Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

RetroArch VS DBGL

Compare RetroArch VS DBGL and see what are their differences

RetroArch logo RetroArch

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

DBGL logo DBGL

DBGL is a free, open source, multiple frontends for DOSBox.
  • RetroArch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-22
  • DBGL 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.

DBGL features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    DBGL is designed to be cross-platform, allowing users to run it on various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. This ensures accessibility to a wide range of users and enables easy migration between systems.
  • Graphical User Interface
    The graphical user interface of DBGL simplifies the management of DOSBox configurations and game profiles, making it user-friendly and suitable for users who are not comfortable with command-line interfaces.
  • Game Profile Management
    DBGL provides an efficient way to manage game profiles, allowing users to customize settings for each game individually. This feature helps in organizing and optimizing game settings for the best possible experience.
  • Community Support
    Being an open-source project, DBGL benefits from community contributions and support, providing users access to a wealth of shared profiles, scripts, and configurations.

Possible disadvantages of DBGL

  • Dependency on DOSBox
    DBGL relies on DOSBox for emulation, meaning any limitations or bugs within DOSBox can directly affect DBGL's performance and functionality, potentially limiting its capabilities.
  • Learning Curve
    While DBGL offers a graphical interface, new users may still face a learning curve in understanding how to effectively use and manage DOSBox settings and configurations.
  • Limited Out-of-the-Box Experience
    Users might find the initial setup cumbersome, as DBGL relies on manual installation and configuration of DOSBox and games, which can be time-consuming and technical for beginners.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    As with any emulation software, users might encounter compatibility issues with newer hardware or operating systems, which might not be immediately resolved due to the reliance on community support.

RetroArch videos

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

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DBGL videos

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

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RetroArch and DBGL)
Gaming
93 93%
7% 7
Emulators
96 96%
4% 4
Gaming Software
0 0%
100% 100
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 DBGL

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?

DBGL Reviews

We have no reviews of DBGL yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RetroArch should be more popular than DBGL. 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
View more

DBGL mentions (2)

  • DOSBox shortcut launcher?
    I recommend https://dbgl.org/ instead. It lets you graphically choose what to run from the host OS before running DOSBox. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Configuring DBLG to use different builds and forks of DosBox
    Due to Boxer (MacOS) no longer being in development, I've been on the lookout for a new front-end for DOSBox, especially after finding out about Win9x support in DOSBox-X. In my search I came across DBGL (https://dbgl.org/). Sadly I'm not sure how to configure it to use DOSBox-X instead of the bundled version DosBox. Would anyone here know how to do it? I haven't found any videos or tutorials for configuring DBLG... Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

OpenEmu - Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

RetriX - RetriX is an emulator front end for UWP, on all the hardware platforms it supports: it serves the...

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

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

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.

DOSBox Launcher - DOSBox Launcher is a multi-platform GUI frontend for DOSBox.