Libretro

2020-01-03T02:06:24Z

Runvnc: /* libretro Frontends */

[[File:Libretro.png|thumb|250px]]{{lowercase title}}
'''libretro''' (formerly '''libsnes''') is an API designed mainly for games and emulators. It allows games and emulators to be compiled as dynamically linked libraries known as "libretro cores", which can be used in a frontend that implements libretro, such as [[RetroArch]].

==libretro Frontends==
*[[RetroArch]]
*RetroPlayer (XBMC)
*[[ZSNES#ZMZ|ZMZ]] (SNES cores only)
*[http://arcan-fe.com/ Arcan]
*[[Phoenix (frontend)|Phoenix]]
*[https://github.com/Alcaro/minir Minir]
*[[BizHawk]] (1.11.4 and later only)
*[https://vintagesimulator.com/ VSIM/Vintage Simulator]

==Cores==
===Emulation===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col"|System
! scope="col"|Core
! scope="col"|Version
! scope="col"|Notes
|-
|[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]
|[[higan]]
|{{higanVer}}
|Separate cores for each profile.
C++98 version is bsnes v085 Performance profile.
|-
|[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]
|[[higan|bsnes-mercury]]
|v094
|Fork of [[higan|bsnes]] with modifications for speed. Separate cores for each profile
|-
|[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]
|[[Mednafen]] bsnes
|0.9.26
|Fork of [[higan|bsnes]] v059 with a few modifications.
|-
|[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]
|[[higan|nSide Balanced]]
|v106
|[https://www.patreon.com/posts/lakka-2-1-1-with-20727887 Fork] of [[higan]] v106 with additional hardware support. Good for slower computers that cannot run the Accuracy core-only releases from higan v098 onwards with full speed.
|-
|[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]
|[[Snes9x]]
|{{Snes9xVer}}
|Supports libretro in upstream.
|-
|[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]
|[[Snes9x|Snes9x 2002]] (previously PocketSNES)
|1.39
|Snapshot of Snes9x for use on very slow platforms
|-
|[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]
|[[Snes9x|Snes9x 2005]]
|1.43
|Snapshot of Snes9x useful for Mario World hacks that have broken custom music.
|-
|[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]
|[[Snes9x|Snes9x 2005 Plus]]
|1.43
|Snapshot of [https://www.patreon.com/posts/lakka-2-1-1-with-20727887 Snes9x 1.43 plus BLARRG APU].
|-
|[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]
|[[Snes9x|Snes9x 2010]]
|[https://github.com/libretro/snes9x-next 1.52.4]
|Fork of [[Snes9x]] 1.52 WIP focused on speed.
|-
|[[WonderSwan emulators|WonderSwan]]
|[[Mednafen]] [[Cygne]]
|?
|Modified fork of [[Cygne]].
|-
|[[PlayStation emulators|PlayStation]]
|[[Mednafen]] PSX
|0.9.39.2
|Fork has [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/retroarchlibretro-project-status-update/#more-44789 significant modifications] for [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/mednafenbeetle-psx-pgxp-arrives/ enhancements] as well as [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/introducing-vulkan-psx-renderer-for-beetlemednafen-psx/ Vulkan renderer] support. Sometimes referred to as "Beetle PSX."
|-
|[[PlayStation emulators|PlayStation]]
|[[Mednafen]] PSX HW
|Alpha
|Adds an [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/retroarchlibretro-project-status-update/#more-44789 OpenGL renderer] to Mednafen PSX based on the [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/mednafenbeetle-psx-hw-alpha-version/ GPU renderer from Rustation]. Sometimes referred to as "Beetle PSX HW." Still contains the software rendering mode as an option, so this core can effectively replace the "Mednafen PSX" core listed above.
|-
|[[PlayStation emulators|PlayStation]]
|PCSX-ReARMed
|[https://github.com/libretro/pcsx_rearmed r22]
|ARM optimized fork of [[PCSX-Reloaded]]. Supports libretro in upstream.
|-
|[[PlayStation emulators|PlayStation]]
