
|HTPC
|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}}
|}
|}
<references group=B />
====Comparison====
;[[RetroArch]]
:The flagship project for libretro, and the most widely available.
;[[Lemuroid]]
:Lighter, cut-down Retroarch alternative for Android.
;[https://ludo.libretro.com Ludo]
:A minimalist HTPC frontend with sane default settings, configuration is always optional.
;[https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Games Games (Gnome)]
:A Linux launcher for PC games and a libretro frontend. Very easy to use, almost no setup. You'll need the GNOME Settings app to be able to bulk add ROMs.
;[http://blast16.tripware.es Blast16]
:Really nice looking frontend for Raspberry Pi that only support [[Sega Genesis emulators|Sega Genesis]] games. Has a similar UI to the NES/SNES Classic Edition.
;[http://sneses.tripware.es SNESES]
:Same as Blast16 but for [[Super Nintendo emulators|Super Nintendo]] games.
<br /><hr /><br />


===[[MAME]]===
=== Comparisons ===
MAME was originally designed as a command line program. However, when the project relicensed as open source in February 2016, they merged the frontend [https://dankan1890.github.io/mewui MEWUI] into the main project as part of the MAME executable. MEWUI uses the ten-foot interface philosophy which accounts for large television displays where the user is expected to use a TV remote-like input device to navigate the menus. However, MAME still supports command line arguments, so many old launchers still work with newer versions.
; Steam ROM Manager : A tool that adds emulator launching capabilities to the Steam client.
; UIX Emulatorinator : This tool allows users to compile a centralized retro library and export it to other major frontends like LaunchBox and Playnite. While built primarily as a manager and exporter, it features its own functional interface so it can be used as a launcher by itself.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" style="width: 75%"
== Project-specific frontends ==
! scope="col"|Name
=== [[Libretro]] ===
! scope="col"|Platform(s)  
{| class="wikitable" style="border-width: 2px; text-align: center; width: 95%;"
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! Name
! scope="col"|Interface(s)
! Platform(s)
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free and Open-Source Software">FOSS</abbr>
! Latest version
! scope="col"|Active
! Core support
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! Interface(s)
|-
! [[Licensing|License]]
!colspan="8"|PC / x86
! Active
|-
! [[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
|[http://www.mameui.info MAMEUI64]
|-
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
! colspan="8" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | PC / x86
|[http://www.mameui.info/MAMEUI.7z 0.266]
|-
|WIMP
! [[RetroArch]]
|{{}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|LinuxARM}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|ChromeOS}}
|{{✓}}
| [https://www.retroarch.com/index.php?page=platforms {{RetroArchVer}}]
|{{TBD}}
| {{✓|text=Full<ref group="B" name="retroarch">Limited by system hardware.</ref>}}
|-
| HTPC • WIMP<ref group="B" name="retroarch2">Press <kbd style="background-color: #e3e6e8; border: thin solid #babfc5; border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: 0 1px 1px #0c0d0e26, inset 0 1px 0 0 #fff; color: #0c0d0e; display: inline-block; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.45; margin: 0 0.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0.15em 0.6em; text-shadow: 0 1px 0 #fff;">F5</kbd> for WIMP interface; only available on Windows and Linux.</ref>
|[https://sourceforge.net/projects/pfemame pfeMAME]
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://sourceforge.net/projects/pfemame/files v2.30.5]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|WIMP
|-
|{{}}
! [https://ludo.libretro.com Ludo]
|{{}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
|{{TBD}}
| [https://github.com/libretro/ludo/releases {{LudoVer}}]
|-
| Most non-GL cores
|[http://erockus.elementfx.com/arcade.html Erockus Arcade]
| HTPC
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|[http://erockus.elementfx.com/arcade.html {{Erockus ArcadeVer}}]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|WIMP
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|{{?}}
|-
|{{}}
! [https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Games Games (Gnome)]
|{{TBD}}
| {{Icon|Linux}}
|-
| [https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Games/Documentation#Installing_Games 3.36]
|[http://qmc2.batcom-it.net QMC2]
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=[https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Games/Documentation#Supported_platforms Limited]}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
| WIMP
|[http://qmc2.batcom-it.net/index.php/download/#binaries 0.195]
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|HTPC
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|{{}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|{{✓}}
|-
|{{TBD}}
! [https://www.retrix.me RetriX]
|-
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/strippato/gnome-arcade gnome-arcade]
| [https://github.com/Aftnet/RetriX/releases/tag/RetriX-2.1.77.0 2.1.77.0]
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=[https://gitlab.com/aftnet/LibRetriX#available-libretro-cores Limited]}}
|[https://github.com/strippato/gnome-arcade#building v.0.256]
| WIMP • Touch
|WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Sporadic}}
|{{✓}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|{{TBD}}
|-
|-
! minir
|[http://www.mameui.info IV/Play]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://github.com/Alcaro/minir git]
|[http://www.mameui.info/IV-Play.zip 1.8.5.0]
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|WIMP
| WIMP
|{{}}
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|{{}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
|-
|[http://babelsoft.net/products/negatron.htm Negatron]
! [[Phoenix (frontend)|Phoenix]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
|[https://github.com/xinyingho/Negatron 0.100.1]
| [https://github.com/team-phoenix/Phoenix/releases git (pre-alpha)]
|WIMP
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|{{}}
| WIMP
|{{}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|[https://sourceforge.net/projects/mameplus M+GUI]
|-
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
! colspan="8" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | Mobile / ARM
|[https://www.emucr.com/search/label/MAMEPGUI?&max-results=12 1.8.2]
|-
|WIMP
! [[RetroArch]]
|{{}}
| {{Icon|Android}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|iOS}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|AppleTV}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|SteamLink}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|ChromeOS}}
|{{}}
| [https://www.retroarch.com/index.php?page=platforms {{RetroArchVer}}]
|{{}}
| {{✓|text=Full<ref group="B" name="retroarch"/>}}
|-
| HTPC • Touch
|[https://superiorcode.gitlab.io/mamefave/ MameFave]
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://superiorcode.gitlab.io/mamefave/ Latest]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|WIMP
|-
|{{}}
! [http://blast16.tripware.es/ Blast16]
|{{}}
| {{Icon|LinuxARM}}
|{{✗}}
| [http://blast16.tripware.es/#downloads 1.0.18]<br>({{#formatdate:2020-01-18|ISO 8601}})
|-
| Genesis Plus GX • PicoDrive
| HTPC
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
! [http://sneses.tripware.es/ SNESES]
| {{Icon|LinuxARM}}
| [http://sneses.tripware.es/#downloads 1.0.7]<br>({{#formatdate:2020-01-22|ISO 8601}})
| Snes9x?
| HTPC
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
! [https://ludo.libretro.com Ludo]
| {{Icon|LinuxARM}}
| [https://github.com/libretro/ludo/releases git]
| Most non-GL cores
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
! [[Lemuroid]]
| {{Icon|Android}}
| [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swordfish.lemuroid 1.15.0]
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=[https://github.com/Swordfish90/Lemuroid#supported-systems Limited]}}
| Touch
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
! [https://www.retrix.me RetriX]
| {{Icon|Win}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Win10Phone}}
| [https://github.com/Aftnet/RetriX/releases/tag/RetriX-2.1.77.0 2.1.77.0]
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=[https://gitlab.com/aftnet/LibRetriX#available-libretro-cores Limited]}}
| WIMP • Touch
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Sporadic}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|-
! colspan="8" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | Console
|-
! [[RetroArch]]
| style="width: 22em;" | {{Icon|XboxOne}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Xbox}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|PS4}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|PS3}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|PS2}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|PSVita}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|PSP}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Switch}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|WiiU}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Wii}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|GameCube}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|3DS}}
| [https://www.retroarch.com/index.php?page=platforms {{RetroArchVer}}]
| {{✓|text=Full<ref group="B" name="retroarch"/>}}
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
! [https://www.retrix.me RetriX]
| {{Icon|XboxOne}}
| [https://github.com/Aftnet/RetriX/releases/tag/RetriX-2.1.77.0]
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=[https://gitlab.com/aftnet/LibRetriX#available-libretro-cores Limited]}}
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Sporadic}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|}
|}
<references group="B"/>


