Lutris vs RetroArch
Lutris
lutris.netRetroArch
retroarch.comSide by side
| Figure | Lutris | RetroArch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 7.5 (#20) | 8.4 (#7) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 7.5 (#38) | 9.1 (#6) |
| Open source | The project says Lutris is built only using open source technology. | RetroArch/Libretro is an open-source project that has been around since 2012. |
| Purpose | Lutris is an open gaming platform for Linux that helps users install and play games from different eras and gaming systems. | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players that runs classic games through a graphical interface with unified settings. |
| 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 FAQ directs users to the forums, Discord and documentation for help. |
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.
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.