Where to get it

Steam

2010

RetroArch

a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players

Released: 25 May 2010
Platforms: Linux Ouya Windows
Genres: —
Developers: —
Publishers: —

About

RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. It is the reference implementation of the libretro API, designed to be fast, lightweight, portable and without dependencies. It is licensed under the GNU GPLv3. RetroArch runs on many computers, home consoles, handheld consoles, smartphones, smart TV's, single-board computers and web browsers. As of 1 April 2024, versions for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 are not out yet, but are available unofficially.

RetroArch runs programs converted into dynamic libraries called libretro cores, using several user interfaces such as command-line interfaces, a few graphical user interfaces optimized for gamepads, several input, audio and video drivers, and other sophisticated features such as dynamic rate control, audio filters, multi-pass shaders, netplay, gameplay rewinding, cheats, etc.

Players say

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Development

Formerly known as SSNES, initially based on pseudonymous programmer Near's predecessor libsnes, it began its development in 2010 with Hans-Kristian "Themaister" Arntzen committing the first change on GitHub. It was intended as a replacement to bsnes's Qt-based interface but it grew to support more emulation "cores". On April 21, 2012, SSNES was officially renamed to RetroArch to reflect this change in direction.

RetroArch's version 1.0.0.0 was released on January 11, 2014, and at the time was available on seven distinct platforms: OS X, Android, iOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and GameCube. On February 25, 2014, the version for Microsoft Windows was released. It featured cores for systems: SNES, NES, GB, GBC, GBA, Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64.

Reception

RetroArch has been praised for the number of systems and games it can play under a single interface.

It has been criticized for how difficult it is to configure, due to the extensive number of options available to the user, and at the same time has been praised for the more advanced features it possesses.