Forsaken review
A broad, free library manager for retro games, emulators, media, downloads, and storage.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Forsaken is an open-source emulator frontend for organizing, browsing, and launching retro game libraries. It is aimed at people managing collections across many systems, whether they prefer a browser or an app on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android. Its coverage is broad: the published product details list support for more than 65 retro gaming platforms and 159 emulator configurations. Users must provide their own legally obtained ROMs, while Forsaken supplies the library interface and launch workflow around them.
The strongest part of Forsaken is its presentation and navigation breadth. Libraries can be viewed in grid, list, or 3D carousel layouts, with box art, screenshots, videos, and fan art displayed alongside games. Full gamepad navigation and keyboard shortcuts support different playroom setups. The download manager adds queues and progress tracking, while automatic BIOS detection and download can reduce part of the configuration work. Temporary and permanent storage options, combined with smart cleanup, give the library a defined way to manage downloaded content.
Forsaken is free and open source, with browser access and availability or build options across six listed platforms. Its ecosystem focus is clearly retro gaming: multi-store and emulator support are central, rather than a narrow single-console workflow. That breadth makes it a strong choice for users who want one media-rich frontend across a varied retro collection. It is less suited to anyone seeking built-in game content, since ROMs remain the user's responsibility, or to buyers looking for AI-assisted library features. Choose Forsaken for broad platform coverage, controller-friendly browsing, and storage tools; choose another option if those boundaries do not fit your setup.
Forsaken pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports 65+ platforms and 159 emulator configurations
- Rich grid, list, 3D carousel, and media-focused library views
- Gamepad navigation, downloads, BIOS detection, and smart storage cleanup
- Where it doesn't
- Users must supply their own legally obtained ROMs
- No AI-assisted features
- Some platforms are described with build options rather than native availability
Forsaken fact sheet, pricing and score →
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