RETRO GAME CORPS Retroid Pocket 2+ Starter Guide

04/08/2022 18:34 Retroid Pocket 2+ Starter Guide – Retro Game Corps
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GUIDES, RETROID POCKET 2
Retroid Pocket 2+ Starter Guide
JANUARY 16, 2022JANUARY 23, 2022
Last updated: 23JAN2022 (see Changelog for details)
The Retroid Pocket 2+ (https://www.goretroid.com/) is a seemingly simple device to set up — it runs

Android, so how hard could it be? Well it turns out there are some orientation quirks in getting the
RP2+ up and running, and so this guide is meant to take you from the very beginning of your journey
with the device and take you to the point of being a superstar.
I’ll be updating this guide as time marches on, so be sure to check back frequently as I add more
updates and tweaks.
https://retrogamecorps.com/2022/01/16/retroid-pocket-2-starter-guide/ 1/30
Table of Contents
Recommended accessories
Prepare your ROM library
Initial setup and orientation
Retro Handhelds community RP2+ compatibility spreadsheet
Setting up RetroArch
Per-system recommendations
Creating RetroArch playlists
Retroid Pocket 2+ PCB upgrade guide
Changelog
Recommended accessories
Sandisk
(left) and
Samsun
g (right)
microSD
cards
The RP2+ will not come bundled with a microSD card. I recommend using a card from reputable
brands like SanDisk (https://amzn.to/31X8lev) or Samsung (https://amzn.to/35MlSa4) to use in your
device.
In general, I recommend the cards listed below, in order or preference. The prices fluctuate all the
time, so keep an eye out for deals. In general, I would expect to pay $20 for a 128GB card, $30 for a
256GB card, and $60 for a 512GB. A 128GB card will allow you to load EVERY 8-bit and 16-bit game
out there, just all of the arcade games that work, and quite a few PS1, Dreamcast, PSP, GameCube,
PS2, and Sega CD games (those systems have the largest file sizes). A 256GB or 512GB card will allow
you to store even more of those larger games. You can use a larger card than these but then you’ll
have a card that costs more than the device itself, and are you really going to play more than 512GB
of games at once?
128GB cards:
SanDisk Extreme (https://amzn.to/31X8lev)
Samsung EVO Select
(https://amzn.to/35SaSYH)SanDisk Ultra (https://amzn.to/3kMM7DE)
256GB cards:
Samsung EVO Select (https://amzn.to/2JqDSPN)
SanDisk Ultra (https://amzn.to/3jGRFOt)
512GB cards:
Samsung Evo Select
(https://amzn.to/3qH1Qtr)SanDisk Ultra (https://amzn.to/33EX2f0)
Anker 3.0 SD/microSD

card reader
(https://amzn.to/36MN4aX
)
Another accessory to consider: if you don’t have a nice microSD to USB adapter, you might want to
think about getting one. A nice adapter like this one from Anker (https://amzn.to/2HTtDT8) will give
you the fastest transfer speeds possible, and won’t cause any corruption issues with your card.
Amazon Basics micro

