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DOSBox VS RetroArch

Compare DOSBox VS RetroArch and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

DOSBox logo DOSBox

DOSBox is a DOS-emulator that uses the SDL-library.

RetroArch logo RetroArch

RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.
  • DOSBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27
  • RetroArch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-22

DOSBox features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    DOSBox is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users regardless of their operating system.
  • Accurate DOS Emulation
    DOSBox provides highly accurate emulation of the original DOS system, allowing older games and applications to run smoothly as they did on legacy hardware.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, DOSBox is freely available and can be modified by anyone with programming knowledge, fostering community contributions and improvements.
  • Active Community and Support
    DOSBox boasts an active user community and comprehensive documentation, which provides extensive support, troubleshooting tips, and user-generated content.
  • Customization and Configuration
    Users can customize and configure DOSBox through its configuration file to optimize performance and compatibility for specific games and applications.

Possible disadvantages of DOSBox

  • Steep Learning Curve for Beginners
    New users might find DOSBox's command-line interface intimidating and may need time to familiarize themselves with its commands and setup procedures.
  • Limited Hardware Emulation
    While DOSBox emulates essential hardware, it may not support all legacy hardware configurations, potentially leading to compatibility issues with some older titles.
  • Performance Limitations
    Although suitable for many older games, DOSBox might struggle with more demanding applications from the late DOS era due to its emulation overhead.
  • Manual Configuration Required
    Some games and applications may require manual configuration adjustments for optimal performance, which can be time-consuming and challenging for less tech-savvy users.
  • Not Ideal for Non-Gaming Applications
    DOSBox is primarily geared towards gaming emulation, and it might not be the best solution for users looking to run non-gaming DOS applications.

RetroArch features and specs

  • Versatility
    RetroArch supports a wide range of gaming platforms and can emulate many different system cores, making it highly versatile for users who want to play games from various consoles.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    RetroArch is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, enabling users to have a consistent experience across different devices.
  • High Customizability
    Users can customize keybindings, video, and audio settings extensively. There are numerous shaders and overlays that can be applied to enhance the gaming experience.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Features like save states, netplay, rewind, and achievements add a modern twist to retro gaming and are robustly implemented in RetroArch.
  • Active Development Community
    An active development community continually updates RetroArch with new features, bug fixes, and emulation cores, ensuring ongoing improvements and support.

Possible disadvantages of RetroArch

  • Complex Setup
    The setup process for RetroArch can be complex, especially for newcomers. Configuring cores, bios files, and controller setups might require a steep learning curve.
  • Performance Issues
    Some cores may not run smoothly or may have compatibility issues depending on the user's hardware or the specific game being emulated.
  • User Interface
    The user interface, while powerful and feature-rich, can be daunting and unintuitive for those not familiar with emulation software.
  • Legal Concerns
    Users must be cautious about the legality of ROMs and BIOS files, as downloading them without owning the original game or system is illegal in many jurisdictions.
  • Resource Intensive
    RetroArch can be resource-intensive, potentially causing lag or crashes on older or less powerful hardware, especially when using advanced features like shaders.

DOSBox videos

+ Add

Why Do You Need DOSBox?

More videos:

  • Tutorial - DOSBox Tutorial - Installing Games With DOSBox
  • Review - DOSBox review - Can DOSBox actually replace real DOS?

