How To Setup The RetroArch SNES Core Snes9x | PC & Steam

If you’re looking for how to setup the RetroArch SNES core Snes9x, you’ve found the right article because we’ll be showing you just how simple it is to get all setup for playing some great Super Nintendo games. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System has some incredible classic games that hold up extremely well even today.

RetroArch is a popular emulation frontend for playing games from various different consoles including the SNES. We’ll be breaking down how to install the best SNES emulator, Snes9x’s core for RetroArch so that you can get right into playing some SNES games.

It’s pretty straightforward and easy to setup once you know how and won’t take you too long at all. We’ll be explaining how to setup the core for the standalone RetroArch version and also the Steam RetroArch version as well.

With that being said, let’s get to it!

How To Setup The RetroArch SNES Core Snes9x Standalone version?

Download RetroArch

• You’ll first need to go ahead and download and install the RetroArch emulator which you can grab from the official website here. If you already have RetroArch installed, make sure you are on the latest stable version which you can get here.

Get your ROM file ready

• Make sure that you have an SNES ROM available that you can use to test with. This ROM is the Super Nintendo game file that you’ll be playing.
  
  Do keep in mind that using ROM files for games that you don’t own and haven’t dumped is illegal.

Using a controller?

• Also, it’s recommended that you have a USB or Bluetooth controller handy to use. While not necessary, using a controller is a much better experience than a keyboard or only a touch screen for SNES games, but you’re welcome to play however you want!
  
  If you’re in the market for a capable new controller, an 8Bitdo SN30 Pro Wireless Bluetooth controller is a great choice and will only run you about $45 on Amazon.

8BitDo SN30 Pro Wireless Bluetooth Retro Controller

$44.99

1. How To Download The Snes9x RetroArch Core?

Finding the Snes9x Core

• Once RetroArch opens, select Load Core

• Next, select Download a Core

Downloading the Snes9x Core

• After, scroll all the way down until you see the Nintendo – SNES / SFC (Snex9x – Current) core and click on it to download it

• If RetroArch was already installed on your device, don’t forget to go back to the main menu screen and scroll down to select Online Updater and then select Update Core Info Files and also select Update Databases to ensure that all of your cores info files and databases are all up to date

• After it’s done downloading, you may now press back and then select Load Core

2. How To Load Your SNES ROM File In RetroArch

Go to Load Content

With the SNES core now installed in RetroArch, we’re ready to load up our Super Nintendo ROM file.

• Head back to the main menu and select Load Content

• Locate where you saved your SNES ROM on your computer and select it
• Your Super Nintendo game should now launch and you’re now playing the SNES on your computer

How To Install RetroArch Snes9x Core on Steam?

To install the RetroArch Snes9x core on Steam you will also need to:

• First, right click RetroArch on Steam > Manage > Browse local files.

• Once the Steam folder opens for the RetroArch files, open up the cores folder
• Next, install the Snes9x RetroArch core from the RetroArch buildbot here: https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/windows/x86_64/latest/snes9x_libretro.dll.zip
• After installing the Snes9x core, extract the files from the ZIP folder you downloaded
• Open up the extracted folder and copy the snes9x_libretro.dll file into your Steam’s core folder
• Next, install the Snes9x RetroArch info files from the RetroArch buildbot here:
  https://buildbot.libretro.com/assets/frontend/info.zip
• After installing the info files, extract them from the ZIP folder you downloaded and copy all of them into the “info” folder for your Steam version of RetroArch
• Next open the Steam version of RetroArch and click “Load Core” to check that the Nintendo – SNES / SFC (Snes9x – Current) core shows up – if it does, you’re all set
• You should now be ready to play some Super Nintendo games on RetroArch in Steam

Additional Snes9x Core Settings, Options, and Features

Supported Core File Extensions

The Snes9x core supports the following file extensions:

• .smc
• .sfc
• .swc
• .fig
• .bs
• .st

You should now be all setup and ready to play some Super Nintendo games!

You might also be interested in this Snes9x Netplay tutorial. If you’re using the standalone version of Snes9x, be sure to check out this guide on how to fast forward Snes9x and rewind.

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