Best Retrogaming experience

by feclar

TLDR: RetroX cleanest, simplest, least hassle and JUST WORKS for retro gaming.

Backstory...

So after playing most of the games with my 8yr old that are avaliable on GeoForce now and android store I started digging into retro games as I think it is a library with a ton to offer

I went and setup all these things....

  • RetroArch
  • HyperSpin
  • Arc Browser
  • Gamesome
  • Nostalgia

However the user-experience (UX) of all the setups just sucks, especially for a kid. The frontends do help but all the controller configs and choosing correct core/emulator and using different apps just overall is not a clean experience.

Then I found RetroX (saw it mentioned here before as RetroBoxTV).

This thing is awesome, very clean and everything I have done with it just works with no hassle.

Unfortunately it is not on the play store =(

You have to sideload it, after you sideload it, it shows up in games section. Then you just copy your ROMS to a USB or over the network and within the App you point at the ROMS. All done, easy.

flipside1o1

if you use KODI retroarch and iarl (internet archive rom launcher) is the sweet spot for me. ok so yes there is a little setup you need to do to retroarch but the emu side is handled pretty well by the iarl setup wizard. the big bonus for me is that we dont need to source ROMs etc .

when KODI 18 hits the inbuilt emu (retroplayer) will make it even easier

SirBoozy

yeah RetroX doesn't look too bad. I use Arc Browser, it is in the playstore for a price, however you can sideload for free. There is quite a few of these type of apps out there so really its just about personal preference and if the app is easy or not to work with.

alx1880

What controller are you using? Is it possible to connect two controllers at the same time?

Xscorpio13

can you run RetroX using bluestacks on a PC/Laptop?

JoshFink

Thanks for this. I'm looking for some time this weekend to install this and check it out.

Essentially you nailed it on the head for me. Everything else pretty much sucks for a kid. I want something that is kid friendly so they can enjoy all the greatness without the need for me to jump over and help them out.

steviebwoy

Man, they really need to port Retropie!

avalanche82

Yeah I'm digging RetroX. Clean, interface is smooth and easy to use and it looks good on different screens. I tried Gamesome and it's good in its simplicity and runs well but the interface looks very bare bones and unfinished. Arcbrowser looks ok but I found the menus sluggish when cycling through games and I didn't like the menu layout.

I have no idea why RetroX isn't on the Play store but if it does I reckon it'll be the top front end.