RetroBat
RetroBat is a Windows frontend for organizing and playing a retro ROM collection.
What RetroBat is
RetroBat is a Windows frontend for organizing and playing a retro ROM collection. It brings games from more than 230 consoles and computers into one library and can be installed on a PC, hard drive, or USB key. The software is free and open source, with no free trial because its free plan is available outright. Additional emulator programs are not included in the setup, so an internet connection is required to download them. For library details, RetroBat can use ScreenScraper, TheGamesDB, HFSDB, ArcadeDB, and IGDB; ScreenScraper is the default and requires credentials. Scraped material can include game descriptions, ratings, images, videos, maps, manuals, and pad-to-key settings. Users can add downloadable themes, shaders, and bezels, and use netplay, cheats, save states, and rewind. Major Windows-compatible controllers should work, with X-Input recommended for compatibility. Supported systems are Windows 11, 10, and 8.1. Help is available through the official Discord, forum, and FAQ.
Good
- Free and open source, with a stated commitment to remain free
- Supports more than 230 consoles and computers
- Offers themes, shaders, bezels, cheats, and save states
- Scraping can retrieve images, videos, manuals, and ratings
Watch out
- Emulator programs are not included in the setup
- Downloading additional emulators requires an internet connection
- ScreenScraper requires credentials
- Supports Windows 11, 10, and 8.1 only
Who it suits
RetroBat suits Windows users who want one frontend for a retro ROM collection and compatible emulators. It is also suitable for users who want to install the collection on a PC, hard drive, or USB key.
Verdict
RetroBat combines a broad retro-game library with collection tools and emulator support in a free Windows frontend. Keep in mind that compatible emulators must be obtained separately.
Plans and prices
From RetroBat's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| RetroBat | Free | Windows only · ROM collection and compatible emulators required |
The facts
Each one read from RetroBat's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Controller support
- The documentation says major Windows-compatible controllers should work and recommends X-Input for best compatibility.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The site lists downloadable themes, shaders, bezels, netplay, cheats, save states, and rewind.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Download limitation
- An internet connection is required to download additional emulator programs, which are not included in the setup.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Game library
- The site describes support for more than 230 consoles and computers.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The site presents RetroBat as a way to organize and play a retro game ROM collection through one frontend.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Metadata integrations
- The documentation lists ScreenScraper, TheGamesDB, HFSDB, ArcadeDB, and IGDB as scraping services; ScreenScraper is the default and requires credentials.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Portable
- The site says RetroBat can be installed on a PC, hard drive, or USB key.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- RetroBat is a retro gaming frontend for playing ROM collections on Windows.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The listed supported operating systems are Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.1.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Scraped content
- Scraping can retrieve game information, ratings, images, videos, maps, manuals, and pad-to-key settings.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The documentation directs users to the official Discord, forum, and FAQ for help.checked 8 Oct 2026
Money
- Price
- The site says RetroBat is free and open source and will always be free.checked 8 Oct 2026
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