|[[Rustation]]
|Git
|
|-
|[[PocketStation emulators|PocketStation]]
|pockystation
|Git
|
|-
|[[PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16) emulators|PC Engine]] & PCE-CD
|[[Mednafen]] PCE-Fast
|?
|
|-
|[[PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16) emulators|PC Engine]] SuperGrafx
|[[Mednafen]] SuperGrafx
|?
|
|-
|[[PC-FX emulators|PC-FX]]
|[[Mednafen]] PC-FX
|?
|
|-
|[[Neo Geo Pocket emulators|Neo-Geo Pocket]]
|[[Mednafen]] [[NeoPop]]
|?
|Modified fork of [[NeoPop]].
|-
|[[Virtual Boy emulators|Virtual Boy]]
|[[Mednafen]] VB
|?
|
|-
|[[Atari 2600 emulators|Atari 2600]]
|[[Stella]]
|3.9.3
|
|-
|[[Atari 5200 emulators|Atari 5200]]
|Atari800
|3.1.0
|
|-
|[[Atari 7800 emulators|Atari 7800]]
|[[ProSystem]]
|1.3e
|
|-
|[[Atari Lynx emulators|Atari Lynx]]
|[[Handy]]
|[https://github.com/libretro/libretro-handy 0.95]
|
|-
|[[Atari Lynx emulators|Atari Lynx]]
|[[Mednafen]] [[Handy]]
|?
|Modified fork of [[Handy]].
|-
|[[Atari Jaguar emulators|Atari Jaguar]]
|Virtual Jaguar
|[https://github.com/libretro/virtualjaguar-libretro 2.1.0]
|Very low FPS.
|-
|[[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|NES]]
|[[higan|bnes]]
|v083
|
|-
|[[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|NES]]
|FCEUmm
|98.13mm (SVN)
|
|-
|[[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|NES]]
|[[QuickNES]]
|1.0
|
|-
|[[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|NES]]
|[[Mesen]]
|Git
|Supports libretro in upstream.
|-
|[[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|NES]]
|[[Nestopia]]
|[https://github.com/libretro/nestopia 1.46-WIP]
|Supports libretro in upstream.
|-
|[[Game_Boy/Game_Boy_Color emulators|Game Boy/Color]]
|[[Gambatte]]
|0.5.0
|Has an option to disable color correction.
|-
|[[Game_Boy/Game_Boy_Color emulators|Game Boy/Color]]
|[[Gearboy]]
|Git
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/gearboy/ Open source, multi-platform, GB (DMG) / GBC (CGB) emulator written in C++].
|-
|[[Game_Boy/Game_Boy_Color emulators|Game Boy/Color]]
|[[TGB Dual]]
|0.8.3
|Has a split-screen mode for game linking.
|-
|[[Game_Boy/Game_Boy_Color emulators|Game Boy/Color]]
|[[SameBoy]]
|Git
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/sameboy/ Extremely accurate GB (DMG) & GBC (CGB) emulator written in portable C]. [https://www.patreon.com/posts/lakka-2-1-1-with-20727887 Latest core update in 2018].
|-
|[[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]]
|[[VisualBoy Advance|VBA-Next]]
|1.0.2
|Fork of [[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]] focused on speed.
|-
|[[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]]
|[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]]
|SVN
|Supports libretro in upstream.
|-
|[[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]]
|Meteor
|1.4
|Supports libretro in upstream.
|-
|[[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]]
|[[Mednafen]] [[VisualBoy Advance|VBA]]
|0.9.33.3
|Fork of an old version of [[VisualBoy Advance|VBA]].
|-
|[[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]]
|[[gpSP#TempGBA|TempGBA]]
|Git
|PSP-only fork of [[gpSP]].
|-
|[[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]]
|[[gpSP]]
|0.91
|Dynarec available for ARM.
|-
|[[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]]
|[[Mednafen]] [[VisualBoy Advance|VBA]]
|0.9.33.3
|Fork of an old version of [[VisualBoy Advance|VBA]].
|-
|[[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]], [[Game_Boy/Game_Boy_Color emulators|Game Boy/Color]]
|[[mGBA]]
|[https://github.com/libretro/mgba 0.7.0]
|
|-
|[[Nintendo 64 emulators|Nintendo 64]]
|[[Mupen64Plus]]
|2.0-rc2
|Fork, has significant modifications.
|-
|[[Nintendo 64 emulators|Nintendo 64]]
|paraLLEl
|pre-alpha
