Getting StartedGetting 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:

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

For a sense of scale: with a library of about 1,200 games, RetroVoid itself uses roughly 0.7 to 1 GB of memory, and about 1 GB of video memory at 4K with the 3D effects on. Artwork averages about 0.4 MB per game (one cover plus up to five screenshots). Animated covers (GIF, APNG, animated WebP) are the exception and can be tens of megabytes each.

On modest hardware, lower 3D Rendering Quality to Performance, or turn off 3D Background and Particles in the Quick Settings panel. See Themes & Customization for what each setting costs.

Platform-Specific Dependencies#

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. Activate your license: on first launch, paste your license key and click Activate License.
3. Add your ROM folders: open Settings and add the folders where your game files are stored.
4. Configure emulators: add your installed emulators by browsing to their executables.
5. Start playing: browse your library, pick a game, and launch it.

Everything the launcher needs to display its interface ships inside the app, including its fonts, so RetroVoid's UI works offline. An internet connection is only needed for license activation, IGDB metadata, and Steam data.

First Launch#

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

Choose Your Theme#

RetroVoid ships with five built-in themes plus one fully editable custom theme. The default Cyberpunk theme features the signature holographic UI with neon accents and particle effects. You can switch themes anytime in Settings > Appearance, or from the Theme section of the Quick Settings panel.

Add ROM Directories#

Tell RetroVoid where your game files live. Open Settings > Library and click Add Folder. 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.

Each folder has its own platform dropdown, which starts on Auto-detect platform. Setting it explicitly is the most reliable option for disc formats such as .iso and .cue, which several consoles share. You can change a folder's platform, or point it at a new location, at any time without removing and re-adding it.

Set Up Emulators#

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

1. Open Settings > Emulators and click Add Emulator.
2. Browse to the emulator's executable using the file picker.
3. Set the launch arguments (the field defaults to {rom}, which works for most emulators).
4. Select which platforms it supports.

The add/edit form includes a Common Launch Arguments reference table for popular emulators.

If you use RetroArch, RetroVoid has a dedicated Settings > RetroArch tab that scans your cores folder and turns the cores you enable into emulator entries. See Adding Emulators for details.

Finally, open Settings > Platform Defaults and pick which emulator each platform should use by default.

Scan and Play#

Once your folders and emulators are configured, click Scan Library. RetroVoid walks your folders, detects platforms by file extension and folder name, and builds your library.

Scanning does not fetch metadata. Cover art, descriptions, and screenshots come from IGDB, which needs free credentials you supply yourself. Set them up in Settings > Metadata, then fetch metadata per game from its detail view or for the whole library with Scrape All Games. See Configuration for the credential walkthrough.

Navigating the Interface#

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

• Sidebar: quick filters (All Games, Favorites, Recently Added, Recently Played), your playlists, and every platform grouped by manufacturer
• Top bar: sidebar toggle, search, sorting, the view switcher, the grid card-size slider, the controller indicator, and the settings button
• Library: your main game collection, with Grid, List, and Holographic Shelf views
• Settings: configuration for library folders, emulators, metadata, themes, music, and more

The sidebar can be hidden to give the library more room. Use the toggle at the far left of the top bar, press Ctrl+B (Cmd+B on Mac), or press the View / Back / Select button on a controller.

Accessing Settings#

• Click the gear button at the far right of the top bar to open the Quick Settings panel.
• Press F1 once to toggle Quick Settings.
• Press F1 twice quickly, or click Open Full Settings in the Quick Settings panel, to open the full Settings window.
• Press Escape to close whichever settings surface is open.

Library Views#

RetroVoid offers three ways to browse your library:

• Grid View: cover art tiles with a configurable card size
• List View: compact rows showing title, platform, play time, and last played
• Holographic Shelf View: 3D shelving with games displayed on neon platforms

Switch between them with the view buttons in the top bar, or press Y on a controller to cycle through them.

Next Steps#

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

• Installation Guide: detailed per-platform install instructions
• Configuration: understand RetroVoid's settings
• Adding Emulators: add and configure emulators
• Managing Your Library: organize your games like a pro
• Keybindings: keyboard and controller controls

These same pages are also available inside the app under Settings > Guide, so you can read them without leaving RetroVoid.