RetroArch

7.4easy start · #2 of 54
in Multi-System Emulators

Free to practise onyes
Free trialnot on record
Well documentedyes
Runs where you workyes

Runs on Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows.

RetroArch is ranked #2 of 54 in multi-system emulators on The Geeks Club. It runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows. There is a free plan.

RetroArch plans and pricing

All plans

RetroArch Free Free and open source; features vary by platform and store version libretro.com · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on multi-system emulators

Free plan: Yes

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The record

Purpose: RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players, with a unified settings system.
Open source: RetroArch/Libretro is an open-source project that has been around since 2012.
Interface: Its menu sorts scanned games by system and supports thumbnails and animated backgrounds.
Cores: RetroArch/Libretro has over 200 cores, including game engines, games, multimedia programs and emulators.
Controller setup: Common game controllers are automatically configured when plugged in, and users can also assign actions to button combinations manually.
Shaders: Shaders can filter graphics, recreate the look of CRT monitors and be stacked to create effects.
Multiplayer: Built-in netplay lets users host or join network gaming sessions and watch in spectator mode.
Recording and streaming: RetroArch can record gameplay to a video file and stream games to services such as Twitch or YouTube.
Platform availability: The official download page lists Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS and web browser versions, among other platforms.
Web version limit: The browser version is more limited in performance and capabilities than the full version.
Store version limits: The Steam version has no Core Updater or thumbnail scraping, and users download a selected set of cores from Steam.
Privacy: The privacy policy says third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies on some of the project’s websites to serve ads based on prior visits.
Support: The FAQ directs users to the project’s forum, Discord channel or documentation for help.
Audience and licensing: The project describes RetroArch as a feature-rich frontend intended to serve both power users and inexperienced beginners, and says RetroArch uses GPL version 3.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on The Geeks Club

Best Multi-System Emulators in 2026#2 of 54
Best Game Library Managers in 2026#1 of 40
Best Game Console Emulators in 2026#1 of 35
Best TurboGrafx-16 Emulators in 2026#1 of 32
Best SNES Emulators in 2026#2 of 31
Best Game Gear Emulators in 2026#1 of 30
Best Sega Genesis Emulators in 2026#1 of 29
Best Game Boy Advance Emulators in 2026#1 of 29
Best Emulation Frontends in 2026#1 of 25
Best Nintendo 64 Emulators in 2026#3 of 23

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Sources

retroarch.com· checked 29 Sept 2026
retroarch.com· checked 29 Sept 2026
retroarch.com· checked 29 Sept 2026
retroarch.com· checked 29 Sept 2026
libretro.com/index.php/mission/· checked 29 Sept 2026
retroarch.com/index.php· checked 30 Sept 2026