There’s no shortage of retro gaming operating systems out there. Options like Retrobat, RetroPie, and Lakka are solid choices. In fact, RetroPie makes up 3% of the total operating system downloads through the Raspberry Pi Imager, which speaks to its popularity. However, when it comes to the best OS for retro gaming, Batocera stands out. The front-end interface for RetroArch comes with numerous bundled emulators, making it compatible with almost any device that has an open bootloader and a compatible CPU. It lets you emulate some of the greatest games ever made. Plus, it’s packed with features and has a super user-friendly interface.

5 User-friendly interface

Pretty easy to get started

Batocera is designed for ease of use. If you’ve used other operating systems like RetroPie, you’ll find it familiar since both use EmulationStation, a multi-emulator frontend that simplifies navigation and game launching.

The interface is clean and well-organized, with settings accessible directly from the start menu. Most configurations are pre-set, and controllers are detected automatically. An “All Games” category aggregates every title for easy browsing, while audio, video, and controller settings can be adjusted through the intuitive menu.

4 Wide hardware support

Even 20-year-old PCs are supported

One of Batocera’s biggest strengths is its compatibility with a wide range of hardware. Whether you're a fan of the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive), GameBoy Color, or even the PlayStation 3, Batocera can load up your favorite games on various form factors and screens.

It runs on PCs, Raspberry Pi, Steam Deck, handhelds, and even older 32-bit computers. This makes it great for repurposing aging hardware, including machines that are 20 years old or more. There’s even support for Intel Atom devices, so that old netbook collecting dust can finally have a use.

That said, if you want the best performance, a decently powerful PC is the way to go. A dedicated graphics card, plenty of RAM, and a solid multi-core processor (not just some low-power Intel mobile chip) make all the difference. Even an older PC will easily handle Batocera and run later-generation emulators without a hitch.

3 Superior performance

It's designed to use fewer system resources

Batocera is built for speed. It's designed to use fewer system resources, leading to faster boot times and smoother gameplay. This makes it ideal for devices like Raspberry Pi, where hardware resources are often limited. Unlike some competitors, Batocera comes with default settings optimized for performance, so users don't need to tweak much to get great results. It also includes easy-to-use tools for further performance improvements, like reducing input lag.

The OS provides features like run-ahead frames and auto-frame delay, which reduce lag and improve gameplay, especially on weaker systems. These tools are built into the system, which means they are a lot easier for you to optimize without deep technical knowledge. This is a big advantage over other OSes that require more manual configuration.

2 Extensive feature set

Packs a ton of features that make retro gaming even better

Batocera packs a ton of features that make retro gaming even better. It offers visual upgrades like themes, shaders, and bezels, all of which can be customized right from the interface. While other systems like RetroPie support these too, Batocera makes it easier with preconfigured options that work out of the box.

One of its standout features is Rewinding, which lets you go back a few seconds in gameplay to fix mistakes — perfect for tough retro games. It also includes RetroAchievements, a built-in trophy system that adds a modern twist to classic games. Best of all, many of these features are enabled by default, so you don’t have to spend time setting them up.

1 Open-source and community-driven

And the community is pretty active

Batocera is fully open-source, which means it’s free to use, tweak, and improve. With its open-source nature, it has a large, active community that’s always updating it, fixing bugs, and adding new features. One great thing about being open-source is that you can check out the code, ensuring it’s safe to run on your personal devices.

The Batocera GitHub page is always active, with contributors adding updates and improvements. If you run into any issues or want to make tweaks, there’s a Batocera Discord channel and a Reddit community (r/batocera) where users share tips, troubleshoot problems, and suggest new ideas

Enjoy the retro games of your choice

Batocera is perfect for retro gaming emulation, but if you don’t want to stray too far, Windows is a great option too. While you're at it, check out four ways to turn your old PC into a retro gaming console, as well as the best devices for running Batocera and all your favorite retro games.