In the world of video game emulation, LaunchBox is one of the most popular options available.
It’s a great tool for organizing your games, managing controller profiles, and even downloading fan-made artworks to spruce up your collection.
However, LaunchBox isn’t the only emulator out there. In fact, there are several alternatives that offer different features and benefits.
In this blog post, we will explore the top 19best LaunchBox alternatives. From emulators that focus on a specific console to those that offer a more comprehensive experience, there’s something for everyone on this list.
What is LaunchBox?
LaunchBox is a video game emulator that allows you to play your favorite video games on your PC. It includes a wide variety of features, such as the ability to play games in full-screen mode, support for controllers, and the ability to save your game progress. LaunchBox is also available for Mac and Linux.
Best LaunchBox Alternatives
There are many great LaunchBox alternatives available, and it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. Here are some of the best options out there:
- Logitech G13
- Razer Tartarus Chroma
- Playnite
- RetroArch
- Lutris
- GameHub
- Dig - Emulator Front-End
- Lakka
- MAME
- BizHawk
- Nostlan
- RomStation
- D-Fend Reloaded
- GameEx
- Hyperspin
- RetroX
- QuickPlay
- GR-lida
- ARC Browser
Logitech G13
One of the best things about the Logitech G13 is that it comes with a built-in LCD display. This makes it easy to keep an eye on your game stats and information while you're playing. The G13 also has 25 programmable buttons, which gives you a lot of control over your game play. It's compatible with PC, Mac, and Linux, and it works with a wide variety of games.
Razer Tartarus Chroma
The Razer Tartarus Chroma is another great option for gamers who are looking for a LaunchBox alternative. It has 25 fully programmable keys, so you can customize your gaming experience to suit your needs. It also features RGB backlighting, which allows you to create a unique look for your gaming setup. The Tartarus Chroma is compatible with PC, Mac, and Linux, and it works with a wide variety of games.
Playnite
Playnite is one of the best alternatives to LaunchBox. It is an open source
video game library manager with support for 3D games and controller mapping.
Playnite has a clean and user-friendly interface. It organizes your games into
libraries and allows you to launch them from a single application. You can
also add custom shortcuts and manage your game collection with ease.
Playnite
supports a wide range of platforms including Steam, GOG, Origin, Uplay,
Battle.net, Epic Games, itch.io, and more. You can import your games from
these platforms or manually add them to your library. The application also
supports importing game metadata from popular websites like MobyGames and
TheGamesDB.
Playnite offers many features that are not available in
LaunchBox. These include support for cloud saves, automatic updates, custom
scripts, Big Picture Mode support, and more. You can also skin the application
to change its appearance according to your preference.
RetroArch
RetroArch is a multi-platform emulator with support for many systems, including NES, SNES, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, PlayStation, and more. With RetroArch, you can play your favorite games from childhood on your modern computer or phone. The emulator is easy to use and has a growing community of users.
Lutris
Lutris is one of the best alternatives to LaunchBox. It is an open source
gaming platform that lets you install and manage your games in a single place.
It supports a wide range of games from different sources, including Steam,
GOG, Humble Bundle, and more.
Lutris also makes it easy to install
multiple versions of the same game. So, if you want to play an older version
of a game for nostalgia purposes, you can do so without any hassle.
Another
great thing about Lutris is that it integrates with popular emulators like
Dolphin, Mupen64Plus, and PPSSPP. This means you can use it to play console
games on your PC.
Overall, Lutris is a great alternative to
LaunchBox that offers a lot of features and customization options.
GameHub
GameHub is a great alternative to LaunchBox for those looking for a more customizable and feature-rich gaming platform. It offers a wide range of features including support for multiple emulators, a huge library of games, and extensive customization options. You can also find community-created mods and themes to further improve your experience.
Dig - Emulator Front-End
Dig is an emulator front-end that supports a wide variety of emulators. With
Dig, you can play your favorite retro games on your PC, Mac, or Linux
computer. Dig is easy to use and comes with a variety of features that make it
a great choice for emulator fans.
Dig supports a wide variety of
emulators, including popular options like MAME, FCEUX, Snes9x, Mednafen, and
RetroArch. With Dig, you can easily switch between emulators and play your
games on any platform you like.
Dig comes with a clean and
user-friendly interface that makes it easy to find and launch your games. You
can also use Dig to manage your game collection and keep track of your
progress in each game.
