diff --git a/src/FileData.h b/src/FileData.h
index a0c7abde8..ebb44b9b9 100644
--- a/src/FileData.h
+++ b/src/FileData.h
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ class FileData
 {
 public:
 	virtual ~FileData() { };
-	virtual bool isFolder() = 0;
-	virtual std::string getName() = 0;
-	virtual std::string getPath() = 0;
+	virtual bool isFolder() const = 0;
+	virtual const std::string & getName() const = 0;
+	virtual const std::string & getPath() const = 0;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/FolderData.cpp b/src/FolderData.cpp
index 2bc937cca..5ea2cd8e5 100644
--- a/src/FolderData.cpp
+++ b/src/FolderData.cpp
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 #include "FolderData.h"
 #include "SystemData.h"
+#include "GameData.h"
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <iostream>
 
-bool FolderData::isFolder() { return true; }
-std::string FolderData::getName() { return mName; }
-std::string FolderData::getPath() { return mPath; }
+bool FolderData::isFolder() const { return true; }
+const std::string & FolderData::getName() const { return mName; }
+const std::string & FolderData::getPath() const { return mPath; }
 unsigned int FolderData::getFileCount() { return mFileVector.size(); }
-FileData* FolderData::getFile(unsigned int i) { return mFileVector.at(i); }
+
 
 FolderData::FolderData(SystemData* system, std::string path, std::string name)
 {
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ void FolderData::pushFileData(FileData* file)
 }
 
 //returns if file1 should come before file2
-bool filesort(FileData* file1, FileData* file2)
+bool FolderData::compareFileName(const FileData* file1, const FileData* file2)
 {
 	std::string name1 = file1->getName();
 	std::string name2 = file2->getName();
@@ -43,25 +44,39 @@ bool filesort(FileData* file1, FileData* file2)
 	{
 		if(toupper(name1[i]) != toupper(name2[i]))
 		{
-			if(toupper(name1[i]) < toupper(name2[i]))
-			{
-				return true;
-			}else{
-				return false;
-			}
+			return toupper(name1[i]) < toupper(name2[i]);
 		}
 	}
 
-	if(name1.length() < name2.length())
-		return true;
-	else
-		return false;
+	return name1.length() < name2.length();
+}
+
+bool FolderData::compareRating(const FileData* file1, const FileData* file2)
+{
+	//we need game data. try to cast
+	const GameData * game1 = dynamic_cast<const GameData*>(file1);
+	const GameData * game2 = dynamic_cast<const GameData*>(file2);
+	if (game1 != nullptr && game2 != nullptr) {
+		return game1->getRating() < game2->getRating();
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+bool FolderData::compareTimesPlayed(const FileData* file1, const FileData* file2)
+{
+	//we need game data. try to cast
+	const GameData * game1 = dynamic_cast<const GameData*>(file1);
+	const GameData * game2 = dynamic_cast<const GameData*>(file2);
+	if (game1 != nullptr && game2 != nullptr) {
+		return game1->getTimesPlayed() < game2->getTimesPlayed();
+	}
+	return false;
 }
 
 //sort this folder and any subfolders
 void FolderData::sort()
 {
-	std::sort(mFileVector.begin(), mFileVector.end(), filesort);
+	std::sort(mFileVector.begin(), mFileVector.end(), compareFileName);
 