====Comparison====
==== Comparison ====
;[http://www.mameui.info MAMEUI]
; [[RetroArch]] : The flagship project for libretro, and the most widely available.
:MAMEUI64 is a current name of MAME32, the original MAME GUI for Windows. As it dates back to 1997, it had additional bugs compared to mainline MAME, lacked several features of modern MAME or made it difficult to use them via GUI, and did not scale properly to high resolutions. The MAME developers did not recommend using any derivative of MAME32 for these reasons, instead suggesting mainline MAME with an external frontend if the internal user interface is not sufficient.
; [[Lemuroid]] : Lighter, cut-down Retroarch alternative for Android.
; [https://ludo.libretro.com Ludo] : A minimalist HTPC frontend with sane default settings, configuration is always optional.
; [https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Games Games (Gnome)] : A Linux launcher for PC games and a libretro frontend. Very easy to use, almost no setup. You'll need the GNOME Settings app to be able to bulk add ROMs.
; [http://blast16.tripware.es Blast16] : Really nice looking frontend for Raspberry Pi that only support [[Sega Genesis emulators|Sega Genesis]] games. Has a similar UI to the NES/SNES Classic Edition.
; [http://sneses.tripware.es SNESES] : Same as Blast16 but for [[Super Nintendo emulators|Super Nintendo]] games.


;[https://sourceforge.net/projects/pfemame pfeMAME]
<br><hr/>
:Python front end for MAME that can run in Linux and Windows. It also includes a pretty graphical Tile View designed for MAME cabinets which allows control using joystick/gamepad. pfeMAME was written by Gareth Finch and the development project started in 2014.


;[http://qmc2.batcom-it.net QMC2]
=== [[MAME]] ===
:QMC2 is a multi-platform MAME/MESS/UME frontend.
MAME was originally designed as a command-line program. However, when the project relicensed as open source in February 2016, they merged the frontend [https://dankan1890.github.io/mewui MEWUI] into the main project as part of the MAME executable. MEWUI uses the ten-foot interface philosophy which accounts for large television displays where the user is expected to use a TV remote-like input device to navigate the menus. However, MAME still supports command-line arguments, so many old launchers still work with newer versions.


;[https://github.com/strippato/gnome-arcade gnome-arcade]
{| class="wikitable" style="border-width: 2px; text-align: center; width: 67%;"
:A minimal MAME frontend using GTK+ 3. On some Linux distros, you have gnome-video-arcade package: Simple MAME frontend. Available on Ubuntu 16.04+ on official repo.
! Name
! Platform(s)
! Latest version
! Interface(s)
! [[Licensing|License]]
! Active
! [[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
|-
! colspan="7" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | PC
|-
! [https://www.bletchmame.org/ BletchMAME]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
| [https://www.bletchmame.org/download/ 3.0]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|GPL}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
|-
! [http://babelsoft.net/products/negatron.htm Negatron]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
| [https://github.com/xinyingho/Negatron {{NegatronVer}}]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://github.com/qmc2/qmc2-mame-fe QMC2]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|FreeBSD}}
| [https://github.com/qmc2/qmc2-mame-fe/releases {{QMC2Ver}}]
| HTPC
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://superiorcode.gitlab.io/mamefave/ MameFave]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://superiorcode.gitlab.io/mamefave/ 1.0.1.1]
| WIMP
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://sourceforge.net/projects/mameplus M+GUI]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
| [https://www.emucr.com/search/label/MAMEPGUI?&max-results=12 1.8.2]
| WIMP
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
! [https://sourceforge.net/projects/pfemame pfeMAME]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
| [https://sourceforge.net/projects/pfemame/files {{pfeMAMEVer}}]
| WIMP
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text={{License|NC}}}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
! [http://erockus.elementfx.com/arcade.html Erockus Arcade]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
| [http://erockus.elementfx.com/arcade.html {{Erockus ArcadeVer}}]
| WIMP
| {{✗|text={{License|Proprietary}}}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
! [https://github.com/strippato/gnome-arcade gnome-arcade]
| {{Icon|Linux}}
| [https://github.com/strippato/gnome-arcade#building {{gnome-arcadeVer}}]
| WIMP
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
! [https://github.com/ksherlock/ample Ample]
| {{Icon|macOS}}
| [https://github.com/ksherlock/ample/releases/ {{AmpleVer}}]
| WIMP
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
! [https://john-iv.github.io/iv-play/ IV/Play]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://john-iv.github.io/iv-play/ {{IV/PlayVer}}]
| WIMP
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
! [https://www.macmess.org/ MacMAME]
| {{Icon|Mac}}
| [https://www.macmess.org/ {{MacMAMEVer}}]
| WIMP
| {{green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{TBD}}
|}


