Daijishō vs ES-DE Frontend
Daijishō
github.com
ES-DE Frontend
es-de.orgSide by side
| Figure | Daijishō | ES-DE Frontend |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 7.9 (#12) | 9.2 (#1) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 7.6 (#35) | 9.3 (#3) |
| Spec score · Emulation Frontends | 7.8 (#13) | 9.2 (#1) |
| Customization | Users can download wallpaper packs, choose a theme color, and add widgets. | Users can customize configuration options and themes, and download themes using the built-in theme downloader. |
| Privacy | The maker says Daijishō has no backend, keeps basic user information on the device, and does not send or share that information with the maker. | The privacy policy says the project does not collect personal information; the app accesses shared files locally and does not transfer them to ES-DE or partners. |
| Purpose | Daijishō is a retro launcher for managing retro game libraries. | ES-DE browses and launches games from a multi-platform collection and can also run locally installed games and applications. |
| Support | The maker invites users to report issues or submit suggestions through the project repository. | The official installation page directs users to the user guide, FAQs and Discord for support. |
Plans
ES-DE Frontend
- Windows, macOS and LinuxFree
- Windows, macOS and Linux desktopFree
- Android (Samsung Galaxy Store)$6.50, paid once
- AndroidPrice not published
In their own words
Daijishō
Daijishō is a free Android retro launcher for organizing game libraries and configuring players to open files from selected library paths. It does not include emulators; users install their preferred emulators or other apps separately. The library provides search, detailed game views, genres, widgets, and RetroAchievements, with metadata scraping and controller navigation listed. Appearance options include downloadable wallpaper packs, theme colors, and widgets. Platform configurations can be imported from Pegasus or shared platform JSON files, or created from manually added players. The project lists connections to RetroAchievements, IGDB, RetroArch, Libretro, GitHub, and Arcade Italia DB. Its maker says the app has no backend, keeps basic user information on the device, and does not send or share that information with the maker, while third-party services may have separate privacy policies. A universal-distribution APK is provided on the latest release page. Daijishō is currently closed-source and accepts issue reports and suggestions through its repository.
ES-DE Frontend
ES-DE Frontend browses and launches games from a multi-platform collection and can also run locally installed games and applications. It supports more than 150 game systems and comes configured for a large selection of emulators, game engines, game managers, and gaming services. Its built-in scraper downloads game details and media, including images, videos, and manuals. Users can adjust configuration options and themes, and download additional themes through the built-in theme downloader. The interface supports full controller navigation. Windows, macOS, and Linux editions are free to download and use, fully open source, and may be distributed freely. The Android release is a paid, partially closed-source app, and no price is listed. It is available through Patreon, Samsung Galaxy Store, and Huawei AppGallery. The Android FAQ gives 64-bit Android 10 or later as the basic requirement and says one purchase can be used on all of the buyer’s devices without a subscription or additional costs. Support links include a user guide, FAQs, and Discord.