Arcade Frontends
The operating systems of your arcade cabinet. Every frontend covered — from plug-and-play solutions to fully custom builds. Setup guides, tutorial videos, and real-world edge cases.
What is an Arcade Frontend?
A frontend is the software that ties your entire arcade cabinet together. It's the interface you see when you turn on the machine — the menu system that lets you browse games, launch emulators, and navigate your library with a joystick and buttons. Think of it as the "operating system" of your cabinet. The emulators run the games, but the frontend is what makes it feel like a real arcade machine.
Showing 12 of 12 frontends
LaunchBox / Big Box
The Gold Standard
Windows
The most popular and feature-rich frontend for high-end Windows arcade cabinet builds. LaunchBox handles ROM management, metadata scraping, and organization, while Big Box provides the full-screen, controller-friendly arcade experience. The industry benchmark for premium cabinet builds.
Best For
High-end Windows cabinet builds where presentation and organization matter most
CoinOPS
The Plug-and-Play King
Windows
The ultimate plug-and-play frontend for builders who want instant results. CoinOPS comes pre-configured with thousands of games, artwork, and emulator settings — just copy to a drive and play. The fastest path from zero to a working arcade cabinet.
Best For
Builders who want a working cabinet immediately without manual configuration
Batocera
The Dedicated OS
Linux (Standalone OS)
A complete, dedicated Linux-based operating system built specifically for retro gaming. Batocera boots directly into the frontend — no Windows overhead, no desktop, just games. Delivers the lowest latency and most stable performance for dedicated arcade cabinets.
Best For
Dedicated arcade cabinets where stability and low latency are the top priority
RetroBat
The #1 Trending Frontend
Windows
The fastest-growing frontend in the arcade community. RetroBat brings the EmulationStation experience to Windows without replacing your OS. Automatic emulator installation, controller configuration, and a polished UI — the best of both worlds between Batocera and LaunchBox.
Best For
Windows users who want the EmulationStation experience without leaving Windows
ES-DE
The Modern Minimalist
Windows / macOS / Linux
EmulationStation Desktop Edition — the modern, clean, cross-platform evolution of EmulationStation. ES-DE focuses on simplicity, speed, and a polished user experience. Supports 90+ systems out of the box with automatic emulator detection and a curated theme gallery.
Best For
Builders who want a clean, modern, no-bloat frontend that works everywhere
HyperSpin
The Legacy Legend
Windows
The original high-end arcade frontend that defined what a premium cabinet UI could look like. HyperSpin's spinning wheel navigation, animated themes, and video previews set the standard for visual showpieces. Complex to configure but unmatched in visual impact when done right.
Best For
Builders creating visual showpiece cabinets where presentation is everything
RetroFE
The Skinner's Dream
Windows / Linux
The most customizable frontend for builders who want complete control over every pixel. RetroFE's XML-based layout system lets you create entirely unique interfaces — no two RetroFE cabinets look alike. The choice for builders who treat their cabinet UI as art.
Best For
Advanced builders who want to design a completely unique cabinet interface
Attract Mode
The Low-Spec Hero
Windows / macOS / Linux
The go-to frontend for budget builds and Raspberry Pi cabinets. Attract Mode's Squirrel scripting engine and minimal resource requirements make it perfect for low-powered hardware. Features a built-in attract/screensaver mode that mimics real arcade cabinet behavior.
Best For
Budget builds, Raspberry Pi cabinets, and builders who want authentic attract mode behavior
Pegasus
The Next-Gen Frontend
Windows / Linux / Android
A high-performance, QML-based frontend built for the next generation of arcade cabinets. Pegasus uses Qt's QML engine for buttery-smooth 60fps animations and GPU-accelerated rendering. The most technically advanced frontend for builders who want cutting-edge performance.
Best For
Tech-forward builders who want the smoothest, most modern frontend experience
Playnite
The PC-First Bridge
Windows
The frontend that bridges retro emulation and modern PC gaming. Playnite unifies Steam, GOG, Epic, emulators, and standalone games into one library. Perfect for hybrid cabinets that run both classic arcade games and modern AAA titles.
Best For
Hybrid cabinets that combine retro emulation with modern PC gaming (Steam, etc.)
EmuELEC
The SBC Specialist
Amlogic / Android TV Boxes
The dedicated emulation OS for cheap Amlogic-based Android TV boxes and single-board computers. EmuELEC turns a $30 TV box into a capable retro gaming station. The most cost-effective path to a working arcade cabinet for extreme budget builds.
Best For
Extreme budget builds using cheap Android TV boxes or Amlogic SBCs
Neon
The OLED Visionary
Windows
A next-generation frontend designed for modern 4K and 8K displays with OLED-optimized visuals. Neon's minimalist, high-contrast UI with vibrant color accents is built for the future of arcade cabinets. The choice for builders using premium display hardware.
Best For
Premium builds with 4K/8K OLED displays where modern aesthetics matter
Understanding the Tiers
Core Five
The essential frontends every builder should know. These cover 95% of all arcade cabinet builds.
Specialist Five
For specific use cases and advanced builders who need specialized features or unique capabilities.
Edge Case
Niche frontends for specific hardware or emerging platforms. Important for certain builds.
Want It All Pre-Configured?
We configure frontends and emulators in every custom cabinet we build. Skip the setup and get a professionally built cabinet with your frontend of choice ready to play.