EmulationStation Frontend
REG ES, a bespoke EmulationStation build, delivers a slick nostalgic UI that is simple to tweak.
Retro Emulation Gaming Linux
Turn any device into a purpose-built retro console.
Founded by a collective of retro gaming enthusiasts and open source developers, REG Linux transforms SBCs, handhelds, laptops, and desktops into polished gaming rigs with curated software and resilient system tooling.
- Immutable core + rescue system resilience
- EmulationStation frontend tailored by the REG team
- Mainline LTS kernels via Buildroot for wide hardware support
REG Linux blends a customized EmulationStation frontend with curated RetroArch cores on top of a rock-solid Linux foundation.
What makes REG special
Feature-rich out of the box
REG Linux ships with the pieces you expect from a dedicated retro rig—carefully tuned frontends, tested emulators, community-requested ports, and a focus on reliability.
Feature rich curation
An ever-growing catalog of native ports, engines, and tools sits alongside the default emulator stack.
Rock solid OS
Immutable Buildroot base plus an integrated rescue workflow keep experiments safe.
Open source forever
REG Linux is community-driven, transparent, and licensed for tinkering without restrictions.
Endless gaming possibilities
Play arcade, console, and computer classics, switching cores or ports with a single menu action.
Wide hardware support
From aging laptops to modern SBCs and handhelds, REG targets diverse devices with tuned kernels.
Pre-configured emulator stack
REG ships with the most requested emulators ready to play: RetroArch, MAME, and specialist cores for handhelds, arcades, and microcomputers. Inputs, shaders, and hotkeys are sensible by default, so you can jump straight into the fun.
- RetroArch (multi-system) with curated core presets
- MAME builds tuned for arcade accuracy
- Additional native ports for DOS, ScummVM, Pico-8–style engines, and more
Hardware coverage
Works where you play
REG relies on mainline LTS kernels whenever possible, making it easier to support SBC boards, handhelds, mini PCs, and traditional desktops alike.
Single-board computers
From Raspberry Pi-style boards to RK3588 powerhouses, profiles ensure video, audio, and I/O just work.
Handhelds & mini consoles
REG keeps controls responsive and includes handheld-friendly themes plus suspend-safe defaults.
Laptops & desktops
Install on internal storage or boot from USB for a dedicated gaming partition that remains isolated.
Boot and play
Getting started with REG Linux
- Choose the right image. Visit the download page, pick the build for your hardware, and grab the latest release.
- Flash to storage. Use tools like balenaEtcher or Raspberry Pi Imager to write the image to an SD card or SSD.
- First boot & setup. Power on, walk through the EmulationStation onboarding, and pair your controllers.
- Load your library. Add ROMs via network share, USB drive, or the built-in file manager, then refresh the gamelist.
Need help?
Join the community channels or open an issue on GitHub—contributors are active and eager to assist.
Open source & community
Build with the REG team
REG Linux is driven by volunteers. Whether you file bugs, port engines, design themes, or help with docs, every contribution keeps the project thriving.