Attract-Mode vs Lutris
Attract-Mode
attractmode.org
Lutris
lutris.netSide by side
| Figure | Attract-Mode | Lutris |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 9.1 (#2) | 7.5 (#20) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 8.9 (#11) | 7.5 (#38) |
| Open source | Attract-Mode is open source and licensed under the GNU General Public License v3. | The project says Lutris is built only using open source technology. |
| 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. | Lutris is an open gaming platform for Linux that helps users install and play games from different eras and gaming systems. |
| Support | The official site links to a community forum and provides documentation, compile instructions, a layouts manual and a project wiki. | Users can ask questions in the Lutris forums or Discord, and the FAQ asks that bug reports stay publicly visible rather than being sent privately. |
Plans
In their own words
Attract-Mode
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.
Lutris
Lutris is a free, open-source gaming platform for Linux that brings games from different eras and systems into one client. It connects to Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Humble Bundle, while also integrating with launchers such as Battle.net, EA App, and Ubisoft Connect. Runners provide compatibility layers, emulators, and game-engine reimplementations for games from different platforms. Downloads and installations can be automated and adjusted through user-made scripts. Lutris presents itself as a video game preservation platform and does not sell commercial games; users install titles purchased from other stores. It supports current Linux distributions and recommends up-to-date graphics drivers, Vulkan, and 32-bit OpenGL and Vulkan libraries. For Windows games, it recommends installing Wine through the system package manager. Steam Deck instructions cover installation from Discover in Desktop Mode and creating Steam shortcuts. The project notes that distribution compatibility can cause issues and suggests disabling its runtime when troubleshooting.