retroarch – Retro Game Corps

Retro Gaming on a Mac

April 6, 2023April 6, 2023by Russ2 Comments

Last updated: 06APR2023 (see Changelog for details)

Macs have always been considered terrible for gaming, but recent advances in Apple silicon chips have paved the way for some spectacular retro game emulation. In this guide we’re going to focus on the cheapest Mac available, which is the lowest-spec Mac Mini (which retails at $599). I’ll walk you through the setup process and do game testing for all your favorite systems: classic retro content like GBA, NES, and SNES, all the way to more powerful systems like Dreamcast, N64, Saturn, PS1, PSP, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, Switch, PS2, PS3, and more.

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Guides

Widescreen SNES Guide

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023by Russ3 Comments

Last updated: 22FEB2023 (see Changelog for details)

In this guide I’ll show you how to set up widescreen for many beloved SNES games. Not every game will work with this setup, but many do, including some of my personal favorites.

To enable widescreen, you must use the BSNES standalone emulator or the BSNES HD Beta core within RetroArch. For this guide we will focus on the BSNES HD Beta RetroArch core.

You will need a somewhat powerful machine to run the BSNES RetroArch core. For retro handhelds, I recommend something like the Retroid Pocket 3+ at the very least, but the AYN Odin or Logitech Cloud will work even better.

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Guides

PS2 and PS1 BIOS Extraction Guide

February 17, 2023February 17, 2023by Russ1 Comment

Last updated: 17FEB2023 (see Changelog for details)

In this guide I’ll show you how to safely extract your own BIOS files to use with PS2 and PS1 emulators, thanks to a new tool that works with the official Sony PS3 firmware update file. No longer do you need to rely on a hacked console (or shady websites) to acquire your BIOS files! These BIOS can then be used in many popular emulators like PCSX2, AetherSX2, DuckStation, and RetroArch.

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Guides

The Ultimate ROM File Compression Guide

February 6, 2023April 13, 2023by Russ44 Comments

Last updated: 08FEB2023 (see Changelog for details)

Organizing your ROM library can be confusing and tedious, and so in this guide I will show you how I use CHD, PBP, and RVZ files to optimize my collection.

For this guide I will focus on CD-based games, as they often pose the most issues when it comes to compatibility. (Secret tip: for cartridge-based systems like NES, you can generally just use zip files or leave them uncompressed).

Note that the video guide is made with Windows PCs in mind, but I have included Mac instructions where applicable below.

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Guides

Anbernic RG35XX Starter Guide

January 3, 2023August 23, 2023by Russ165 Comments

Last updated: 23AUG2023 (see Changelog for details)

In this guide I will show you how to get started with the Anbernic RG35XX retro handheld, and how to set up the new GarlicOS game launcher and greatly improve the device’s user experience.

Where to buy the RG35XX:
Anbernic website
AliExpress
Amazon (more expensive but faster shipping and easy returns)

GarlicOS is provided as a community build thanks to the work of developer Black Seraph. If you have the means, please consider leaving him a tip jar donation to thank him for his efforts. MinUI is created by Shaun Inman.

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Guides, steam deck

Steam Deck Emulation Starter Guide

October 16, 2022June 20, 2024by Russ60 Comments

Last updated: 05MAR2024 (see Changelog for details)

Valve’s Steam Deck is the perfect storm of handhelds: it has an exceptional price-to-performance ratio, a large game library thanks to its Steam integration, and it is becoming more readily available every month. In this guide I’ll show you how to play your favorite retro (and modern) game systems via software emulation.

This guide will primarily use an app called EmuDeck to set up your emulation experience, but I will also touch on other solutions like RetroDeck and Batocera. If you are looking for a general setup guide for the Steam Deck itself, I recommend this comprehensive Steam Deck guide from GitHub user mikeroyal.

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Guides

Super Console (KinHank) Arcade Stick Setup Guide

September 6, 2022September 5, 2022by Russ3 Comments

Last updated: 06SEP2022

The Super Console Arcade Stick from KinHank is one of my family’s favorite gaming devices of 2022, and so in this guide I will show you how to load it up with a clean copy of EmuELEC 4.3, add your own game library, and then tailor it for the best experience possible.

Buy one via AliExpress or Amazon
Replacement arcade buttons via AliExpress or Amazon

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Guides, odin

AYN Odin & Odin 2 Starter Guide

May 28, 2022June 21, 2024by Russ41 Comments

Last updated: 30APR2024 (see Changelog for details)

The AYN Odin handhelds are a perfect storm of emulation gaming goodness — they provide excellent performance for their price, great battery life, and a nice screen, all will solid controls and ergonomics.

This guide will work with any AYN Odin and Odin 2 model, with notes for each distinct device when necessary.

Because the AYN Odin runs on an Android platform, setting up the device is similar to setting up any other Android device for the purpose of game emulation. I already have complete Android and RetroArch guides on this website, which will serve as the foundation of setting up your Odin. There are some unique setup aspects for the Odin which we’ll cover in this guide, to complement the two guides above, but I would highly encourage you to check out those two guides if you want to take a deeper dive into the platforms.

Are the Odin devices pre-loaded with games? No, the devices ship as a general Android phone or tablet, with only essential apps (Play Store, Chrome, etc.) pre-installed. You are on your own to find the emulated game files (ROMs) to play on this device. There are no copyrighted files on this website.

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Guides, odin

Android Emulation Starter Guide

March 13, 2022August 20, 2024by Russ36 Comments

Last updated: 20AUG2024 (see Changelog for details)

The Android operating system is found everywhere — on phones, tablets, retro handheld devices, media streaming devices, and even some TVs. This guide is meant to help you get acquainted with game emulation on any number of Android devices.

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Apple, Guides, Mini PCs, PS Vita, Retroid Pocket 2, RG552, xbox

RetroArch Starter Guide

February 28, 2022November 15, 2022by Russ27 Comments

Last updated: 28FEB2022 (see Changelog for details)

RetroArch is one of my favorite programs to use for retro game emulation, because it can emulate many systems. But it does have quite a steep learning curve. In this guide I’m going to demystify some of the more peculiar things about this emulation frontend, and show you how I set up RetroArch on my own gaming platforms.

This guide is meant to help you get set up with various RetroArch iterations. The video will primarily be done on Windows PC, but the same method will apply to MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Vita, and Xbox platforms, and more.

RetroArch really shines on retro systems, particularly PlayStation 1 and below games. For more modern consoles, it is often more efficient to rely on standalone emulators, which are generally more optimized than RetroArch. However, if you are using a system that relies primarily on RetroArch for emulation (like Xbox), or you have a beefy PC that can run well regardless of optimizations, you may find success in emulating higher-end systems in RetroArch, too.

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