Software Alternatives & Reviews

EmulationStation VS Batocera.linux

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

EmulationStation logo EmulationStation

a graphical emulator front-end

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.
  • EmulationStation Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-20
  • Batocera.linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-27

EmulationStation

Categories
  • Gaming
  • Gaming Tools
  • Emulators
  • Online Games
Website emulationstation.org
Details $-

Batocera.linux

Categories
  • Gaming
  • Gaming Tools
  • Gaming Distribution
  • Emulators
  • Retro Games
Website batocera.org
Details $

EmulationStation videos

Playing Classic Games with EmulationStation & RetroArch

Batocera.linux videos

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to EmulationStation and Batocera.linux)
Gaming
31 31%
69% 69
Emulators
34 34%
66% 66
Gaming Tools
34 34%
66% 66
Online Games
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

EmulationStation Reviews

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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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Batocera.linux should be more popular than EmulationStation. 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.

EmulationStation mentions (13)

  • Anyone using a launcher?
    In my opinion the ideal situation would be a backend that any developer could build a frontend to that would suit their approach. For example there are many Retroarch frontends like Highscore, EmulationStation, etc. These all suit the needs for what some person may want. Source: about 1 year ago
  • SteamDeck Windows 11 Guide - Installed Win 11 on the SteamDeck and don't know what to do next? This is for you.
    Replacement for the epic EmuDeck. It utilises EmulationStation. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is there a user interface that will load all roms from NES up through GameCube?
    I use EmulationStation on a lot of devices. It would cover what you're looking for. Other frontends I like are RetroArch and Daijisho. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Gifting an old pc to my handicapped grandson.
    If you want to piece meal and customize it RetroArch and Emulation Station is the way to go. Also have a robust wiki. Source: over 1 year ago
  • First ever “setup” im very poor
    Helpful link https://emulationstation.org/. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

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
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing EmulationStation and Batocera.linux, 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.

Lakka - Lakka is the official Linux distribution of RetroArch and the libretro ecosystem.

HyperSpin - HyperSpin is an animated arcade frontend for Windows for use on Home Arcade Machines.