Retroarch is an incredible collection of emulators, and it runs exceptionally well with great flexibility on Windows-based computers
In this article, we will discuss everything that you need to do to get retroarch up and running, including setting up a game pad
How to install and run retroarch?
Follow these steps:
- First, download the most recent version of retroarch from the retroarch website.
- Then go to the home page and then go to the downloads section from here scroll down until you get to the version of Windows that matches the version that you're using, then click on the version to download it. When the download finishes, close your web browser.
- Now go to the Windows File Explorer from here you'll need to go to the executable file that just downloaded in, and then pick run as administrator then click yes at the prompt this starts the Installer.
- While installers are normally just a matter of clicking next to put the software in there, you can move on to the next button until the installation is complete.
- You are going to need two things to play games on retroarch, you're going to need BIOS files which are system files to be able to run certain consoles, and you're going to need ROMs or game images to play the games if you need
- Now from here go to wherever you have those BIOS files and your ROM. You need to go to a very specific path to put them in for reproach to read them.
- The path is, go to this PC then the C Drive user's folder that whatever your username is for your computer. Most cases are just named admin, then click on the app data folder and then the retro folder, this is the folder where retroarch lives on your Windows computer. Now you will see a folder in here called system to paste your BIOS and system files. In this system folder, retroarch recognizes this folder in its default path settings.
With loading content on ROMs in retroarch, it already defaults natively, to looking for this folder in the menu system, that's where you want to paste your ROMs. So just go to download and paste your ROM file folder, put all of your future files and folders in that same folder, the Downloads folder.
Boot up reproach
Let's boot up retroarch, you can double-click on the shortcut icon on your desktop or wherever you want to launch it from once it boots up it does some quick initial setup stuff, and then you're in the retroarch main menu.
The first thing you should do is load a core for the ROMs you want to play. So go to load core then download a core, then choose a core for the ROMs you want to.
Once the core has been downloaded, click on the retroarch icon, from the main menu go to import content, and then scan the directory. It will scan that directory and all the subdirectories.
Now you are ready to play a game. From the main menu go to load content, from here pick the game you want to play.
Installing game pad
So up to here, we got your games up and running, but what if you want to put a game pad with this to enhance the user experience? We will use a Steel Series Stratus XL game pad. With your gamepad connected in Windows 10, go to the main menu and then select input from input to come down until you get to port 1 button mapping.
For doing, it is manual mapping the buttons. So start here by clicking on the first mappable button and then assign it to where you want it on your controller follow this process until each of the main buttons on your controller and the two thumb sticks are assigned doing these manually by mouse clicking them individually and one at a time keeps you in control of the tempo of assigning your buttons and analog sticks.
Once this is done, you don't want to undo all your hard work and have to repeat that every time you go into reproach, so now you can use the mouse or the controller and go back to the main menu. You definitely want to save your configuration, so you don't have to repeat this every time. Sogo to configuration save your configuration file because you just put in all that hard work now you're ready to play some games with your gamepad.
Load Core:
Don't forget, if you don't have a core loaded, load one every time you restart retroarch or go into a new set of ROMs so load up your core. Go to load content then downloads and then go into the ROMs folder you want, and you can pick the room of your choice using the mouse.
Conclusion
The gamepad using retroarch with the Windows-based PC has a distinct advantage overused a good game console because every time you upgrade your Windows computer you can improve performance and retro arts as well.
The article gives you an idea about how to install retroarch and use it for a good gaming experience.
