Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LaunchBox VS NESBox

Compare LaunchBox VS NESBox 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!

NESBox logo NESBox

Nesbox Emulator is a multiplatform emulator of video consoles.
  • LaunchBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • NESBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-05

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.

NESBox features and specs

  • Accessibility
    NESBox is browser-based, enabling users to play classic NES games without needing to install any software. It's readily available on any device with an internet connection.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The platform features a straightforward interface that makes it easy for anyone to load and play their favorite classic games without a steep learning curve.
  • Wide Game Compatibility
    NESBox supports a wide range of NES games, allowing users to enjoy numerous titles from the retro gaming era directly within their browser.
  • Cross-platform Support
    Since it's web-based, NESBox can be accessed from multiple operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, thus providing a consistent gaming experience across various devices.

Possible disadvantages of NESBox

  • Dependence on Internet
    As a cloud-based emulator, NESBox requires a stable internet connection to function, which may be a disadvantage for users with unreliable or limited access.
  • Legal Concerns
    There may be legal implications related to emulating and playing ROMs of games that users do not legally own, which is an important consideration when using such platforms.
  • Performance Issues
    Depending on the internet speed and device performance, users may experience lag or slower gameplay compared to native emulators that run directly on a user’s hardware.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    NESBox might lack some advanced features found in standalone emulators, such as extensive customization options and support for third-party controllers.

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

NESBox videos

How to Play NES ROM Games on your Xbox One | NESBOX

More videos:

  • Review - Nesbox a NES/SNES/MD Emulator for Windows 8.x/10 Review
  • Review - NESBox?!?! | Tips and Tricks | Xbox One

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LaunchBox and NESBox)
Gaming
83 83%
17% 17
Emulators
82 82%
18% 18
Gaming Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Media Player
0 0%
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 LaunchBox and NESBox

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

NESBox Reviews

SNES ▷ 7 Best Emulators For PC FREE
We want to give space to NESbox as the last alternative in this compilation, and the fact that it's the last doesn't imply that it's worse or better than the rest of the options on this list, but rather that it's a " special option ". which could be very useful if you don't want to download anything to play your favorite SNES video games. And yes, as you imagine, NESbox is...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, NESBox seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 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.

NESBox mentions (2)

  • Orig Mario Bros?
    Use one drive to download the roms you want. Use the edge browser on the Xbox and go to https://nesbox.com/ . You can Google it to get the details but it works. Source: about 3 years ago
  • The Forgotten Superlist
    SNES Box or NES Box, two great emulators to play games from Super Nintendo and Classic Nintendo respectively online. (/u/shifty1032231). Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing LaunchBox and NESBox, you can also consider the following products

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

Mesen - Mesen is a NES/Famicom emulator and NSF player.

Playnite - Source code generated using layoutit.com

Nestopia - A portable and cycle-accurate NES emulator written in C++

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.

puNES - PuNES is a high accuracy NES emulator.