|New fork/rewrite of the Mupen64Plus core with a [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/nintendo-64-vulkan-low-level-emulator-parallel-pre-alpha-release/ port] of the Angrylion video plugin ([https://www.libretro.com/index.php/parallel-n64-with-multithreaded-angrylion-released/ Multi-threaded version] also exists) to Vulkan for [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/tag/parallel-n64/ massive speed improvements]. Highly accurate on compatible games, extremely broken on incompatible games.
|-
|Sega Systems ([[SG-1000 emulators|SG-1000]], [[Master System emulators|Master System]], [[Sega Genesis emulators|Genesis]], [[Sega Genesis emulators|Sega CD]], [[Master System emulators|Game Gear]])
|[[Genesis Plus GX]]
|[https://github.com/libretro/Genesis-Plus-GX {{GenPlusGXVerLibretro}}]
|Exclusive to libretro on non-GC/Wii platforms. Supports libretro in upstream.
|-
|Sega Systems ([[Master System emulators|Master System]], [[Sega Genesis emulators|Genesis]], [[Sega Genesis emulators|Sega CD]], 32X, [[Master System emulators|Game Gear]], Pico)
|[[PicoDrive]]
|1.81
|Exclusive to libretro on PC platforms. Supports libretro in upstream.
|-
|[[Sega Genesis emulators|Sega Genesis]]
|[[BlastEm]]
|?
|
|-
|[[Sega Saturn emulators|Sega Saturn]]
|[[Mednafen]] Saturn
|?
|Sometimes referred to as "Beetle Saturn"
|-
|[[Sega Saturn emulators|Sega Saturn]]
|[[Yabause]]
|0.9.13
|Lacks dynarec and GL renderer. Heavily outdated.
|-
|[[Sega Saturn emulators|Sega Saturn]]
|[[Yabause|Kronos]]
|{{KronosVer}}
|2nd-degree Yabause fork. Has [https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-sega-saturn-22300379 OpenGL ES 3.0 (for mobile) / 3.1 rendering & cached interpreter CPU core (Faster than Yabause's core). Supports STV arcade.]
|-
|[[Arcade emulators|Arcade]]
|[[FinalBurn Alpha]]
|0.2.97.24
|Older version for use on slower platforms.
|-
|[[Arcade emulators|Arcade]]
|[[FinalBurn Alpha]]
|0.2.97.38
|
|-
|[[Arcade emulators|Arcade]]
|[[MAME]] 2000
|0.37b5
|Old version for use on very slow platforms.
|-
|[[Arcade emulators|Arcade]]
|[[MAME]] 2003
|0.78
|Old version for use on slow platforms. [https://www.patreon.com/posts/lakka-2-1-1-with-20727887 Core updated in 2018].
|-
|[[Arcade emulators|Arcade]]
|[[MAME]] 2003 Plus
|0.78
|[https://www.patreon.com/posts/lakka-2-1-1-with-20727887 Updated 2018 version of MAME (0.78)] for libretro, with added game support and improvements.
|-
|[[Arcade emulators|Arcade]]
|[[MAME]] 2010
|0.139
|Old but more recent version for mobile devices.
|-
|[[Arcade emulators|Arcade]]
|[[MAME]] 2014
|0.159
|Very recent version for PC and other fast devices.
|-
|[[Arcade LaserDisc emulators|Arcade (LaserDisc)]]
|[[DAPHNE]]
|Git
|WIP. [[Arcade LaserDisc emulators|Arcade LaserDisc emulator]] [https://www.patreon.com/posts/libretro-status-20471393 adapted to a libretro core].
|-
|[[Sega Model 3|Arcade (Sega Model 3)]]
|[[Supermodel]]
|Git
|WIP. Sega Model 3 arcade emulator. [https://www.patreon.com/posts/libretro-status-20471393 OpenGL-only core] for now.
|-
|Everything
|[[MAME]]
|{{MAMEVerLibretro}} (Git)
|Based on bleeding edge Git. Official merge of MESS into MAME codebase.
|-
|[[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS]]
|[[DeSmuME]] 2015
|SVN
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/desmume_2015/ Based on DeSmuME 2015 SVN]. Has options for single-screen fullscreen with swapping.
|-
|[[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS]]
|[[DeSmuME]] (New)
|Git
|Has options for single-screen fullscreen with swapping. [https://docs.libretro.com/library/desmume/ Latest core] [https://www.patreon.com/posts/lakka-2-1-1-with-20727887 update in 2018].
|-
|[[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS]]
|[[melonDS]]
|Git
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ WIP]. Different emulator that aims to be more accurate than DeSmuME.
|-
|[[Nintendo 3DS emulators|Nintendo 3DS]]
|[[Citra]]
|Git