HDMI cable
(https://amzn.to/33FeO1J
)
Additionally, the Retroid Pocket 2+ doubles as a pseudo home console, thanks to its HDMI output
function as well as the ability to connect to controllers via bluetooth or USB. The HDMI adapter is
smaller than the standard size, so you will either want to grab a micro HDMI cable like this one from
Amazon Basics (https://amzn.to/3FyT58E), or a micro HDMI adapter (https://amzn.to/3FxX1Xw) to
use with an existing cable.
Speaking of controllers, there are plenty of options out there, but I prefer to use something that’s
somewhat retro-friendly. You could use a bluetooth controller like the 8BitDo SN30 Pro
(https://amzn.to/3nvOKNB), or a wired controller like the Betop BD2E
(https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_AaQiCM). Note that in order to use a USB controller, you will also
need an OTG adapter (https://amzn.to/3qwvz7Z) to plug the controller into the device’s USB-C port
(you could also use a USB hub (https://amzn.to/3qy8z8F) to plug in multiple controllers at once!).
Prepare your ROM library
Since the Retroid Pocket 2+ takes a while to ship, I would recommend that you build your ROM
library now, if you haven’t already. When actually playing games, we’re going to use a combination
of RetroArch (for lower-end systems) and standalone emulators. The chart you see above is a
preliminary list of accepted file types in the Retroid Launcher frontend application, so I recommend
grabbing ROM files within those file types — many emulators can play more than just these file
types, but if the Launcher cannot recognize them, you’ll be out of luck using that frontend.
Here is a general list of systems that can be played on the Retroid Pocket 2+. Those noted with an
asterix cannot play every game at full speed, and so performance may vary. For PS2 and GameCube,
I recommend getting PAL region ROMs, because they cap out at 50Hz which will give you better
performance than struggling to reach the standard 60Hz found in NTSC region ROMs. ROM file
sources will not be shared on this website.
Home Consoles:
Panasonic 3DO
Atari 2600
Atari 5200 (and 800)
Atari 7800
Atari Jaguar
Colecovision
PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16)
PC Engine CD (TurboGrafx-CD)
Nintendo Entertainment System
Famicom Disk System
Super Nintendo
Nintendo 64
Nintendo GameCube *
Sega SG-1000
Sega Master System
Sega Genesis
Sega CD
Sega 32X
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
Neo-Geo / CD
NEC PC-FX
Sony PlayStation
Sony PlayStation 2 *
Vectrex
Handheld Consoles:
Atari Lynx
Game and Watch
Nintendo Game Boy
Nintendo Game Boy Color
Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Nintendo DS
Nintendo 3DS *
Nintendo Virtual Boy
Sega Game Gear
Neo-Geo Pocket / Color
Sony Playstation Portable
Wonderswan / Color
Home Computers:
Amiga
Amstrad CPC
Atari ST
Commodore 64 (and C16/Plus4, C128)
Intellivision
MSX
PC (DOSBOX)
ScummVM
ZX Spectrum
Arcade Systems:
MAME
Final Burn Neo
Neo-Geo / CD
Atomiswave
Naomi
When getting ROM files, I recommend using the “No-Intro” naming convention
(https://datomatic.no-intro.org/stuff/The%20Official%20No-Intro%20Convention%20(20071030).pdf),
which is the standard naming used for ROM sets within RetroArch and other emulation
communities. By using no-intro naming, you will be more likely to get box art automatically added
when you load up your games in the Retroid Launcher or other similar frontends. If you have a
question as to how a game should be named, I recommend checking out the Libretro thumbnails
directory (http://thumbnails.libretro.com/), which is what many emulators pull from for their media
files. If your game name matches the thumbnail name found in this directory, chances are that it will
properly download the media for it.
Additionally, an important component of a ROM library is maintaining BIOS files. BIOS files are
system files necessary for some emulators (GBA, Sega CD, or PS1/PS2), and are helpful in improving
accuracy with other systems. These files are copyrighted so you are on your own to find them, but a
quick search for a RetroArch bios pack should get you on your way. Note that PS2 BIOS files can be
easily dumped from your PS2 (https://youtu.be/-szWwIdGcC4), or you will need to find them
elsewhere. Here is more information about BIOS files (https://docs.libretro.com/library/bios/).
Here is a list of recommended BIOS files for maximum gaming fun:
SEGA CD:
bios_CD_E.bin
bios_CD_J.bin
bios_CD_U.bin
FAMICOM DISK SYSTEM:
disksys.rom
GAME BOY (for boot logo):
gb_bios.bin
GAME BOY COLOR (for boot logo):
gbc_bios.bin
GAME BOY ADVANCE:
gba_bios.bin
NEO GEO:
neogeo.zip
PLAYSTATION:
scph1001.bin
PLAYSTATION 2:
SCPH-90001_BIOS_V18_USA_230.DIFF
SCPH-90001_BIOS_V18_USA_230.INF
SCPH-90001_BIOS_V18_USA_230.MEC
SCPH-90001_BIOS_V18_USA_230.NVM
SCPH-90001_BIOS_V18_USA_230.ROM0 (most important one)
SCPH-90001_BIOS_V18_USA_230.ROM1
TURBOGRAFX-CD:
syscard1.pce
syscard2.pce
syscard3.pce
SEGA SATURN
saturn_bios.bin
SEGA DREAMCAST
dc_boot.bin (renamed to boot.bin)
Initial setup and orientation
When it comes to initial setup, I recommend watching the video above. In this video I’ll walk you
through how to navigate the Setup Wizard. One important note is to update your device as soon as
you get it, and to NOT install your pre-installable apps until after you’ve updated. This will give you
the most performant version of Dolphin for ideal GameCube performance.
After it’s set up, you can jump into the Google Play Store app and start downloading emulators and
games. Here are some recommended apps that I think are worth grabbing from the Play Store to get
you started. Note that those highlighted in light blue boxes are already pre-installable on the RP2+.
The apps in orange can be found in the Play Store, and some may cost money.
Click image for full size
Recommended emulators:
DraStic (Nintendo DS)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic)AetherSX2 (PlayStation 2)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.aethersx2.android)Yabasanshiro 2 Pro (Saturn)

