RetroArch Emulator: A Comprehensive Guide for Gamers

The RetroArch emulator is an open-source graphical frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players, and other apps that allows users to run classic games on a wide range of computers and consoles.

It’s well known for its unified settings and sleek user interface, which streamlines the gaming experience by providing one main centralized platform. The convenience of RetroArch lies in its ability to eliminate the need to switch between different emulators and apps, making it a one stop shop popular choice for avid retro gamers.

Developed as the reference implementation of the libretro API, RetroArch is designed to be fast, lightweight, portable, and free from dependencies. The application runs programs converted into dynamic libraries, also known as libretro cores, which enables compatibility with various gaming systems.

RetroArch showed up many times on our list for the best emulators for PC for tons of different gaming systems.

RetroArch even supports running original game discs which can be played through your computer’s CD drive, adding to its appeal among users who wish to relive that classic gaming experience.

What Is The RetroArch Emulator?

Open-Source and Cross-Platform

RetroArch is a free and open-source emulator that supports a multitude of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and many more. Its open-source nature encourages community involvement and collaboration to enhance its features and performance. The emulator’s cross-platform compatibility enables users to enjoy classic games on various different devices.

Frontend and Cores

As a frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players, RetroArch simplifies user interactions through a polished and unified graphical interface. The emulator relies on libretro cores – dynamic libraries developed for the libretro API – to provide compatibility with a wide range of games and systems. Each core represents a specific system or a game engine, allowing RetroArch to run various retro games by loading the appropriate core.

The use of cores makes RetroArch a versatile choice when it comes to emulating multiple systems without the need to manage separate emulator programs. Users can easily switch between different cores to play games from a diverse range of gaming consoles. In addition to supporting original game discs (CDs), the emulator’s ability to manage multiple cores simplifies the entire process for users and offers a streamlined experience for retro gaming enthusiasts.

Supported Platforms

Windows, Mac, and Linux

RetroArch is a versatile emulator that supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Its cross-platform compatibility allows users to enjoy classic games and applications on their personal computers with ease.

Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox

In addition to support for traditional computer platforms, RetroArch is also compatible with various gaming consoles such as Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox. By using the emulator, users can experience their favorite games from these popular consoles on their devices without the need for owning the original hardware.

Android and iOS

RetroArch can also be enjoyed on mobile devices running Android and iOS. The emulator’s interface is optimized for these platforms, allowing users to easily play classic games on their smartphones or tablets on the go.

Raspberry Pi

Lastly, RetroArch is also available for the Raspberry Pi platform, enabling hobbyists and enthusiasts to create their own custom gaming systems using this powerful and lightweight platform. Raspberry Pi owners can transform their boards into versatile gaming emulators, playing a variety of classic games across different consoles with RetroArch.

In summary, RetroArch provides a flexible and cross-platform solution for enthusiasts who want to revisit and play classic games on a wide range of devices, from personal computers and gaming consoles to mobile devices and the Raspberry Pi platform.

All Supported Platforms

• Windows 11 / 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7 (available standalone, but also available on Steam and Itch.io)
• Windows Vista / XP
• Windows 2000 / ME / 98SE
• Windows 98 / 95
• Haiku
• Raspberry Pi
• Android
• Linux
• iOS / Apple TV
• Apple macOS (ARM/x64) – High Sierra (10.13+)
• Apple macOS (x64) – Lion (10.7+)
• Xbox Series / Xbox One
• PS Vita, PSP, PS2, PS3, PS4
• Nintendo Switch
• Wii U
• Wii
• Gamecube
• 3DS / 2DS
• Steam
• Web Browsers
• RetroMini RS90
• Miyoo (Pocket Go, PowKiddy Q90 / V90 and New BittBoy)
• RetroFW
• OpenDingux (GCW Zero/RG350M / RG280V / and more)

Setting Up Retroarch

Configuration and Customization

To set up RetroArch, first download the latest release for your platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, smartphones, tablets, etc.). Once downloaded, either run the installer or extract the archive to a folder.

