diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 1cd47254f462..a5acdd543e50 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -1458,10 +1458,24 @@ with pkgs;
 
   retroarch = retroarch-bare.wrapper { };
 
+  # includes only cores for platform with free licenses
+  retroarch-free = retroarch.withCores (
+    cores:
+      builtins.filter
+        (c:
+          (c ? libretroCore)
+          && (lib.meta.availableOn stdenv.hostPlatform c)
+          && (!c.meta.unfree))
+        (builtins.attrValues cores)
+  );
+
+  # includes all cores for platform (including ones with non-free licenses)
   retroarch-full = retroarch.withCores (
     cores:
       builtins.filter
-        (c: (c ? libretroCore) && (lib.meta.availableOn stdenv.hostPlatform c))
+        (c:
+          (c ? libretroCore)
+          && (lib.meta.availableOn stdenv.hostPlatform c))
         (builtins.attrValues cores)
   );