Add Games
How to Add Your Own Games to the RetroVerse Pro 2.0
โก Quick Answer
For the cleanest setup, use a second SD card dedicated just to games. Keep the system card as-is, format a new card to exFAT, switch the console over to it in Settings, copy your files into the correct system folders, then tell the console to refresh its game list.
Your RetroVerse Pro 2.0 comes preloaded with a massive library, but sooner or later you'll want to add something of your own โ a specific version of a game, a personal favorite that didn't make the cut, or your own backup of something you already own. The process is straightforward once you understand two things: how the storage is split, and how the file system likes its folders named.
1. Understanding Your Two SD Card Slots
๐ก In short: One slot holds the system, the other can hold your games. Keeping them separate protects your save files if anything ever needs a system update.
Look at the side of your console and you'll find two SD card slots. It's worth understanding what each one is for before you start copying files over.
The System Slot
This card holds the actual operating system โ the software that runs everything. If you plug this card into a computer, you'll likely see a few different partitions and possibly a prompt asking you to format the drive. Don't do that โ it will wipe the system software, and you'd need to reinstall it from scratch.
The Game Slot
This is the slot meant for your personal game library. Keeping games here instead of mixed in with the system card means that if you ever need to update or reinstall the system software, your saved games and added titles stay completely untouched.
2. Method 1: Using Just the System Card
๐ก In short: Good for a quick first attempt. Plug the system card into your computer, ignore any formatting prompts, and drop files into the visible games partition.
- Power down completely โ from the main menu, choose shutdown rather than just holding the power button.
- Remove the system card and connect it to your computer with a card reader.
- Ignore any "format this disk" prompts. Your computer can't read every partition on the card, but it will show you the one that holds games (usually visible as a normal drive).
- Open that drive and you'll see folders already named for different systems.
- Copy your files into the matching folder.
- Eject safely, reinsert the card, and power the console back on.
3. Method 2: Setting Up a Dedicated Second Card
๐ก In short: The cleaner, recommended approach. Format a second card, switch the console over to it, and let it build the folder structure for you automatically.
Format your new card to exFAT using your computer.
Insert it into the second slot while your original system card stays in place, then power on.
Go to Settings โ Advanced in the main menu and select the option to switch game storage to the second card.
Let it finish โ the console will build out the full folder structure on your new card automatically.
Power down, remove that card, plug it into your computer, and you'll find a complete, correctly-named folder structure ready for your files.
4. Folder Naming Cheat Sheet
๐ก In short: The folder names have to match exactly, or the console won't detect what's inside. A couple of these are less obvious than you'd expect.
This trips up almost everyone at least once โ the system looks for very specific folder names, and a reasonable-sounding guess (like naming a folder "ps1") won't always work.
| System | Folder Name | Common File Types |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 1 |
psx (not "ps1") |
.chd, .pbp |
| Super Nintendo | snes |
.sfc, .smc |
| Nintendo Entertainment System | nes |
.nes |
| Nintendo DS | nds |
.nds |
| Game Boy Advance | gba |
.gba |
| Game Boy Color | gbc |
.gbc |
| Dreamcast | dreamcast |
.chd, .cdi |
| PSP | psp |
.iso, .cso |
| Arcade |
arcade or emulator-specific |
.zip (non-merged sets) |
Tip: For disc-based systems like PS1 and Dreamcast, converting .bin/.cue files to the .chd format saves significant space without any loss in quality โ worth doing if you're tight on storage.
5. A Note on BIOS Files
๐ก In short: Some emulator cores (PS1 is the most common example) need a small system file called a BIOS to boot games correctly. Every RetroVerse ships pre-configured with what it needs for the built-in library.
If a game loads its title screen and then immediately kicks you back to the menu, a missing or mismatched BIOS file is usually the cause. Think of it as the console's own startup firmware โ the emulator needs an exact, correctly matched copy to boot certain systems properly.
Since every RetroVerse Pro 2.0 ships preloaded and ready to play, this generally isn't something you'll run into with the built-in library. It only becomes relevant if you're adding entirely new systems to the console yourself โ in that case, these files need to come from hardware you legitimately own, as we're not able to distribute them ourselves.
Get the RetroVerse Pro 2.0 โ from $79Preloaded and ready to play, no setup required6. Refreshing Your Game List
๐ก In short: After adding files, the console won't show them until you manually tell it to rescan.
This is the step that causes the most confusion. You've copied everything correctly, powered the console back on, and your new game is nowhere to be found. That's expected โ the system doesn't automatically rescan every boot, to keep startup fast.
- From the main menu, press Start.
- Go to UI Settings.
- Select Update Games Lists.
- Wait for it to finish scanning.
Once that completes, your added titles will show up in the menu.
7. Troubleshooting
macOS creates hidden index files that the console mistakes for real games. Before ejecting your card, open Terminal and run dot_clean followed by the path to your card. This clears the hidden files out.
Double-check your folder is named exactly psx, not "ps1." Also confirm your file extensions are lowercase โ the system is case-sensitive under the hood.
This usually points to a slow or failing SD card struggling to keep up with instant save states. Every RetroVerse ships with a verified, tested card specifically to avoid this โ if you're experiencing it, reach out to us and we'll help sort it out.
This setting lives under Settings โ Advanced. If you don't see it, your system software may need updating โ see our setup guide or reach out to support for help.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
What's the largest SD card size the console supports?
Quick answer: Officially up to 256GB.
For most libraries, a 128GB card is more than enough room, and keeps costs reasonable.
Do I need to unzip my game files first?
Quick answer: Depends on the system.
Older cartridge-based systems (NES, SNES, Genesis) generally work fine zipped, saving space. Disc-based systems like PS1 and Dreamcast need to be unzipped into their native format (or converted to .chd).
Can I play Nintendo 64 games on the RetroVerse Pro 2.0?
Quick answer: Yes, with strong results on most titles.
Lighter N64 titles run at full speed, while a handful of the most demanding 3D titles may show occasional slowdown. You can check specific games against our Game Search tool.
Why is my screen black after I updated the system?
Quick answer: A display driver mismatch โ not a broken screen.
This is a separate, well-known issue with an easy fix. See our full guide for the step-by-step walkthrough.
Danny Rourke
Danny is RetroVerse's retro hardware editor. He grew up on the SNES and PS1 and has spent years testing budget handhelds to help people find the ones actually worth owning.
- Hands-on tester of retro consoles and handhelds
- Focused on honest, real-world performance
- Writes plain-English guides for newcomers and collectors alike