Your one-stop-shop for retro gaming & emulation
From RetroArch setup guides to the best emulators for PS1, PS2, Wii and beyond, How To Retro is where you’ll find in-depth retro gaming guides, console-by-console game recommendations and honest reviews — everything you need to bring the classics back to life.
Popular RetroArch & Emulator Setup Guides
The step-by-step guides readers come back to most — covering RetroArch cores, BIOS setup and shader configuration for the trickiest systems to emulate.
RetroArch Neo Geo Setup Guide
Get Neo Geo ROMs and BIOS running properly in RetroArch, core by core.
CemuCemu Shader Cache Guide
Where Cemu stores shader caches, and how to compile and clear them for smoother Wii U emulation.
RetroArchHow to Use PS2 Cheats with RetroArch
Enable and apply cheat codes on the PCSX2 core inside RetroArch.
ControllersSnes9x Xbox Controller Setup
Map an Xbox controller correctly in Snes9x for lag-free SNES emulation.
AndroidLemuroid Setup Guide
Set up the open-source Android multi-emulator front end from scratch.
RetroArch SetupRetroArch Sega Saturn Setup Guide
Configure the Beetle Saturn core, BIOS files and settings for accurate emulation.
RetroArch SetupBest GBA Core for RetroArch
mGBA vs. VBA-M — which RetroArch core to pick for Game Boy Advance.
Best Emulators, By System
Our recommended emulators for every console and handheld we cover, updated as new builds and forks are released.
Best PS1 Emulators
The most accurate and best-performing PlayStation 1 emulators, ranked.
SonyBest PS2 Emulators
PCSX2 and the alternatives worth trying for PlayStation 2 emulation.
NintendoBest Wii Emulators
Dolphin and its competitors for running Wii games on PC.
SegaSega Mega Drive & Genesis Emulators
The best options for accurate 16-bit Sega emulation.
SegaBest Sega Saturn Emulators
Notoriously hard to emulate — here’s what actually works well.
SonyBest PS Vita Emulators
Where Vita emulation currently stands, and what’s playable today.
AndroidBest GBA Emulator for Android
Our pick for playing Game Boy Advance games on your phone.
Home ComputerBest Amiga Emulators
WinUAE and the rest of the field for Commodore Amiga emulation.
RetroArch Setup Hub
Full walkthroughs for getting each console’s core configured correctly inside RetroArch — BIOS files, settings and all.
Best Games By System
Curated recommendations for classic consoles and computers — the games worth tracking down once your emulator’s set up.
Best Sega 32X Games
The standout titles from Sega’s short-lived 32-bit add-on.
SegaBest Sega Master System Games
The 8-bit Sega library’s essential games, revisited.
RetroPieBest RetroPie Games
What to load onto your Raspberry Pi retro gaming build first.
ArcadeBest 2 Player Arcade Games
Couch co-op and versus classics from the golden age of arcades.
AtariBest Atari ST Games
The Atari ST library’s finest, from Amiga rivals to ST exclusives.
SegaBest Sega Game Gear Games
The handheld’s best ports and originals worth emulating today.
AtariBest Atari Jaguar Games
Where to start with the Jaguar’s small but interesting library.
ArcadeBest Taito Arcade Games
Highlights from one of arcade gaming’s true pioneers.