RetroArch, the cross-platform collection of emulators comes to Nintendo Switch. Still sporting great performance and various features such as save states, cheats, netplay, rewinding and much more. RetroArch is sure to transform your Nintendo Switch from a gaming powerhouse into a complete multi-platform monster, expanding its already massive game library.

This guide will show you how to setup RetroArch on your Nintendo Switch and configure cheats. Press [-] + [+] during gameplay to open the Quick Menu; here you can access useful features such as save states and screenshots.

Required Downloads:

Nintendo Switch with Custom Firmware

  • The RetroArch homebrew application requires a hacked switch with CFW such as Atmosphere
  • You cannot run homebrew applications with unhacked or stock Switch consoles
  • This guide assumes you have all the basic requirements to enter RCM and boot into CFW

MicroSD Card (128GB or Larger Recommended)

  • ROMs will be stored on the MicroSD card
  • 128GB or more is recommended for storing games

Some GBA emulators may have this listed under “Settings.” Change the frame rate to the highest possible number it will go to. This will make your GBA emulator run much faster. How do you enter cheats on Gameboy Advance SP? Select the game from the main menu then select the cheat code using the control pad on the GBA. Drastic DS Emulator. Twitch your gaming experience with the Drastic DS Emulator. Hands down for this emulator because it is always on the top list. It is the most popular app and ranked as the number one spot in Play Store among the DS emulators. Download Drastic DS Emulator here.

Internet Connection

  • RetroArch requires an internet connection during initial setup to update certain files such as the cheats database

Switch Payload Injector (Recommended)

  • USB Dongle that can be used to boot your Switch into Atmosphere without a PC or USB cable
  • RCM Jig Included
  • Compatible with emuMMC / Stock OS Dual Boot for safer online play
  • Add or Update payloads (.bin files) via USB
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  1. Extract RetroArch.7z
  2. Copy the /switch/ folder to the root of your SD card
  3. Copy the /retroarch/ folder to the root of your SD card
  4. Copy retroarch.jpg to the root of your SD card
  5. Create a folder named roms in the root of your SD card
  6. Inside the /roms/ folder, create folders for the platforms you wish to emulate and store the ROM game files accordingly
  7. Insert your SD card into your Switch and push your preferred payload to boot into CFW
  8. (DO NOT USE THE ALBUM) Hold [R] and launch a game to access the Homebrew Menu with full RAM access
    The Homebrew Menu is normally launched through the Album but this limits their RAM availability. Starting a game while holding [R] will launch the Homebrew Menu with full RAM access, allowing apps like RetroArch to run at their full capabilities.
  9. Select RetroArch
  1. Go to [Main Menu] -> [Online Updater]
  2. Select [Update Installed Cores] and wait for the process to complete
  3. Select [Update Cheats], this can take up to 30 minutes to complete
  4. Select [Import Content] -> [Scan Directory]
  5. Go to the /roms/ folder on the root of your SD and select [Scan This Directory]
  6. Once complete, your ROMs will be organised by platform and added to the RetroArch main menu
  7. Select your ROM -> [Run] and choose the core (emulator) you wish to use if prompted
  • Nintendo 64 – Mupen64Plus-Next
  • PSX – PCSX ReARMed
  • Game Boy Advance – VBA Next
  • SNES – Snes9x 2010
  • Sega – Genesis Plus GX

You can download additional cores from [Main Menu] -> [Online Updater] -> [Core Updater]

Save files and save states can be found in the /retroarch/cores/ folder on your SD card

You can improve the performance of your Nintendo Switch in RetroArch by overclocking the CPU. This is recommended if you wish to maintain high a framerate when emulating more demanding systems such as the N64 or PSX.

Simply go to [Main Menu] -> [CPU Overclock] and set your desired CPU speed

[Boost Performance (1224 MHz)] or [High Performance (1581 MHz)] is recommended for stability and battery life

You can monitor your framerate (FPS) by displaying it on-screen during gameplay

You can do this in [Settings] -> [Onscreen Display] -> [Onscreen Notifications] -> [Display Framerate]

RetroArch features a built-in cheat engine to create cheats by editing numerical values in the game’s memory. There is also a large database of preset game-specific cheat codes that can be downloaded in the [Main Menu] -> [Online Updater].