After launching RetroArch, you will be greeted with the main menu. If you wish, you can now dive into the settings to start customizing the emulator:

• Settings: Set up various configurations such as video, audio, input, saved states, and more.
• User Interface: Modify the appearance and theme of RetroArch’s menu system.
• On-Screen Display: Tweak and enable on-screen notifications for in-game events, as well as the on-screen keyboard for typing.

Core and Game Setup

RetroArch utilizes cores to emulate different gaming systems. Each core corresponds to a specific system, and you will need to download and load the appropriate core to play each game. To download cores:

1. Navigate to Main Menu > Load Core > Download a Core.
2. Browse the core list and select the core compatible with the desired gaming system, for example the Citra 3DS core.
3. Wait for the download to complete, and the core will be installed.

To load a core, go to Main Menu > Load Core, pick your installed core, and you are ready to run games. To load a game, follow these steps:

1. Place the game ROMs or ISOs in a designated folder on your device.
2. In RetroArch, go to Main Menu > Load Content.
3. Browse to the folder containing your game files, select the game, and you’re ready to go!

Controller Mapping

RetroArch provides some really solid custom controller support, including gamepad support for PC, smartphones, and tablets. To map your controller:

1. Connect your gamepad to your device.
2. Head to Settings > Input.
3. Select Port 1 Controls (or the respective port if you have multiple controllers).
4. Choose Bind All to automatically map the buttons or User 1 Bind Default All to revert to the default mapping.
5. If required, bind individual buttons by selecting the corresponding action and pressing the desired button on your gamepad.

Managing Game Content

Adding Games to Your Library

To add games to your RetroArch library, you’ll need to have ROM files of the games you want to play. Speaking of which, here is a list of the best sites for ROMs.

RetroArch supports standard ROM files as well as compressed .zip or .7z files – a nice touch that can help save storage space on your device. Once you have your ROM files ready, follow these steps:

1. Open RetroArch and navigate to the Import Content tab.
2. Select Scan Directory and browse to the folder containing your ROM files.
3. Choose the directory with your ROMs and press Scan This Directory. RetroArch will automatically detect and add the games to your library.

It’s important to note that some systems may require BIOS files in addition to ROM files.

Remember to obtain your ROM files and BIOS files legally and only do so for games that you physically own.

Organizing Your ROM Collection

The last thing you want is a confusing cluttered mess of ROMs. You can organize your ROMs by system or genre, creating separate folders for each category. Additionally, you can also easily use the built in scanning and sorting features that come with RetroArch to improve your library’s ROM organization:

• Enable Sort Library Alphabetically to arrange your games in alphabetical order.
• Use Group Content by System for a more consolidated view of your collections by each gaming console.

Updating Cores and Extensions

As mentioned previously, RetroArch uses cores to emulate various gaming systems. It is essential to keep these cores updated for the best compatibility and performance. Follow these steps to update your cores within RetroArch:

• Go to the Online Updater menu.
• Select Update Cores to download and install the latest core versions.

Extensions, such as thumbnails and game metadata, enhance your library’s appearance and overall experience. Regularly updating these is also essential. Follow these steps to update extensions within RetroArch:

• Go to the Online Updater menu.
• Choose Update Thumbnails, Update Databases, or Update Overlays as needed for your desired extensions.

Emulator Features and Tools

Save States and Rewinding

RetroArch has the ability to use save states and rewinding capabilities. Save states enable gamers to save and load their progress at any moment during gameplay. This allows for greater convenience compared to traditional in-game save systems. RetroArch’s rewinding feature grants players the ability to undo actions by rewinding gameplay, allowing them to correct mistakes and try again.

Shaders and Graphics Settings

RetroArch supports various shaders and graphics settings, beefing up and enhancing the visual appearance of classic retro games. Shaders are graphical filters that can replicate the look and feel of old-school CRT screens or even improve the graphics of retro games with modern enhancements.

A few notable shaders and graphics settings include:

• CRT shaders: Lets players mimic the scanlines and curvature of classic CRT screens
• Upscaling: Allows you to improve the resolution of low-res games for high-definition displays
• Filters: With this, you can modify colors, contrast, and other visual aspects of the game

Netplay and Online Multiplayer

RetroArch incorporates netplay functionality, allowing players to engage in online multiplayer classic gaming with friends. Netplay works by synchronizing the input and game state between connected devices, making it possible to enjoy retro video games with online multiplayer similarly to modern gaming platforms.

