Custom Firmware & OS Directory — Handheld Operating Systems
Comprehensive encyclopedic guide to the top custom operating systems, firmwares, and frontends for retro gaming handhelds: OnionOS, GarlicOS, ArkOS, muOS, Knulli, ROCKNIX, MinUI, ES-DE, Daijishō, and Batocera.
Custom operating systems, distributions, and frontends for retro gaming handhelds. Explore architecture breakdowns, default hotkeys, installation guides, and hardware compatibility lists for all 12 tracked firmwares.
| Badge | Firmware / OS | Type | Base OS | Primary Frontend | Target Processors | Status | Compatible Handhelds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CFW | OnionOS | Custom Operating System & Launcher | Mainline Linux / Buildroot (ARM 32-bit) | MainUI (custom low-latency launcher with Game Switcher) | SigmaStar SSD202D, Allwinner A33 | Active | 4 devices → |
CFW | GarlicOS | Custom Operating System & Launcher | Linux / Buildroot | Garlic Launcher (minimalist vertical list UI) | Allwinner H700, Rockchip RK3566 | Active | 1 devices → |
CFW | ArkOS | Advanced Linux Distribution for Handhelds | Ubuntu 19.10 / Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (ARM64 / ARMHF) | EmulationStation (custom ArkOS build with theme scraper) | Rockchip RK3326, Rockchip RK3566 | Active | 92 devices → |
CFW | muOS | Minimalist High-Performance Custom OS | Linux / Buildroot (ARM64) | Custom Minimalist Folder Browser / Application Launcher | Allwinner H700 | Active | 3 devices → |
CFW | Knulli | Full-Featured Linux Distribution (Batocera Fork) | Batocera Linux / Buildroot (ARM64) | EmulationStation (Batocera Edition with rich themes) | Allwinner H700, Rockchip RK3566, Allwinner A133 Plus | Active | 5 devices → |
CFW | ROCKNIX | Community Linux Distribution for Gaming | Mainline Linux / Buildroot (ARM64 & x86_64) | EmulationStation (custom responsive theme engine) | Rockchip RK3566, Rockchip RK3326, AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Active | 33 devices → |
CFW | JELOS | Pioneering Linux Distribution (Legacy) | Mainline Linux / Buildroot | EmulationStation | Rockchip RK3566, Rockchip RK3326 | Legacy | 2 devices → |
CFW | AmberELEC | Polished Community Linux Distribution | Linux / Buildroot | EmulationStation (custom themed and curated) | Rockchip RK3326, Rockchip RK3566 | Active | 0 devices → |
CFW | MinUI | Ultra-Minimalist Retro Gaming Launcher & OS | Bare-metal Linux / Minimal Kernel | MinUI (custom monochrome typography launcher) | Allwinner F1C100S, SigmaStar SSD202D, Allwinner A133 Plus, Allwinner H700 | Active | 19 devices → |
CFW | ES-DE (EmulationStation Desktop Edition) | Cross-Platform Frontend & Launcher | Cross-Platform (Android, Linux, Windows, macOS, SteamOS) | Modern EmulationStation with advanced themes and media scraping | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Active | 29 devices → |
CFW | Daijishō | Retro Gaming Launcher for Android | Android 9.0+ (Java / Kotlin) | Modern TV / Pegasus-style Android launcher | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, UNISOC Tiger T618, UNISOC Tiger T820, MediaTek Helio G99 | Active | 32 devices → |
CFW | Batocera.linux | Standalone Retrogaming Operating System | Linux / Buildroot (x86_64 & ARM) | EmulationStation (customized with Batocera decorations and bezels) | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Broadcom BCM2711 (Raspberry Pi 4B) | Active | 66 devices → |