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.devmiyax.yabasanshioro2.pro)
Recommended streaming apps:
NVIDIA GeForce Now (PC & cloud streaming)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nvidia.geforcenow)AMD Link (PC streaming)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amd.link)Parsec (PC streaming)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.parsec.client)Google Stadia (cloud gaming)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.stadia.android)PSPlay (PS4 & PS5 remote

play)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=psplay.grill.com)Xbox
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.microsoft.xboxone.smartglass&hl=en_US&gl=US)or Xbox beta (Xbox One/Series remote play)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.xboxone.smartglass.beta)
Recommended Android games:
Stardew Valley
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chucklefish.stardewvalley)Dead Cells
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.playdigious.deadcells.mobile)Terraria
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.and.games505.TerrariaPaid)
Minecraft (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mojang.minecraftpe)
Grand Theft Auto III (and its sequels)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rockstar.gta3)Max Payne
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rockstar.maxpayne)Horizon Chase
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aquiris.horizonchase)Oceanhorn
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.FDGEntertainment.Oceanhorn.gp)
Forager (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.humblebundle.forager)
Portable versus Internal storage: When you plug in the SD card, you may get prompted to “set the
SD card up”. It will ask you to choose between the default portable storage option, or using the card
as internal storage. Portable storage means that you will be able to freely take the SD card out of the
device and plug it into your PC, as demonstrated in the video above. If you set it to internal storage,
you will then be able to install apps on the SD card to save space, but you won’t be able to plug the
SD card into your PC — instead, you will have to plug the device into the PC and transfer files via
USB instead. Internal storage is a good solution if you want to install a LOT of Android games onto
your device, but in general I recommend portable storage for its flexibility.
One other note to make: plugging the SD card directly into your PC to transfer files will give you
much greater transfer speeds, about 4x the speed of USB file transfers. So I recommend removing the
SD card and plugging it into your computer whenever you have a large batch of files to transfer; USB
transfer works fine in a pinch for smaller transfers.
Controller style: By default, the Retroid Pocket 2+ uses Nintendo-style controls for its buttons (where
the A/confirm button is on the right, and the B/cancel button on the bottom). As such, most apps will
invert the controls and you will need to go into the settings and remap the controls. A good example
is Dead Cells, which I reconfigure in my Retroid Pocket 2+ Starter Guide Part 2 video
(https://youtu.be/WsjUO8s6nEA). All of the settings tweaks done in my two videos are done under
the assumption that you are leaving those controls as standard. If you want, you can actually change
your controller style in the settings so that they mirror Xbox-style controls (where the confirm button
in the bottom button, and the cancel button is on the right). To do so, go into Settings > Handheld
Settings > Input > Controller Style and set it to Xbox instead of Retro. This means you likely won’t
have to make any other options or remapping tweaks in your apps.
Sleep mode: The Retroid Pocket 2+ can enter sleep mode by tapping the POWER button, much like a
tablet or phone. And like with a tablet or phone, you could simply leave this device in sleep mode
when not using it, and it will slowly discharge over the period of a week or two. However, if you are
playing the device frequently (like every day or a few times a week), I recommend just keeping it in
sleep mode and charging it as needed, like you would a phone. Powering on the device takes quite a
bit of time (about 40 seconds), which can add up if you play the device often. When not using the
device for an extended period of time, be sure to fully power it down (and recharge the battery every
few months).
(https://main.retro-
handhelds.com/)
Retro Handhelds community RP2+ compatibility spreadsheet
One of the greatest resources of the Retroid Pocket 2+ is the fact that it is a popular handheld device
with a large community surrounding it. This gives you the ability to leverage the talent and time of
other community members to find the best tweaks and settings for each of your games. A great
example is the Retro Handhelds community (https://main.retro-handhelds.com/) RP2+ compatibility
spreadsheet. This spreadsheet
(https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/103503TsnahFfuBKGlFAqC2r69acWaf578I6TEZuZDP4/edit#
gid=564961685) will show different tabs for the most popular systems, and will include a list of games
that have been tested and recommended tweaks.
One important note is to download their MMJR2 community configuration files