|Has an [https://www.patreon.com/posts/lakka-2-1-1-with-20727887 updated 2018 core].
|-
|[[PlayStation Portable emulators|PSP]]
|[[PPSSPP]]
|Git
|2018: Now has working [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zCeqRyT_P8 Vulkan, OpenGL] & [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/libretro-api-now-supports-experimental-direct3d11-hardware-rendering/ Direct3D 11] renderers. 1st core to use D3D 11.
|-
|[[Intel CPUs|286 and 386]]
|[[DOSBox]]
|SVN
|
|-
|[[Commodore 64 emulators|Commodore 64]]
|vice-libretro
|3.0
|[https://github.com/libretro/vice-libretro WIP].
|-
|[[Amiga emulators|Amiga]]
|PUAE
|2.8.0
|[https://github.com/libretro/PUAE Very old, shallow fork]; based on [[WinUAE]].
|-
|[[Amiga emulators|Amiga]]
|libretro-fsuae
|Git
|[https://github.com/libretro/libretro-fsuae Cross-platform Amiga emulator]; newer than old PUAE core. Based on FS-UAE 2.8.1u5.
|-
|[[Atari ST emulators|Atari ST/STE/TT/Falcon]]
|[[Hatari]]
|1.7
|
|-
|[[MSX emulators|MSX]]/SVI/[[ColecoVision emulators|ColecoVision]]/[[SG-1000 emulators|SG-1000]]
|[[blueMSX]]
|2.8.2 (SVN)
|
|-
|[[MSX emulators|MSX]]
|[[fMSX]]
|3.9
|
|-
|[[3DO emulators|3DO]]
|[[4DO]]
|1.3.2.4
|Also [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/4do-3do-libretro-emulator-now-supports-arcade-games/ runs 3DO Arcade games].
|-
|[[Vectrex_emulators|Vectrex]]
|[[vecx]]
|SVN
|
|-
|[[Magnavox Odyssey² emulators|Magnavox Odyssey²]]/Videopac
|[[O2EM]]
|1.18
|
|-
|[[ZX Spectrum emulators|ZX Spectrum]]
|[[FUSE]]
|1.11
|
|-
|[[GameCube emulators|Nintendo GameCube]] and [[Wii emulators|Wii]]
|[[Dolphin]]
|Git
|2018: Now has working [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/libretro-status-updates/ Direct3D 11, OpenGL & Vulkan renderers]. 2nd core to use D3D 11 after PPSSPP's core.
|-
|[[GameCube emulators|Nintendo GameCube]] and [[Wii emulators|Wii]]
|[[Dolphin]] (Ishiiruka builds)
|Git
|WIP. Based on a custom build version of Dolphin. [https://www.patreon.com/posts/libretro-status-20471393 OpenGL] renderer works, Direct3D 11 & Vulkan renderers coming soon. Can have better frame pacing/performance than the Dolphin libretro core.
|-
|[[Game & Watch]]
|gw-libretro
|Git
|This emulator is actually a simulator of Game & Watch systems. This core has code from MADrigal.
|-
|[[Amstrad CPC emulators|Amstrad CPC]]
|[https://github.com/libretro/libretro-cap32 Cap32]
|Git
|WIP
|-
|[[Sega Dreamcast emulators|Sega Dreamcast]]
|[[reicast]] regular
|[https://github.com/libretro/reicast-emulator 0.1]
|WIP. Builds available for [https://www.patreon.com/posts/reicast-libretro-20673851 x86] & x64 platforms. reicast regular has lower accuracy than OIT's core and suits mainly mobile devices.
|-
|[[Sega Dreamcast emulators|Sega Dreamcast]]
|[[reicast]] OIT
|[https://github.com/libretro/reicast-emulator 0.1]
|WIP. Builds available for [https://www.patreon.com/posts/reicast-libretro-20673851 x86] & x64 platforms. reicast OIT (PC platforms only) backported the new graphics renderer from a reicast emulator fork.
|-
|[[Sega Dreamcast emulators|Sega Dreamcast]]
|[[redream]]
|?
|
|-
|[[Sinclair ZX81 emulators|Sinclair ZX81]] (for now)
|[[EightyOne]]
|Git
|WIP
|-
|[[Intellivision emulators|Mattel Intellivision]]
|[[FreeIntv]]
|Git
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/freeintv/ WIP]. [https://www.patreon.com/posts/lakka-2-1-1-with-20727887 Mattel Intellivision emulator]. Designed for SNES era and later joypads.
|-
|[[Sharp X68000 emulators|Sharp X68000]]
|px68k-libretro
|Git
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/px68k/ Portable Sharp X68000 Emulator for PSP, Android and other platforms].
|-
|[[List of computers|Thomson TO8/TO8D]]
|Theodore
|Git
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/theodore/ Libretro core for Thomson TO8/TO8D emulation], based on Daniel Coulom's DCTO8D emulator.
|}

