RetroArch - Game emulation & multimedia

RetroArch is an open-source initiative that utilizes a robust development framework known as Libretro. This interface enables the creation of cross-platform applications that can harness advanced features like OpenGL, camera support across different platforms, location capabilities, and more to come in the future.

The application includes its own internal collection of tools, serving as a comprehensive source for entertainment.

Libretro and RetroArch are ideally designed for developing games, emulators, and multimedia software. For further information, please refer to our resources.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ!!!

This edition of RetroArch varies from the version on our website in that it does not include a Core Downloader, adhering to Google Play Store regulations. It supports a maximum of 50 cores. 

If this limitation does not meet your requirements, you have two alternatives:

* Obtain RetroArch Plus, which is also available for free on the Play Store (this version allows support for up to 127 cores). It requires Android 8.0 or higher.

* Download RetroArch directly from our resource site, where you can get the APK for installation. This version features the Core Downloader and is regarded as the complete version.

Advantages of the Play Store version compared to the APK from the website:

* Automatic weekly updates for both cores and RetroArch.

Disadvantages of the Play Store version compared to the APK from the website:

* Limited to a maximum of 50 supported cores.

FEATURES:

* Attractive menu options!

* Scan files/directories and integrate them into game system collections!

* Access database details about each game once included in a collection!

* Download programs ('cores') online

* Update all components!

* Access Game & Watch titles through our exclusive Game & Watch emulator!

* Built-in control remapping functionality

* Option to customize controls

* Capability to enter and load cheats

* Support for multiple languages!

* Over 80 programs ('cores') available and continually expanding!

* Enjoy multiplayer gaming with NetPlay!

* Capture screenshots, save states, and more!

* No DRM involved

* Unlimited usage without restrictions

* Completely open-source

* Free from push advertisements

* No tracking

* Absolutely no ads

Frequently Asked Questions

Which core is the best to emulate(some console/game)?

There is no best core, each has a different use case (accuracy, speed...). So try and find the Core that suits your needs. You can visit our forum here and read other users' preferences. The libretro documentation site can also provide information that may be useful in choosing the right core for your needs. When selecting cores, the ones without a year after their names are the most up-to-date, while the ones with years (such as Snes9x2010) are snapshots from an earlier period of the core's development when it was faster but less accurate. So, as a general rule, you should start with the lat

I can't load a game or the core crashes on startup

Before taking any action, update both the Core and Info with Online Updater. Potential reasons are: you are missing a required file like the BIOS, or it is named incorrectly (you can check it by loading the core and then navigate to Main menu -> Information -> Core Information); the core doesn't support your game; your ROM is a bad dump (most commonly due to incorrect CUE files; make sure the files mentioned in the CUE actually exist and are named correctly); your BIOS is a bad dump or does not match the ones the core requires; or the core doesn't support the video driver you are using (some cores require, for example, OpenGL and will not work with other drivers, such as D3D11). Also, disc-based games (bin + cue pairs) will not work from an archive (*.zip, *.7z, etc.), so make sure these are unzipped before launching. If you have checked all of these possibilities and it still doesn't work, please visit our Discord server or support Forum. Be sure to collect logs before reporting any issue.

When will the next version of RetroArch be released?

RetroArch continues to improve itself day by day. So there is no specific date for the next release but you can try the nightly builds to get the latest features.

Why are some cores missing from the Online Updater's Core Downloader?

There are several possible reasons: not all cores are available for all platforms; the core's name might have changed (check the libretro blog and/or release changelog notes for such announcements); your Core Info files might be out of date (RetroArch uses these files to sort the Core Downloader properly); the core may be deprecated for some reason, such as being superseded/replaced by another similar core.

How can I use custom theme for RGUI?

Setting Menu Color Theme to Custom allows for an even greater degree of personalisation via the use of custom menu theme presets. A number of examples are provided in the RetroArch assets package, which may be downloaded by selecting from the top menu Online Updater > Update Assets. To choose one of these examples, go to Settings > User Interface > Appearance and select the Custom Menu Theme Preset option. In the file browser that opens, navigate to the rgui directory and select a .cfg file.

What are Achievements and how can I use them?

RetroArch provides a trophy unlocking mechanism similar to modern game consoles. The first step is to register an account on http://retroachievements.org/. Then, you need to enable the functionality and fill your retroachievements credentials in Settings->Achievements.

How can I apply Shaders?

RetroArch is shipped with a lot of shader presets. To enable a shader preset, you need to have a game running. You then trigger the menu and you should see a Shaders entry in the Quick Menu. Go to Load Shader Preset and choose a preset file.

How to download or upload Cores?

On most platforms (except game consoles and certain mobile platforms), RetroArch comes with dynamic module loading support. On these systems, you will be able to install and/or update new cores as they become available on our buildbot. To access these, go to RetroArch's main menu, select 'Online Updater', and then select 'Update Cores'.

How do I create a new autoconfig profile for my controller?

If your joypad is not recognized by RetroArch even after updating the profiles, you can generate a profile from the menu. The first step is to proceed to a manual mapping of your pad. For this, unplug all the other controllers, and use Settings->Input->User 1 Binds->User 1 Bind All. Make sure that your mapping is perfect by testing every button in the menu and in some games. Finally, use Settings->Inputs->User 1 Binds->User 1 Save Autoconfig and the controller profile will be saved to your disk. You can now do a Settings->Inputs->User 1 Binds->User 1 Bind Default All to reset the manual settings. Otherwise they would take precedence over the profile you generated. Unplug your controller and then re-plug it.