GameEx vs LaunchBox
GameEx
gameex.com
LaunchBox
launchbox-app.comSide by side
| Figure | GameEx | LaunchBox |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 8 |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 9.3 (#4) | 9.0 (#9) |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 9.1 (#3) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Spec score · Emulation Frontends | 9.1 (#3) | 8.8 (#4) |
| Praise: customization | Arcade DIY praised the Windows Media Center-style interface, clear menus and extensive customization. | A Trustpilot reviewer praised the way LaunchBox displays a collection, emulation support, extensive customization, and Big Box themes. |
| Support | The maker says commercial support and customizations are available and in many cases provided free of charge. | The maker points users to technical support forums, how-to video tutorials, bug reporting, and feature requests. |
| What it does | GameEx is a Windows front end for MAME, GameBase, Daphne, PC games, command-line emulators and home-theater media. | LaunchBox is a Windows game-library manager and launcher that organizes PC, storefront, and emulated games and starts them through configured applications. |
| Windows requirements | The download page lists Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista SP2, XP SP3+ and several Windows Server versions; the installer requires administrator privileges. | The current Windows build supports Windows 10 and higher, with Windows 10 and 11 described as fully supported. |
Plans
LaunchBox
- StarterFree
- Starter (Windows)Free
- Regular$30, paid once
- Regular (Windows)$30, paid once
- Bundle (Windows and Android)$35, paid once
- Windows and Android bundle$35, paid once
- Lifetime$75, paid once
- Lifetime (Windows)$75, paid once
In their own words
GameEx
GameEx is an arcade and emulator front end for MAME, GameBase, Daphne, PC games and command-line emulators, with HTPC features. The site lists original GameEx, GameEx Arcade Edition and GameEx Evolution. Its feature list describes support for nearly any emulator, with advanced MAME support, and compatibility with arcade controls such as X-Arcade, Slik-Stik, JPAC and IPAC, as well as remotes and gamepads. Media features include video and DVD playback, picture viewing, internet radio, a jukebox, a news reader and a YouTube module. Named integrations include Steam, EA Origin, Uplay, iTunes, Windows Media Player, GameBase, GameEx Arcade and the TMDb API. GameEx Online and GameExtender add networked display, remote control and online game statistics. Its listed free plan costs nothing, but commercial use requires each copy to be registered or purchased. The listing includes Android, Linux, macOS and Windows; the maker describes Linux or Mac use through WINE as experimental, while the multiplatform alpha builds may lack features.
LaunchBox
LaunchBox is a game collection frontend and manager for modern PC games and emulated console games. It can import Steam and GOG games, ROM files, and MS-DOS games, then retrieve box art and metadata from its Games Database along with fan art, screenshots, and logos. Collections can be arranged and filtered by genre, platform, ESRB rating, developer, and publisher, with custom status and source fields. The Windows app supports Windows 10 and higher, with Windows 10 and 11 described as fully supported. LaunchBox for Android is free for collections of 100 games or fewer; it shares the games database, media, and portable XML data with Windows, and Windows data can be exported to Android. Premium adds themes, Big Box mode, gamepad automation, startup and pause screens, and display customization. The Regular Windows license costs $30 as a one-time purchase and includes a year of free updates. The maker says Premium is DRM-free and can be deployed to as many personal devices as desired. Windows data can also be moved by copying the app to another folder or computer.