LaunchBox Cloud

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to LaunchBox Cloud

A curated collection of the 3 best self hosted alternatives to LaunchBox Cloud.

Cloud backend for the LaunchBox gaming platform that provides user account synchronization, cloud storage and management of game libraries, metadata and settings across devices.

Alternatives List

#1
Gameyfin

Gameyfin

Gameyfin organizes your video game collection into a searchable web library with automatic scanning, metadata fetching, downloads, sharing, and optional SSO integration.

Gameyfin screenshot

Gameyfin is an open source, web-based application for organizing and browsing a video game collection. It scans your game folders, enriches entries with metadata and cover art, and presents everything in a fast, easy-to-navigate library you can access from any modern browser.

Key Features

  • Automatically scans and indexes game libraries from configured folders
  • Fetches metadata and cover images to enrich your catalog
  • Web UI for browsing your collection and downloading game files
  • Library sharing for friends and family
  • LAN-friendly caching to keep browsing fast on local networks (videos may still be fetched remotely)
  • Theme support, including colorblind-friendly options
  • Plugin system for extending functionality
  • Optional SSO integration via OAuth2 / OpenID Connect

Use Cases

  • Create a centralized catalog for a large local ROM/game archive
  • Share a curated game library with family or a small community
  • Run a lightweight, browser-accessible game library for a homelab

Limitations and Considerations

  • Metadata quality and matching depend on external metadata sources and file naming consistency
  • Persistence is based on an embedded H2 database by default, which may be less suitable for very large deployments

Gameyfin is a good fit for users who want a Jellyfin-like experience for game collections, with a clean UI, automatic library organization, and extensibility. It can run in a container or on any JVM-capable system and is designed to be simple and fast.

919stars
32forks
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#2
Gaseous Server

Gaseous Server

Open-source .NET-based ROM and title manager that organizes ROMs, fetches metadata from external sources, and provides in-browser emulation.

Gaseous Server is an open-source server application for organizing and managing game ROM collections, providing title management, metadata lookup, and in-browser emulation of supported ROMs. It is implemented as an ASP.NET Core (.NET) application and is distributed with Docker Compose deployment artifacts. (github.com)

Key Features

  • ROM and title library management with import and signature matching for identification.
  • Built-in browser-based emulation (EmulatorJS) to run supported ROMs from the web UI.
  • Metadata retrieval from external sources (IGDB and others) with optional Hasheous proxy support for hashed lookups.
  • Background tasks such as library scanning and metadata/signature refresh.
  • User authentication and account support added in later releases (noted since v1.7.0).
  • Container-friendly deployment with Docker Compose and CI automation for builds.

Use Cases

  • Personal retro game library: organize and browse large ROM collections with metadata and cover art.
  • Lightweight in-browser play: run supported games directly from a home server via the integrated emulator.
  • Metadata enrichment and archival: use signature imports and external metadata sources to catalog ROM collections.

Limitations and Considerations

  • Database migration between MySQL and MariaDB may require rebuilding the database due to earlier MySQL-specific schema choices; re-import via library scan may be needed. (github.com)
  • IGDB access requires an API key unless you use a proxy service; offline metadata workflows depend on available signature DATs and the Hasheous project.
  • The project maintainers recommend caution when exposing the server directly to the internet; use VPN or other secure access methods if remote exposure is required. (github.com)

Gaseous Server is a focused tool for retro gaming enthusiasts who want a web-accessible, metadata-rich ROM management system with integrated emulation. Its .NET-based architecture and container deployment make it suitable for home servers and small self-hosted environments.

800stars
33forks
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#3
RetroAssembly

RetroAssembly

A web application that organizes and runs retro game ROMs in the browser with cloud saves, automatic box art, controller support and multi-platform emulation.

RetroAssembly is a browser-first application that combines a retro game library frontend with in-browser emulation. It presents a cabinet-like interface to browse, launch and play ROMs across many classic platforms directly in a web tab.

Key Features

  • Browser-based gameplay: play supported retro consoles (NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, GBA, arcade, Atari and more) without installing local emulators.
  • Multi-emulator support: uses a JS emulation layer to select appropriate engines per platform and run games in the browser.
  • Cloud sync and save states: save progress and synchronize states across devices so you can resume play elsewhere.
  • Automatic box art retrieval: scans uploaded ROMs and fetches cover/box art to present an organized visual library.
  • Gamepad and keyboard-first navigation: spatial navigation and full gamepad controls plus an on-screen virtual controller for devices without physical pads.
  • Rewind and state features: some emulators expose rewind and instant save/restore controls for improved playability.
  • Hosted demo and official hosted option: live demo library of free/retrobrew titles for evaluation and an official hosted service for quick onboarding.
  • Account sign-in (Google OAuth) for personal libraries and synchronization.

Use Cases

  • Keep a personal, searchable catalog of legitimately owned retro ROMs and access them from any device via the browser.
  • Rapidly demo and try homebrew/retrobrew titles at events, streams or when testing emulator configurations.
  • Provide an accessible front-end for enthusiasts who want a visually rich, gamepad-friendly way to browse and play classics without desktop installs.

Limitations and Considerations

  • Legal responsibility for ROM ownership rests with users; the project provides emulation and library tooling but does not supply commercial ROMs.
  • Browser-based emulation performance and compatibility vary by platform and device; some systems or large ROMs may be less performant on low-power clients.
  • Hosted synchronization depends on the official service or a user-run instance; offline play is supported but cloud features require an account.

RetroAssembly is focused on ease of access, visual presentation and cross-device continuity for retro game collections. It balances multiple emulator engines with a unified, gamepad-friendly interface to make classic games easy to browse and play from the browser.

734stars
35forks
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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running