RetroArch
Free all-in-one front end for retro game emulation, with one interface covering dozens of old consoles.
Our verdict
RetroArch on Linux is the same project as RetroArch on Windows, so this is a move rather than a replacement. The libretro team publish a verified Linux build on Flathub, and your settings, controller profiles and game folders carry over if you copy them across.
What makes it good is also what makes it awkward. RetroArch is a shell that loads separate emulator add-ons, one per console, so before you play anything you download the core for the machine you care about. The menu is built for controllers and takes getting used to.
Be aware that some consoles need original start-up files copied from real hardware. RetroArch does not include those and will not help you find them. For consoles that do not need them, you are playing within minutes.
What's good
- The same app and the same Linux download people already use on Windows
- One interface and one controller setup for dozens of old consoles
- Verified on Flathub, so it comes from the project itself
- Free, open source and under active development since 2012
What to know first
- The menu system is dense and the first hour is confusing
- Each console needs its own add-on, called a core, downloaded separately
- Some cores expect original console start-up files that RetroArch cannot supply
- Your game files are your own responsibility, and the project does not provide them
The details
- Cost
- Free
- Open source
- Yes (GPL-3.0)
- How you install it
- App store (Flatpak), AppImage download, App store (Snap), Built-in app store
Windows apps it can replace
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