Exodus vs RetroArch
Exodus
exodusemulator.comRetroArch
retroarch.comSide by side
| Figure | Exodus | RetroArch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Sega Genesis Emulators | 7.5 (#17) | 8.3 (#7) |
| Open source | The maker announced that Exodus is governed by the MIT license as of January 23, 2024. | RetroArch/Libretro is an open-source project that has been around since 2012. |
| Purpose | Exodus is a software platform for emulating real physical hardware, with a focus on accurate, debug-oriented emulation. | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players that runs classic games through a graphical interface with unified settings. |
| Support | The maker directs users with feedback or problems to the support forums. | The FAQ directs users to the forums, Discord and documentation for help. |
Plans
In their own words
RetroArch
RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players, bringing them under a unified settings system. The RetroArch/Libretro project includes more than 200 cores across those categories. Its menu can group scanned games by system and display thumbnails and animated backgrounds. Common game controllers configure automatically when plugged in, and button actions can also be assigned manually.
Stackable shaders can change rendered graphics or imitate the look of CRT monitors. Built-in netplay supports hosting or joining network gaming sessions, including spectator mode. RetroArch can record gameplay to video files and stream games to Twitch or YouTube. Versions are listed for Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, and web browsers. RetroArch is free and open source under GPL version 3; the libretro API uses an MIT license. Features differ by platform and store version: the browser edition has lower performance and fewer capabilities than the full version, while Steam lacks Core Updater and thumbnail scraping and offers a selected core set.