Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LaunchBox VS DOSBox-X

Compare LaunchBox VS DOSBox-X and see what are their differences

LaunchBox logo LaunchBox

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

DOSBox-X logo DOSBox-X

DOSBox-X: Free, cross-platform and complete DOS, Windows 3.x and 9x emulation package
  • LaunchBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • DOSBox-X Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-07

LaunchBox features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    LaunchBox offers an intuitive and sleek interface that makes it easy for users to organize and access their game library, even if they are not tech-savvy.
  • Wide Emulator Support
    It supports a wide range of emulators, allowing users to play games from multiple platforms within a single application.
  • Customizability
    LaunchBox provides various options for customizing the look and feel of your game library, including custom themes and artwork.
  • Big Box Mode
    Big Box is a premium feature that offers a full-screen, TV-friendly interface ideal for home theater setups or those using a game console setup.
  • Regular Updates
    The software is regularly updated with new features, improvements, and bug fixes, ensuring that users have a continuously improving experience.
  • Community Support
    LaunchBox has a strong community of users who contribute to forums, share custom themes, and create guides, making it easier for newcomers to get started.

Possible disadvantages of LaunchBox

  • Cost
    While LaunchBox offers a free version, many advanced features such as Big Box mode require a paid license, which might be a drawback for some users.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be resource-heavy, particularly when dealing with large game libraries, potentially affecting the performance of older or less powerful systems.
  • Setup Complexity
    Initial setup can be time-consuming and somewhat complicated, particularly for users new to emulation or those with extensive game collections.
  • Dependency on Emulators
    The quality of the gaming experience often depends on the performance and compatibility of third-party emulators, over which LaunchBox has no control.
  • Limited Native Features
    Some features, like automatic game configuration, are not natively built into LaunchBox and require additional plugins or manual setup.

DOSBox-X features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    DOSBox-X is available for multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, ensuring broad accessibility across different operating systems.
  • Enhanced DOS Emulation
    Offers improved emulation of MS-DOS systems, supporting a wider range of DOS applications and games compared to its predecessor.
  • Advanced Configuration Options
    Provides extensive configuration settings which allow users to customize and optimize the emulation environment according to specific needs.
  • Active Development
    The project is actively maintained and updated, incorporating community feedback and releasing new features and bug fixes regularly.
  • Comprehensive Debugging Tools
    Includes robust debugging tools useful for developers looking to analyze the behavior of DOS programs and games.

Possible disadvantages of DOSBox-X

  • Complexity
    The extensive configuration options may be overwhelming for beginners who may prefer a simpler, more straightforward emulation solution.
  • Performance Overhead
    Compared to simpler DOSBox variants, the additional features and capabilities can introduce performance overhead, particularly on lower-end systems.
  • Advanced Knowledge Requirement
    To fully utilize its capabilities, users may need a good understanding of DOS systems and emulation settings.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    As with any emulation software, certain configurations or applications may lead to occasional crashes or unpredictable behavior.
  • Limited Official Documentation
    While it has an active community, some official documentation may not be as comprehensive, requiring users to search for external resources or community support.

Analysis of LaunchBox

Overall verdict

  • LaunchBox is generally considered an excellent choice for those seeking an all-in-one game launcher and organizer, especially for retro and emulated games. Its robust features and active community make it a reliable option for gaming enthusiasts.

Why this product is good

  • LaunchBox is highly regarded for its ability to manage and organize digital game collections efficiently. It supports a vast array of emulators and gaming platforms, making it easy for users to centralize their games into one accessible hub. The application features a user-friendly interface and offers customization options, with a strong community backing that contributes to continuous updates and improvements.

Recommended for

    LaunchBox is recommended for gamers who want to organize both contemporary and retro games across multiple platforms. It's particularly beneficial for users who appreciate customization and community support, as well as those who want a seamless experience managing large game libraries.

LaunchBox videos

The Best Emulation Frontend For Windows? - LaunchBox / Big Box

More videos:

  • Review - LaunchBox - Review and Setup Guide!
  • Review - LaunchBox Review and Setup

DOSBox-X videos

DOSBox 0.74-3 vs. DOSBox-X 0.82.20 - ADG Filler #78

More videos:

  • Review - How-to: Install DOSBox-X Running Windows 3.11, Netscape, CalmiraXP, and More!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LaunchBox and DOSBox-X)
Gaming
80 80%
20% 20
Games
46 46%
54% 54
Emulators
76 76%
24% 24
Gaming Tools
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 LaunchBox and DOSBox-X

LaunchBox Reviews

Best Free Game Launcher for Windows PC
The initially DOSBox emulator front end, LaunchBox, has integrated more features to its stacks. It allows you to play previously downloaded games. LaunchBox is pretty flexible, you can set the settings as well as customize it as per your likes.
5 best game launcher software for Windows PC
The software is partnered with EmuMovies so that you can quickly add associated box art, fan art, logos, screenshots and videos to your game database. LaunchBox will also find all associated metadata of title, genre, release, platform, etc.
The Three best Windows game launcher software to organize your game library
This software is compatible with Windows platforms from Vista on, and the publisher hints there might also be future Mac and Linux versions. LaunchBox has a freeware and Premium version with extra customization options and a Big Box Mode. The Premium version of the software is currently retailing at $20. LaunchBox is comparable to Photon Game Manager as it enables users to...
Source: zobuz.com
Top 6 best launcher games to launch and organize PC games
Depending on the launcher, LaunchBox may not find your game. Therefore you need to add it manually. However, if you are looking for a launcher that can handle Pitfall as well as the latest Tom Clancy game, Launchbox is worth considering.
Source: tipsmake.com

DOSBox-X Reviews

We have no reviews of DOSBox-X yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DOSBox-X seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 59 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.

LaunchBox mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of LaunchBox yet. Tracking of LaunchBox recommendations started around Mar 2021.

DOSBox-X mentions (59)

  • 101 Basic Computer Games
    If you are craving a BASIC fix, I highly recommend getting a DOS emulator like DosBos-X and just installing a copy of Quickbasic 4.5 (which has a compiler among other niceties over the original Microsoft QBASIC). You can easily find it on the Internet Archive. There are modern variants like QB64, but personally I find that BASIC really loses a lot of its appeal/flavor when you move from an interpretative language... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • doesn't exist error?
    If you want to use DOS productivity software or DOS database programs, go with https://dosbox-x.com/ or https://www.vdos.info/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • The Ur-Quan Masters: The Open Source Remake of Star Control II
    He probably meant this fork https://dosbox-x.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Best portable way to use MS-DOS/Windows 98?
    Have you tried DOSBox-X yet? It officially runs Windows 98 and can be mostly configured through a UI. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How/Where to get DosBox
    Https://dosbox-x.com/ if you want a version where modern controllers work properly. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing LaunchBox and DOSBox-X, you can also consider the following products

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

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

Playnite - Source code generated using layoutit.com

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

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.

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