 	for(unsigned int i = 0; i < mFileVector.size(); i++)
 	{
@@ -69,3 +84,56 @@ void FolderData::sort()
 			((FolderData*)mFileVector.at(i))->sort();
 	}
 }
+
+FileData* FolderData::getFile(unsigned int i) const
+{
+	return mFileVector.at(i);
+}
+
+std::vector<FileData*> FolderData::getFiles(bool onlyFiles) const
+{
+	std::vector<FileData*> temp;
+	//now check if a child is a folder and get those children in turn
+	std::vector<FileData*>::const_iterator fdit = mFileVector.cbegin();
+	while(fdit != mFileVector.cend()) {
+		//dynamically try to cast to FolderData type
+		FolderData * folder = dynamic_cast<FolderData*>(*fdit);
+		if (folder != nullptr) {
+			//add this only when user wanted it
+			if (!onlyFiles) {
+				temp.push_back(*fdit);
+			}
+		}
+		else {
+			temp.push_back(*fdit);
+		}
+		++fdit;
+	}
+	return temp;
+}
+
+std::vector<FileData*> FolderData::getFilesRecursive(bool onlyFiles) const
+{
+	std::vector<FileData*> temp;
+	//now check if a child is a folder and get those children in turn
+	std::vector<FileData*>::const_iterator fdit = mFileVector.cbegin();
+	while(fdit != mFileVector.cend()) {
+		//dynamically try to cast to FolderData type
+		FolderData * folder = dynamic_cast<FolderData*>(*fdit);
+		if (folder != nullptr) {
+			//add this onyl when user wanted it
+			if (!onlyFiles) {
+				temp.push_back(*fdit);
+			}
+			//worked. Is actual folder data. recurse
+			std::vector<FileData*> children = folder->getFilesRecursive(onlyFiles);
+			//insert children into return vector
+			temp.insert(temp.end(), children.cbegin(), children.cend());
+		}
+		else {
+			temp.push_back(*fdit);
+		}
+		++fdit;
+	}
+	return temp;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/FolderData.h b/src/FolderData.h
index e453ac5e7..d91d69c64 100644
--- a/src/FolderData.h
+++ b/src/FolderData.h
@@ -13,16 +13,22 @@ public:
 	FolderData(SystemData* system, std::string path, std::string name);
 	~FolderData();
 
-	bool isFolder();
-	std::string getName();
-	std::string getPath();
+	bool isFolder() const;
+	const std::string & getName() const;
+	const std::string & getPath() const;
 
 	unsigned int getFileCount();
-	FileData* getFile(unsigned int i);
+	FileData* getFile(unsigned int i) const;
+	std::vector<FileData*> getFiles(bool onlyFiles = false) const;
+	std::vector<FileData*> getFilesRecursive(bool onlyFiles = false) const;
 
 	void pushFileData(FileData* file);
 
 	void sort();
+
+	static bool compareFileName(const FileData* file1, const FileData* file2);
+	static bool compareRating(const FileData* file1, const FileData* file2);
+	static bool compareTimesPlayed(const FileData* file1, const FileData* file2);
 private:
 	SystemData* mSystem;
 	std::string mPath;
diff --git a/src/GameData.cpp b/src/GameData.cpp
index bb656be01..f72d9f9a4 100644
--- a/src/GameData.cpp
+++ b/src/GameData.cpp
@@ -2,23 +2,88 @@
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 #include <iostream>
 
-bool GameData::isFolder() { return false; }
-std::string GameData::getName() { return mName; }
-std::string GameData::getPath() { return mPath; }
-std::string GameData::getDescription() { return mDescription; }
-std::string GameData::getImagePath() { return mImagePath; }
+
+const std::string GameData::xmlTagGameList = "gameList";
+const std::string GameData::xmlTagGame = "game";
+const std::string GameData::xmlTagName = "name";
+const std::string GameData::xmlTagPath = "path";
+const std::string GameData::xmlTagDescription = "desc";
+const std::string GameData::xmlTagImagePath = "image";
+const std::string GameData::xmlTagRating = "rating";
+const std::string GameData::xmlTagTimesPlayed = "timesplayed";
+
 
 GameData::GameData(SystemData* system, std::string path, std::string name)
+	: mSystem(system), mPath(path), mName(name), mRating(0), mTimesPlayed(0)
 {
-	mSystem = system;
-	mPath = path;
-	mName = name;
-
-	mDescription = "";
-	mImagePath = "";
 }
 
