A Beginner's Guide to All Things RetroArch

Step 1: Installation

Download RetroArch on your platform of choice. Luckily, RetroArch is available almost everywhere, on every device: Windows (even a dedicated Steam version!), Linux, Android (Google Play Store), etc.

Important Notes:

• While RetroArch's look and feel are consistent across all platforms, the available emulators (cores) may vary.  Windows and Linux versions generally have access to the full range of cores, while Steam and mobile versions might have a more limited selection.

For this guide, we'll be using the Windows "Stable" version, downloadable from https://www.retroarch.com/. However, the setup process will remain the same for essentially all devices and platforms.

Once installed, you'll notice you have landed on the Main Menu of RetroArch. At this stage, you won't have any imported games or any emulators ("cores") installed. You'll also notice the sheer volume of choices when it comes to settings.

Step 2: Cores

Now that we've got the UI looking familiar and a little easier to navigate, it's time to download those emulators (cores) for the games you'll be wanting to play. We'll do this by:

• Go to the Main Menu of RetroArch and selecting "Load Core."

• Select "Download Core." You'll see a list of available emulators (cores). Here you'll need to determine which games you'll be playing within RetroArch. Most of these downloads are very small in size and range from only a few KB to a few MB. You'll be able to come back here and install as many as you please, as often as you please, so don't feel the need to download more than necessary at this stage.

Personally, I prefer these cores for these consoles:

Nintendo:

• GB/GBC: Gambatte

• GBA: gpSP or mGBA

• Virtual Boy: Beetle VB

• DS: melonDS

• NES: Nestopia or FCEUmm

• SNES: Snes9x Current

• N64: ParaLLEl or Mupen64Plus

• GameCube/Wii: Dolphin

Sega:

• Master System/Genesis/CD: Genesis Plus GX

• 32x: PicoDrive

• Saturn: YabaSanshiro or Beetle Saturn

• Dreamcast: Flycast

Sony:

• PlayStation: DuckStation, SwanStation, or PCSX ReARMed

• PlayStation 2: PCSX2

• PlayStation Portable: PPSSPP

Step 3: Importing Your Legally Acquired Games

This section demonstrates how to add your game ROMs to RetroArch. We'll use Game Boy Advance (GBA) games as an example, but the process is nearly identical for all other systems. Whether you're adding PlayStation games, Sega Genesis games, or anything else, the steps are essentially the same.

What is a ROM?

Before we begin, let's clarify what a ROM is. In this context, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) is a digital copy of a video game cartridge, disc, or other game media. Essentially, it's the file that contains all the game data, allowing you to play it on an emulator. Think of it like this: instead of inserting a physical cartridge into a console, you're loading a ROM file into the emulator (which acts as the console).

Important Disclaimer:

Downloading ROMs for games you do not own is illegal.  This guide assumes you have legally acquired copies of your games and are creating backup ROMs for personal use. Please be aware of and comply with the copyright laws in your region.

Example: Importing GBA Games

• Download the "mGBA" core (or the core for your desired system).

Import Games:

• Go to "Import Content" on the Main Menu.

• Select "Scan Directory."

• Locate the folder where your ROM files are stored (e.g., your GBA ROMs).

• Select "Scan This Directory."

Step 3.5: Adding a Hotkey (optional)

Sometimes you'll want to open up RetroArch while in-game to change some settings on the fly, create a quick save, or even load another game. On PC, the key for this is always "F1." However, for controller users across all platforms, you'll want to select a hotkey for this purpose. To do that:

• Head to the "Settings" tab and scroll down to "Input."

Step 4: RetroAchievements (Optional)

Although entirely optional, achievements are a fun and exciting way to improve your gameplay experience. Whether it's adding another collection element to the game or leaving you with something to show off once you've finished, you can have achievements on most of your retro games by first:

Step 5: Playing a Game

Now we're ready to try our first game!

• Navigate to the correct console category for your chosen game. These categories have icons resembling their respective consoles (e.g., the GBA category has a GBA icon).

• Choose the game you want to play. After doing so you'll see a small list of options. "Run" will start the game using the currently loaded core.

• Set Core Association (Optional): Scroll down to "Set Core Association" to choose a specific core for this game. Select the desired core and then scroll back up to "Run."

Step 6 (Optional): Configuring the Game

While you have a game running, you can press the F1 key (on Linux and Windows) or your configured hotkey (L3+R3 in my case, which we set up in Step 3.5) to bring up RetroArch's menu. This menu provides an abundance of game-specific options, from "Core Options" and "Game Recording" to "Achievements," in-game cheats, and more.

Step 7 (Optional): The Online Updater Settings Menu

If you head back to RetroArch's main menu, you'll find a settings tab called "Online Updater." Here you'll be able to do a bunch of neat and useful things, such as:

• Download (or uninstall) more cores (emulators).

• Update existing cores to the latest versions.

• Add game art to your game libraries.

If you want to add a little pop to your XMB and add cover art to your games, you'll want to select "Playlist Thumbnails Updater" and select the category(ies) you'd like to add game thumbnails to. Again, depending on the size of your game library, this could take seconds or hours, depending on your library size and internet download speeds.