Advanced Usage

Using BIOS Files and Plugins

RetroArch offers extensive support for various systems, which can often require BIOS files and plugins to function correctly. These files can be vital when attempting to emulate certain gaming consoles, such as the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. To use BIOS files, ensure that you have the correct files for the specific system you want to emulate. Once obtained, place them in the system folder of your RetroArch installation.

Plugins, on the other hand, can enhance RetroArch’s performance or add extra functionality. Some popular N64 based plugins are the GLideN64 graphics plugin for graphical enhancements, the NRage input plugin for input improvements, and other plugins for audio fixes. To install plugins, download the appropriate files and place them in the cores folder of your RetroArch installation. Remember to enable the plugin within RetroArch settings before launching your game to ensure that it’s all setup and ready to go.

Setting Up Arcade Emulation

Arcade emulation is one really cool possibility with RetroArch. It enables you to relive classic arcade games in all their glory. To set up arcade emulation:

1. Choose a core: RetroArch offers various cores compatible with arcade systems, such as MAME or Final Burn Alpha. After installing RetroArch on your arcade setup, download the desired core from the Load Core menu.
2. Obtain ROMs: Ensure that you have the necessary ROM files for the games you wish to play. Place them in a folder within your RetroArch directory, usually called something like Roms or Arcade.
3. Create a playlist: In RetroArch’s main menu, select Import Content > Scan Directory. Select the folder containing your arcade ROMs and let RetroArch create a playlist with the games.
4. Launch your game: Select a game from the playlist, then choose the appropriate core to run it, and enjoy on your arcade machine!

