How To Setup RetroArch N64 Core Mupen64plus & Parallel 64

The world of retro gaming has seen a massive resurgence in recent years, and the Nintendo 64 is definitely no exception to this. One of the most popular methods for playing N64 games on modern devices is by using a software called RetroArch.

RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players that allows you to play classic games on numerous different platforms. We recently created a guide on how to setup RetroPie N64, but in this guide, we’ll be covering the essentials of setting up and using RetroArch for the Nintendo 64.

RetroArch offers support for N64 emulation through some of the best N64 emulators available by use of its Mupen64Plus and Parallel64 cores. These emulator cores have great compatibility and performance with a wide range of N64 titles.

In addition to providing a powerful and versatile emulation platform, RetroArch also offers various customization options to enhance the gaming experience. From adjusting video resolution and filters to tweaking audio settings and controller mappings, users can tailor their N64 emulation to match their preferences.

As we dive into the setup process and usage of RetroArch for N64 gaming, it becomes clear why this versatile application has become a cornerstone of the retro gaming community.

How To Play N64 Games With RetroArch N64 Cores?

The Retroarch emulator is a modular emulation platform that uses emulator cores to run games from various systems on your PC. It’s one of the best N64 emulators for PC available.

For N64 emulation, Retroarch offers multiple choices of cores. In this section, we will explore two popular Retroarch N64 cores known as Mupen64plus and Parallel 64.

Mupen64plus

Mupen64plus is a highly recommended N64 emulator core within RetroArch. It has been significantly improved recently, with developments by m4xw contributing to its performance. This emulator core has been updated with the latest advancements from the GLideN64 graphics plugin which improves visual quality, ensures smoother gameplay, and has compatibility with a wider range of N64 games.

Mupen64plus offers several benefits:

• Accurate emulation
• Improved performance
• Support for a wide range of N64 games

Some settings that can be adjusted for optimal performance within Mupen64plus are:

• Resolution upscaling
• Anti-aliasing options
• Controller configuration

Parallel 64

Parallel 64 is another N64 emulator core available for RetroArch. It’s an alternative to the Mupen64plus emulator and has its own unique features and improvements that set it apart. The core utilizes a multi-threaded approach for emulation, which results in better performance on systems with multiple CPU cores.

• The major advantages of using Parallel 64 over Mupen64Plus are:
  • Multi-threaded emulation for better performance
  • Better compatibility with some games not supported by Mupen64plus

Even with these potential benefits, it is important to note that Parallel 64 may be more demanding on system resources, and some users may experience stability issues when compared to the Mupen64plus core.

Mupen64Plus focuses on accurate emulation and compatibility, while Parallel 64’s multi-threaded approach can result in better performance for certain games. If you’re unsure which to go with, Mupen64Plus is the most common core used for N64 emulation with RetroArch.

Installation and Setup

1. Downloading Retroarch

To set up RetroArch N64 on different platforms, such as Windows, Android, macOS, or Linux, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Retroarch official website and navigate to the Downloads section.
2. Choose your platform (Windows, Android, macOS, or Linux) and download the appropriate RetroArch installer file.
3. Once the download is completed, extract the archive and run the installer or setup file to install RetroArch on your device.
4. If you are installing on Android, you can also visit the Google Play Store listing

2. How To Download The Mupen64Plus or Parallel 64 RetroArch Cores?

Finding the N64 Core

• Once RetroArch opens, select Load Core

• Next, select Download a Core

Downloading the Mupen64Plus or Parallel 64 Core

• Now you’ll want to scroll all the way down until you see the core that you want to download, either the Nintendo – Nintendo 64 (Mupen64Plus-Next) or Nintendo – Nintendo 64 (Parallel 64) core and click on it to download it

• If you already had RetroArch on your device, remember to go back to the main menu screen, select Online Updater and then select Update Core Info Files and Update Databases to make sure you update all of your cores info files and databases

• Once the N64 core is done downloading, go back and select Load Core

2. Adding N64 Roms

After installing RetroArch, you’ll need to add your N64 ROMs to the emulator. These are the game files that RetroArch will use to play N64 games. Follow the instructions below for the different platforms:

• Windows, macOS, and Linux:
  1. Create a folder on your device where you want to store your N64 ROMs.
  2. Place your N64 ROMs in the folder you created.
  3. Launch Retroarch and go to the Main Menu, then select Load Content.
  4. Browse to the folder where you stored your N64 ROMs and select a game to start playing.
• Android:
  1. Connect your device to a computer using a USB cable or use a file manager app to create a folder on your device where you want to store your N64 ROMs.
  2. Transfer your N64 ROMs to the folder you created.
  3. Launch Retroarch on your Android device, and go to the Main Menu, then select Load Content.
  4. Browse to the folder where you stored your N64 ROMs on your device and choose a game to start playing.