;[http://www.mameui.info IV/Play]
==== Comparison ====
:IV/Play (pronounced "Four Play") was designed and commissioned by John IV as an alternative to MAMEUI. It has a narrow and particular feature set, is keyboard-driven, and utilises many of the navigation and keyboard shortcuts of MAMEUI. It is available as a combo x64/x86 app and is targeted towards Windows 8.1 with leveraged features like Jump List support. IV/Play is decoupled from setting MAME options directly in an effort to future-proof and guard against continual core command line changes<ref>[https://github.com/Mataniko/IV-Play IV/Play GitHub]</ref>.
; [https://sourceforge.net/projects/pfemame pfeMAME] : Python front end for MAME that can run in Linux and Windows. It also includes a pretty graphical Tile View designed for MAME cabinets which allows control using joystick/gamepad. pfeMAME was written by Gareth Finch and the development project started in 2014.
; [https://github.com/strippato/gnome-arcade gnome-arcade] : A minimal MAME frontend using GTK+ 3. On some Linux distros, you have gnome-video-arcade package: Simple MAME frontend. Available on Ubuntu 16.04+ on official repo.
; [https://github.com/ksherlock/ample Ample] : A user-friendly open source front-end for using MAME. Started out as an Apple II-series emulator. Recently expanded to include Classic Mac, Tandy TRS-80 and Compatibles, Oric, Atari ST, and more. Requires macOS 10.11+.
; [http://babelsoft.net/products/negatron.htm Negatron] : An [https://github.com/xinyingho/Negatron intuitive and info-oriented front-end] for MAME; & a prettier derivative of ageing MAME32/MAMEUI. For computers and consoles, it needs builds of the [http://babelsoft.net/products/negamame.htm NegaMAME] derivative. For arcade games only, you can use Negatron with regular MAME instead.
; [http://qmc2.batcom-it.net QMC2] : QMC2 is a multi-platform MAME/MESS/UME frontend.
; [https://superiorcode.gitlab.io/mamefave/ MameFave] : A Windows-only frontend launched in March 2022<ref name="mamefave_reddit">Reddit thread: [https://www.reddit.com/r/MAME/comments/tpsvvl/new_windows_gui_for_mame MameFave GUI for MAME]</ref>. Creator intends for this to be a simple way to manage hundreds of ROMs.<ul><li>The favorites database can be filtered to help you find the game you want to play.</li><li>Works with many versions of MAME (32 and 64-bit).</li><li>Optional artwork download includes icons and marquees for all the classics!</li><li>Links to your favorite games can be made in just a few mouse clicks.</li><li>Games can be played directly from the ROM picker and search windows.</li></ul>
; [https://www.bletchmame.org/ BletchMAME] : Replaces the internal MAME UI with a more conventional point and click GUI (sometimes described as W.I.M.P.) to provide a friendlier experience in a number of areas (such as favorites, input configuration and a number of others). While BletchMAME is intended to support all machines supported by MAME, it should be particularly suitable to computer emulation.


;[http://babelsoft.net/products/negatron.htm Negatron]
<br><hr/>
:An [https://github.com/xinyingho/Negatron intuitive and info-oriented front-end] for MAME; & a prettier derivative of ageing MAME32/MAMEUI. For computers and consoles, it needs builds of the [http://babelsoft.net/products/negamame.htm NegaMAME] derivative. For arcade games only, you can use Negatron with regular MAME instead.


;[https://superiorcode.gitlab.io/mamefave/ MameFave]:A Windows-only frontend launched in March 2022<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/MAME/comments/tpsvvl/new_windows_gui_for_mame Reddit thread: MameFave GUI for MAME]</ref>. Creator intends for this to be a simple way to manage hundreds of ROMs.
=== [[DOSBox]] ===
* The favorites database can be filtered to help you find the game you want to play.
Because DOSBox doesn't have a GUI, projects were made to fulfill that role. More information about them is available on the [https://www.dosbox.com/wiki/DOSBoxFrontends DOSBox Wiki].
* Works with many versions of MAME (32 and 64-bit).
* Optional artwork download includes icons and marquees for all the classics!
* Links to your favorite games can be made in just a few mouse clicks.
* Games can be played directly from the ROM picker and search windows.


<br /><hr /><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="border-width: 2px; text-align: center; width: 67%;"
 
! Name
===[[DOSBox]]===
! Platform(s)
Because DOSBox doesn't have a GUI, projects were made to fulfill that role. More about them: [https://www.dosbox.com/wiki/DOSBoxFrontends DOSBox Wiki].
! Latest version
 
! Interface(s)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" style="width: 75%"
! [[Licensing|License]]
! scope="col"|Name
! Active
! scope="col"|Platform(s)  
! [[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! scope="col"|Latest Version
|-
! scope="col"|Interface(s)
! colspan="7" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | PC / x86
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>
|-
! scope="col"|Active
! [[LaunchBox]]
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Android}}
|-
| [https://www.launchbox-app.com/download {{LaunchBoxVer}} (Free)]<br>[https://www.launchbox-app.com/premium Premium (75 US$)]<br>[https://www.launchbox-app.com/android-download {{LaunchBoxAndroidVer}}]
!colspan="8"|PC / x86
| WIMP HTPC<ref group="D" name="launchbox">This feature is called ''Big Box'' and is only available in the premium (paid) version.</ref>
|-
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|[https://dbgl.org DOSBox Game Launcher]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
| {{~|color=PaleGoldenrod|text=Limited}}
|[https://dbgl.org/#download {{DOSBox Game LauncherVer}}]
|-
|WIMP
! [https://dbgl.org DOSBox Game Launcher]
|{{✓}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
|{{✓}}
| [https://dbgl.org/#download {{DOSBox Game LauncherVer}} (Stable)]<br>[https://dbgl.org/beta 0.100 Beta 17 (Dev)]
|{{✓}}
| WIMP
|-
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|[[LaunchBox]]
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|[https://www.launchbox-app.com/download {{LaunchBoxVer}} (Free)]<br />[https://www.launchbox-app.com/premium Premium ($75)]
|-
|WIMP, HTPC<ref group=A name=launchbox>This feature is called ''Big Box'' and is only available in the paid premium version.</ref>
! [http://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net D-Fend Reloaded]
|{{}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|{{✓}}
| [https://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net/Download.html 1.4.4]
|{{~}}
| WIMP
|-
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|[http://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net D-Fend Reloaded]
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|[https://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net/Download.html 1.4.4]
|-
|WIMP
! [https://github.com/rtts/ialauncher IA Launcher]
|{{}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
|{{✗}}
| [https://ialauncher.created.today/download.htm 2.2.1]
|{{✗}}
| WIMP
|-
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|[https://github.com/rtts/ialauncher IA Launcher]
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|[https://ialauncher.created.today/download.htm 2.2.1]
|-
|WIMP
! [http://weekendwastemonster.net/dfend/dfend.html D-Fend]
|{{}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|{{✗}}
| [http://weekendwastemonster.net/dfend/D-Fend.zip 2.0.6.2 (Build 42)]
|{{✗}}
| WIMP
|-
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|[http://weekendwastemonster.net/dfend/dfend.html D-Fend]
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|[http://weekendwastemonster.net/dfend/D-Fend.zip 2.0.6.2 (Build 42)]
|-
|WIMP
! [https://cboxrun.wordpress.com CBoxRun]
|{{}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|{{✗}}
| [https://cboxrun.wordpress.com/download 0.51]
|{{✗}}
| WIMP
|-
| {{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|[https://cboxrun.wordpress.com CBoxRun]
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|[https://cboxrun.wordpress.com/download 0.51]
|WIMP
|{{}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|}
|}
<references group=A/>
<references group="D"/>
 
====Comparison====
;[https://dbgl.org DOSBox Game Launcher]
:Another frontend based on Java that is said to be inspired by the D-Fend's.
 