All Available Cores

2048	Game	A port of the popular puzzle game 2048 to libretro
3D Engine	–	This is a test core; it demonstrates how to create a hardware-rendered core in a libretro context
4DO	3DO	–
a5200	Atari 5200	–
Arduous	Arduboy	A emulator for Arduboy, a handheld game console with open source software, based on the Arduino hardware platform
Atari800	Atari 5200	–
Beetle bsnes	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
Beetle Cygne	Bandai WonderSwan/Color	–
Beetle GBA	Game Boy Advance	–
Beetle Lynx	Atari Lynx	–
Beetle NeoPop	Neo Geo Pocket/Color	–
Beetle PC-FX	NEC PC-FX	–
Beetle PCE	NEC PC Engine/SuperGrafx/CD	–
Beetle PSX	Sony PlayStation	–
Beetle PSX HW	Sony PlayStation	A fork of Mednafen’s PSX providing GPU-accelerated renderers for OpenGL and Vulkan
Beetle Saturn	Sega Saturn	–
Beetle SuperGrafx	NEC PC Engine/SuperGrafx	–
Beetle Supafaust	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
Beetle VB	Nintendo Virtual Boy	–
BK	BK-0010/BK-0011(M)/Terak 8510-a	A port of the PDP11 emulator to libretro. This core emulates the PDP-11/03 platform.
BlastEm	Sega Genesis (Mega Drive)	–
blueMSX	MSX/SVI/ColecoVision/SG-1000	–
bnes	Nintendo NES/Famicom	–
boom 3	Game engine	A port of the Doom 3 engine to libretro. There is a separate core for it’s expansion pack ‘Resurrection of Evil’.
boom 3 xp	Game engine	(See boom 3 note)
bsnes	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
bsnes 2014 Accuracy	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
bsnes 2014 Balanced	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
bsnes 2014 Performance	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
bsnes C++98 (v085)	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
bsnes-hd beta	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
bsnes-mercury Accuracy	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
bsnes-mercury Balanced	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
bsnes-mercury Performance	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
Cannonball	Game engine	A port of the Cannonball, enhanced OutRun engine to libretro
Caprice32	Amstrad CPC	–
CDi 2015	Philips CDi	–
ChaiLove	Game engine	A free, open-source framework used to make 2D games in ChaiScript
Citra	Nintendo 3DS	–
Citra 2018	Nintendo 3DS	–
Citra Canary	Nintendo 3DS	–
Craft	Game	–
CrocoDS	Amstrad CPC	–
Cruzes	Game	–
Daphne	Arcade	–
DeSmuME	Nintendo DS	–
DeSmuME 2015	Nintendo DS	–
Dinothawr	Game engine	A push-the-block-in-a-straight-line puzzle game in the spirit of Kickle Cubicle
DirectXbox	Xbox	–
Dolphin	Nintendo GameCube/Wii	–
DOSBox	DOS	–
DOSBox-core	DOS	Provides some improvements over the DOSBox-SVN trunk, including native MIDI support, cycle-accurate OPL3 (YMF262) emulation, MT-32 emulation and experimental 3dfx Voodoo support
DOSBox-Pure	DOS	A port of DOSBox with a goal of simplicty and ease of use and gameplay. This core includes a streamlined workflow for launching games directly from ZIP archives with automated mapping of controls to gamepads and a native onscreen keyboard.
DOSBox-SVN	DOS	This core is based on DOSBox-SVN trunk and allows on-the-fly configuration and different sync methods
DuckStation	Sony PlayStation	–
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup	Game	A preliminary port of the Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup strategy game
EasyRPG	RPG Maker 2000/2003	–
ECWolf	Game engine	A port of the Wolfenstein 3D engine to libretro
EighyOne	Sinclair ZX 81	–
Emux CHIP-8	CHIP-8	–
Emux GB	Game Boy/Color	–
Emux NES	Nintendo NES/Famicom	–
Emux SMS	Sega Master System	–
EmuSCV	Super Cassette Vision	–
Ep128emu	Enterprise 128	–
FAKE-08	Pico-8	A port of the FAKE-08 open-source reimplementation of the PICO-8 fantasy console to libretro
FB Alpha	Arcade/Console/various	(See FB Neo note)
FB Alpha 2012	Arcade/Console/various	(See FB Neo note)
FB Alpha 2012 CPS-1	CPS-1	–
FB Alpha 2012 CPS-2	CPS-2	–
FB Alpha 2012 CPS-3	CPS-3	–
FB Alpha 2012 Neo Geo	Neo Geo	–
FB Neo	Arcade/Console/various	Full list of supported systems: https://github.com/finalburnneo/FBNeo/wiki