  1. During gameplay, press [-] + [+] to open the Quick Menu
  2. Scroll down to [Cheats] and select [Load Cheat File]
  3. Select the game system then select your game
  4. In [Cheats] menu, set [Apply After Toggle] to [ON]
  5. Turn cheats on / off with the directional buttons
  6. Press [-] + [+] to return to the game and enjoy your cheats

Activate Cheats on Nintendo Switch (Over 600 Games Supported)

Backup and Import Switch Save Files with EdiZon

FTPD – Transfer files to your Switch without removing SD (Wi-Fi)

Hack Your Switch and Install Games without a PC (Atmosphere + Tinfoil / HBG Shop)

Goldleaf + Quark – Install Switch Games (.NSP Files) from PC via USB

  • 2Nintendo
  • 3Sony
  • 4Sega
  • 5Microsoft
  • 6Other consoles
  • 7Personal computers

Multi-system

File type(s)Emulator(s)Backup
BIOS filesRetroArch
BIOS filesMednafen(standalone)
BIOS filesOpenEmu
ROMs Pack(0.151)MESS
ROMs Pack(v16)
ROMs Pack(v17)
PCem
ROMs Pack86Box

Nintendo

NES / Famicom

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Family Computer Disk System BIOS fileVariousRequired for FDS emulation. MD5 Hashes

SNES / Super Famicom

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Satellaview BS-X ROMshigan(bsnes)
Snes9x
Required for some Satellaview releases.
Including Japanese original ROM, no-DRM ROM and English-patched ROMs (DRM or no-DRM).
Sufami Turbo BIOS fileRequired for Bandai's Sufami Turbo emulation.
SuperDisc BIOS fileNo$SNS(1.6)Required for Sony's SNES-CD emulation.
Super Game Boy boot ROMhigan(bsnes)Required for Super Game Boy emulation. MD5 Hashes
Coprocessor firmwaresIncluding CX4, DSP1/1A, DSP1B, DSP2, DSP3, DSP4, ST010, ST011 and ST018.
More information

Nintendo 64

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
LLE RSP pluginProject64N/A
64DD IPL and PIF ROM (JPN Retail)CEN64Required for 64DD emulation in CEN64.
Japanese region only.
64DD IPL (JPN Retail)Project64Required for 64DD emulation in Project64.
64DD IPL (US Retail)
64DD IPL (JPN Development)

GameCube / Wii

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
GameCube IPL BIOS fileDolphinOptional.
Required for rendering original system fonts. MD5 Hashes
DSP-LLE pluginOptional.
Needed for more accurate low-level emulation (LLE) of DSP audio.
Required in Dolphin for connectivity with GBA units.
An incomplete HLE solution removing this requirement exists.
SwissN/AOptional.
GameCube homebrew utility. More information
Old version (r241)
Wii WC24 network SSL certificatesOptional.
Required for connecting to Wi-Fi Connection service.
More information

Game Boy / Game Boy Color

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Game Boy (DMG) boot ROMsVariousOptional.
Game Boy Pocket (MBG) boot ROM
GBC boot ROMOptional.
Required for color palette support for monochrome GB games.

Pokémon mini

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOSVariousOptional in PokeMini and minimon.

Game Boy Advance / e-Reader

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Boot ROMVariousOptional.
Required for some games, homebrew, and connectivity with the GameCube.
e-Reader BIOS filesRequired for e-Reader emulation.
Including Card e-Reader (Japan), Card e-Reader+ (Japan) and e-Reader (USA).

Nintendo DS / DSi

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
DS BIOS files and firmwareVariousOptional for DeSmuME and No$GBA.
Required for melonDS, GBE+, medusa and other emulators.
iQue BIOS files and firmware
DSi BIOS filesNo$GBARequired for Nintendo DSi emulation.
DSi NAND dumpOptional.
Improves compatibility for Nintendo DSi emulation.
Update No$GBA in the package to the latest version is highly recommended.
DSi BIOS & NAND (USA)melonDS, No$GBARequired for DSi emulation on melonDS.
Includes BIOS and firmware for both the DS and DSi, and a NAND dump.
For No$GBA, rename:
nand.bin
biosdsi7.bin
biosdsi9.bin
to
DSi-1.mmc
BIOSDSI7.ROM
BIOSDSI9.ROM
respectively, and place them in the No$GBA main folder.
DSi BIOS & NAND (EUR)
DSi BIOS & NAND (JAP)
DSi BIOS & NAND (JAP Classroom)
DSi BIOS & NAND (CHN)(iQue)
DSi BIOS & NAND (AUS)

Nintendo 3DS

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Extra dataCitraRequired for some games.
BootromsRequired for fuse-3ds to decrypt encrypted games.

Game Boy Emulator Libretro Cheats Compatible Pc

Wii U

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
FontsCemuRequired for rendering text properly in some games.
Lacks three more unused fonts, but Cemuhook has their replacements.
Online filesCemu(1.11.0 or later)
Decaf
Optional.
Needed for online connection.
Lacks unbanned account.dat file unique to the console but some custom servers with lax authentification are working in progress.
Menu files (EU)Cemu(1.11.4 or later)Version 5.5.2, European region
Required for rendering Mii and improving compatibility. More information
Can be accessed from the .rpx under mlc01systitle0005001010040200codemen.rpx.
Menu files (US)Version 5.5.2, US region
Required for rendering Mii and improving compatibility. More information
Can be accessed from the .rpx under mlc01systitle0005001010040100codemen.rpx.
Menu files (JP)Version 5.5.2, Japanese region
Required for rendering Mii and improving compatibility. More information
Can be accessed from the .rpx under mlc01systitle0005001010040000codemen.rpx.