;[[LaunchBox]]
:Originally developed as a DOSBox frontend. It now supports any emulator or Windows game but has retained its excellent DOSBox functionality.
 
;[http://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net D-Fend Reloaded]
:Was a great frontend, which allowed custom per-game configurations to cut back on fiddling with settings just to run specific games well. It also let use third party build of DOSBox, instead of the one it comes with, so it could have been used with forks as well.
 
;[https://github.com/rtts/ialauncher IA Launcher]
:IA Launcher is a graphical games launcher for under 3000 MS-DOS games from old times. It uses the Internet Archive to download games on-the-fly and DOSBox to play them offline.
 
;[http://weekendwastemonster.net/dfend/dfend.html D-Fend]
:Very old, outdated and out of support. Was reborned as D-Fend Reloaded.


;[https://cboxrun.wordpress.com CBoxRun]
==== Comparison ====
:Zero relevance, lack of developing, dead for a long time.
; [[LaunchBox]] : Originally developed as a DOSBox frontend. It now supports any emulator or Windows game but has retained its excellent DOSBox functionality.
; [https://dbgl.org DOSBox Game Launcher] : Another frontend based on Java that is said to be inspired by the D-Fend's.
; [http://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net D-Fend Reloaded] : Was a great frontend, which allowed custom per-game configurations to cut back on fiddling with settings just to run specific games well. It also let use third-party builds of DOSBox, instead of the one it comes with, so it could have been used with forks as well.
; [https://github.com/rtts/ialauncher IA Launcher] : IA Launcher is a graphical games launcher for under 3000 MS-DOS games from old times. It uses the Internet Archive to download games on-the-fly and DOSBox to play them offline.
; [http://weekendwastemonster.net/dfend/dfend.html D-Fend] : Very old, outdated and out of support. Was reborned as D-Fend Reloaded.
; [https://cboxrun.wordpress.com CBoxRun] : Zero relevance, lack of developing, dead for a long time.


<br /><hr /><br />
<br><hr/>


===[[Mednafen]]===
=== [[Mednafen]] ===
Mednafen is a command line program with no graphical interface whatsoever. These programs generally ease the process of launching games, featuring an equivalent for most of the emulator's functions via their graphical interfaces.
Mednafen is a command-line program with no graphical interface whatsoever. These programs generally ease the process of launching games, featuring an equivalent for most of the emulator's functions via their graphical interfaces.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" style="width: 75%"
{| class="wikitable" style="border-width: 2px; text-align: center; width: 67%;"
! scope="col"|Name
! Name
! scope="col"|Platform(s)  
! Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! Latest version
! scope="col"|Interface(s)
! Interface(s)
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free and Open-Source Software">FOSS</abbr>
! [[Licensing|License]]
! scope="col"|Active
! Active
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! [[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
|-
|-
!colspan="8"|PC / x86
! colspan="7" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | PC
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/AmatCoder/mednaffe Mednaffe]
! [https://github.com/AmatCoder/mednaffe Mednaffe]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/AmatCoder/mednaffe/releases {{MednaffeVer}}]
| [https://github.com/AmatCoder/mednaffe/releases {{MednaffeVer}}]
|WIMP
| WIMP
|{{}}
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|{{✓}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/Speedvicio/MedGuiReborn MedGui Reborn]
! [https://github.com/Speedvicio/MedGuiReborn MedGui Reborn]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/Speedvicio/MedGuiReborn/releases {{MedGuiRebornVer}}]
| [https://github.com/Speedvicio/MedGuiReborn/releases {{MedGuiRebornVer}}]
|WIMP
| WIMP
|{{}}
| {{Green}} {{License|CC0}}-1.0 ({{License|PDEQ}})
|{{✓}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|{{✓}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/Asnivor/MedLaunch MedLaunch]
! [https://github.com/Asnivor/MedLaunch MedLaunch]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/Asnivor/MedLaunch/releases 0.5.25.3]
| [https://github.com/Asnivor/MedLaunch/releases 0.5.25.3]
|WIMP
| WIMP
|{{}}
| {{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{✗}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|{{✗}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|-
|-
|[https://sourceforge.net/projects/medgui MedGui]
! [https://sourceforge.net/projects/medgui MedGui]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://sourceforge.net/projects/medgui/files 1.99999]
| [https://sourceforge.net/projects/medgui/files 1.99999]
|WIMP
| WIMP
|{{}}
| {{Unknown}}
|{{✗}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|{{✗}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|}
|}


====Comparison====
==== Comparison ====
;[https://github.com/AmatCoder/mednaffe Mednaffe]
; [https://github.com/AmatCoder/mednaffe Mednaffe] : One of the older and better frontends for Mednafen, with a good user-friendly interface as well as Linux support.
:One of the older and better frontends for Mednafen, with a good user-friendly interface as well as Linux support.
; [https://github.com/Speedvicio/MedGuiReborn MedGui Reborn] : Reincarnation of the MedGui. New versions appear shortly after the release of a new version of the emulator, and new commits on GitHub happens regularly. The only serious drawback is the fairly awkward interface.
; [https://github.com/Asnivor/MedLaunch MedLaunch] : Just dead and outdated.
; [https://sourceforge.net/projects/medgui MedGui] : Now is a thing of the past. But it has been revived as MedGui Reborn.


;[https://github.com/Speedvicio/MedGuiReborn MedGui Reborn]
<br><hr/>
:Reincarnation of the MedGui. New versions appear shortly after the release of a new version of the emulator, and new commits on GitHub happens regularly. The only serious drawback is the fairly awkward interface.


