Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Batocera.linux VS Lakka

Compare Batocera.linux VS Lakka and see what are their differences

Batocera.linux logo 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.

Lakka logo Lakka

Lakka is the official Linux distribution of RetroArch and the libretro ecosystem.
  • Batocera.linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-27
  • Lakka Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-30

Batocera.linux features and specs

  • Wide Emulation Support
    Batocera.linux supports a vast range of gaming consoles from retro to current-gen, making it a comprehensive solution for emulation.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The system’s user interface is designed to be intuitive and accessible, which makes it suitable for users of all technical skill levels.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, Batocera.linux allows users to contribute to its development and customize it to suit their preferences.
  • Active Community
    Batocera.linux has an active community that provides support, tutorials, and updates, helping users troubleshoot issues and stay informed about new features.
  • Plug and Play
    The system is easy to set up and can be run from a USB stick or SD card without requiring extensive installation, making it accessible to beginners.
  • Regular Updates
    Batocera.linux frequently receives updates that add new features, improve performance, and fix bugs, ensuring a continually improving user experience.
  • Multi-Platform
    Batocera.linux can be installed on various devices, including PCs, Raspberry Pi boards, and more, making it versatile for different hardware configurations.

Possible disadvantages of Batocera.linux

  • Limited Hardware Compatibility
    While Batocera supports a range of hardware, there are instances where certain devices might not be fully compatible, leading to suboptimal performance or lack of support.
  • Resource-Intensive
    Some of the more advanced emulators can be quite resource-intensive, requiring more powerful hardware to run smoothly.
  • Complex Configuration for Advanced Users
    While the basic setup is straightforward, advanced configurations can be complex and might require a deep understanding of emulation and Linux systems.
  • Potential Legal Issues
    Emulating certain games might lead to legal issues, especially if users don’t own the original copies of the games they are emulating.
  • Lack of Official Support
    As an open-source project, Batocera might not offer the same level of official support that users might expect from commercial software.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with many open-source projects, Batocera.linux might have occasional bugs or stability issues, which can impact the gaming experience.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a learning curve when first using Batocera.linux, especially if they are unfamiliar with Linux-based systems.

Lakka features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Lakka provides an easy-to-navigate user interface that is simple for users of all experience levels, making it accessible to a wide audience.
  • Supports Multiple Systems
    Lakka can emulate a wide variety of game consoles, offering support for systems like PlayStation, Nintendo, Sega, and more, all in one package.
  • Lightweight
    Being a lightweight Linux distribution, Lakka can run on less powerful hardware, making it ideal for revitalizing older machines or using on single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi.
  • Open Source
    Lakka is open source, allowing users to modify and improve the software according to their needs, fostering a community of collaboration.
  • Network Support
    It supports network features like multiplayer gameplay over the internet, netplay, and streaming from a Lakka device to other screens.

Possible disadvantages of Lakka

  • Limited Non-Gaming Applications
    Lakka is primarily designed for retro gaming, meaning it lacks the capabilities and features for other types of applications found in full-fledged operating systems.
  • Complexity for Advanced Features
    While basic setup is straightforward, configuring more advanced features can be complex and may require technical knowledge and experience.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Although Lakka runs on a wide range of devices, certain hardware components might not be fully supported, and users may encounter compatibility issues.
  • Performance Limitations
    Running Lakka on very low-end hardware might lead to performance issues, particularly with resource-intensive emulation cores.
  • Limited Official Support
    Reliance on community support may be necessary as Lakka does not offer commercial support options, which could be a drawback for some users seeking professional assistance.

Batocera.linux videos

Turn a USB Flash Drive into a Portable Gaming "System"!

Lakka videos

Lakka Emulator Frontend Running On Raspberry Pi 3 Emulation Station Alternative

More videos:

  • Review - What Is Lakka ? Retro Game System Explained
  • Tutorial - How to make a Retro Emulator Machine - Lakka OS Guide + Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Batocera.linux and Lakka)
Gaming
73 73%
27% 27
Emulators
76 76%
24% 24
Gaming Tools
72 72%
28% 28
Online Games
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 Batocera.linux and Lakka

Batocera.linux Reviews

  1. Very difficult to configure.

    While it has the potential to be amazing, like most linux-based options, it falls apart in the area of user experience, with automatic misconfigurations, failure to recognize supported devices and the requirement to SSH into the host system from yet another system (that you may not even have). in order to enter complicated commands just to turn basic supported features on and off. If you do spend a few days getting it to a basic level of functionality, it may be worthwhile, but the problem is that you shouldn't have to. Extra layers of unnecessary complexity seem to have been added simply to maintain that unapproachable aura that most Linux distros have.