Dig is free to download and use, and it’s
available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
Lakka
Lakka is one of the best alternatives to LaunchBox. It is an all-in-one retro gaming solution that is easy to set up and use. Lakka has a clean and user-friendly interface that makes it a great choice for those who are new to retro gaming. It also has a wide range of features that make it a great option for more experienced gamers.
MAME
MAME, or Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, is a free and open source emulator
that allows you to play classic arcade games on your computer. MAME has been
around for over 20 years and is one of the most popular emulation platforms.
There are a wide variety of games available for MAME, including classics like
Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Space Invaders.
MAME is easy to use and
set up. You can download the emulator and games from the official website.
Once you have MAME installed, you can start playing games immediately. There
are also a number of front-ends available for MAME that make it even easier to
get started.
If you're looking for a great way to play classic
arcade games, MAME is a great option. It's easy to use and there are a wide
variety of games available.
BizHawk
BizHawk is a powerful multi-platform emulator that supports a wide variety of
systems. It's easy to use and has a simple interface. You can also customize
the controls to your liking.
BizHawk is available for Windows, Mac,
and Linux. You can find the latest release here.
Nostlan
Nostlan is a great alternative to LaunchBox. It has a simple, clean interface and is very user-friendly. Nostlan also has a built-in emulator so you can play your games on any platform.
RomStation
RomStation is a great alternative to LaunchBox for those who are looking for a
way to play their favorite classic video games. It offers a wide variety of
features, including the ability to play games from a wide variety of consoles,
as well as support for online multiplayer gaming.
One of the best
things about RomStation is that it is very easy to use. Simply download the
program and install it on your computer, and then you will be able to start
playing your favorite games within minutes. In addition, RomStation also
offers a number of other features that make it a great choice for those who
want to get the most out of their classic gaming experience.
D-Fend Reloaded
D-Fend Reloaded is a great free alternative to LaunchBox. It has a clean
and easy-to-use interface and supports a wide range of systems. You can also
use it to play your old DOS games.
GameEx
GameEx is another excellent free alternative to LaunchBox. It offers a similar
range of features and supports a wide range of systems. You can also use it to
play your old DOS games.
Hyperspin
Hyperspin is a great option if you're looking for an all-in-one solution for your retro gaming needs. It's jam-packed with features and supports a wide range of systems. You can also use it to play your old DOS games.
RetroX
RetroX is one of the best LaunchBox alternatives and it is also one of the
most popular. It has a lot of features that make it a great option for those
looking for a LaunchBox alternative.
RetroX supports a wide range
of emulators and it has a user-friendly interface. It also has a wide range of
customization options, which is great for those who want to personalize their
gaming experience.
One of the best things about RetroX is that it
is constantly being updated with new features and support for new emulators.
This means that you will never be left behind when it comes to playing your
favorite retro games.
QuickPlay
QuickPlay is a powerful desktop emulator that enables users to play their favorite classic games with ease. The emulator has been designed to work with a wide range of games, including those that are not compatible with other emulators.
QuickPlay also offers a variety of features that make it easy to use, such as the ability to save and load game states, and support for controllers.
GR-lida
GR-lida is an excellent LaunchBox alternative that offers a lot of features and tools to help you manage your game collection. It has a clean and easy-to-use interface, and it lets you view your games in multiple ways including by platform, genre, and publisher.
You can also add custom fields to each game entry to track things like release date, completion status, or whatever else you want.
GR-lida also supports importing data from several popular database formats including LaunchBox's own XML format. Overall, GR-lida is a great option for anyone looking for a powerful game management tool.
ARC Browser
ARC Browser is a great LaunchBox alternative that offers a lot of the same features.
It has a clean and user-friendly interface, supports a wide range of games, and is constantly updated with new features. One of the best things about ARC Browser is that it's completely free to use.
Final Verdict about the Best LaunchBox Alternatives
The verdict is in and the best LaunchBox alternative is RomStation. This
front-end for video game emulation is constantly updated, offers a ton of
features, and has an active community.
If you're looking for a
close second, we recommend RetroArch. This open-source emulator can be
daunting to set up, but once you get it going it's a powerful tool with a lot
to offer.
And if you want something that's completely free, check
out MAME. While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of RomStation or
RetroArch, it's still a great way to play your favorite classic games.