OpenEmu vs RetroPie
OpenEmu
openemu.orgRetroPie
retropie.org.ukSide by side
| Figure | OpenEmu | RetroPie |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 8.1 (#8) | 6.8 (#35) |
| Spec score · TurboGrafx-16 Emulators | 8.1 (#8) | 6.8 (#24) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 8.1 (#21) | 6.7 (#61) |
| Controller support | Generic HID USB and Bluetooth controllers are supported, with automatic mapping for recognized devices. | The first-boot menu configures controls for EmulationStation, RetroArch emulators, and select standalone emulators. |
| Documentation | The project wiki provides getting-started material, BIOS guidance, supported-system information, release notes and troubleshooting resources. | The project points users to RetroPie Docs for component information and frequently asked questions, and invites documentation contributions through pull requests. |
| Purpose | OpenEmu is open-source video game emulation software for Mac. | RetroPie turns a Raspberry Pi or PC into a retro-gaming machine for arcade, home-console, and classic PC games. |
| Support | The project directs users to read its contributing guide before reporting bugs through GitHub Issues or IRC. | The project points users to its documentation, FAQ, and community forum for help. |
Plans
In their own words
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.