Jagex Launcher vs RomM

Jagex Launcher is a free desktop application for discovering, installing, and playing games from the RuneScape universe. Its library links to RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and RuneScape: Dragonwilds, with access through one Jagex Account login. It runs on Windows and macOS and can find existing RuneScape or Old School installations or install them. For Old School, users can switch between RuneLite and the official client; RuneLite can be downloaded when needed. The Launcher can run RuneScape and Old School simultaneously, including multiple instances of one game, but one character cannot be logged into both at once. A Jagex Account is required. Jagex Accounts require two-factor authentication by default, using email or an authenticator app, with 10 one-time backup codes. The Launcher itself does not require administrator access to install, although installing the official Old School client does. There is no built-in Quick Launch option; a Windows-only shortcut workaround is described. Jagex is based in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

RomM is a free, self-hosted app for scanning, enriching, browsing, and playing a ROM collection. The project says it supports more than 400 platforms, including multi-disk games, DLCs, mods, hacks, and manuals. Compatible games can run in a browser through EmulatorJS and Ruffle without setup, while saves and states sync across devices with conflict resolution. Metadata providers include IGDB, ScreenScraper, LaunchBox, and MobyGames; RomM can also fetch artwork from SteamGridDB and track RetroAchievements. A built-in patcher applies ROM hacks and translations. The project lists granular per-user permissions, OIDC single sign-on, a REST API, and exports for ES-DE and Pegasus. Official clients include a Windows Playnite plugin, the Android Argosy handheld launcher, and the Linux Grout handheld client. A native iOS app is a community project, and the team says it does not regularly review community project source code. RomM is AGPL-3.0 licensed, with no tracking or paid features. Setup help and community discussion are available through Discord.