;[https://github.com/Asnivor/MedLaunch MedLaunch]
=== Others ===
:Just dead and outdated.
{| class="wikitable" style="border-width: 2px; text-align: center; width: 75%;"
 
! Name
;[https://sourceforge.net/projects/medgui MedGui]
! Platform(s)
:Now is a thing of the past. But it has been revived as MedGui Reborn.
! Latest version
 
! Emulator
<br /><hr /><br />
! Interface(s)
 
! [[Licensing|License]]
===Others===
! Active
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" style="width: 75%"
! [[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! scope="col"|Name
|-
! scope="col"|Platform(s)  
! colspan="8" style="background: repeating-linear-gradient(-55deg, transparent, transparent 10px, #e4e4e4 10px, #e4e4e4 20px); border: 2px solid #aaa; font-size: 1.05em; font-style: italic;" | PC
! scope="col"|Latest Version
|-
! scope="col"|Emulator
! [https://github.com/dh4/mupen64plus-qt Mupen64Plus-Qt]
! scope="col"|Interface(s)
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free and Open-Source Software">FOSS</abbr>
| [https://github.com/dh4/mupen64plus-qt/releases {{Mupen64Plus-QTVer}}]
! scope="col"|Active
| [[Mupen64Plus]]
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
| WIMP
|-
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
!colspan="8"|PC / x86
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|-
| {{TBD}}
|[https://github.com/dh4/mupen64plus-qt Mupen64Plus-Qt]
|-
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
! simple64-gui / simple64
|[https://github.com/dh4/mupen64plus-qt/releases git]
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}
|[[Mupen64Plus]]
| [https://github.com/simple64/simple64-gui git] <small>(frontend only)</small><br>[https://simple64.github.io {{Simple64Ver}}] <small>(simple64 package)</small>
|WIMP
| [[Mupen64Plus]]
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
| WIMP
|-
| {{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|simple64-gui / simple64
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
| {{TBD}}
|[https://github.com/simple64/simple64-gui git] <small>(frontend only)</small><br />[https://simple64.github.io {{Simple64Ver}}] <small>(simple64 package)</small>
|-
|[[Mupen64Plus]]
! [https://github.com/dh4/cen64-qt CEN64-Qt]
|WIMP
| {{Icon|Windows}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|Linux}}&ensp;•&ensp;{{Icon|macOS}}
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
| [https://github.com/dh4/cen64-qt/releases git]
|-
| [[CEN64]]
|[https://github.com/dh4/cen64-qt CEN64-Qt]
| WIMP
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
| {{Green}} {{License|BSD3}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|[https://github.com/dh4/cen64-qt/releases git]
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[[CEN64]]
| {{TBD}}
|WIMP
|-
|{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
! [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,159733.msg1680224.html Sega Model 2 UI]
|-
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|[http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,159733.msg1680224.html Sega Model 2 UI]
| [http://uploaded.net/file/ryc0vp4f WIP] ({{#formatdate:2019-04-02|ISO 8601}})
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| [[Model 2 Emulator]]
|[http://uploaded.net/file/ryc0vp4f WIP 2019-04-02]
| WIMP
|[[Model 2 Emulator]]
| {{Unknown}}
|WIMP
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{TBD}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
|-
|[https://www.supermodel3.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?p=27#p276 Sega Model 3 UI]
! [https://www.supermodel3.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?p=27#p276 Sega Model 3 UI]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://www.sendspace.com/file/sr7f90 -r886]
| [https://www.sendspace.com/file/sr7f90 -r886]
|[[Supermodel]]
| [[Supermodel]]
|WIMP
| WIMP
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{TBD}}
| {{Unknown}}
|-
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|[https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/hxlh7l/ive_released_my_supermodel_sega_model_3_emulator SupermodelsAssistant]
| {{TBD}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|-
|[https://github.com/nikescar1/SupermodelAssistant/releases 0.12]
! [https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/hxlh7l/ive_released_my_supermodel_sega_model_3_emulator SupermodelsAssistant]
|[[Supermodel]]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|WIMP
| [https://github.com/nikescar1/SupermodelAssistant/releases 0.12]
|? ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
| [[Supermodel]]
|-
| WIMP
|[https://www.emu-land.net/consoles/saturn/emuls/windows?act=showonly&id=4227 MedSat]
| {{Unknown}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
|[https://www.emu-land.net/consoles/saturn/emuls/windows?act=dlmfile&id=4227&fid=1 1.8]
| {{TBD}}
|[[Mednafen]] (Saturn core)
|-
|?
! [https://www.emu-land.net/consoles/saturn/emuls/windows?act=showonly&id=4227 MedSat]
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{TBD}}
| {{Icon|Windows}}
|-
| [https://www.emu-land.net/consoles/saturn/emuls/windows?act=dlmfile&id=4227&fid=1 1.8]
|Dapplegrey
| [[Mednafen]] (Saturn core)
|align=left|{{Icon|Mac}}
| {{Unknown}}
|[http://www.classics-for-x.info/csx/dapplegrey/ 7.10]
| {{Unknown}}
|[[DOSBox]]
| {{✗|text=❌}}
|WIMP
| {{TBD}}
|? ||{{}} ||{{TBD}}
|-
! Dapplegrey
| {{Icon|Mac}}
| [http://www.classics-for-x.info/csx/dapplegrey/ {{DapplegreyVer}}]
| [[DOSBox]]
| WIMP
| {{Unknown}}
| {{✓|text=✅}}
| {{TBD}}
|-
! [https://madsonweb.itch.io/cassio-loopy-emulator-zrupi zRupi]
| {{Icon|Windows}}
| [https://madsonweb.itch.io/cassio-loopy-emulator-zrupi/devlog/929437/translation-and-controller-support-added v2-pre]
| [[LoopyMSE]]
| WIMP
| {{Unknown}}
| {{✗|text=❌}}
| {{TBD}}
|}
|}


==See also==
== See also ==
* [[Comparison of Emulator Frontends]]
* [[Comparison of frontends]]
* [[Multi-system emulators]]
* [[Multi-system emulators]]
* [[ROM managers]]


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
----
 
{{NEL}}
{{NEL}}
[[Category:FAQs]]
[[Category:FAQs]]
[[Category:Tools|*]]
[[Category:Frontends| ]]
[[Category:Frontends|*]]
[[Category:Tools]]

Latest revision as of 16:16, 11 September 2026

For frontend and launcher software that runs on consoles and handhelds, see Homebrew and ROM hacks#Launchers.

Frontends are programs that address a quality-of-life issue that emulators may not fulfill. For example, some emulator developers skip the user interface portion of development by having the user launch them from the command line. This usually means opening Command Prompt in the folder where the emulator is installed and typing something like emulator.exe game.rom. From a usability perspective, this is not optimal; running emulators from a shell can be considered tedious if commands aren't already scripted by the user (and they can't be expected to know how to set up such a thing if their first time loading the program is a black window that pops up and then disappears). To avoid this, many emulators will try to incorporate some kind of graphical user interface (GUI) in their standalone builds. For the emulators that never receive one however, a separate frontend project usually emerges.