Nintendo Switch

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Shared fonts and derivation keysyuzuRequired for some games and encrypted ROMs.

Sony

PlayStation

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesVariousRequired for some emulators. More information and MD5 Hashes
Copyright-free HLE BIOS files replacements exist for other emulators.
Crash Bandicoot pre-extracted dataPSXperiaRequired for repackaging ISOs for use with PlayStation Pocket, given that PSXperia is only able to extract wrapper data from two specific releases of the Crash Bandicoot APK.

PocketStation

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesPK201Required for PocketStation emulation.

PlayStation 2

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesVariousRequired for PlayStation 2 emulation.
More information and MD5 Hashes

PlayStation Portable

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Original fontsVariousOptional.
Required for rendering original system fonts.
Emulators have replacement fonts.

PlayStation 3

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Official firmwareVarious✓ (Archive)Required for PlayStation 3 emulation.

PlayStation Vita

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Official firmwareVarious✓ (Archive)Required for PlayStation Vita emulation.

PlayStation 4

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Official firmwareVarious✓ (Archive)Required for PlayStation 4 emulation.

Sega

Master System

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesKega FusionOptional.

Genesis / Mega Drive / CD / 32X

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Genesis / Mega Drive BIOS filesVariousOptional for Kega Fusion and other emulators.
CD BIOS filesRequired for Sega CD emulation.
32X BIOS filesRequired for 32X emulation.

Saturn

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesMednafen
SSF
Required for Mednafen.
Optional for SSF.

Dreamcast

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesnullDCRequired for Dreamcast emulation in nullDC.
MD5 Hashes
BIOS filesDEmulRequired for Dreamcast, Naomi and Hikaru emulation in DEmul.
MD5 Hashes
VMU BIOS filesVariousOptional for ElysianVMU.
Required for MAME.

Microsoft

Xbox

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesXQEMURequired for Xbox emulation.
Blank HDD imageRequired for Xbox emulation.
Pre-built 8G blank image.
BIOS filesMAMERequired for Xbox emulation.
MCP-X bootrom included in the package is a bad dump.

Other consoles

3DO

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesVariousRequired for 3DO emulation.

Atari 7800

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS file (NTSC)
BIOS file (PAL)
ProSystemOptional.

Atari Jaguar / Jaguar CD

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesVariousOptional for Atari Jaguar emulation.
Required for Atari Jaguar CD emulation (Incomplete).

NEC PC Engine CD (TurboGrafx-CD)

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS filesVariousRequired for PC Engine CD (TurboGrafx-CD) emulation.

Personal computers

Microsoft/ASCII MSX

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
BIOS files and machine configurationsblueMSXRequired for MSX games (except some cartridge games covered by the unofficial C-BIOS file).
BIOS filesCLK
Pantheon
System ROMs setopenMSXRequired for MSX emulation on certain machines and extensions like Panasonic FS-A1GT for example.
Copy all files to ~/.openMSX/share/systemroms (GNU/Linux and MacOS) or %USERPROFILE%My DocumentsopenMSXsharesystemroms (Windows 7 or later).

NEC PC-6000

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
System ROMsPC6001V
PC6001VX
Required for PC-6001 series emulation.

NEC PC-8800

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
System ROMspc8801ma
XM8
Required for PC-8800 emulation.

NEC PC-9800

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
Fonts (Binary format)Neko Project IIOptional.
Needed for rendering text properly.
Fonts (BMP format)Anex86Optional for Anex86 and other emulators.
Needed for rendering text properly.

Fujitsu FM-7

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
System ROMsXM7Required for Fujitsu FM-7 emulation.
Some boot, sub-monitor and dictionary files are missing but enough in most cases.

Libretro Download

Fujitsu FM Towns

Game Boy Emulator Libretro Cheats Compatible Ps3

File type(s)Emulator(s)Backup
FM Towns BIOSUNZ
Bochs
MAME
FM Towns Marty BIOSMAME
marty.romXe

Sharp X1

Gameboy Advance Retroarch

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
X1 and X1 Turbo BIOSVariousNot all files are required for all emulators.
X1 Turbo BIOSX millennium AdvanceUses a different naming scheme than other emulators.

Sharp X68000

File type(s)Emulator(s)BackupNote
System ROMsXM6 Pro-68k
XM6 TypeG
Required CGROM.DAT and IPLROM.DAT for X68000 Expert emulation.
Required SCSIINROM.DAT and SCSIEXROM.DAT for enabling X68000 Expert SCSI interface.
Required IPLROMXV.DAT, CGROM.DAT and SCSIINROM.DAT for X68000 XVI emulation.
Required IPLROMCO.DAT, CGROM.DAT and SCSIINROM.DAT for X68000 Compact emulation.
Required IPLROM30.DAT, CGROM30.DAT and ROM30.DAT for X68030 emulation.
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