Getting started with RetroDECK

Step 0: Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

A device to install RetroDECK on.
Related BIOS & Firmware ready.
Game backups of various formats or purchased titles ready to play.
On the Steam Deck, this guide needs to be done in Desktop Mode until a later step.

Step 1: Installation & Configuration

Steam Deck - Installation

Follow the guide: Steam Deck - Installation and Updates

Linux Desktop - Installation

Follow the guide: Linux Desktop - Installation and Updates

Step 2: Place BIOS & Firmware

Read up on Manage your BIOS/Firmware

Place BIOS & Firmware files in the ~/retrodeck/bios/ directory.

Step 3: Place ROMs and Games

RetroDECK follows the ES-DE ROM folder structure.

Place ROM files in their corresponding system directory inside the roms folder. The location of the retrodeck/roms/ folder depends on your installation location choice.

Example:

You have an example NES game called: ExampleNESGame.nes

Place ExampleNESGame.nes in the /retrodeck/roms/nes folder.

Step 4: Playing the Games

Start RetroDECK via Steam or by itself. The systems you placed ROM files for should be shown and playable.

Example:

The NES category should now be shown in the ES-DE Frontend with ExampleNESGame.nes from Step 3.

Step 5: Making the Games "Pretty" with Videos, Images, and Art

Do the following:

Make an account on Screenscraper
Read up on scraping and the various settings in the ES-DE User Guide.
Log in to your Screenscraper account inside RetroDECK.
Set up the scraping how you want it.
Start scraping.
Enjoy your nice, pretty games.

ES-DE Themes

You can download more themes for ES-DE's frontend with the built-in theme downloader found in:

ES-DE Configurations -> UI Settings -> Theme Downloader

Switch between them in:

ES-DE Configurations -> UI Settings -> Theme Set

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