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atxoxx edited this page Aug 17, 2026 · 2 revisions

GameIndex User Guide & Wiki

Welcome to GameIndex! This wiki is designed to help new users navigate, configure, and master the main functions of the application. Whether you are looking to unify your fragmented PC game libraries, track your FPS, or play on your couch using Big Picture Mode, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

📑 Table of Contents

  1. Initial Setup & First Launch
  2. Navigating the Interface
  3. The Unified Library
  4. Game Pages & Rich Metadata
  5. Advanced Management (Mods, Emulators & Storage)
  6. The Download Engine (Torrents & Debrid)
  7. Activity & Performance Tracking
  8. Social, Discord & Big Picture Mode
  9. Settings, Themes & Privacy
  10. Quick Tips & Troubleshooting

1. Initial Setup & First Launch

When you open GameIndex for the first time, you will be greeted by the onboarding wizard. Because GameIndex is a local-first application, it needs permission to read your existing game manifests to build your unified library.

Linking Storefronts

  1. Navigate to Settings > Accounts & Sync.
  2. Click Link Store next to your installed launchers (Steam, Epic Games, GOG Galaxy, Ubisoft Connect, Rockstar).
  3. GameIndex will automatically scan your system for the local manifests of these apps and import your library. Note: You do not need to enter your passwords into GameIndex; it uses secure local API tokens and OS keychains.

Adding DRM-Free / Manual Games

If you have games that aren't tied to a storefront (e.g., GOG offline installers, itch.io downloads, or classic CD games):

  1. Go to Library and click the "+" (Add Game) button.
  2. Select Manual Import.
  3. Browse to the game's executable (.exe) and select its cover art. GameIndex will attempt to automatically match the metadata via IGDB.

2. Navigating the Interface

The UI is divided into a persistent left-hand sidebar and a main content area.

  • Library: Your unified grid of all installed and owned games.
  • Store (IGDB): Browse the global database of games, check prices, read reviews, and discover new titles.
  • Activity: View your playtime graphs, FPS history, and session timelines.
  • Downloads: Manage your active download queue, torrents, and Debrid links.
  • Community / Friends: See what your friends are playing and share recommendations.

3. The Unified Library

The core of GameIndex is the Unified Library. Instead of opening five different launchers, all your games live here.

Organizing Your Grid

  • Filtering: Use the top search bar to filter by Store (e.g., show only Steam games), Install Status (Installed vs. Uninstalled), or Genre.
  • Sorting: Sort by Recently Played, Alphabetical, Release Date, or Size on Disk.
  • Launching: Simply click the Play button on any game card. GameIndex will act as a passthrough, launching the native store's executable in the background or launching DRM-free games directly.

4. Game Pages & Rich Metadata

Clicking on any game in your library opens its Rich Game Page. This is your command center for that specific title.

  • Hero Banner: High-quality artwork and live player count badges (pulled from Steam API).
  • Metadata Tab: Syncs with IGDB to show release dates, developers, genres, and HowLongToBeat completion times.
  • Media Tab: Browse official screenshots, trailers, and community videos.
  • Community Tab: Check ProtonDB ratings (crucial for Linux/Steam Deck users), Crackwatch status, and aggregated user reviews.
  • Web Links: Quick shortcuts to the game's official wiki, subreddit, or PCGamingWiki page.

5. Advanced Management (Mods, Emulators & Storage)

🎮 Emulator & ROM Manager

GameIndex treats emulators as first-class citizens alongside PC games.

  1. Go to Settings > Emulators and click Add Emulator.
  2. Point GameIndex to the emulator's executable (e.g., RetroArch, Dolphin, PCSX2).
  3. Assign a ROM Directory. GameIndex will scan the folder, match the ROMs to IGDB, and generate beautiful cover art for your retro games.
  4. Bulk Actions: Select multiple ROMs to assign them to specific platforms or cores in bulk.

🛠️ Mod Manager

GameIndex features a Dual-Pane Mod Manager for Steam Workshop and Nexus Mods.

  • Left Pane (Installed): See all mods currently active for the selected game, including their file sizes.
  • Right Pane (Available): Browse Nexus Mods directly inside the app.
  • Bulk Actions: Use checkboxes to select multiple mods and click Enable, Disable, or Delete. This is incredibly useful for troubleshooting mod conflicts without manually digging through game folders.

💾 Storage Manager

Running out of space? The Storage Manager visualizes your drives.

  1. Go to Settings > Storage.
  2. View a breakdown of disk usage by Game, Emulator, and Mods.
  3. Select a game and click Move Install to safely migrate it to a secondary drive without needing to redownload it.

6. Activity & Performance Tracking

GameIndex tracks your gaming habits and hardware performance, but it requires a third-party tool to read your GPU/CPU sensors.

Setting up Tracking

  1. Ensure MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) are installed and running on your PC.
  2. In GameIndex, go to Settings > Activity Tracking and enable the RTSS integration.
  3. Play a game! GameIndex will log your FPS, frametimes (1% lows), and session duration in the background.

Viewing Your Stats

Go to the Activity tab. You will see:

  • Interactive Timeline: A Gantt-chart view of your daily gaming sessions.
  • Performance Sparklines: Mini-graphs showing your average FPS across different games.
  • Session Deep Dive: Click on a specific play session to see a detailed graph of your frametimes and FPS drops over that exact hour.

7. Social, Discord & Big Picture Mode

🟣 Discord Rich Presence

GameIndex features "Playing and Browsing" presence.

  • Playing: Shows your friends the game you are playing, the platform, and your current session playtime.
  • Browsing: If enabled, it will show your friends that you are "Browsing the GameIndex Storefront" or looking at a specific game's IGDB page.
  • Toggle: You can turn this off at any time via the Discord icon in the bottom right corner of the app.

📺 Big Picture Mode (10-Foot UI)

Perfect for couch gaming or connecting your PC to a TV.

  1. Press F11 or click the Monitor Icon in the top right corner.
  2. The UI transforms into a controller-first interface.
  3. Use your Xbox, PlayStation, or Steam Controller to navigate "Rails" (horizontal scrolling lists) across your Library, Store, News, and Deals. GameIndex automatically maps gamepad inputs to the UI elements.

8. Settings, Themes & Privacy

🎨 Customization

  • Themes: Go to Settings > Appearance. Choose from the Theme Gallery or use the Custom Accent Picker to match GameIndex to your PC's RGB setup or wallpaper.
  • Language: GameIndex supports i18n. Change your language in Settings > General via the LanguageContext dropdown.

🔒 Privacy & Data

Because GameIndex is local-first, your data stays on your machine.

  • Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Data.
  • Here, you can view exactly what local storage caches (IGDB images, metadata) are taking up space.
  • Use the Wipe Local Storage button to completely reset the app's cache and database without uninstalling the program.

9. Quick Tips & Troubleshooting

  • Game Won't Launch?
    • Ensure the original storefront (e.g., Epic Games Launcher) is installed and up to date. GameIndex relies on the native store's background services to authenticate and launch DRM-protected titles.
  • Linux / Steam Deck Users:
    • Native Linux support is currently on the roadmap. For now, GameIndex is optimized for Windows environments.
  • Missing Cover Art?
    • Right-click any game in your library and select Refresh Metadata. GameIndex will re-query IGDB for the highest resolution assets.

Welcome to the future of PC game management. Happy Gaming!

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