How To Install RetroArch on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

RetroArch has become the go-to solution for emulation enthusiasts looking to relive their favorite classic games on modern hardware. This powerful, open-source frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players offers a unified interface for playing games from various retro consoles. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, the latest long-term support release of the popular Linux distribution, provides an excellent platform for running RetroArch. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing RetroArch on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, ensuring you can start your retro gaming journey with ease.

Table of Contents

What is RetroArch?

RetroArch is more than just an emulator; it’s a sophisticated frontend that brings together various emulators, game engines, and media players under a single, user-friendly interface. This versatile software allows users to play games from a wide range of classic consoles, including but not limited to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES), PlayStation, and Sega Genesis.

What sets RetroArch apart from standalone emulators are its unique features:

Online Updater: Easily download and update emulator cores without leaving the application.
Shaders: Apply various visual effects to enhance the look of retro games on modern displays.
Netplay: Play multiplayer games online with friends, even if the original game didn’t support online play.
Multi-platform support: RetroArch runs on a wide variety of operating systems and devices, ensuring a consistent experience across platforms.

By using RetroArch, you can consolidate your retro gaming setup into a single application, streamlining your gaming experience and reducing the need for multiple emulators.

Prerequisites for Installing RetroArch

Before we dive into the installation process, let’s ensure you have everything you need to successfully install RetroArch on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS:

System Requirements: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS should be installed on a computer with at least 4GB of RAM and a dual-core processor. While RetroArch can run on lower-end hardware, these specifications will ensure smooth performance for most emulated systems.
Administrative Access: You’ll need sudo privileges to install packages and make system-wide changes.
Terminal Access: Familiarity with the terminal is beneficial, as we’ll be using command-line instructions for some installation methods.
Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is crucial for downloading RetroArch and its associated packages.
Updated System: Ensure your Ubuntu system is up-to-date by running the following commands in the terminal:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
```

With these prerequisites in place, you’re ready to proceed with the installation of RetroArch on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system.

Installation Methods

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS offers several methods to install RetroArch, each with its own advantages. We’ll explore three popular approaches: using Snap, Flatpak, and the Ubuntu PPA. Choose the method that best suits your preferences and system configuration.

1. Installing RetroArch via Snap

Snap is a universal package management system developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. It offers several benefits, including sandboxed applications and automatic updates.

To install RetroArch using Snap, follow these steps:

Open the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).

Ensure Snap is installed (it comes pre-installed on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS):

snap --version

If it’s not installed, you can install it with:

sudo apt install snapd

Install RetroArch using Snap:

sudo snap install retroarch

Once the installation is complete, you can launch RetroArch from the application menu or by typing retroarch in the terminal.

Using Snap to install RetroArch ensures you’ll always have the latest stable version, as Snap packages update automatically. The sandboxing feature also provides an additional layer of security for your system.

2. Installing RetroArch via Flatpak

Flatpak is another universal package management system that offers cross-distribution support and application isolation. Many users prefer Flatpak for its extensive community support and wide range of available applications.

To install RetroArch using Flatpak, follow these steps:

Install Flatpak if it’s not already on your system:

sudo apt install flatpak

Add the Flathub repository, which hosts a wide range of Flatpak applications:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install RetroArch using Flatpak:

flatpak install flathub org.libretro.RetroArch

Once installed, you can run RetroArch using:

flatpak run org.libretro.RetroArch

The Flatpak version of RetroArch benefits from the isolation provided by the Flatpak system, which can help prevent conflicts with other system libraries. It also allows for easy installation of RetroArch on other Linux distributions that support Flatpak.

3. Installing RetroArch via Ubuntu PPA

Personal Package Archives (PPAs) are repositories that allow developers to distribute software directly to Ubuntu users. The RetroArch PPA provides access to the latest stable versions of RetroArch and its cores.

To install RetroArch using the Ubuntu PPA, follow these steps:

Open the terminal and add the RetroArch PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libretro/stable

Update the package list:

sudo apt update

Install RetroArch:

sudo apt install retroarch

Optionally, install additional cores:

sudo apt install libretro-*

This command will install all available libretro cores, which may take some time and disk space. You can also install specific cores by replacing the asterisk with the core name.

Using the PPA method allows you to easily keep RetroArch updated through Ubuntu’s standard package management system. However, be aware that adding third-party PPAs can potentially introduce security risks, so only use trusted sources.

Post-Installation Setup

After successfully installing RetroArch using one of the methods above, it’s time to set up the application for optimal performance. Follow these steps to configure RetroArch:

Launch RetroArch: Open RetroArch from the application menu or terminal.
Navigate the Interface: Use the arrow keys or gamepad to navigate the RetroArch menu. Press ‘X’ or the ‘A’ button to select options.
Configure Input Devices:
- Go to Settings → Input → Input User 1 Binds.
- Select “Bind All” to configure your controller or keyboard.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to assign buttons.
Optimize Video Settings:
- Navigate to Settings → Video.
- Adjust the “Aspect Ratio” to match your display.
- Enable “VSync” to reduce screen tearing.
- Experiment with different video drivers if you experience performance issues.
Configure Audio:
- Go to Settings → Audio.
- Ensure the “Audio Driver” is set correctly for your system.
- Adjust “Output Rate” if you experience audio lag or crackling.
Save Configuration: After making changes, go to Main Menu → Configuration File → Save Current Configuration to preserve your settings.

Downloading and Installing Cores

RetroArch uses “cores” as plugins to emulate different gaming systems. To play games, you’ll need to download and install the appropriate cores for the systems you want to emulate. Here’s how to do it:

From the main menu, navigate to “Online Updater”.
Select “Core Updater”.
Browse the list of available cores and select the ones you want to install. Some popular cores include:
- Snes9x (Super Nintendo)
- Mupen64Plus (Nintendo 64)
- Gambatte (Game Boy/Game Boy Color)
- PCSX ReARMed (PlayStation)
- Genesis Plus GX (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
After selecting a core, RetroArch will download and install it automatically.
Repeat this process for all the cores you want to use.

Remember that some cores may perform better than others for specific games or systems. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different cores to find the best performance and compatibility for your favorite games.

Playing Games with RetroArch

Now that you have RetroArch installed and configured, it’s time to start playing games. Here’s how to load and play games using RetroArch:

Organize Your ROMs: Create a directory to store your game ROMs, organizing them into subdirectories by system (e.g., /home/username/ROMs/SNES, /home/username/ROMs/NES).
Scan for Content:
- In RetroArch, go to “Import Content” → “Scan Directory”.
- Navigate to your ROM directory and select it.
- RetroArch will scan for compatible games and add them to your library.
Load a Game:
- Go to “Load Content” → “Start Directory”.
- Navigate to your ROM file and select it.
- Choose the appropriate core when prompted.
Play the Game: Once loaded, the game should start automatically. Use the controls you configured earlier to play.
Access the RetroArch Menu: Press F1 (or the configured hotkey) to access the RetroArch menu during gameplay. From here, you can save states, adjust settings, or exit the game.

To enhance your gaming experience, consider exploring RetroArch’s shader options. Shaders can improve the visual quality of retro games on modern displays. Navigate to Quick Menu → Shaders to experiment with different visual effects.