Remember: to play N64 games legally, you must own a physical copy of the game; downloading ROMs that you do not own is against copyright laws.

Configuration and Settings

Graphics Settings

RetroArch provides a variety of graphics settings to optimize your N64 emulation gaming. You have the ability to adjust the resolution to enhance the visual quality of the games. The emulator supports resolution from 320×240 to 640×480, offering clearer graphics. To improve the visual output even more, you can apply shaders that modify the game’s image output and simulate various effects such as CRT screens or scanlines.

In order to enhance compatibility and performance, RetroArch supports different video drivers, including the Vulkan driver and gl driver. It’s essential to select the appropriate driver based on your system’s capabilities, as some drivers may not be supported on all devices. This can come down to trial and error, testing to see your performance with each.

RetroArch also even allows users to adjust anti-aliasing settings, such as MSAA, and texture filtering options to tweak graphical output.

Emulation Accuracy and Performance

RetroArch offers two N64 emulator cores: ParaLLEl N64 and Mupen64Plus. The choice of core significantly affects the accuracy and performance of the emulation. ParaLLEl N64 utilizes the Vulkan API and provides high compatibility and accurate emulation, while Mupen64Plus focuses on smooth performance and is more suited to lower-end devices.

It’s crucial to choose the right core and configure the settings accordingly. Users can adjust the framerate to improve performance or accuracy, depending on their needs. Additionally, adjusting the settings of the selected graphics plugin may yield better performance or increased compatibility with certain titles and on certain devices.

Controller and Input

RetroArch allows users to setup custom input options. This includes using a keyboard and mouse and also custom controllers. The input settings menu allows users to modify key bindings, configure controller options, and set up hotkeys for easily accessing features like rewinding or save states.

RetroArch has auto-configuration for mapping controllers for games and assigns appropriate button mappings for popular controllers by default. That being said, users can also choose to manually bind buttons for their preferred input devices if they want to change or customize the layout.

Be sure to check out our list where we break down and review the best N64 controllers.

Advanced Features

Core-Specific Options

RetroArch offers even more advanced features for N64 emulation, which users can get to through its core settings. By default, the graphic driver should be set to “gl” to ensure proper compatibility, but this can be changed.

Users can tinker with various options within the core settings to improve gameplay, graphical output, and optimize performance. Some of these options include:

• Resolution: N64 games can scale from 320×240 up to 640×480, depending on the game and the user’s system capabilities.
• Latency: RetroArch offers multiple options to minimize latency which can drastically improve the gameplay experience for games such as Super Smash Bros which rely heavily on time sensitive user input.

Netplay

RetroArch allows users to play N64 games online with friends using its netplay functionality.

Setting up netplay is pretty simple:

1. Navigate to Online Updater in RetroArch settings.
2. Choose Update Core Info Files to get the latest core information.
3. Launch your N64 ROM using the ParaLLel N64 core.
4. Open the RetroArch menu using the F1 key and go to Netplay to enable it.
5. Choose to either host a game or join and follow the steps to connect with your friend.

In order to play together via netplay, both players need to have the same ROM and use the same core. RetroArch uses rollback netcode for its netplay which minimizes input lag, but this may result in visual artifacts during gameplay depending on each users internet connection.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Video Drivers

One common issue faced in RetroArch N64 emulators Parallel64 and Mupen64Plus is often related to its video drivers. If you’re using the Vulkan video driver, you may encounter problems with both cores, as neither of them technically works with Vulkan by default. You can remedy this by simply switching the video driver to gl instead.

Controllers Not Detected

Another common issue is when ROMs won’t scan as expected or when controllers aren’t being detected. If having issues with RetroArch detecting your controllers, be sure to check the controller configurations in the settings and try reconnecting the controller or restarting RetroArch.

ROMs Not Found

To fix the ROM scanning issue, make sure you put your ROMs in the right directory and that they are the supported file types.

Slow Emulation

Slow emulation might be due to insufficient hardware resources or improper settings. To fix this:

1. First try to close other running programs to free up device resources.
2. Reduce the emulator’s resolution settings.
3. Adjust the emulator’s frame rate settings.

Remember to keep RetroArch and its N64 cores updated as newer versions often come with optimizations, bug fixes, and new features which can resolve a lot of these issues.

Additional Resources

Database and Roms

To improve your RetroArch N64 gaming experience, you can try exploring the different graphical options such as 3D graphics and xBRZ filters. These can significantly improve the visual quality of older games and help them look more polished when displayed on modern screens.

You should now be all set and ready to play some Nintendo 64 games with RetroArch!