The term "Frontend application" can sometimes be confused with multi-system emulators and ROM managers.

Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)

[edit | edit source]

Frontends have different types of GUIs, here we have categorized them as follows:

WIMP
WIMP stands for "Windows, Icons, Menus and a Pointer". This is a GUI based on one or several window(s) and it's normally controlled by a mouse. Examples of this type of interface are LaunchBox and OpenEmu.
HTPC
HTPC stands for "Home theater PC". This type of interface is often intended for viewing on a big screen, such as a TV or arcade monitor. Normally the navigation is optimized for joysticks or gamepads, although they often work with keyboard controls as well. RetroArch, HyperSpin and MAME's integrated frontend MEWUI or Steam, PCSX2 and DuckStation's Big Picture Mode are examples of this interface.
Touch
A touch interface is often similar to a HTPC interface, the difference is that they are intended for touch screens. This is mostly found in Android frontends intended for smartphones and tablet computers.
CLI
A command-line interface operated through terminal commands or executable arguments, offering no graphical elements.

Launcher types

[edit | edit source]

These "Launchers" or "Executors" use their own graphical interface to start emulators. They're generally very adaptive and can support different arguments between emulators to ease integration. 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 Interface(s) License Active Recommended
PC / x86
ES-DE Windows  • Linux  • macOS 3.4.1 HTPC MIT (Permissive)
Playnite Windows 10.60 WIMP • HTPC MIT (Permissive)
LaunchBox Windows 13.27 (Free)
Premium (US$75)
WIMP • HTPC[A 1] Proprietary Limited
Nostlan Windows  • Linux  • macOS 3.7 WIMP • HTPC • Touch Proprietary Limited
Lutris Linux 0.5.7.1 WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft) Limited
Simple Launcher Windows 5.7.0 WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft) Limited
All Stars Launcher Windows 2024.030 WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft)
mGalaxy Windows 10.1 HTPC Proprietary
Pegasus Windows  • Linux  • macOS Alpha 16 HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft) Intermittent
GameEx Windows 19.62 (Free)
Lifetime pass (US$60)
HTPC Proprietary
GameHub Linux 0.16.3-2-master WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft)
Attract-Mode Windows  • Linux  • macOS 2.7.0 HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft)
QuickPlay Windows 4.7.6 WIMP BSD-3-Clause (Permissive)
SimUI Windows  • macOS 3.1 (Windows)
2.6 (macOS)
WIMP MIT (Permissive)
RetroFE Windows  • Linux  • macOS 0.10.31 HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft)
EmulationStation Windows  • Linux 2.0.1a
RetroPie fork
HTPC MIT (Permissive)
Metropolis Launcher Windows git WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft)
FEEL Windows 1.9.8.5 HTPC Proprietary
skeletonKeY Windows git WIMP • CLI Proprietary
HyperSpin Windows 1.5.1 HTPC Proprietary
Emu Loader Windows 8.9.4 WIMP Proprietary
Terminal Launch Windows 0.0.40b CLI Proprietary
Maximus Arcade Windows ?.? (30-day trial)
Licenced (US$24.99)
HTPC Proprietary
EmuCon Windows 2.7.7 WIMP Proprietary
EmuCenter 2 Windows 7.1.0.1
Dev 7.1.0.232
WIMP Proprietary
LusSpace Windows 1.23 WIMP Proprietary
RetroDECK Linux 0.10.9b HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft) TBD
EmuHub Windows 1.1.0-beta WIMP • HTPC MIT (Permissive) TBD
NeoStation Windows Linux Linux ARM macOS beta HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft) TBD
Mobile / ARM
Simple Launcher Windows on ARM 5.7.0 WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft)
Cocoon Shell Android Beta 3.0 Touch Proprietary
iiSU Android Alpha 0.0.7.4 Touch Proprietary
Daijishō (台字章) Android 416 (1.5.0) HTPC • Touch Proprietary
ES-DE Android 3.4.1 (US$5.50
US$6.50)
Touch Proprietary[A 2]
GameNative Android 0.8.1
0.9.0 (pre-release)
Touch GPLv3 (Copyleft) Limited
Pluvia Android 1.3.2 Touch GPLv3 (Copyleft) Limited
EmulationStation Linux ARM 2.0.1a
RetroPie fork
HTPC Proprietary [A 3] Limited[A 3]
GameSir GameHub Android 3.0.5 Touch Proprietary [A 4]
Dig Android 1.44.3 (IAP) Touch Proprietary
Attract-Mode Linux ARM 2.7.0 HTPC GPLv2 (Copyleft) TBD
Pegasus Android  • Linux ARM Alpha 16 HTPC • Touch GPLv3 (Copyleft) TBD
RESET Collection Android  • Androidtv 1.1.29 (US$4.99) Touch Proprietary TBD
ARC Browser Android 1.26.1 (US$7.49) Touch Proprietary TBD
HyperSpin Android 1.1 Touch Proprietary TBD
NeoStation Android Androidtv beta HTPC • Touch GPLv3 (Copyleft) TBD
Misc
RetroAssembly Web v6
Live demo
HTPC MIT TBD
  1. This feature is called Big Box and is only available in the premium (paid) version.
  2. Android release is not free and contains proprietary code.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Only the RetroPie fork
  4. Some users have expressed concerns about the app's stability and security.