FCEUmm	Nintendo NES/Famicom	–
FFmpeg	Media player	A port of FFmpeg library which allows playback of a variety of audio and video formats
fixGB	Game Boy/Color	–
fixNES	Nintendo NES/Famicom	–
Flycast	Sega Dreamcast/NAOMI	–
Flycast GLES2	Sega Dreamcast/NAOMI	–
fMSX	MSX/MSX2/MSX2+	–
FreeChaF	Fairchild ChannelF	–
FreeInv	Mattel Intellivision	–
FreeJ2ME	J2ME	a port of Java 2 Micro Edition emulator
Frodo	Commodore C64	–
FS-UAE	Commodore Amiga	–
Fuse	Sinclair ZX Spectrum	–
Gambatte	Game Boy/Color	–
Game Music Emu	Music player	A port of Game Music Emu which allows playback of a wide variety of video game music formats
Gearboy	Game Boy/Color	–
Gearcoleco	Coleco ColecoVision	–
Gearsystem	Sega MS/GG/SG-1000	–
Genesis Plus GX	Sega MS/GG/MD/CD	–
gpSP	Game Boy Advance	–
Gong	Game	A clone of Pong written for libretro
GW	Handheld Electronic	A simulator of various Game and Watch-style handheld electronic games
Handy	Atari Lynx	–
Hatari	Atari ST/STE/TT/Falcon	–
HBMAME	Arcade/Console/various	HBMAME (HomeBrew MAME) is a derivative of MAME, and contains various hacks and homebrews
higan Accuracy	Nintendo SNES/SFC/Game Boy/Color	–
Imageviewer	Imageviewer	A basic core for viewing still images in a libretro frontend
Ishiiruka	Nintendo GameCube/Wii	–
JAXE	CHIP-8/S-CHIP/XO-CHIP	–
Jump ‘n Bump	Game engine	A reimplementation of the engine of Jump ‘n Bump, a open-source MS-DOS multiplayer video game by Brainchild Design
Kronos	Sega Saturn/ST-V	A port of the Kronos, which is itself a fork of Yabause emulator
LowRes NX	Game engine	A port of the LowRes NX fantasy console to libretro
Lutro	Game engine	An experimental Lua game framework for libretro, based on a subset of the LOVE API
MAME (Current)	Arcade/Console/various	Based on MAME development branch. Full list of supported systems: http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/mame.php
MAME 2000	Arcade/Console/various	(See MAME note)
MAME 2003	Arcade/Console/various	(See MAME note)
MAME 2003 Midway	Arcade/Console/various	(See MAME note)
MAME 2003-Plus	Arcade/Console/various	(See MAME note)
MAME 2009	Arcade/Console/various	(See MAME note)
MAME 2010	Arcade/Console/various	(See MAME note)
MAME 2015	Arcade/Console/various	(See MAME note)
MAME 2016	Arcade/Console/various	(See MAME note)
melonDS	Nintendo DS	–
Mesen	Nintendo NES/Famicom	–
Mesen-S	Nintendo SNES/SFC/Game Boy/Color	–
MESS 2015	Multi (various)	(See MAME note)
Meteor	Game Boy Advance	–
mGBA	Game Boy Advance	–
Minivmac	Mac II	MacII variant of minivmac emulator
mpv	Media player	An port of MPV media player to libretro
Mr.Boom	Game	A clone of the classic Bomberman series
Mu	Palm OS	An emulator for the Palm m515 OS ported to libretro
Mupen64Plus-Next	Nintendo 64	–
Mupen64Plus-Next GLES2	Nintendo 64	–
Mupen64Plus-Next GLES3	Nintendo 64	–
Neko Project II	NEC PC-98	–
Neko Project II Kai	NEC PC-98	–
NeoCD	Neo Geo CD	–
Nestopia UE	Nintendo NES/Famicom	–
nSide Balanced	Nintendo SNES/SFC/Game Boy/Color	–
Numero	TI-83	A TI-83 Emulator for Libretro
NXEngine	Game engine	An open-source reimplementation of the Cave Story / Doukutsu engine
O2EM	Magnavox Odyssey2/Phillips Videopac+	–
Oberon	Oberon RISC machine	An emulator for the Oberon RISC machine, ported to libretro
OpenLara	Game engine	A port of the OpenLara free/open re-implementation of the engine used by the original Tomb Raider series
OpenTyrian	Game	A port of the OpenTyrian clone of the classic Tyrian shmup, ported to libretro
Opera	3DO	–
ParaLLEl N64	Nintendo 64	–
PascalPong	Game	A free and basic clone of the classic Pong game, written for libretro
PCem	IBM PC	–
LRPS2	Sony PlayStation 2	–
PCSX ReARMed	Sony PlayStation	–
PicoDrive	Sega MS/GG/MD/CD/32X	–
Play!	Sony PlayStation 2	–
Pocket CDG	Karaoke player	A karaoke music player, ported to libretro
PokeMini	Nintendo Pokemon Mini	–
Potator	Watara Supervision	–
PPSSPP	PlayStation Portable	–
PrBoom	Game engine	A port of the PrBoom source port of iD’s classic Doom engine
ProSystem	Atari 7800	–
PUAE	Commodore Amiga	–
PUAE 2021	Commodore Amiga	–
PuzzleScript	Game engine	A port of PuzzleScript, open source HTML5 puzzle game engine
