Changes

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]].

;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|MAME's]] integrated frontend ''MEWUI'' 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.

|[http://quickplay.sourceforge.net/ QuickPlay]

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}

|WIMP

|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

|[[RetroFE]]

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}

|HTPC

|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}

|[https://github.com/quinton-ashley/nostlan Nostlan]

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}

|-

|[https://pegasus-frontend.org/ Pegasus]

|[https://playnite.link/ Playnite]

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}

|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}

|-

|[https://www.gameex.com/ GameEx]

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}

|HTPC

|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}

|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}

|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digdroid.alman.dig 1.37.1 (<abbr title="Offers in-app purchases">IAP</abbr>)]

|Touch

|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||?

|[https://retropie.org.uk/ RetroPie]

|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}<ref group=I name=retropie>RetroPie for x86 Linux is only available Ubuntu (16.04 LTS or later) and Debian based distros. See these [https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Debian/ install instructions].</ref>

|HTPC

|{{✓}}

: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.

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.

|[http://babelsoft.net/products/negatron.htm Negatron]

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}

|WIMP

|{{✓}}

|}

Mednafen is a command line program with no graphical interface whatsoever. These programs generally ease the process of launching games, but doesn't address things like controller configuration which is done by pressing hotkeys in-game.

|WIMP

|{{✓}}

|{{✓}}

|-

|[https://github.com/Speedvicio/MedGuiReborn MedGui Reborn]

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}

|WIMP

|{{~}}

|{{✓}}

|-

|[https://medlaunch.info/ MedLaunch]

==See also==

* [[Comparison of Emulator Frontends]]

[[Category:FAQs]]

[[Category:Tools|*]]

[[Category:Frontends|*]]