Comparisons

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LaunchBox
Was originally built as an attractive front-end for DOSBox but has since expanded to support both modern PC games and emulated console platforms. It comes with an integrated metadata scraper, and the interface is highly customizable, likely the most customizable alongside HyperSpin, but only with a license for the premium version. Premium also includes Big Box, which is an HTPC version of the frontend. Launchbox can also be launched natively from Kodi.
Attract-Mode
A graphical frontend for command-line emulators with a completely customizable appearance. It hides the underlying operating system and is intended to be controlled with a joystick, gamepad or spin dial, making it ideal for use in arcade cabinets. Attract-Mode is open source and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Attract-Mode Plus
Attract-Mode Plus is a fork of Attract-Mode, enhanced by numerous community-driven improvements, fixes, and features. Licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 3 or later.
QuickPlay
An excellent FOSS alternative to LaunchBox. It has a WIMP style interface and is Windows only. Compared to LaunchBox it has less eye-candy but it requires a lot less system resources, it's blazing-fast and slow down-free.
Simple Launcher
Simple Launcher is a WIMP Open Source emulator frontend that streamlines retro gaming on Windows. It offers cover art display, multi-emulator support, gamepad functionality, and user-friendly features, all without the need for rom databases. Users can easily configure cover art size, gamepad support, systems, emulators, rom folders, and more. Has Windows-x64 and Windows-ARM64 versions.
skeletonKeY
According to the author, skeletonKeY is a unified interface for ROMs emulators and frontends. A dynamic GUI provides granular options for MAME, snes9x, mednafen, emulationStation, retroFE, PegasusFE and a very comprehensive interface for RetroArch (including netplay). SkeletonKeY integrates and supports the installation of hundreds of emulators. SkeletonKeY is free, open source and very ugly.
Playnite
A great general gaming frontend for Windows. Version 9 greatly expanded emulation support, and better arcade support is planned. For something similar on Linux, check out Lutris.
Lutris
A great general gaming frontend for GNU/Linux, with support for running Windows games with Wine and Proton. However, for the emulation use cases it has some downsides, such as: there is no bulk import for ROMs. There is a lutris-bulk-adder script which might solve this.
GameHub
A general gaming frontend for Linux. At the moment it's not useful for huge ROM collections as it seems to crash when bulk importing.
NeoStation
A modern, lightweight cross-platform frontend that emphasizes UX/UI and features NeoSync, a built-in cloud service for syncing RetroArch save states across devices.
Daijishō
Gives a console-like user interface for Android devices, capable of scraping boxart and providing metadata for many games and platforms, launching games for any compatible emulator app or core on Android, and applying custom wallpaper themes, including downloadable themes. Also has widgets and can track the user's RetroAchievements profile.
ES-DE
An Android port of ES-DE, this also provides a console-like user interface for Android devices; however, the Android version requires a one-time payment/Patreon subscription to download and use, and can be updated for free. It has similar features to Daijisho, but theming the user interface is more customizable than Daijisho.
Dig
An older frontend for Android with a simple touch-friendly user interface, capable of launching games for any compatible emulator app.

Integrated emulator types

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These "frontends" have a graphical user interface that lets you launch emulators that are included with the system, meaning it's not possible (or difficult) to incorporate other 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. If you're looking for a full Linux distribution to run on a Raspberry Pi or similar, check out our Emulation Boxes page.

Name Platform(s) Latest version Interface(s) License Active Recommended
PC / x86
OpenEmu macOS 2.4.1 WIMP BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) Stalled
EmuDeck Windows  • Linux 2.4 HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft)
Lakka Linux Linux ARM 6.1 HTPC ?
RetroPie Linux [I 1] 4.8 HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft) Limited
BizHawk Windows  • Linux 2.11.1 WIMP MIT (Permissive) • GPL (Copyleft) TBD
RetroBat Windows 8.2.1 HTPC LGPLv3 (Copyleft) TBD
Provenance iOS  • AppleTV 3.3.0 HTPC BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) TBD
emuze Windows  • Linux 0.59.0 HTPC • WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft) TBD
Mobile / ARM
RetroPie Linux ARM 4.8 HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft)
EmuDeck Android 2.1.0 HTPC BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) TBD
Console
CoinOPS Xbox ? HTPC ? TBD TBD
Tico Switch 0.7.9 HTPC MIT (Permissive)
  1. RetroPie for x86 Linux is only available for Ubuntu- (16.04 LTS or later) and Debian-based distributions. See these installation instructions.

Comparisons

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OpenEmu
A frontend for various emulators that run under macOS.

Launcher mods

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These programs aren't launchers themselves, but instead tools for changing other launchers.

Name Platform(s) Latest version Interface(s) License Active
PC
Steam ROM Manager Windows  • Linux  • macOS 2.5.29 placeholder text GPLv3 (Copyleft)
Ice Windows 1.0.0 placeholder text MIT (Permissive)
UIX Emulatorinator Windows 2.8 placeholder text Open-source planned

Comparisons

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Steam ROM Manager
A tool that adds emulator launching capabilities to the Steam client.
UIX Emulatorinator
This tool allows users to compile a centralized retro library and export it to other major frontends like LaunchBox and Playnite. While built primarily as a manager and exporter, it features its own functional interface so it can be used as a launcher by itself.

Project-specific frontends

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Name Platform(s) Latest version Core support Interface(s) License Active Recommended
PC / x86
RetroArch Windows  • Linux  • Linux ARM  • macOS  • Chrome OS 1.22.2 Full[B 1] HTPC • WIMP[B 2] GPLv3 (Copyleft)
Ludo Windows  • Linux  • macOS 0.22.5 Most non-GL cores HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft)
Games (Gnome) Linux 3.36 Limited WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft) Limited
RetriX Windows 2.1.77.0 Limited WIMP • Touch BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) Sporadic
minir Windows  • Linux git Limited WIMP BSD-3-Clause (Permissive)
Phoenix Windows  • Linux  • macOS git (pre-alpha) Limited WIMP GPLv2 (Copyleft)
Mobile / ARM
RetroArch Android  • iOS  • AppleTV  • SteamLink  • Chrome OS 1.22.2 Full[B 1] HTPC • Touch GPLv3 (Copyleft)
Blast16 Linux ARM 1.0.18
(2020-01-18)
Genesis Plus GX • PicoDrive HTPC Proprietary
SNESES Linux ARM 1.0.7
(2020-01-22)
Snes9x? HTPC Proprietary
Ludo Linux ARM git Most non-GL cores HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft)
Lemuroid Android 1.15.0 Limited Touch GPLv3 (Copyleft)
RetriX Windows  • Windows 10 Phone 2.1.77.0 Limited WIMP • Touch BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) Sporadic Limited
Console
RetroArch Xbox One  • Xbox  • PlayStation 4  • PlayStation 3  • PlayStation 2  • PlayStation Vita  • PlayStation Portable  • Switch  • Wii U  • Wii  • Nintendo GameCube  • Nintendo 3DS 1.22.2 Full[B 1] HTPC GPLv3 (Copyleft)
RetriX Xbox One [1] Limited HTPC BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) Sporadic
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Limited by system hardware.
  2. Press F5 for WIMP interface; only available on Windows and Linux.

Comparison

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RetroArch
The flagship project for libretro, and the most widely available.
Lemuroid
Lighter, cut-down Retroarch alternative for Android.
Ludo
A minimalist HTPC frontend with sane default settings, configuration is always optional.
Games (Gnome)
A Linux launcher for PC games and a libretro frontend. Very easy to use, almost no setup. You'll need the GNOME Settings app to be able to bulk add ROMs.
Blast16
Really nice looking frontend for Raspberry Pi that only support Sega Genesis games. Has a similar UI to the NES/SNES Classic Edition.
SNESES
Same as Blast16 but for Super Nintendo games.



