RetroAchievements
RetroAchievements: A deep open-source tracker for retro-game achievements, leaderboards, and mastery. Ranked #4 of 38 in Game Achievement Trackers by our editors (9.0/10); pricing: Open source; best for open-source retro achievement tracking.
At a glance
- Editor score9.0 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forOpen-source retro achievement tracking
- Paid fromFree
- Platform coverageAll_major_platforms
- Founded2012
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Custom achievement sets with Hardcore and Casual modes
- Leaderboards, rankings, events, badges, and mastery tracking
- Wide emulator support plus a web API for game and user data
Where it doesn't
- Focused on classic games played through supported emulators
- Requires users to provide their own game files
- Platform support depends on compatible emulators and cores
Our verdict on RetroAchievements
RetroAchievements adds achievement tracking, competition, profiles, and progress tools to classic games played through supported emulators. It is aimed at players who want structured goals, completion tracking, rankings, and community events across systems ranging from Atari and Nintendo platforms to PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, and other retro systems. The service is open source and operated by a zero-profit community funded by donations rather than a business subscription model.
There are no paid tiers to compare. The core offering centers on custom achievement sets, per-game leaderboards for times, scores, and challenges, global rankings based on achievement points, profile badges, and completion or mastery tracking. The ecosystem is a major part of the product: integrations include RetroArch, RALibRetro, BizHawk, PCSX2, DuckStation, PPSSPP, Dolphin, Flycast, ManicEMU, and Delta. A web API provides game, user, and achievement data for compatible applications and services.
Its strongest fit is for retro players who value detailed achievement design and social comparison. Hardcore and Casual modes support different play styles, while the game and achievement database gives users a searchable way to explore supported content. The narrower focus is also its main limitation: RetroAchievements is built around classic games and emulation rather than general-purpose game tracking. Users must provide their own games, and play depends on compatible emulators or emulator cores. Choose it for open-source retro achievement tracking with deep community features; choose another tracker if you need coverage beyond supported retro platforms and emulators.
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RetroAchievements pricing
RetroAchievements fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Platform coverage | All_major_platforms |
| Achievement import | Not verified |
| Progress analytics | Yes |
| Social comparison | Yes |
| Mobile app | Not verified |
| Game database | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 10 integrations: RetroArch, RALibRetro, BizHawk, PCSX2, DuckStation, PPSSPP … See all → |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | retroachievements.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
RetroAchievements integrations
RetroAchievements lists 10 integrations on its own site.
- RetroArch
- RALibRetro
- BizHawk
- PCSX2
- DuckStation
- PPSSPP
- Dolphin
- Flycast
- ManicEMU
- Delta
See all RetroAchievements integrations →
Alternatives to RetroAchievements
- Trophies HunterA broad tracker for unified achievement progress, guides, analytics and platform comparison.9.4
- Trophy HubA broad free tracker that adds retro emulation, netplay, and cloud saves.9.3
- MetaGamerScoreA free web tracker for importing achievements, comparing progress, and joining competitive rankings.9.2
See all RetroAchievements alternatives →
RetroAchievements vs the competition
- RetroAchievements vs Trophies Hunter
- RetroAchievements vs Trophy Hub
- RetroAchievements vs MetaGamerScore
- RetroAchievements vs Achievement Scavenger
- RetroAchievements vs Play Ledger
- RetroAchievements vs Game Rover
Compare RetroAchievements with any tool side by side →
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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used RetroAchievements for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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