(https://tinyurl.com/RP2CommunityConfig), which will work with the Dolphin emulator to give you
the best performance.
Recommended RetroArch hotkeys for the RP2+
Setting up RetroArch
Be sure to check out the video above for tips on how to get RetroArch up and running, and to
integrate it into your Retroid Launcher. You will also need to map your keys initially so that the A/B
and X/Y buttons are not swapped while in-game. Additionally, the table above will show you my
recommended hotkeys for the easiest gameplay experience when using RetroArch-based emulation
like for classic systems (Game Boy through Super Nintendo).
RetroArch config file: For those of you who know your way around RetroArch and want an easier
solution, here is a copy of my retroarch.cfg file
(https://retrogamecorps.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/retroarch-config-file.zip) which will have all of
the system-wide configurations baked in. So hotkeys, scaling and resolution, and so on will work out
of the box. Place this file in the Android > data > com.retroarch.aarch64 > files folder found within
your RP2+ internal storage. Note that you will still need to set up console-specific overrides, like
rewind support for NES, etc.
Other system-wide RetroArch settings I recommend for the RP2+:
Menu driver: XMB
Menu scale factor: 1.50x
Video integer scaling: OFF
Video scaling: Core Provided
Video filter: Normal 2x
Auto Save State: ON
Load State Automatically: ON
Display Overlay: OFF
Per-system recommendations
These per-system recommendations will be covered in the starter guide videos, but here are some
quick notes for reference.
Game Boy / Game Boy Color
Emulator: RetroArch (Gambatte core)
Filter: Normal 2x
Rewind Support: ON
Colorization: Internal / Special 1
Interframe Blending: LCD Ghosting (Accurate)
Game Boy Advance
Emulator: RetroArch (mGBA core)
Filter: Normal 2x
Rewind Support: ON
Nintendo Entertainment System
Emulator: RetroArch (FCEUmm core)
Filter: Normal 2x
Rewind Support: ON
Run-Ahead: ON (1)
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Emulator: RetroArch (Snes9x core)
Filter: Normal 2x
Rewind Support: ON
Run-Ahead: ON (1)
If a game experiences slowdown (for example, with Final Fantasy III or Super Mario RPG), then toggle
off Rewind Support or Run-Ahead for performance improvements. RPGs in particular generally
won’t benefit from those two settings anyway. 99% of games should run at top speed with the above
settings.
Sega Genesis and Sega CD
Emulator: RetroArch (Genesis Plus GX core)
Filter: Normal 2x
Rewind Support: ON
Run-Ahead: OFF (causes jittery gameplay when ON)
Notes: The Retroid Launcher frontend currently does not have Genesis/CD/32X listed as a possible
option. If you want to use the Retroid Launcher as your primary launcher but still want to play
Genesis games, I recommend setting up RetroArch playlists.
Sega CD games will require BIOS files to run correctly, and they are listed in the BIOS section above.
TurboGrafx-16 (PC Engine) / TurboGrafx-CD (PC Engine CD)
Emulator: RetroArch (PCE Beetle Fast)
Filter: OFF (remove the Normal 2x filter and then do a core override)
Rewind Support: OFF
Run-Ahead: OFF
TG-CD and PCE-CD games will require BIOS files to run correctly, and they are listed in the BIOS
section above. Like with Sega Genesis, there is no TG-CD or PCE-CD section in the Retroid Launcher,
so your best bet is to use RetroArch playlists.
Sony PlayStation
Emulator: RetroArch (PCSX ReARMed core)
Filter: OFF (remove the Normal 2x filter and then do a core override)
Rewind Support: OFF
Run-Ahead: OFF
Emulator: DuckStation standalone
Enhancements: 2x resolution (may cause slowdown with some games)
PGXP Geometry Correction: ON (may cause slowdown with some games)
Controller Type: Analog Controller
Use Analog Sticks for D-Pad in Digital Mode: ON
Notes: Sony Playstation games will all play on the RetroArch core without issue, but you can also use
the standalone Duckstation emulator, which is more accurate and will allow you to use 2x resolution
in many games. Adding geometry correction will further enhance the visuals, but come with another
performance cost.
See the Starter Guide video 2 for configuring analog controls in RetroArch; note that after making the
video I found a way to force analog controls in all PS1 games with DuckStation, and those options are
now listed above.
The 32-bit version of RetroArch actually works best with PlayStation 1, because the PCSX ReARMed
core that comes with it allows for 2x resolution (“enhanced resolution”) while maintaining excellent
performance. However, this version of RetroArch is currently not working with the Retroid
Launcher. So you can use RetroArch’s playlist function to launch your games, or modify the apk’s
androidmanifest.xml file and replace any instances of package name “com.retroarch.ra32” to
“com.retroarch” to trick the launcher into booting the 32-bit version instead.
Nintendo 64
Emulator: Mupen64Plus-FZ
The version of Mupen64Plus-FZ that ships with the RP2+ has been updated by the developer
specifically for this system. To get these updates, you will want to uninstall the version of the app
that comes with the device, and then install the Google Play Store version
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mupen64plusae.v3.fzurita&hl=en_US&gl=US)
instead.
The developer of Mupen64Plus-FZ recommends creating this default emulation profile specific to the
Retroid Pocket 2+.
In the left menu bar, select Profiles > Emulation

