RetroArch Core Management

RetroArch Core Management

Freegosy supports 197 libretro cores with a searchable platform browser, per-platform default core selection, and per-game core overrides.

How It Works

Core Browser (Settings → RetroArch Cores)

• Searchable list of all platforms that RetroArch supports
• Tap a platform to expand and see all compatible cores
• Recommended cores are marked with REC badge
• Star cores to pin them to your Favorites section
• Reset all overrides with "Reset All to Defaults" button

Per-Platform Default Core

• In the Core Browser, tap a platform and select a core
• This becomes the default core for that platform when launching via RetroArch
• Overridden cores show an OVR badge

Per-Game Core Override

When launching a game with multiple emulator options (e.g. GBA via RetroArch, mGBA, or Ares):

• A launch picker appears showing available emulators
• Select an emulator and optionally a specific RetroArch core
• Check "Remember for this game" to save the preference
• To clear: open Game Detail → tap "Forget Launch" button

Platform Manager (Settings → Emulators)

When multiple emulators support the same platform:

• Choose between Standalone Emulators (e.g. mGBA, DuckStation) or RetroArch Core
• Per-Game Launcher Toggle: ON = show picker at launch; OFF = auto-use Platform Manager choice
• Long-press the RetroArch option to quickly pick a core

Supported Platforms (with multiple cores)

Platform	RetroArch Cores	Standalone Options
GBA	mGBA, Gambatte, SameBoy, VBA-M, more	mGBA, Ares
SNES	Snes9x, bsnes, Mesen, more	Ares
N64	mupen64Plus, ParaLLEl N64	Ares
PS1	Beetle PSX HW, PCSX ReARMed, SwanStation	DuckStation, Ares
NDS	melonDS, DeSmuME, melonDS DS	melonDS
PSP	PPSSPP	PPSSPP
Genesis	Genesis Plus GX, PicoDrive, BlastEm	Ares
Dreamcast	Flycast	Flycast
Saturn	Mednafen Saturn, Kronos, Yaba Sanshiro	Ares
MSX	blueMSX, fMSX	Ares

Core Selection Flow

Launch Game → Has per-game preference? → YES → Use saved emulator+core
                                          → NO  → Toggle ON? → Show picker
                                                  Toggle OFF? → Use Platform Manager default

Troubleshooting

• Missing core error: Freegosy offers to download it automatically from the libretro buildbot
• Wrong core for platform: Reset in Settings → RetroArch Cores → Reset All to Defaults
• Want to change per-game preference: Open Game Detail → tap "Forget Launch"