Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Attract-Mode

attractmode.org

Free plan Open source WindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
Visit attractmode.org
Spec score 9.1 #2 of 40 in Game Library Managers

What it is

Attract-Mode is a graphical frontend for command-line emulators such as MAME, MESS, and Nestopia. It is intended for arcade cabinets and control by joystick, gamepad, or spin dial, and runs on Windows, OS X, and Linux, including Raspberry Pi and Odroid. Users can import game lists, generate lists from emulator directories, and set launch commands for individual games. The frontend can retrieve missing game details and artwork from TheGamesDB, Progetto-Snaps, and adb.arcadeitalia.net. Controls can be assigned to joystick, keyboard, or mouse inputs, including combinations. A built-in configuration menu has on-screen help, and settings are stored in text files. Layouts can be scripted in Squirrel and customized with themes, animations, and GLSL shaders. It supports media formats supported by FFmpeg and SWF files through gameswf. The feature list also names Steam support and plug-ins for extensions or integration with external programs. Attract-Mode is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3. Pause functionality for returning to the frontend and resuming an emulator is listed only for Linux and Windows versions.

Spec sheet

What it does
Attract-Mode is a graphical launcher for command-line emulators, designed for joystick or gamepad controlled arcade cabinets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Purpose
Attract-Mode is a graphical frontend for command-line emulators such as MAME, MESS and Nestopia, intended for joystick, gamepad or spin-dial control and arcade cabinet setups.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Support
The official site links to a community forum and provides documentation, compile instructions, a layouts manual and a project wiki.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
License
Attract-Mode is released under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
AlternativeTo listing
AlternativeTo shows two likes, zero comments and no user reviews for Attract-Mode.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Artwork scraping
Artwork and missing game information can be fetched from TheGamesDB, Progetto-SNAPS and ArcadeItalia databases.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Build dependencies
Linux and FreeBSD compilation uses GNU C or C++, make, pkg-config, SFML and OpenAL, with optional FFmpeg, Fontconfig, Xinerama and libarchive libraries.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Command-line tools
The command line supports building and importing romlists, filtering them and selecting output names.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Configuration
A built-in configuration menu provides on-screen guidance, while settings can also be edited as text files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Controls
Frontend actions can be mapped to joystick, keyboard or mouse inputs, including combinations.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Display hardware
The software supports multiple monitors, screen rotation or flipping, and automatic rotation to match games.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Documentation depth
Official documentation includes a readme, compilation guide, layouts manual, project wiki and an online layout editor.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Download availability
The download page lists Windows binaries, an OS X app bundle, Linux source, and source code; it also notes RetroPie availability as an experimental package.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Emulator integration
Users can configure per-game launch commands, import game lists, and generate lists from emulator directories.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Frontend compatibility
Hyperspin, MaLa and MameWah layouts can be displayed, although compatibility with other frontends is described as experimental.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Game organization
Collections can be filtered and sorted by metadata such as year, category, manufacturer, orientation, player count and play history.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Independent comparison
Unstore characterizes Attract-Mode as a deeply configurable, arcade-focused frontend and lists it as free on Windows, macOS and Linux.Read 15 Oct 2026 · de.unstore.io
Input mapping
Keyboard, mouse and joystick actions can be assigned individually or in combinations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Latest development
The GitHub history shows maintainer commits in May 2026 adding LCD-refresh functionality, display dimensions in romlists and new script tag commands.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Latest release changes
The 2.7.0 release notes mention video-crash fixes, modern FFmpeg updates, removal of the obsolete MameDB scraper and grouped-clone support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Layout scripting
Themes and layouts are scripted with the Squirrel language and can be extensively customized.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Limit: documentation
Unstore describes the documentation as slim and says the product is aimed more at MAME and arcade use than living-room consoles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · de.unstore.io
Limit: setup complexity
Unstore reports that setup is involved and that themes require more configuration than easier frontends.Read 15 Oct 2026 · de.unstore.io
Localization
The official feature list names Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish interfaces.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Maker identity
