@16bit as other stated already there is no need to use YAPE. However, from my experience some of the more recent homebrew games only work with YAPE. You may consider this guide [1] to install retroarch xplus4 and YAPE alongside.

[1] https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/30671/howto-press-play-on-yape-making-the-most-out-of-c16-plus4-emulation

@commodore_nerd Well if no linux binary exist then you will need to download the source files from the emulator, compile and make the binary. But first you need to make sure that you have installed all the library packages that the emulator is depending on.

Think of it as needing specific dll files for as specific program/software in Windows to be able to run/execute. (for example directx)

For the Raspberry Pi it will typical be the SDL version of them emulator that you want.

As @mitu described it, is one of the following ways to accomplish it.