Not recently updated — last update was on 2021-11-03.
This app may no longer be actively maintained.
About RetroArch
RetroArch is an action app developed by Libretro.
Download Statistics
RetroArch has been downloaded 6.4 million times. In the last 30 days, the app was downloaded 21 thousand times.
User Ratings
RetroArch is rated 3.85 out of 5 stars. The rating is based on 39 thousand ratings.
App Information
RetroArch is FREE to download. The APK download size is 134.54 MB. The latest version available is 1.9.12 (2021-11-03). The last update was on November 3, 2021.
Technical Requirements
RetroArch requires Android 5.0+ or higher. The app has a content rating of Everyone. The app has been available on Google Play January 2014.
Description
RetroArch is an open-source project that makes use of a powerful development interface called Libretro. Libretro is an interface that allows you to make cross-platform applications that can use rich features such as OpenGL, cross-platform camera support, location support, and more in the future.
It comes with its own built-in collection of applications to provide you with a 'one-stop-shop' for entertainment.
Libretro and RetroArch are perfectly suited for creating games, emulators and multimedia programs. If you want to learn more, go to our website (listed below).
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ!!! This version of RetroArch differs from the one available on our website (www.retroarch.com) in that there is no Core Downloader, in compliance with the Google Play Store's policies. This version supports 50 cores max. If this is not enough for your needs, there are two options:
* Get RetroArch Plus, also available for free on the Play Store (this supports up to 127 cores). This version requires Android 8.0 or higher. * Get RetroArch from our website (www.retroarch.com) and download the APK and install it. This version has the Core Downloader and is considered the 'full-fat' version.
Pros of the Play Store version vs. the website APK: * Automatic weekly updates of both cores and RetroArch. Cons of the Play Store version vs. the website APK: * Only 50 cores supported max
FEATURES: * Eye-candy menus to choose from! * Scan files / directories and add them to game system collections! * View database information about each game once added to a collection! * Download programs ('cores') online * Update everything! * Download Game & Watch games and play them with our exclusive Game & Watch emulator! * Built-in input remapping * Ability to remap controls * Ability to enter and load cheats * Multi-language support! * Over 80+ programs('cores') now and counting! * Play multiplayer with NetPlay! * Take screenshots, save states and more!
* No DRM * No restrictions on usage * Open-source * No push ads * No spying * No ads period
Join us on discord for support and netplay matchmaking https://discord.gg/C4amCeV
Visit our Youtube channel here for tutorials, gameplays, news and development progress! https://www.youtube.com/user/libretro https://www.youtube.com/RetroArchOfficial
For info and help, see our documentation site - https://docs.libretro.com/
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So, my initial review mentioned controller incompatibility regardless of anything I could do. As it turns out, even though my controller WAS working in everything except for Retroarch, it had stopped working properly in other apps, and updating the firmware broke it in everything else. I'm sorry Libretto, I shouldn't have ever doubted you!
★★★★★Vijay T· Apr 22, 2026
Best all in one Android emulator. Will be excellent if PS2 cores are added.
★★★★☆daktah· May 15, 2026
I don't understand why you're not allowed to queue multiple core downloads at once, on PC you can queue up every single core on the list, so you can do something else while you wait for the downloads to finish, here it makes you wait until one is fully installed before it lets you select another turning a 5-minute process into 30+ minutes even though it lets you queue up the other updates. Makes no sense. Really, there should be a "download all cores" option both here and on PC, no reason not to.
★☆☆☆☆Zero Grandark· Jun 8, 2026
Terrible UI and controls, i genuinely just wanted to play Sonic but anything I do I have to look for 10 tutorials on YouTube for JUST ONE SETTING. Let's go through the issues: The emulator preset for when you install it has ENORMOUS text on its UI, NO EXPLANATION FOR ANYTHING when I would barely understand with a tutorial, WAY YYY TOO MANY OPTIONS. It feels like it's attacking the user, leaving only those who are used to it, killing beginners.
★☆☆☆☆Dennis Schulz· Sep 2, 2025
This version is clearly outdated. Get the most recent version from Retroarch's official website or through F-droid.
★☆☆☆☆Heet888· Mar 12, 2026
Guys please download the app from website, the app from play store doesn't have like half of the cores and whenever I launch a game it crashes, the app from website works way better.
★☆☆☆☆Paweł Mateusz Zimny· May 7, 2026
Totally waste of time, use only if you really MUST but peeper that it can crash in every moment, and you need master degree to run even easiest machines. Forgot about doing anything with on-screen controls, forgot about safety of your saves, it is even problem with plug in pad after reconnecting. And do not forget about warnings about safety during installation version from their website (which looks like some kind of spam farm).
★☆☆☆☆Sayandip· May 8, 2026
Please remove this version if it's not updated or not planned to be maintained. To anyone wondering. Just get the app from droid store
Google Play Rankings for RetroArch
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Technologies used by RetroArch
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