The project and its GitHub repository identify Andrew Mickelson as the copyright holder and maintainer account owner.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Media
It supports image, video and audio formats supported by FFmpeg, and supports SWF files through gameswf.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Media support
Images, video and audio use formats supported by FFmpeg; SWF support is provided through gameswf.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Metadata editing
A built-in editor changes game information, and lists can be generated from emulator directories.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Metadata imports
MAME XML, HyperSpin and MameWah or Wahcade lists can be imported.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Metadata sources
The frontend can scrape missing game information and artwork from TheGamesDB, Progetto-Snaps and adb.arcadeitalia.net.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Notable limit
Pause functionality for returning to the frontend and resuming an emulator is listed for Linux and Windows versions only.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Official downloads
The download page offers version 2.7.0 Windows binaries and Linux source, plus a version 2.6.1 macOS bundle and Windows XP packages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Open Hub activity
Open Hub labels the project low activity and reports 15 commits from 3 contributors in its preceding 12-month snapshot.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openhub.net
Open Hub codebase
Open Hub reports 1,147 commits, 46 contributors and about 148,850 lines of code, mostly C++.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openhub.net
Open Hub security
Open Hub reports no vulnerabilities for the last ten releases it analyzed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openhub.net
Open source
Attract-Mode is open source and licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Operating systems
The project is documented for Windows, macOS and Linux, including Raspberry Pi and Odroid systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Other integrations
The feature list names Steam support and a plug-in system for extending functionality and integrating with external programs such as LED control or joystick mapping software.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Pause behavior
Users can pause an emulator, return to the frontend and resume later on Linux and Windows versions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Plugin API
Plugins are Squirrel scripts placed in the configuration plugins directory and managed from the frontend menu.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Plugins
A plugin system extends frontend behavior and can connect external programs such as LED or joystick-control software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Praise: customization
Unstore says the Squirrel-based scripting is flexible enough for marquee displays, side art, lighting controls and other cabinet hardware.Read 15 Oct 2026 · de.unstore.io
Public API
The layouts manual documents a Squirrel API exposed through the fe object, including image, artwork, surface, text, listbox and shader functions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Rating on Open Hub
5.0 out of 5.0 from 1 reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · openhub.net
Self-hosting
The compile guide supports local Linux or FreeBSD builds and installs the executable and data under /usr/local.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
SourceForge listing
SourceForge describes it as an arcade and console emulator frontend, but its review page displays no submitted user ratings or reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Steam integration
Steam collections are supported alongside emulator collections.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Supported emulators
The official description names MAME, MESS and Nestopia as example emulator backends.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Supported systems
The project says it runs on Windows, OS X and Linux, including Raspberry Pi and Odroid.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Themes
Layouts are scriptable in Squirrel and can be customized with themes, animations and GLSL shaders.Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Usage statistics
The frontend records games played and total play time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Visual effects
Layouts can transform artwork and text, use animations and particle effects, and apply GLSL shaders.Read 15 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org

Plans and prices

Attract-Mode Free Open source · GNU General Public License v3 Read 5 Oct 2026 · attractmode.org
Free Free full frontend · open source · GPL-3.0-or-later Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net

Every Attract-Mode plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source under GNU GPL v3.
  • Runs on Windows, OS X, and Linux.
  • Controls map to joystick, keyboard, or mouse.
  • Can import game lists and retrieve missing artwork.
  • Layouts support Squirrel scripting and shaders.

Limits

  • Pause and resume functionality is listed only for Linux and Windows.
  • RetroPie availability is listed as experimental.

Who it suits

Attract-Mode suits arcade cabinet setups and users who want a graphical interface for command-line emulators. Its configurable controls and layouts may appeal to users building a customized frontend.

Verdict

Attract-Mode offers a configurable, free frontend for emulator collections, with support for several operating systems and input types. Pause behavior is listed for Linux and Windows versions only.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to Attract-ModeAll alternatives →