    🏁 Competitors: Lakka
    👍 Pros:    Good UI
    👎 Cons:    Confusing set-up|Complicated configuration|Vague instructions|Automatic mis-configurations|Cannot use standard installation methods|Supported devices require complex configuration

Best Linux Distro for Gaming
Batocera.linux is a lightweight distro that turns your computer into a gaming machine, similar to Lakka. Batocera is arguably better than Lakka considering the number of emulators, and the active community behind Batocera. Although it’s worth trying both distros. It’s still being actively developed, with new emulators and software being added to the distro. Instead of going...
Source: linuxstans.com

Lakka Reviews

The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Lakka OS is a lightweight distribution that lets users convert old computers into retro game consoles. The operating system is based on LibreELEC and uses the RetroArch front-end. Once set up, Lakka OS works cross-platform and numerous old console games can be installed.
Source: www.ionos.com
13 Best Linux distros for gaming in 2022
All the emulators are compiled with the best optimizations possible and so Lakka OS runs the games more smoothly than the normal emulators. Most games will require very few hardware resource, except for the Playstation or Xbox games.
Best Linux Distro for Gaming
Lakka is a lightweight Linux retro gaming distro that turns your computer into a retro gaming console. It’s so lightweight, it can even run on a mini-PC like a Raspberry Pi. It’s still being actively developed and worked on. Lakka uses the RetroArch emulator, so you can play all types of games on this distro, including running emulated N64, PlayStation, PSP, NES, Sega,...
Source: linuxstans.com
9 Best Linux Gaming Distributions in 2021
All the emulators are compiled with the best optimizations possible and so Lakka OS runs the games more smoothly than the normal emulators. Most games will require very few hardware resource, except for the Playstation or Xbox games.
Source: itsfoss.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Batocera.linux should be more popular than Lakka. It has been mentiond 43 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.

Batocera.linux mentions (43)

  • Turn your old laptop into low-end gaming machine
    I thought this post would recommend Batocera, which I think is probably the better option: https://batocera.org/ It's a Linux distro that turns any ancient machine into a retro emulation box that's heavily optimized for old devices and retro handhelds. It also allows you to install Flatpaks so you can add Steam to it as well. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Intel N100 Radxa X4 First Thoughts
    Im validating it on a desktop pc at the moment, but have a minipc in the mail that should handle it fine (minisforum um790 pro). No links for pre-loaded if you mean roms, but batocera is a much more pre-loaded experience if you mean emulators and config. Its a much more rigid experience than retropie. You can get it at the homepage: https://batocera.org/ The nice thing is that it is designed to be run from a... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Looking for input setting up emulation machine
    The OS you probably want is Batocera. I have a couple external SSDs that I use to run it on my VCSs, and they're great. It's definitely an easier setup than Windows with Launchbox, and you don't have to deal with licensing, forced updates, and all the other Windows garbage. Source: over 1 year ago
  • So I had an Arcade1UP Partycade modded with 12,000 games. I have no clue how to use this. I can only play a few games. I hope someone knows how to use this?!?
    This subreddit is for the completely free and open-source distribution that you would find at https://batocera.org/ which comes with absolutely no copyrighted ROMs(games). You will only get support here for that and that alone. Unfortunately if you bought a preconfigured system ("unofficial image"), your issues are with the people who sold it to you. Nobody here can help you with anything outside the scope of the... Source: over 1 year ago
  • MiSTer vs Super Nt for my needs?
    Alternatively, since you just built a nice PC, you can take the free options and just software emulate classic systems and run MAME. If you don't have time to set much up, look into a Batocera boot drive https://batocera.org/. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

Lakka mentions (5)

  • New RG351v owner, what should I do first?
    While it's not there, if you don't want to bother with emulationstation and would just like basic retroarch, there is also a build of Lakka (pure retroarch) available for the 351v. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Best console for emulation? Looking for something simple
    I think there'll be another providers of such kits in the USA, but I don't know them. Perhaps also on EBay. The Magic words are "lakka.tv", "recalbox" and "retropie" for ready-to-go and easy to use raspi emulations boxes. Source: over 2 years ago
  • MAME 0.242
    Maybe something like Lakka[1]? It supports many game consoles, but I believe MAME is part of it. [1]: https://lakka.tv/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Planning on making an arcade machine from a pi zero w 2 and a crt tv, any tips?
    Most peoples go to package is RetroPie, and don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad option…. But in my experience, http://lakka.tv is a bit cleaner, more lightweight, and has less compatibility issues / hurdles that you need to jump through for some features…. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Help making emulator stick !
    You mean a USB to boot on a PC? Check out Lakka or Batocera. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Batocera.linux and Lakka, you can also consider the following products

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

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

RetroBat - RETROBAT RetroBat is a software distribution designed for emulation and to be the easiest way to enjoy your game collection on your Windows computer.

Playnite - Source code generated using layoutit.com

EmulationStation - a graphical emulator front-end

Recalbox - Retrogaming open source operating system for Raspberry Pi, Odroid and PC.