PX68k	Sharp X68000	–
QUASI88	NEC PC-8000/PC-8800 series	–
QuickNES	Nintendo NES/Famicom	–
RACE	Neo Geo Pocket/Color	–
Redbook	Music player	A libretro core for playing back Redbook-formatted audio, such as commercial audio CDs
REminiscence	Game engine	A port of the REminiscence engine, a reimplementation of the engine used by Delphine Software’s Flashback
Retro8	Game engine	A port of the Retro8 open-source reimplementation of the PICO-8 fantasy console to libretro
Rustation	Sony PlayStation	–
SameBoy	Game Boy/Color	–
SameDuck	Mega Duck (Cougar Boy)	An adaptation of SameBoy to play Mega Duck games
SAME CDI	Philips CDi	SAME CDi is a S(ingle) A(rcade) M(achine) E(mulator) for libretro, forked from MAME, which only includes the Philips CD-i driver
ScummVM	Game engine	A fork of the ScummVM adventure game engine ported to libretro
SimCoupe	SAM Coupe	–
SMS Plus GX	Sega MS/GG	–
Snes9x	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
Snes9x 2002	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
Snes9x 2005	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
Snes9x 2005 Plus	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
Snes9x 2010	Nintendo SNES/SFC	–
SquirrelJME	Java ME	A port of the SquirrelJME Java ME 8 Virtual Machine emulator to libretro
Stella	Atari 2600	–
Stella 2014	Atari 2600	–
Super Bros War	Game engine	A fork of Super Mario War, a fan-made multiplayer Super Mario Bros. style deathmatch game
SwanStation	Sony PlayStation	SwanStation is a fork of the Duckstation emulator
TempGBA	Game Boy Advance	–
TGB Dual	Game Boy/Color	–
Theodore	Thomson MO/TO	–
TIC-80	Game engine	A port of the free and open source fantasy computer TIC-80 to libretro
The Powder Toy	Game	A port of the Powdertoy physics sandbox/simulation engine to libretro
TyrQuake	Game engine	A port of the tyrquake engine
UAE4ARM	Commodore Amiga	–
UME 2015	Arcade/Console/various	(See MAME note)
Uzem	Uzebox	A port of Uzem, the official emulator for the Uzebox
VaporSpec	Game engine	A virtual game platform with capabilities similar to 80s game consoles
VBA-M	Game Boy Advance	VisualBoy Advance-M is a active fork of VisualBoy Advance emulator
VBA Next	Game Boy Advance	–
vecx	Vectrex	–
VeMUlator	SEGA Visual Memory Unit	A port of VeMUlator, a SEGA Dreamcast VMU emulator originally developed for Android
VICE x64	Commodore C64	–
VICE x64sc	Commodore C64	–
VICE x128	Commodore C128	–
VICE xcbm2	Commodore CBM-II 6×0/7×0	–
VICE xcbm5x0	Commodore CBM-II 5×0	–
VICE xpet	Commodore PET	–
VICE xplus4	Commodore Plus/4	–
VICE xscpu64	Commodore C64 SuperCPU	–
VICE xvic	Commodore VIC-20	–
Virtual Jaguar	Atari Jaguar	–
VirtualXT	DOS	Runns PC/XT class software. Mainly intended for PC booters from the 80’s.
vitaQuake 2	Game engine	A port of the VitaQuake 2 source port of iD’s Quake 2 engine to libretro. There is a separate core for each of the Quake 2 mission packs, ‘Rogue’, ‘Zaero’ and ‘Xatrix’.
vitaQuake 2 (Rogue)	Game engine	(See vitaQuake 2 note)
vitaQuake 2 (Xatrix)	Game engine	(See vitaQuake 2 note)
vitaQuake 2 (Zaero)	Game engine	(See vitaQuake 2 note)
vitaQuake 3	Game engine	A port of the VitaQuake 3 source port of iD’s ioquake3 engine to libretro
vitaVoyager	Game engine	A port of the Lilium Voyager engine, which runs the Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force game and is itself based on the ioquake3
WASM-4	Game engine	WASM-4 is a open source low-level fantasy game console for building small games with WebAssembly
X Millennium	Sharp X1	–
XRick	Game engine	A port of the XRick, an open-source clone of the Rick Dangerous engine
YabaSanshiro	Sega Saturn	A port of the YabaSanshiro, which is itself a fork of Yabause emulator
Yabause	Sega Saturn	–

Final Thoughts

RetroArch is a very powerful frontend for emulating classic games. It’s very versatile and can be used on a plethora of different devices. With all of the customizations and features available, the options are nearly endless.

Check out this complete guide for setting up RetroArch N64. You may also enjoy this article on the OpenEmu emulator frontend for Mac.