MAME was originally designed as a command-line program. However, when the project relicensed as open source in February 2016, they merged the frontend MEWUI into the main project as part of the MAME executable. MEWUI uses the ten-foot interface philosophy which accounts for large television displays where the user is expected to use a TV remote-like input device to navigate the menus. However, MAME still supports command-line arguments, so many old launchers still work with newer versions.

Name Platform(s) Latest version Interface(s) License Active Recommended
PC
BletchMAME Windows  • Linux 3.0 WIMP GPL (Copyleft)
Negatron Windows  • Linux  • macOS 1.0.2 WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft)
QMC2 Windows  • Linux  • macOS  • FreeBSD 0.243 HTPC GPLv2 (Copyleft)
MameFave Windows 1.0.1.1 WIMP Proprietary
M+GUI Windows  • Linux 1.8.2 WIMP Proprietary
pfeMAME Windows  • Linux v3.5.3 WIMP Non-commercial TBD
Erockus Arcade Windows  • macOS 14.2 WIMP Proprietary TBD
gnome-arcade Linux 0.263 WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft) TBD
Ample macOS 0.288 WIMP Proprietary TBD
IV/Play Windows 2.4.14 WIMP Proprietary TBD
MacMAME macOS 0.283a WIMP GPLv2 (Copyleft) TBD

Comparison

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pfeMAME
Python front end for MAME that can run in Linux and Windows. It also includes a pretty graphical Tile View designed for MAME cabinets which allows control using joystick/gamepad. pfeMAME was written by Gareth Finch and the development project started in 2014.
gnome-arcade
A minimal MAME frontend using GTK+ 3. On some Linux distros, you have gnome-video-arcade package: Simple MAME frontend. Available on Ubuntu 16.04+ on official repo.
Ample
A user-friendly open source front-end for using MAME. Started out as an Apple II-series emulator. Recently expanded to include Classic Mac, Tandy TRS-80 and Compatibles, Oric, Atari ST, and more. Requires macOS 10.11+.
Negatron
An intuitive and info-oriented front-end for MAME; & a prettier derivative of ageing MAME32/MAMEUI. For computers and consoles, it needs builds of the NegaMAME derivative. For arcade games only, you can use Negatron with regular MAME instead.
QMC2
QMC2 is a multi-platform MAME/MESS/UME frontend.
MameFave
A Windows-only frontend launched in March 2022[1]. Creator intends for this to be a simple way to manage hundreds of ROMs.
  • The favorites database can be filtered to help you find the game you want to play.
  • Works with many versions of MAME (32 and 64-bit).
  • Optional artwork download includes icons and marquees for all the classics!
  • Links to your favorite games can be made in just a few mouse clicks.
  • Games can be played directly from the ROM picker and search windows.
BletchMAME
Replaces the internal MAME UI with a more conventional point and click GUI (sometimes described as W.I.M.P.) to provide a friendlier experience in a number of areas (such as favorites, input configuration and a number of others). While BletchMAME is intended to support all machines supported by MAME, it should be particularly suitable to computer emulation.



Because DOSBox doesn't have a GUI, projects were made to fulfill that role. More information about them is available on the DOSBox Wiki.

Name Platform(s) Latest version Interface(s) License Active Recommended
PC / x86
LaunchBox Windows  • Android 13.27 (Free)
Premium (75 US$)
1.21
WIMP • HTPC[D 1] Proprietary Limited
DOSBox Game Launcher Windows  • Linux  • macOS 0.99 (Stable)
0.100 Beta 17 (Dev)
WIMP GPLv2 (Copyleft)
D-Fend Reloaded Windows 1.4.4 WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft)
IA Launcher Windows  • Linux  • macOS 2.2.1 WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft)
D-Fend Windows 2.0.6.2 (Build 42) WIMP Proprietary
CBoxRun Windows 0.51 WIMP Proprietary
  1. This feature is called Big Box and is only available in the premium (paid) version.

Comparison

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LaunchBox
Originally developed as a DOSBox frontend. It now supports any emulator or Windows game but has retained its excellent DOSBox functionality.
DOSBox Game Launcher
Another frontend based on Java that is said to be inspired by the D-Fend's.
D-Fend Reloaded
Was a great frontend, which allowed custom per-game configurations to cut back on fiddling with settings just to run specific games well. It also let use third-party builds of DOSBox, instead of the one it comes with, so it could have been used with forks as well.
IA Launcher
IA Launcher is a graphical games launcher for under 3000 MS-DOS games from old times. It uses the Internet Archive to download games on-the-fly and DOSBox to play them offline.
D-Fend
Very old, outdated and out of support. Was reborned as D-Fend Reloaded.
CBoxRun
Zero relevance, lack of developing, dead for a long time.



Mednafen is a command-line program with no graphical interface whatsoever. These programs generally ease the process of launching games, featuring an equivalent for most of the emulator's functions via their graphical interfaces.

Name Platform(s) Latest version Interface(s) License Active Recommended
PC
Mednaffe Windows  • Linux 0.9.3 WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft)
MedGui Reborn Windows 0.127 WIMP CC0-1.0 (Public domain equivalent)
MedLaunch Windows 0.5.25.3 WIMP MIT (Permissive)
MedGui Windows 1.99999 WIMP ?

Comparison

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Mednaffe
One of the older and better frontends for Mednafen, with a good user-friendly interface as well as Linux support.
MedGui Reborn
Reincarnation of the MedGui. New versions appear shortly after the release of a new version of the emulator, and new commits on GitHub happens regularly. The only serious drawback is the fairly awkward interface.
MedLaunch
Just dead and outdated.
MedGui
Now is a thing of the past. But it has been revived as MedGui Reborn.



Others

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Name Platform(s) Latest version Emulator Interface(s) License Active Recommended
PC
Mupen64Plus-Qt Windows  • Linux  • macOS 1.17 Mupen64Plus WIMP BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) TBD
simple64-gui / simple64 Windows  • Linux git (frontend only)
2024.12.1 (simple64 package)
Mupen64Plus WIMP GPLv3 (Copyleft) TBD
CEN64-Qt Windows  • Linux  • macOS git CEN64 WIMP BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) TBD
Sega Model 2 UI Windows WIP (2019-04-02) Model 2 Emulator WIMP ? TBD
Sega Model 3 UI Windows -r886 Supermodel WIMP ? TBD
SupermodelsAssistant Windows 0.12 Supermodel WIMP ? TBD
MedSat Windows 1.8 Mednafen (Saturn core) ? ? TBD
Dapplegrey macOS 9.9.2 DOSBox WIMP ? TBD
zRupi Windows v2-pre LoopyMSE WIMP ? TBD

See also

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References

[edit | edit source]
  1. Reddit thread: MameFave GUI for MAME