-std::string GameData::getBashPath()
+bool GameData::isFolder() const
+{
+	return false;
+}
+
+const std::string & GameData::getName() const
+{
+	return mName;
+}
+
+void GameData::setName(const std::string & name)
+{
+	mName = name;
+}
+
+const std::string & GameData::getPath() const
+{
+	return mPath;
+}
+
+void GameData::setPath(const std::string & path)
+{
+	mPath = path;
+}
+
+const std::string & GameData::getDescription() const
+{
+	return mDescription;
+}
+
+void GameData::setDescription(const std::string & description)
+{
+	mDescription = description;
+}
+
+const std::string & GameData::getImagePath() const
+{
+	return mImagePath;
+}
+
+void GameData::setImagePath(const std::string & imagePath)
+{
+	mImagePath = imagePath;
+}
+
+size_t GameData::getRating() const
+{
+	return mRating;
+}
+
+void GameData::setRating(size_t rating)
+{
+	mRating = rating;
+}
+
+size_t GameData::getTimesPlayed() const
+{
+	return mTimesPlayed;
+}
+
+void GameData::setTimesPlayed(size_t timesPlayed)
+{
+	mTimesPlayed = timesPlayed;
+}
+
+std::string GameData::getBashPath() const
 {
 	//a quick and dirty way to insert a backslash before most characters that would mess up a bash path
 	std::string path = mPath;
@@ -44,18 +109,8 @@ std::string GameData::getBashPath()
 }
 
 //returns the boost::filesystem stem of our path - e.g. for "/foo/bar.rom" returns "bar"
-std::string GameData::getBaseName()
+std::string GameData::getBaseName() const
 {
 	boost::filesystem::path path(mPath);
 	return path.stem().string();
 }
-
-void GameData::set(std::string name, std::string description, std::string imagePath)
-{
-	if(!name.empty())
-		mName = name;
-	if(!description.empty())
-		mDescription = description;
-	if(!imagePath.empty() && boost::filesystem::exists(imagePath))
-		mImagePath = imagePath;
-}
diff --git a/src/GameData.h b/src/GameData.h
index ad0db2038..bd34be4ea 100644
--- a/src/GameData.h
+++ b/src/GameData.h
@@ -9,19 +9,41 @@
 class GameData : public FileData
 {
 public:
+	//static tag names for reading/writing XML documents. This might fail in PUGIXML_WCHAR_MODE
+	//TODO: The class should have member to read fromXML() and write toXML() probably...
+	static const std::string xmlTagGameList;
+	static const std::string xmlTagGame;
+	static const std::string xmlTagName;
+	static const std::string xmlTagPath;
+	static const std::string xmlTagDescription;
+	static const std::string xmlTagImagePath;
+	static const std::string xmlTagRating;
+	static const std::string xmlTagTimesPlayed;
+
 	GameData(SystemData* system, std::string path, std::string name);
 
-	void set(std::string name = "", std::string description = "", std::string imagePath = "");
+	const std::string & getName() const;
+	void setName(const std::string & name);
 
-	std::string getName();
-	std::string getPath();
-	std::string getBashPath();
-	std::string getBaseName();
+	const std::string & getPath() const;
+	void setPath(const std::string & path);
 
-	std::string getDescription();
-	std::string getImagePath();
+	const std::string & getDescription() const;
+	void setDescription(const std::string & description);
 
-	bool isFolder();
+	const std::string & getImagePath() const;
+	void setImagePath(const std::string & imagePath);
+
+	size_t getRating() const;
+	void setRating(size_t rating);
+
+	size_t getTimesPlayed() const;
+	void setTimesPlayed(size_t timesPlayed);
+
+	std::string getBashPath() const;
+	std::string getBaseName() const;
+
+	bool isFolder() const;
 private:
 	SystemData* mSystem;
 	std::string mPath;
@@ -30,6 +52,8 @@ private:
 	//extra data
 	std::string mDescription;
 	std::string mImagePath;
+	size_t mRating;
+	size_t mTimesPlayed;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/SystemData.cpp b/src/SystemData.cpp
index 2e983e5e4..d77bfb024 100644
--- a/src/SystemData.cpp
+++ b/src/SystemData.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ SystemData::SystemData(std::string name, std::string descName, std::string start
 
 SystemData::~SystemData()
 {
+	//save changed game data back to xml
+	if(!Settings::getInstance()->getBool("IGNOREGAMELIST")) {
+		updateGamelist(this);
+	}
 	delete mRootFolder;
 }
 
