RetroArch vs RetroBat

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.

RetroBat is a free, open-source Windows frontend for organizing and playing retro game ROM collections. It supports more than 230 consoles and computers and can run from a PC, hard drive, or USB key. The setup does not include emulator programs; an internet connection is required to download additional emulators. Library metadata can be scraped from ScreenScraper, TheGamesDB, HFSDB, ArcadeDB, and IGDB. ScreenScraper is the default and requires credentials. Retrieved information may include ratings, images, videos, maps, manuals, and pad-to-key settings. RetroBat also lists downloadable themes, shaders, bezels, netplay, cheats, save states, and rewind. Major Windows-compatible controllers should work, with X-Input recommended for best compatibility. Supported operating systems are Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.1. The plan is free, and help is available through Discord, the forum, and the FAQ.