BestArcade review
A free desktop curator for filtering arcade sets and preparing them for RetroArch.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
BestArcade is a free, open-source desktop tool for curating arcade ROM collections, particularly MAME and FBNeo sets. It is aimed at people who want to retain selected games, remove clones and specified non-arcade categories, and generate sets for RetroArch or other supported systems. The tool can also produce basic game lists with optional images, plus CSV files, scoresheets, and DAT files. Windows and Linux are supported, making it a focused option for solo curators working on either platform.
Its main strength is curation rather than collection repair. BestArcade can generate dedicated sets for systems including Neo Geo AES, Sega Model 2 and 3, Atomiswave, Naomi, handhelds, and TV games. It supports CHD handling and can optionally exclude CHD games. Configuration validation and a save-or-proceed workflow help manage the generation process, but the tool requires suitable non-merged ROM sets as input. Choose it when filtering and packaging arcade collections for RetroArch or other listed systems is the goal; it is less suited to workflows centered on identifying or fixing problematic files.
The free, open-source model keeps access straightforward, with no paid tiers to weigh against the feature set. However, BestArcade does not check whether ROM files match the correct version, and its role should not be confused with a ROM-set version checker. Its documented format-related focus includes CHD handling; broader compressed archive support is not part of its stated scope. Curators who already have appropriate source sets and want exports alongside filtered collections are a good fit. Those seeking version verification or broader library repair should consider a different tool.
BestArcade pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Filters MAME and FBNeo sets to remove clones and selected non-arcade categories
- Generates RetroArch and dedicated multi-system arcade and handheld sets
- Exports game lists, CSVs, scoresheets, and DAT files
- Where it doesn't
- Requires suitable non-merged ROM sets as input
- Does not verify whether ROM files match the correct version
- Available for Windows and Linux desktop use
BestArcade fact sheet, pricing and score →
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