@@ -90,6 +94,9 @@ void SystemData::launchGame(Window* window, GameData* game)
 	window->init();
 	VolumeControl::getInstance()->init();
 	AudioManager::getInstance()->init();
+
+	//update number of times the game has been launched
+	game->setTimesPlayed(game->getTimesPlayed() + 1);
 }
 
 void SystemData::populateFolder(FolderData* folder)
diff --git a/src/XMLReader.cpp b/src/XMLReader.cpp
index d1e19b8ae..928fbd8ff 100644
--- a/src/XMLReader.cpp
+++ b/src/XMLReader.cpp
@@ -117,19 +117,19 @@ void parseGamelist(SystemData* system)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	pugi::xml_node root = doc.child("gameList");
+	pugi::xml_node root = doc.child(GameData::xmlTagGameList.c_str());
 	if(!root)
 	{
-		LOG(LogError) << "Could not find <gameList> node in gamelist \"" << xmlpath << "\"!";
+		LOG(LogError) << "Could not find <" << GameData::xmlTagGameList << "> node in gamelist \"" << xmlpath << "\"!";
 		return;
 	}
 
-	for(pugi::xml_node gameNode = root.child("game"); gameNode; gameNode = gameNode.next_sibling("game"))
+	for(pugi::xml_node gameNode = root.child(GameData::xmlTagGame.c_str()); gameNode; gameNode = gameNode.next_sibling(GameData::xmlTagGame.c_str()))
 	{
-		pugi::xml_node pathNode = gameNode.child("path");
+		pugi::xml_node pathNode = gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagPath.c_str());
 		if(!pathNode)
 		{
-			LOG(LogError) << "<game> node contains no <path> child!";
+			LOG(LogError) << "<" << GameData::xmlTagGame << "> node contains no <" << GameData::xmlTagPath << "> child!";
 			continue;
 		}
 
@@ -152,13 +152,17 @@ void parseGamelist(SystemData* system)
 			//actually gather the information in the XML doc, then pass it to the game's set method
 			std::string newName, newDesc, newImage;
 
-			if(gameNode.child("name"))
-				newName = gameNode.child("name").text().get();
-			if(gameNode.child("desc"))
-				newDesc = gameNode.child("desc").text().get();
-			if(gameNode.child("image"))
+			if(gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagName.c_str()))
 			{
-				newImage = gameNode.child("image").text().get();
+				game->setName(gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagName.c_str()).text().get());
+			}
+			if(gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagDescription.c_str())) 
+			{
+				game->setDescription(gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagDescription.c_str()).text().get());
+			}
+			if(gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagImagePath.c_str()))
+			{
+				newImage = gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagImagePath.c_str()).text().get();
 
 				//expand "."
 				if(newImage[0] == '.')
@@ -168,15 +172,129 @@ void parseGamelist(SystemData* system)
 					newImage.insert(0, pathname.parent_path().string() );
 				}
 
-				//if the image doesn't exist, forget it
-				if(!boost::filesystem::exists(newImage))
-					newImage = "";
+				//if the image exist, set it
+				if(boost::filesystem::exists(newImage))
+				{
+					game->setImagePath(newImage);
+				}
 			}
 
