Lutris vs OpenEmu
Lutris
lutris.net
OpenEmu
openemu.orgSide by side
| Figure | Lutris | OpenEmu |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 7.5 (#20) | 8.1 (#8) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 7.5 (#38) | 8.1 (#21) |
| Purpose | Lutris is an open gaming platform for Linux that helps users install and play games from different eras and gaming systems. | OpenEmu is open-source video game emulation software for Mac. |
| Support | 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. | The project directs users to read its contributing guide before reporting bugs through GitHub Issues or IRC. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
OpenEmu
OpenEmu is free, open-source video game emulation software for macOS. It organizes game backups into a unified library, adds box art and supports collections spanning consoles. Users drag and drop backups for scanning and organization. Modular cores from open-source projects emulate systems including Atari, Game Boy, Nintendo, Sega, Sony PlayStation and Super Nintendo; the project lists 31 supported systems. Generic HID-compliant USB or Bluetooth controllers can work immediately, with automatic mapping for recognized devices. OpenEmu is intended for games users already own, and BIOS files are required. The wiki describes an experimental arcade core plugin that is strictly unsupported. The latest release page identifies OpenEmu 2.4.1 binaries as Intel-only. The official site offers a macOS (OS X) application, but the version requirement was not rendered. The project lists save states, CD audio and cheat support, while online netplay is not available.