Key takeaways:
- RetroArch is a free, open-source frontend that allows you to emulate many classic video game systems
- It supports a wide range of platforms including PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and more
- Setting up RetroArch involves downloading cores (emulators) for the systems you want to play and loading game ROMs
- RetroArch offers many advanced features like shaders, netplay, rewinding, and more to enhance the retro gaming experience
RetroArch is a powerful, cross-platform frontend for video game emulators that allows you to play classic games from systems like Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, PlayStation, and many more, all from a single application. It provides a unified interface for managing and launching games across a wide variety of retro consoles and computers.
One of the great things about RetroArch is that it is available on many platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox, PlayStation, and more. This means you can enjoy your favorite classic games on practically any device you own.
Table of Contents
Getting Started with RetroArch
To get started with RetroArch, first download it from the official website for your platform. Once installed, you’ll need to download “cores” for the systems you want to emulate. A core is essentially an emulator that has been converted to work within the RetroArch environment.
RetroArch includes a built-in Core Downloader that makes it easy to find and install cores directly from within the app. Simply go to “Load Core”, then “Download a Core”, and browse the list to find the system you want, like “Nintendo – SNES / SFC (Snes9x)”.
Once you have a core installed, you need to load a game for that system. RetroArch supports common ROM formats like .nes, .sfc, .gen, .iso, etc. Go to “Load Content”, browse to where your game files are stored, and select the game you want to play.
Tip: It’s a good idea to organize your ROMs in folders by system to keep things tidy, like “SNES Games”, “Genesis Games”, etc. You can then set up RetroArch to automatically scan these folders to build playlists for easy access to your games.
Configuring RetroArch
RetroArch is highly customizable, which is great for power users but can be overwhelming for beginners. The main settings you’ll want to configure are inputs (controllers) and video output.
To set up a controller, go to Settings > Input > Port 1 Controls. From here you can map your controller’s buttons to the virtual controller RetroArch uses. It supports many common controllers out of the box, including Xbox, PlayStation, and generic USB gamepads.
For video settings, go to Settings > Video. Here you can set your aspect ratio, resolution, and filters. CRT filters can make games look more authentic by simulating the scanlines and curvature of old tube TVs. You can also apply shaders for cool retro effects.
Advanced Features
Beyond basic emulation, RetroArch offers many advanced features for enhancing your retro gaming experience:
- Shaders: Apply cool visual effects to make games look better or simulate a CRT look
- Netplay: Play multiplayer games online with friends, even for old consoles
- Rewind: Go back in time to undo mistakes or difficult sections, just like a VCR
- Cheats: Use classic cheat codes or even make your own with the built-in cheat manager
- Savestates: Save your progress anywhere, not just at the game’s save points
These features can really take your classic gaming to the next level and are all easily accessible within RetroArch’s interface.
FAQ
What systems can RetroArch emulate?
RetroArch supports a huge number of classic systems, including:
- Atari 2600
- Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
- Super Nintendo (SNES)
- Nintendo 64
- Nintendo Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance
- Sega Master System and Genesis/Mega Drive
- Sony PlayStation 1 and PlayStation Portable (PSP)
- Arcade games (MAME)
- MS-DOS computers
- and many more
Basically, if it’s a classic system, RetroArch probably supports it. The full list is available on the RetroArch website.
Is it legal to use emulators and ROMs?
The emulators themselves, like RetroArch and the cores it uses, are completely legal. They do not contain any copyrighted code.
However, the legality of game ROMs is more of a gray area. In general, it is only legal to play ROMs of games you own. Downloading ROMs for games you don’t own is considered piracy.
Some publishers allow you to extract ROMs from games you’ve purchased, or provide official ROMs for download, but this is rare. Always research the legality for the specific games you want to play.
Can I use my original controllers from old consoles with RetroArch?
In many cases, yes! You can buy USB adapters for original controllers for systems like NES, SNES, Genesis, and PlayStation. These adapters let you plug the original controller into your PC or other device and use it with RetroArch.
There are also many modern controllers designed to look and feel like classic controllers, but with USB connectors for easy use on modern systems. 8BitDo is a popular brand that makes retro-style wireless controllers.
How do I set up multiplayer games with friends?
RetroArch supports netplay, which allows you to play multiplayer games online. To set it up:
- Make sure you and your friend have the same game and core installed
- One person hosts the game by going to Settings > Netplay > Host
- The other person joins by going to Settings > Netplay > Connect to Netplay Host
- Enter the host’s IP address and the port number they specify
- Once connected, the host can start the game and you can play together
Netplay works best over a wired connection or very fast WiFi. It also helps if you live close to each other to minimize lag.
