Excellent collection of game console emulators and games connected to online libraries, leaderboards and achievements with a number of advanced features.
Specializing in older games and consoles, RetroArch can be used collect all the consoles from the last generations on your PC in an organized manner.
This free app acts as the Noah's Ark of console history: it brings together 18 emulators from NeoGeo to SNES and GBA to Sony's PS1 under one roof
Starting the game is thankfully easy: After you have loaded the desired ROM, you only have to select it in the integrated file manager and you can start playing.
RetroArch comes with a dazzling range of different options, making it particularly suitable for people who like to tweak everything to suit their own specific requirements for the perfect retro gaming experience.
Play all the old classic console ROMs
For reference, this gaming emulation system includes access to the following systems: PlayStation 1 (PCSX ReARMed), Super Nintendo (SNES9x Next), Nintendo Entertainment System (FCEUmm / NEStopia), GameBoy / GameBoy Color (Gambatte), GameBoy Advance (VBA Next), Arcade (Final Burn Alpha), Neo Geo Pocket Color (Mednafen NGP), Virtual Boy (Mednafen VB), Sega Genesis/Mega Drive (Genesis Plus GX), Sega Master System/Sega Game Gear (Genesis Plus GX), Sega CD / Mega CD (Genesis Plus GX), PC Engine / PC Engine CD (Mednafen PCE Fast), WonderSwan Color / Crystal (Mednafen Wonderswan).
The emulators do come standard in the Libretto folders or through their own installer integrated into the program. In any case, RetroArch does not come with any ROM files, so you'll have to obtain them yourself.
In closing
For nostalgics and everyone who wants to revive the gaming culture of bygone days, there is no way around RetroArch. After a short configuration, you can start playing countless games and classics.
Features of RetroArch
- Cheat support: Add cheats to games.
- Core options: Tweak game settings to your liking.
- Cores: Choose from multiple cores to play games.
- Multiple controller support: Connect multiple controllers to play.
- Music support: Stream music while you play.
- Netplay: Play online with friends or strangers.
- Online updater: Automatically download updates to RetroArch.
- Overlay support: Add a custom visual layer over your games.
- Play games from multiple consoles: Play games from Nintendo, Sony, Atari and more.
- Playlist support: Create playlists to organize your games.
- Recording: Record your gameplay for future viewing.
- Rewinding: Rewind time to correct mistakes.
- Save states: Save your progress at any time.
- Shaders: Enhance visuals of your favorite games with shaders.
Compatibility and License
RetroArch is a free application released under the GPLv3 license on Windows from console emulators. With software released under the open source GPLv3 license, anybody can download, install, run and distribute the software with little in terms of restrictions. The latest version we have is 1.19.1 and is available to download here.
libretro accepts donations for the continued development of this free software.
What version of Windows can RetroArch run on?
RetroArch can be used on a computer running Windows 11 or Windows 10. Previous versions of the OS shouldn't be a problem with Windows 8 and Windows 7 having been tested. It comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit downloads.
Other operating systems: The latest RetroArch version from 2024 is also available for Mac.
Filed under:
- RetroArch Download
- Free Console Emulators
- Open source and GPL software
- Frontend Emulation Software
