Software Alternatives & Reviews

Batocera.linux VS Lakka

Compare Batocera.linux VS Lakka and see what are their differences

Batocera.linux logo Batocera.linux

Batocera.linux is an open-source and completely free retro-gaming distribution that can be copied to a USB stick or an SD card with the aim of turning any computer/nano computer into a gaming console during a game or permanently.

Lakka logo Lakka

Lakka is the official Linux distribution of RetroArch and the libretro ecosystem.
  • Batocera.linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-27
  • Lakka Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-30

Batocera.linux videos

Turn a USB Flash Drive into a Portable Gaming "System"!

Lakka videos

Lakka Emulator Frontend Running On Raspberry Pi 3 Emulation Station Alternative

More videos:

  • Review - What Is Lakka ? Retro Game System Explained
  • Tutorial - How to make a Retro Emulator Machine - Lakka OS Guide + Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Batocera.linux and Lakka)
Gaming
74 74%
26% 26
Emulators
76 76%
24% 24
Gaming Tools
73 73%
27% 27
Games
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Batocera.linux and Lakka. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Batocera.linux and Lakka

Batocera.linux Reviews

  1. Very difficult to configure.

    While it has the potential to be amazing, like most linux-based options, it falls apart in the area of user experience, with automatic misconfigurations, failure to recognize supported devices and the requirement to SSH into the host system from yet another system (that you may not even have). in order to enter complicated commands just to turn basic supported features on and off. If you do spend a few days getting it to a basic level of functionality, it may be worthwhile, but the problem is that you shouldn't have to. Extra layers of unnecessary complexity seem to have been added simply to maintain that unapproachable aura that most Linux distros have.

    🏁 Competitors: Lakka
    👍 Pros:    Good UI
    👎 Cons:    Confusing set-up|Complicated configuration|Vague instructions|Automatic mis-configurations|Cannot use standard installation methods|Supported devices require complex configuration

Best Linux Distro for Gaming
Batocera.linux is a lightweight distro that turns your computer into a gaming machine, similar to Lakka. Batocera is arguably better than Lakka considering the number of emulators, and the active community behind Batocera. Although it’s worth trying both distros. It’s still being actively developed, with new emulators and software being added to the distro. Instead of going...
Source: linuxstans.com

Lakka Reviews

The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Lakka OS is a lightweight distribution that lets users convert old computers into retro game consoles. The operating system is based on LibreELEC and uses the RetroArch front-end. Once set up, Lakka OS works cross-platform and numerous old console games can be installed.
Source: www.ionos.com
13 Best Linux distros for gaming in 2022
All the emulators are compiled with the best optimizations possible and so Lakka OS runs the games more smoothly than the normal emulators. Most games will require very few hardware resource, except for the Playstation or Xbox games.
Best Linux Distro for Gaming
Lakka is a lightweight Linux retro gaming distro that turns your computer into a retro gaming console. It’s so lightweight, it can even run on a mini-PC like a Raspberry Pi. It’s still being actively developed and worked on. Lakka uses the RetroArch emulator, so you can play all types of games on this distro, including running emulated N64, PlayStation, PSP, NES, Sega,...
Source: linuxstans.com
9 Best Linux Gaming Distributions in 2021
All the emulators are compiled with the best optimizations possible and so Lakka OS runs the games more smoothly than the normal emulators. Most games will require very few hardware resource, except for the Playstation or Xbox games.
Source: itsfoss.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Batocera.linux should be more popular than Lakka. It has been mentiond 41 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Batocera.linux mentions (41)

  • Looking for input setting up emulation machine
    The OS you probably want is Batocera. I have a couple external SSDs that I use to run it on my VCSs, and they're great. It's definitely an easier setup than Windows with Launchbox, and you don't have to deal with licensing, forced updates, and all the other Windows garbage. Source: 10 months ago
  • So I had an Arcade1UP Partycade modded with 12,000 games. I have no clue how to use this. I can only play a few games. I hope someone knows how to use this?!?
    This subreddit is for the completely free and open-source distribution that you would find at https://batocera.org/ which comes with absolutely no copyrighted ROMs(games). You will only get support here for that and that alone. Unfortunately if you bought a preconfigured system ("unofficial image"), your issues are with the people who sold it to you. Nobody here can help you with anything outside the scope of the... Source: 10 months ago
  • MiSTer vs Super Nt for my needs?
    Alternatively, since you just built a nice PC, you can take the free options and just software emulate classic systems and run MAME. If you don't have time to set much up, look into a Batocera boot drive https://batocera.org/. Source: 11 months ago
  • Every fifth Linux gamer plays on Steam Deck!
    I don't think many people have done that, as u/tonymurray was explaining. But to be fair, there are a few other decent gaming-first distros. Someone might want to install ChimeraOS or Batocera, to give a few examples. Others might have bought the Deck to serve as a cheap home computer, and replaced the OS with one that doesn't have a gaming mode (say, Ubuntu, or Manjaro). I think those numbers would be extremely... Source: 12 months ago
  • Does anyone know what emulator he is using in here? I don’t see any download for retrostation deck?
    You can make your own https://batocera.org/. Source: 12 months ago
View more

Lakka mentions (5)

  • New RG351v owner, what should I do first?
    While it's not there, if you don't want to bother with emulationstation and would just like basic retroarch, there is also a build of Lakka (pure retroarch) available for the 351v. Source: 10 months ago
  • Best console for emulation? Looking for something simple
    I think there'll be another providers of such kits in the USA, but I don't know them. Perhaps also on EBay. The Magic words are "lakka.tv", "recalbox" and "retropie" for ready-to-go and easy to use raspi emulations boxes. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • MAME 0.242
    Maybe something like Lakka[1]? It supports many game consoles, but I believe MAME is part of it. [1]: https://lakka.tv/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Planning on making an arcade machine from a pi zero w 2 and a crt tv, any tips?
    Most peoples go to package is RetroPie, and don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad option…. But in my experience, http://lakka.tv is a bit cleaner, more lightweight, and has less compatibility issues / hurdles that you need to jump through for some features…. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Help making emulator stick !
    You mean a USB to boot on a PC? Check out Lakka or Batocera. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Batocera.linux and Lakka, you can also consider the following products

RetroArch - RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

LaunchBox - LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!

Playnite - Source code generated using layoutit.com

RetroBat - RETROBAT RetroBat is a software distribution designed for emulation and to be the easiest way to enjoy your game collection on your Windows computer.

EmulationStation - a graphical emulator front-end

Drauger OS - Drauger OS is an Ubuntu-based Linux desktop gaming distribution that ships with many modifications and optimizations over stock Ubuntu that are intended to improve gaming performance and the gaming experience.