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RetroArch VS DOSBox Launcher

Compare RetroArch VS DOSBox Launcher and see what are their differences

RetroArch logo RetroArch

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

DOSBox Launcher logo DOSBox Launcher

DOSBox Launcher is a multi-platform GUI frontend for DOSBox.
  • RetroArch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-22
  • DOSBox Launcher Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-20

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 Launcher features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    DOSBox Launcher provides a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to configure and run DOS applications without manually editing configuration files.
  • Configuration Management
    It allows users to save different configurations for DOS applications, making it easy to switch between different setups.
  • Automation of Tasks
    Automates many of the tedious tasks involved in setting up DOS games and applications, which can save time and effort.
  • Enhanced Compatibility
    Provides presets and settings optimized for a variety of DOS games, improving compatibility and performance out of the box.
  • Regular Updates
    The website indicates that it is actively maintained, which means users can benefit from ongoing improvements and support.

Possible disadvantages of DOSBox Launcher

  • Limited Advanced Features
    May not offer the depth of customization and advanced features that experienced users might find in direct DOSBox configuration.
  • Dependency on DOSBox
    Since it's a frontend, it still relies on DOSBox for emulation, which means any limitations of DOSBox are also present in DOSBox Launcher.
  • Platform Dependency
    Only available for certain operating systems, limiting users on other platforms who may not be able to use the launcher without workarounds.
  • Learning Curve
    Some users might still face a learning curve when setting up their first DOS application, especially if they are not familiar with DOSBox concepts.

RetroArch videos

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

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DOSBox Launcher videos

No DOSBox Launcher videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RetroArch and DOSBox Launcher)
Gaming
94 94%
6% 6
Gaming Software
0 0%
100% 100
Emulators
100 100%
0% 0
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 RetroArch and DOSBox Launcher

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.
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...
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.
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?

DOSBox Launcher Reviews

We have no reviews of DOSBox Launcher yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RetroArch seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 20 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.

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
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DOSBox Launcher mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DOSBox Launcher yet. Tracking of DOSBox Launcher recommendations started around Mar 2022.

What are some alternatives?

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

OpenEmu - Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

DBGL - DBGL is a free, open source, multiple frontends for DOSBox.

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

Terminal Launch V - For those that want a clean, simple fast emu frontend.

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.

ROMNation - Rom download site