Gaming & Minecraft
Best Emulation Frontends in 2026
Emulation frontends help you organize and browse game libraries alongside the emulators used to play them. Compared on supported platforms and emulators included, these entries also vary in library import, metadata scraping and portable mode.
- 01
ES-DE Frontend ES-DE suits people who want one interface for browsing and launching games across multiple systems, including locally installed games and applications.
Free plan Open source Windows · macOS · Linux · Android9.2 Visit Specs - 02
Attract-Mode Attract-Mode suits arcade cabinet setups and users who want a graphical interface for command-line emulators.
Free plan Open source Windows · macOS · Linux · API9.1 Visit Specs - 03
GameEx GameEx suits people assembling an arcade or emulator library with media and HTPC functions, including users of supported arcade controls, remotes or gamepads.
Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Android9.1 Visit Specs - 04
LaunchBox LaunchBox suits people organizing collections that combine PC games and emulated console games.
Free plan Windows · Android · API8.8 Visit Specs - 05 Lakka
Lakka suits people with supported, dedicated hardware who want a small computer configured as a retrogaming console.
Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted8.6 Visit Specs - 06 RetroArch
RetroArch suits people looking for a unified frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players, from beginners to power users.
Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux8.4 Visit Specs - 07 EmulatorJS
EmulatorJS suits people who want to add an emulator to a website and adjust its presentation or language.
Free plan Web · iOS · Android · Self-hosted8.1 Visit Specs - 08 AmberELEC Free plan Self-hosted8.0 Visit Specs
- 09 RePlayOS
RePlayOS suits people who want a Raspberry Pi-based emulation system with support for CRT or LCD displays and multiple controllers.
From $5/mo Free plan Web · Linux · API8.0 Visit Specs - 10
Batocera Batocera suits people with compatible hardware who want a free retro-gaming system that can boot from removable storage or install permanently.
Free plan Linux · Self-hosted7.9 Visit Specs - 11 RetroHub
RetroHub suits players who want one place to organize and launch games across supported systems, and users who want to customize themes.
Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux7.9 Visit Specs - 12 ROCKNIX
ROCKNIX suits handheld gaming users seeking a Linux system for retro emulation, including those who want multiplayer, sync or VPN features.
Free plan Linux · Self-hosted7.9 Visit Specs - 13 Daijishō
It suits Android users who want one launcher for organizing retro game collections and choosing their own emulators.
Free plan Android7.8 Visit Specs - 14 KNULLI
KNULLI suits retro-gaming device owners whose hardware is listed among its supported downloads.
Free plan Linux · Self-hosted7.7 Visit Specs - 15 HyperSpin Windows · Linux7.6 Visit Specs
- 16 Maximus Arcade Free trial Windows7.6 Visit Specs
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Pegasus Frontend Pegasus suits people who want a customizable interface for collections spanning game sources and emulators.
Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Android7.5 Visit Specs - 18 MustardOS From $6/mo Self-hosted7.3 Visit Specs
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Recalbox Recalbox suits beginners and other players who want a free, open-source retro system across compatible Raspberry Pi, handheld, PC, Steam Deck, or ODROID hardware.
Free plan Linux · Self-hosted7.3 Visit Specs - 20 EmulationStation Windows · Linux7.2 Visit Specs
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RetroBat RetroBat suits Windows users organizing ROM collections through one frontend with emulator, controller, metadata, and customization support.
Free plan Windows7.1 Visit Specs - 22 RetroDECK
RetroDECK suits Linux users who want a preconfigured collection of retro-gaming components on handhelds, desktops, HTPCs or PC consoles.
Free plan Linux7.0 Visit Specs - 23 KRetro Linux6.8 Visit Specs
- 24 OnionOS Self-hosted6.8 Visit Specs
- 25 RetroPie Linux · Self-hosted6.7 Visit Specs
Controller navigation may matter if you prefer browsing with a gamepad, while cloud sync is another feature to weigh. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the capabilities that fit your setup. RetroArch, ES-DE Frontend and Lakka are among the options shown. Consider the systems you use, how you want to bring games into a library, and which navigation and organization features matter when choosing a frontend.
Compare ES-DE Frontend and Attract-Mode Get a place on this list