Getting Started

Install and set up RetroVoid on your system.

Welcome to RetroVoid, the premium emulator launcher with a cyberpunk soul. This guide will walk you through everything you need to go from zero to playing your favorite retro games.

System Requirements

Before installing, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements:

ComponentMinimumRecommended
OSWindows 7 SP1+, macOS 10.5+, Linux (GTK 3.0+)Windows 10+, macOS 14+, Ubuntu 22.04+
CPUDual-core 1.5 GHzQuad-core 3.0 GHz+
RAM2 GB4 GB+
GPUWebGL 2.0 support requiredDedicated GPU
Storage~50 MB for the launcherAdditional space for media cache
Display1280x7201920x1080 or higher

Note: These are requirements for the RetroVoid launcher itself. Individual emulators have their own requirements, especially for newer platforms like PS2 or GameCube.

Platform-Specific Dependencies

PlatformRequirements
WindowsWebView2 Runtime (auto-installed by installer)
macOSNative WebKit (no additional dependencies)
LinuxGTK 3.0+, libwebkit2gtk-4.1, libssl (OpenSSL)

Quick Start

Get up and running in under five minutes:

  1. Download RetroVoid from the purchase page and run the installer for your platform.
  2. Launch RetroVoid: you'll be greeted by the default Cyberpunk theme.
  3. Add your ROM directories: open Settings and add the folders where your game files are stored.
  4. Configure emulators: manually add your installed emulators by browsing to their executables.
  5. Start playing: browse your library, pick a game, and launch it with a single click.

First Launch

When you open RetroVoid for the first time, you'll want to configure a few things:

Choose Your Theme

RetroVoid ships with four built-in themes. The default Cyberpunk theme features the signature holographic UI with neon accents and particle effects. You can switch themes anytime in Settings > Appearance by selecting one of the four theme cards.

Add ROM Directories

Tell RetroVoid where your game files live. Open Settings and add your library folders. You can add multiple directories, for example one per platform:

/Games/NES/
/Games/SNES/
/Games/PlayStation/

RetroVoid scans these folders recursively and follows symlinks, so subfolders are included automatically.

Set Up Emulators

RetroVoid doesn't auto-detect emulators. You'll need to add them manually. For each emulator:

  1. Click Add Emulator in Settings.
  2. Browse to the emulator's executable using the file picker.
  3. Set the launch arguments (e.g., "{rom}" for most emulators).
  4. Assign the platforms it supports.

If you use RetroArch, RetroVoid has special integration that can scan your cores directory. See Adding Emulators for details.

Scan and Play

Once your directories and emulators are configured, RetroVoid will scan your ROM folders, detect platforms by file extension, and build your library. Metadata (cover art, descriptions, release dates) is fetched automatically from IGDB.

Navigating the Interface

RetroVoid's interface is organized into a few key areas:

  • Library: your main game collection, with Grid, List, and Holographic Shelf views
  • Playlists: custom groups you create to organize games
  • Sidebar: navigate between your library, playlists, and settings
  • Settings: configuration for emulators, themes, library, and display options

Accessing Settings

  • Press F1 once to toggle the Quick Settings panel.
  • Press F1 twice quickly to open the full Settings window.

Library Views

RetroVoid offers three ways to browse your library:

  • Grid View: cover art tiles with configurable card size
  • List View: table layout with columns for title, platform, playtime, and more
  • Holographic Shelf View: 3D shelving with games displayed on neon platforms

Next Steps

You're all set! Here's where to go from here:

Next

Installation