Toggle menu
Toggle preferences menu
Toggle personal menu
Not logged in
Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits.

3DS:RetroArch: Difference between revisions

From Hacks Guide Wiki
mNo edit summary
ItsCrocoSwine (talk | contribs)
update infobox and download for 1.22.2
 
(14 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{lowercase title}}{{Infobox homebrew
{{Infobox homebrew
| title = RetroArch
| developers= Libretro
| for3ds = 1
| image= RetroArch_Logo.png
| releasedate = 2019-05-20
| imagesize = 256px
| imagealt= RetroArch Logo
| for3ds= 1
| releasedate= 2025-11-20
| version= 1.22.2
| website= https://www.retroarch.com/index.php retroarch.com
| github = libretro/RetroArch
| github = libretro/RetroArch
}}
}}
{{shortcut|3DS:RA}}  
{{shortcut|3DS:RA}}  
'''RetroArch''' is a frontend for emulators, & more. It can emulate up to SEGA Genesis & SEGA CD on the Old 3DS/2DS, and up to PlayStation 1 on New 3DS/2DS.
'''RetroArch''' is a frontend for emulators, & more. It can emulate up to SEGA Genesis & SEGA CD on the Old 3DS/2DS, and up to PlayStation 1 on New 3DS/2DS.


{{info|Most standalone emulators are better than retroarch in terms of performance, if you would like to see a list of recommended emulators then see the [[3DS:Emulators|Emulators]] page.}}
{{info|Most standalone emulators are better than RetroArch in terms of performance. For a list of recommended emulators, see the [[3DS:Emulators|Emulators]] page.}}




Line 16: Line 19:


===What you need ===  
===What you need ===  
*[http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/nintendo/3ds/RetroArch_cia.7z RetroArch_cia.7z] (direct download)
*[https://buildbot.libretro.com/stable/1.22.2/nintendo/3ds/RetroArch_cia.7z RetroArch_cia.7z] (direct download)
*The latest release of [https://www.7-zip.org/ 7-Zip]
*The latest release of [https://www.7-zip.org/ 7-Zip]


===Section I - Prep Work===
===Section I - Prep Work===
#Power off your device
#Power off your console
#Insert your SD card into your computer
#Insert your SD card into your computer
#Extract the <code>RetroArch_cia.7z</code> with 7-Zip
#Extract the <code>RetroArch_cia.7z</code> with 7-Zip
#Move the <code>retroarch</code> & <code>cia</code> folders onto the root of your SD card
#Move the <code>retroarch</code> & <code>cia</code> folders onto the root of your SD card
#Eject the SD card from your computer and put it back into your device
#Create a <code>Cores-Notused</code> folder within the <code>retroarch</code> folder
#Navigate to <code>sd:/retroarch/cores/</code>
#Move any cores you don't plan on using to <code>sd:/Retroarch/Cores-Notused/</code>
#*If you want to use any of the unused cores later, move them from <code>sd:/Retroarch/Cores-Notused/</code> to <code>sd:/Retroarch/Cores/</code> and install them with FBI, or use the "Load Core" option within RetroArch
#Reinsert your SD card into your console


===Section II - Installation===  
===Section II - Installation===  
#Power on your device
#Power on your console
#Launch FBI from your HOME Menu
#Launch FBI from your HOME Menu
#Navigate to <code>SD</code> -> <code>retroarch</code> -> <code>cores</code>
#Navigate to <code>SD</code> -> <code>retroarch</code> -> <code>cores</code>
#Scroll down and press {{B|A}} on the core you want to install, and select <code>Install CIA</code>
#Scroll down and press {{B|A}} on the core you want to install, and select <code>Install CIA</code>
*Alternatively, if you want to install all the cores you can press <code><current directory></code> -> <code>Install all CIAs</code>
#*As there are over 80 cores, and these cores show up as titles on your HOME Menu, it is recommended to only install the cores you want to use
**Note there are over 80 cores, and as these cores show up as titles on your home screen this is not recommended
 
===Section III - Core Optimization===
#Navigate to <code>sd:/retroarch/cores/</code>
#Select all the uninstalled cores and place them in a new folder at <code>/Retroarch/Cores-Notused/</code>
*Leave any installed cores in the <code>cores</code> folder, these are required for "Load Core" functionality
*If you want to use any of the uninstalled cores, move them from <code>/Retroarch/Cores-Notused/</code> to <code>/Retroarch/Cores/</code> and install them with FBI, or use the "Load Core" option within RetroArch


===Section IV - Launching your ROM===
===Section III - Launching your ROM===
#Once your core(s) have finished installing, press HOME to enter the HOME Menu.
#Once your core(s) have finished installing, press {{B|Home}}
#Tap on your core to unwrap it, then open it.
#Press {{B|A}} on your newly installed core to unwrap it  
#Wait for it to load, then -> <code>Load Content</code> -> <code>sdmc:/</code> -> <code>Go to wherever your ROM is located</code> -> <code>Press (A) to select your ROM</code> -> <code>Choose your core</code>
#Press {{B|A}} to open it
* Be patient for your ROM to load, things don't load quickly in RetroArch on 3DS
#Wait for it to load, then -> <code>Load Content</code> -> <code>sdmc:/</code> -> <code>Go to wherever your ROM is located</code> -> <code>Press A to select your ROM</code> -> <code>Choose your core</code>
* Be patient for your ROM to load, this can take a while depending on file size.


{{success|text=You should now be playing your game on RetroArch!}}
{{success|text=You should now be playing your game on RetroArch!}}

Latest revision as of 04:51, 3 December 2025

RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, & more. It can emulate up to SEGA Genesis & SEGA CD on the Old 3DS/2DS, and up to PlayStation 1 on New 3DS/2DS.

Info icon Most standalone emulators are better than RetroArch in terms of performance. For a list of recommended emulators, see the Emulators page.


Installation

What you need

Section I - Prep Work

  1. Power off your console
  2. Insert your SD card into your computer
  3. Extract the RetroArch_cia.7z with 7-Zip
  4. Move the retroarch & cia folders onto the root of your SD card
  5. Create a Cores-Notused folder within the retroarch folder
  6. Navigate to sd:/retroarch/cores/
  7. Move any cores you don't plan on using to sd:/Retroarch/Cores-Notused/
    • If you want to use any of the unused cores later, move them from sd:/Retroarch/Cores-Notused/ to sd:/Retroarch/Cores/ and install them with FBI, or use the "Load Core" option within RetroArch
  8. Reinsert your SD card into your console

Section II - Installation

  1. Power on your console
  2. Launch FBI from your HOME Menu
  3. Navigate to SD -> retroarch -> cores
  4. Scroll down and press A on the core you want to install, and select Install CIA
    • As there are over 80 cores, and these cores show up as titles on your HOME Menu, it is recommended to only install the cores you want to use

Section III - Launching your ROM

  1. Once your core(s) have finished installing, press Home
  2. Press A on your newly installed core to unwrap it
  3. Press A to open it
  4. Wait for it to load, then -> Load Content -> sdmc:/ -> Go to wherever your ROM is located -> Press A to select your ROM -> Choose your core
  • Be patient for your ROM to load, this can take a while depending on file size.
Success icon You should now be playing your game on RetroArch!

Resources

RetroArch Install Guide
PCSX ReARMed optimal configuration
PCSX ReARMed N3DS compatibility List