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There are three distinct image types used in RetroArch’s "Thumbnail" system:

Even veterans run into issues with RetroArch thumbnails. Here are the solutions to the most common problems:

If you have ever opened RetroArch and been greeted by a text list of file names, you are seeing the skeleton of the software. But if you have seen a vibrant, cover-art filled grid or a scrolling carousel of game boxes, you have seen the power of Banners. This guide covers everything you need to know about curating, creating, and displaying banners in RetroArch. retroarch banner

Whether you let RetroArch download them automatically or spend hours curating the perfect set of transparent logos, banners are the bridge between a file on a hard drive and a memory in your mind. They turn RetroArch from a utility into an experience.

This is the most critical aspect of using banners in RetroArch. RetroArch does not automatically "know" which image belongs to which game. It relies on a strict file naming convention. There are three distinct image types used in

For the uninitiated, RetroArch is simply a frontend—a powerful piece of software that runs emulators (called "cores") for dozens of different systems. However, for enthusiasts, RetroArch is a digital museum. It is a shrine to gaming history. And like any great museum, the presentation matters.

RetroArch is a tool for preservation, but it is also a tool for experience. Scrolling through a sterile text list of file names ( Super Mario World (USA) [!].sfc ) feels like browsing a spreadsheet. It feels like work. This guide covers everything you need to know

The notification that appears when you launch a game is functional but can be intrusive.