-			game->set(newName, newDesc, newImage);
-
-		}else{
+			//get rating and the times played from the XML doc
+			if(gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagRating.c_str()))
+			{
+				size_t rating;
+				std::istringstream(gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagRating.c_str()).text().get()) >> rating;
+				game->setRating(rating);
+			}
+			if(gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagTimesPlayed.c_str()))
+			{
+				size_t timesPlayed;
+				std::istringstream(gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagTimesPlayed.c_str()).text().get()) >> timesPlayed;
+				game->setRating(timesPlayed);
+			}
+		}
+		else{
 			LOG(LogWarning) << "Game at \"" << path << "\" does not exist!";
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+void addGameDataNode(pugi::xml_node & parent, const GameData * game)
+{
+	//create game and add to parent node
+	pugi::xml_node newGame = parent.append_child(GameData::xmlTagGame.c_str());
+	//add values
+	if (!game->getPath().empty()) {
+		pugi::xml_node pathNode = newGame.append_child(GameData::xmlTagPath.c_str());
+		pathNode.text().set(game->getPath().c_str());
+	}
+	if (!game->getName().empty()) {
+		pugi::xml_node nameNode = newGame.append_child(GameData::xmlTagName.c_str());
+		nameNode.text().set(game->getName().c_str());
+	}
+	if (!game->getDescription().empty()) {
+		pugi::xml_node descriptionNode = newGame.append_child(GameData::xmlTagDescription.c_str());
+		descriptionNode.text().set(game->getDescription().c_str());
+	}
+	if (!game->getImagePath().empty()) {
+		pugi::xml_node imagePathNode = newGame.append_child(GameData::xmlTagImagePath.c_str());
+		imagePathNode.text().set(game->getImagePath().c_str());
+	}
+	//all other values are added regardless of their value
+	pugi::xml_node ratingNode = newGame.append_child(GameData::xmlTagRating.c_str());
+	ratingNode.text().set(std::to_string((unsigned long long)game->getRating()).c_str());
+	pugi::xml_node timesPlayedNode = newGame.append_child(GameData::xmlTagTimesPlayed.c_str());
+	timesPlayedNode.text().set(std::to_string((unsigned long long)game->getTimesPlayed()).c_str());
+}
+
+void updateGamelist(SystemData* system)
+{
+	//We do this by reading the XML again, adding changes and then writing it back,
+	//because there might be information missing in our systemdata which would then miss in the new XML.
+	//We have the complete information for every game though, so we can simply remove a game
+	//we already have in the system from the XML, and then add it back from its GameData information...
+
+	std::string xmlpath = system->getGamelistPath();
+	if(xmlpath.empty()) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	LOG(LogInfo) << "Parsing XML file \"" << xmlpath << "\" before writing...";
+
+	pugi::xml_document doc;
+	pugi::xml_parse_result result = doc.load_file(xmlpath.c_str());
+
+	if(!result) {
+		LOG(LogError) << "Error parsing XML file \"" << xmlpath << "\"!\n	" << result.description();
+		return;
+	}
+
+	pugi::xml_node root = doc.child(GameData::xmlTagGameList.c_str());
+	if(!root) {
+		LOG(LogError) << "Could not find <" << GameData::xmlTagGameList << "> node in gamelist \"" << xmlpath << "\"!";
+		return;
+	}
+
+	//now we have all the information from the XML. now iterate through all our games and add information from there
+	FolderData * rootFolder = system->getRootFolder();
+	if (rootFolder != nullptr) {
+		//get only files, no folders
+		std::vector<FileData*> files = rootFolder->getFilesRecursive(true);
+		//iterate through all files, checking if they're already in the XML
+		std::vector<FileData*>::const_iterator fit = files.cbegin();
+		while(fit != files.cend()) {
+			//try to cast to gamedata
+			const GameData * game = dynamic_cast<const GameData*>(*fit);
+			if (game != nullptr) {
+				//worked. check if this games' path can be found somewhere in the XML
+				for(pugi::xml_node gameNode = root.child(GameData::xmlTagGame.c_str()); gameNode; gameNode = gameNode.next_sibling(GameData::xmlTagGame.c_str())) {
+					//get path from game node
+					pugi::xml_node pathNode = gameNode.child(GameData::xmlTagPath.c_str());
+					if(!pathNode)
+					{
+						LOG(LogError) << "<" << GameData::xmlTagGame << "> node contains no <" << GameData::xmlTagPath << "> child!";
+						continue;
+					}
+					//check path
+					if (pathNode.text().get() == game->getPath()) {
+						//found the game. remove it. it will be added again later with updated values
+						root.remove_child(gameNode);
+						//break node search loop
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+				//either the game content was removed, because it needs to be updated,
+				//or didn't exist in the first place, so just add it
+				addGameDataNode(root, game);
+			}
+			++fit;
+		}
+		//now write the file
+		if (!doc.save_file(xmlpath.c_str())) {
+			LOG(LogError) << "Error saving XML file \"" << xmlpath << "\"!";
+		}
+	}
+	else {
+		LOG(LogError) << "Found no root folder for system \"" << system->getName() << "\"!";
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/XMLReader.h b/src/XMLReader.h
index 403c96fcf..ea3b4399b 100644
--- a/src/XMLReader.h
+++ b/src/XMLReader.h
@@ -7,4 +7,7 @@ class SystemData;
 //Loads gamelist.xml data into a SystemData.
 void parseGamelist(SystemData* system);
 
+//Writes changes to SystemData back to a previously loaded gamelist.xml.
+void updateGamelist(SystemData* system);
+
 #endif