RetroArch videos

+ Add

RetroArch - Getting Started! Your Ultimate Retro Gaming PC! [Setup and Demonstration]

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DOSBox and RetroArch)

DOSBox

RetroArch

Emulators
14 14%
Emulators
86% 86
Gaming
10 10%
Gaming
90% 90
Games
100 100%
Games
0% 0
Gaming Tools
0 0%
Gaming Tools
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare DOSBox and RetroArch

DOSBox Reviews

7 Best Mac Emulators For Gamers In 2022
For those hoping to go back to that magical time, or even for those who were not lucky enough to live it in the moment: DOSBox has got you covered.
Source: retrododo.com
12 Best Gaming Console Emulators for Mac in 2022
Honestly, people still play these games made for MS-DOS hence the need for DosBox. If you miss those games and still want to use your dos commands, this emulator is for you. Download
Source: thebingeful.com
10 Emulators To Turn Your Computer Into A Retro Console
DOSBox specializes in emulating an environment where MS-DOS programs can run as intended. So if you have some old DOS games lying around that won’t run on your modern PC, give it a try on DOSBox. It should emulate the game accurately and at native speed.
Source: www.hongkiat.com

RetroArch Reviews

Best DS Emulator: Are These Emulators Safe And Legal To Use?
RetroArch also supports a wide range of controller types, making it a great choice for gamers who want to use their favorite controller.
Source: appletoo.us
5 Best Nintendo DS Emulators for PC
It has highlights like RetroArch are shaders, netplay, rewinding, next-frame response times, run ahead, machine translation, blind accessibility features, and much more.
Source: www.partitionwizard.com
Best emulators for Android in 2023
RetroArch is a popular open-source front-end for emulators. If you’re into playing retro games, RetroArch is your one-stop shop for all your emulating needs. It's not an emulator by itself but instead allows you to add "cores" that act as the backend to emulate several legacy consoles. While most of its most popular emulators are already covered here by dedicated apps, it...
Source: www.xda-developers.com
5 of the Best GameBoy Advance (GBA) Emulators for Android
RetroArch is a poster child worldwide of emulation, specifically due to the fact that it’s not precisely an emulator. The retroArch is best refer to as a solitary, unified application where you can communicate with other emulators.
Source: www.techblitz.org
4 Free Open Source Game Emulators For Windows PC, Linux, and macOS
In addition to this, you are able to run original game discs (CDs) from RetroArch. RetroArch has advanced features like shaders, netplay, rewinding, next-frame response times, runahead, machine translation, blind accessibility features, and more! What systems does it play?
Source: www.geckoandfly.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RetroArch seems to be a lot more popular than DOSBox. While we know about 20 links to RetroArch, we've tracked only 1 mention of DOSBox. 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.

DOSBox mentions (1)

  • Emulation retro game console that lets me add my own games
    Any xbox using dosbox.com. Plays right from the browser, uses your google drive to pull the roms from. I adore that site. Source: almost 2 years ago

RetroArch mentions (20)

  • RetroArch cannot be found on the PlayStore, the first result is a copycat. It is just me?
    No, isn't just you. Every 64-bit phone haves the Play Store Retroarch available, the 32-bits no. But you can still download the 32-bit version on the Retroarch website. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Cause of the intrusion has been found and isolated. Sites are operational again.
    It was only the download links on retroarch.com on the Platforms page that got (briefly) redirected for a few hours. That should all be safe now. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Malicious download links?
    Yes, only the retroarch.com and libretro.com websites were affected. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Recent update from supposed hackers
    I went to retroarch.com and it said "discord.gg/evaderz is big haxors" its unrespectable. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Latest RetroArch on Xiaomi Mi box
    I've got installed RetroArch Plus from Google Play on my Xiaomi Mi box 4k and I want to update it to the latest version. I downloaded apk from retroarch.com but when I use apk installer to update it say is not compatible. I removed version from Google Play but fresh install 1.15.0 is not compatible too. I tried 32 and 64 version. What I'm doing wrong? Is any other AndroidTV version? Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DOSBox and RetroArch, you can also consider the following products

vDosPlus - vDosPlus (formerly vDos-lfn) is a free general-purpose non-gaming DOS emulator running on Windows...

OpenEmu - Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

DOSEMU - DOSEMU stands for DOS Emulation, and allows you to run DOS and many DOS programs, including many...

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

vDos - vDos lets you conveniently run DOS applications by emulating a (spiced up) DOS PC in a window.

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.

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