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RetroArch VS No$GBA

Compare RetroArch VS No$GBA and see what are their differences

Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

RetroArch logo RetroArch

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

No$GBA logo No$GBA

If you have no money you can play Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance game.
  • RetroArch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-22
  • No$GBA Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-01-25

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.

No$GBA features and specs

  • Compatibility
    No$GBA is known for its high compatibility with a wide range of Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS games, which allows users to play a vast library of titles without major issues.
  • Performance
    The emulator is lightweight and optimized for high performance, meaning it can run efficiently on older hardware without demanding too many system resources.
  • Debugging Tools
    No$GBA includes debugging features that are beneficial for developers and ROM hackers, providing in-depth insights into the functioning of game ROMs.
  • Low System Requirements
    The emulator has low system requirements, allowing it to function smoothly on a variety of systems, including those with limited processing power.
  • Frequent Updates
    No$GBA is regularly updated by its developer, ensuring ongoing improvements, bug fixes, and the addition of new features to enhance user experience.

Possible disadvantages of No$GBA

  • User Interface
    The user interface can be quite rudimentary and less intuitive compared to other modern emulators, potentially making it challenging for new users to navigate.
  • Sound Emulation
    There are reports of sound emulation issues that may detract from the overall experience, as audio output is sometimes less accurate compared to the original hardware.
  • Limited Features
    No$GBA lacks some advanced features found in other emulators, such as built-in cheat support and enhanced graphic options, which may limit customization and control for users.
  • DS Emulation Limitations
    While it supports Nintendo DS games, the emulation is not perfect and some games may experience graphical glitches or crashes, reducing playability.
  • Commercial Licensing for Debug Version
    The debugging version of No$GBA requires a commercial license for full access, which may be a drawback for those looking for free software solutions.

Analysis of RetroArch

Overall verdict

  • Yes, RetroArch is generally considered a good platform for emulating and playing retro games.

Why this product is good

  • RetroArch is a powerful, open-source front-end for emulators, game engines, and media players. It offers a unified interface and a wide range of features such as real-time rewind, run-ahead input latency reduction, and dynamic rate control to reduce audio stuttering. It also supports advanced configurations and has a vibrant community that contributes to its continuous development and wide-ranging emulator core support.

Recommended for

  • Gamers who enjoy retro and classic video games
  • Users looking for an all-in-one emulator solution
  • Customization enthusiasts who want extensive configuration options
  • Individuals interested in multi-platform support, as RetroArch runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and more

RetroArch videos

+ Add

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

More videos:

No$GBA videos

+ Add

How to Play DS Games on Your PC (2018) - No$GBA

More videos:

  • Review - NDS TV OUT vs No$GBA emulator (comparative)
  • Review - No$GBA Mic Workarounds...

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RetroArch and No$GBA)

RetroArch

No$GBA

Gaming
93 93%
Gaming
7% 7
Emulators
92 92%
Emulators
8% 8
Gaming Tools
88 88%
Gaming Tools
12% 12
Media Player
96 96%
Media Player
4% 4

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 No$GBA

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.
Source: www.partitionwizard.com
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...
Source: www.xda-developers.com
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.
Source: www.techblitz.org
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?
Source: www.geckoandfly.com

No$GBA Reviews

We have no reviews of No$GBA yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RetroArch should be more popular than No$GBA. 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: over 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: over 2 years ago
  • Malicious download links?
    Yes, only the retroarch.com and libretro.com websites were affected. Source: over 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: over 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: over 2 years ago
View more

No$GBA mentions (4)

  • Is no$gba safe?
    It is, but it's not really the most accurate emulator so you may encounter graphical glitches and/or sound cracking, because the emulator is made to run on old computers and focuses on speed. I suggest you look for a alternative if you have a modern computer, you'll find others here, but No$GBA is fine if you really want or need it. The official website is here (use this link if the official site is out, it's a... Source: over 2 years ago
  • What would the best emulator be for emulating Nintendo DS games?
    If you don't want to hunt for DS firmware, No$GBA is another great emulator that has existed ever since Nintendo DS was released. Make sure you download if from problemkaputt.de as the top result isn't its official site. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Reliving perhaps one of the best bits of my childhood. Epic
    On android DraStic is the best one, on PC No$GBA seems to be the most updated one with DSi enhancements support. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • [DSi] Unlaunch and Wifiboot
    Using no$gba works slightly better than dslink with wifiboot, but wifiboot just doesn't really work with homebrew made with devkitARM. Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing RetroArch and No$GBA, you can also consider the following products

OpenEmu - Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

VisualBoyAdvance - VisualBoyAdvance (VBA) is a free software (GNU GPL) emulator targeted for the Game Boy, Super Game...

RetroX - RetroX is an Android application that will help you organize and play your own Retro Games with the...

mGBA - mGBA is an open source emulator of the Game Boy Advance. The goals are speed and accuracy.

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

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.

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