Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Recalbox VS EmulationStation

Compare Recalbox VS EmulationStation and see what are their differences

Recalbox logo Recalbox

Retrogaming open source operating system for Raspberry Pi, Odroid and PC.

EmulationStation logo EmulationStation

a graphical emulator front-end
  • Recalbox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-16
  • EmulationStation Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-20

Recalbox features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Recalbox offers a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it suitable for beginners and experienced users alike. Its straightforward setup process allows users to start playing their favorite retro games quickly.
  • Wide Range of Supported Systems
    Recalbox supports multiple retro gaming systems, including NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and more. This versatility allows users to play a variety of classic games from different consoles on a single platform.
  • Open Source and Free
    Recalbox is an open-source project and is available for free, making it accessible to a wide range of users who want to relive retro gaming experiences without any cost barrier.
  • Multiplayer Support
    The platform supports multiplayer gaming, allowing users to connect multiple controllers and enjoy playing games with friends and family, enhancing the social experience of retro gaming.
  • Regular Updates
    Recalbox is actively maintained with regular updates, ensuring improved functionality, added features, and increased compatibility with gaming systems over time.

Possible disadvantages of Recalbox

  • Limited Emulation Accuracy
    While Recalbox supports a wide range of systems, the emulation accuracy for some consoles may not be perfect, potentially leading to issues with certain games not running as intended.
  • Hardware Limitations
    Performance on Recalbox can vary depending on the hardware used. Users with lower-end systems may experience slowdowns or compatibility issues, especially with more demanding games.
  • Potential Legal Issues
    While Recalbox itself is legal, acquiring game ROMs can be a legal gray area, and users need to ensure they have the legal right to download and play any games on their system.
  • Limited Advanced Gaming Features
    Recalbox does not support certain advanced gaming features found in newer emulators, such as save states or rewind functionality, which may limit the gaming experience for some users.
  • Community Support Reliance
    As an open-source platform, Recalbox relies heavily on community support for development and troubleshooting. This can lead to slower resolution of issues compared to commercial software products.

EmulationStation features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    EmulationStation provides a clean and intuitive user interface, making it easy for users to navigate and manage their game libraries across various platforms.
  • Platform Agnostic
    EmulationStation is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing users to run it on their preferred systems.
  • Highly Customizable
    Users can customize themes, add metadata, and organize their game libraries in a way that suits their preferences and enhances the overall experience.
  • Community Support
    The open-source nature of EmulationStation ensures a strong community presence, providing support, themes, and plug-ins to enhance functionality.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    EmulationStation supports multiple consoles and emulators, making it a flexible choice for retro game enthusiasts who play games from various systems.

Possible disadvantages of EmulationStation

  • Requires Technical Setup
    Initial setup and configuration may be challenging for users with limited technical knowledge, as it involves setting up scripts and managing emulator paths.
  • Limited Native Features
    EmulationStation itself does not include emulators or ROMs, so users must find and configure these separately, which can be a complex process.
  • Dependent on External Emulators
    It relies on third-party emulators for actual gameplay, meaning any issues or limitations with these emulators can affect the overall experience.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Users may encounter bugs or crashes, especially when using unofficial builds or integrating multiple emulators and scripts.
  • Lack of Built-in Networking
    EmulationStation does not natively support online multiplayer or networking features, limiting the ability to play games with remote friends.

Recalbox videos

Recalbox 6.0 DragonBlaze Has Been Released - Quick Overview

More videos:

  • Review - Recalbox 6.0 DragonBlaze 32gb Raspberry Pi Build! 7,000+ Games Overview!
  • Review - All New Recalbox Quick Look New Ui New Theme New Settings

EmulationStation videos

Playing Classic Games with EmulationStation & RetroArch

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Recalbox and EmulationStation)
Gaming
31 31%
69% 69
Emulators
34 34%
66% 66
Gaming Tools
38 38%
62% 62
Online Games
32 32%
68% 68

User comments

Share your experience with using Recalbox and EmulationStation. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, EmulationStation seems to be a lot more popular than Recalbox. While we know about 13 links to EmulationStation, we've tracked only 1 mention of Recalbox. 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.

Recalbox mentions (1)

  • What kind of Apps do you want to see on Telos?
    Bonus points if you make this compatible with emulators... recalbox.com and other distros focused on emulators would probably love a way to keep a global score of the best players across all games ever made. Source: over 3 years ago

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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years ago
  • First ever “setup” im very poor
    Helpful link https://emulationstation.org/. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Recalbox and EmulationStation, you can also consider the following products

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.

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

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

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.

Playnite - Source code generated using layoutit.com

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