===Game Engine===
{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col"|Game
! scope="col"|Core
! scope="col"|Version
! scope="col"|Notes
|-
|Cave Story
|NXEngine
|1.0.0.4
|
|-
|ChaiLove
|libretro-chailove
|0.20.0
|Open-source [https://docs.libretro.com/library/chailove/ framework for making 2D games in C++ with ChaiScript] (eg. Floppy Bird).
|-
|Doom
|PrBoom
|2.5.0
|
|-
|Flashback
|REminiscence
|[https://github.com/libretro/REminiscence Git]
|[https://www.patreon.com/posts/reminiscence-new-18712357 Port] of the game engine recreation of the spiritual successor to ''Another World/Out of this World''.
|-
|Lua Engine (Lutro)
|libretro-lutro
|v1
|WIP. [https://docs.libretro.com/library/lutro/ Experimental lua game framework that follows the LÖVE API]. Sample games include Snake, Tetris and Pong.
|-
|LucasArt Game Engines
|[[ScummVM]]
|[https://github.com/libretro/scummvm 1.6.0]
|Requires loading games inside its own GUI, does not load games from RetroArch's Load Content option.
|-
|OutRun
|CannonBall
|0.3
|[http://docs.libretro.com/library/cannonball/ Complete rewrite] of the Outrun arcade game into portable C++ written in 2014 by Chris White. Has [https://github.com/djyt/cannonball/wiki many enhancements]. The libretro version has [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/libretroretroarch-progress-reportupdate-november-2018/ analog axis and triggers support alongside a new 120Hz mode].
|-
|Quake
|TyrQuake
|0.61
|
|-
|Rick Dangerous
|xrick-libretro
|1.0.0.6
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/xrick/ Open-source implementation of the game '''Rick Dangerous''']. Core based on BigOrno's work.
|-
|RPG Maker 2000/2003
|[[EasyRPG]]
|[https://github.com/libretro/easyrpg-libretro/releases 0.4.1]
|
|-
|-
|Tomb Raider #1-5
|OpenLara
|[https://github.com/libretro/OpenLara 2017-04-24]
|WIP. Available for [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/new-core-openlara-windowslinux/ 32bit/64bit Windows & Linux]. Has [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohH6EI4jtk8 many enhancements] over the original games.
|}

===Standalone Game===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col"|Game
! scope="col"|Genre
|-
|Dinothawr
|Puzzle
|}

===Other===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col"|Core
! scope="col"|Description
|-
|FFmpeg
|Media Player
|-
|Modelviewer
|3D Tech Demo
|-
|SceneWalker
|3D Tech Demo
|-
|Imageviewer
|Image Viewer
|}

==External Links==
* [http://www.libretro.com/ libretro.com] - Main website of the libretro project.
* [https://github.com/libretro/ libretro GitHub organization] - Source code for RetroArch and the various cores maintained by the libretro project.
* [https://db.libretro.com/ Online libretro database] (RetroArch uses the [https://www.libretro.com/index.php/a-website-to-browse-the-libretro-database-db-libretro-com/ same database] for scanning your game collection)
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/Libretro Official Youtube channel]
* [http://retroarch.com/index.php?page=donate Various donation sources] (Not just Patreon only)

[[Category:RetroArch]]

Emulation General Wiki - User contributions [en]

Libretro