Six retro consoles. One app. Your games, ready to launch.
Master System · Game Gear · Game Boy · NES · Mega Drive · Super Nintendo
Less emulation. No FPGA. As native as possible.
Download · Build from source · Compatibility · Credits and licensing
RetroRecomp brings several recompilers together in one application. It prepares game code before you play and creates a compact, standalone Windows executable for each game. The goal is a simple, responsive experience with as much native execution as possible, without dedicated FPGA hardware.
- Convert a whole collection. Add individual ROMs or mixed folders. Recognized games are sorted by console, and multiple conversions can run together.
- Launch directly. Generated games need no Python installation, separate ROM file or external SDL2 DLL. Regeneration can replace existing exports.
- Keep familiar controls. Shared menus, keyboard/gamepad mapping, fullscreen modes and lightweight filters keep the experience consistent across consoles.
- Make games easy to find. Optional box-art icons and shooting tags distinguish your exports. Mouse aiming is available for supported lightgun games. Downloaded artwork is saved and reused when you regenerate games.
| Console | Current status |
|---|---|
| Master System | Supported; two players, PAL/NTSC, quick states and Light Phaser |
| Game Gear | Supported; native handheld display and colors |
| Game Boy | Supported; original Game Boy, quick states, grayscale or classic green |
| NES | Supported; validated cartridge layouts, PAL/NTSC, quick states and Zapper |
| Mega Drive | Experimental; twenty-two qualified NTSC game revisions, including Menacer games |
| Super Nintendo | Experimental; selected NTSC game revisions and Super Scope support |
Compatibility depends on the game and revision. See the compatibility guide and 16-bit support for the current limits. More consoles and output platforms are planned.
One interface for mixed-console batches, options and updates.
Launch games directly from Windows Explorer, with optional box-art icons and lightgun tags.
- Download Retro-Recomp.exe from the latest release.
- Add your ROMs or folders, leave console detection on Automatic, and convert.
- Open the generated games in their console folders under Games beside the app.
Conversion needs a supported build toolchain; see the setup guide. Playing the exported games needs no development tools. ROMs and downloaded box art are not included.
Use Options for conversion settings and Check for updates when you want
a newer version. Update checks are manual. Updating the converter preserves
your games and settings; regenerate games to receive new runtime features.
Downloaded artwork stays in datas/BoxArt beside the converter, sorted by console.
In games, H shows help, F2 configures controls, F3 changes filters and F4 cycles fullscreen modes. F8/F9 save/load quick states on the supported 8-bit profiles. See all controls.
Interpreter fallback is reported when needed. Native coverage, CPU agreement, hardware fidelity, gameplay testing and physical latency are separate measures; native execution alone does not guarantee complete compatibility or zero latency. Detailed checks and ongoing work live in the documentation and roadmap.
Created and integrated by Arthur Reboul Salze. The app's Credits page links the independent projects behind each console.
Original RetroRecomp contributions use the MIT license. Imported components retain their own terms, including noncommercial restrictions; MIT does not override them. See third-party notices. Notices are embedded in the EXE; the matching UPX source archive is available in this repository.
Feedback and contributions are welcome. Please read CONTRIBUTING.md.