Select the GlideN64-Very-Accurate profile and then Copy. Give it a unique name, like “Chicken”.
Make the following changes in the profile:
Use Faster Shaders > ON

Use Native Resolution Factor > 1x
Next, in the left menu bar, select Profiles > Select Profiles > Emulation profile > Chicken. This will
make your new profile the default emulation profile.
Finally, in the left menu bar, select Settings > Shaders and make the following changes
Shader scale factor > 1x
Shader Passes > Pass 1 > FXAA
To improve the navigation experience, go into Settings > Input > Show in-game menu > When slide
gesture is used. Now, you can swipe from the left side of the screen to bring up the Mupen64 side
panel when in a game, to easily save your game, exit, etc.
By default the N64 A and B buttons will be mapped to the A and X buttons on the RP2+. If you want
to adjust your mappings, you will need to copy the Android Gamepad controller profile and make
your own mapping (much like how we just set up the emulation profile above).
When using the Retroid Launcher, autosave and autoload will not work properly. Instead, you can
either launch games directly from the standalone emulator, or use the Save/Load State functions
within the emulator quick menu to manually save and load states. In-game saves still work fine either
way.
The Pro version of this emulator costs $4 and will give you the ability use cloud saves and netplay.
However, it won’t work with the Retroid Launcher by default. To add it to the Retroid Launcher,
install the app, then add these parameters in the “Edit” section of the Retroid Launcher:
Name; M64Plus FZ Pro

Package: org.mupen64plusae.v3.fzurita.pro
Activity: paulscode.android.mupen64plusae.SplashActivity
Data type: */* (no spaces between asterix and slash)
Check the Retro Handhelds compatibility spreadsheet

gid=564961685) for recommended settings on a per-game basis.
Nintendo DS
Emulator: DraStic
Frameskip: OFF
High-Resolution Rendering: ON
Notes: I recommend using L2/R2 as your L/R buttons on the console. You will need to remap your
controls, and then set up screen swap functions assigned to unused buttons (like L1/R1 or L3/R3). See
the Part 2 video above for a demonstration.
In the Part 2 video above, I recommended turning the touchscreen controller opacity to 0% to hide the
buttons. I later learned that this can affect touchscreen performance since the buttons are still there.
Instead, start up a game and enter the Menu, then select Edit Screens and Virtual Pad. Here, choose
“Landscape Aspect” > Menu > Edit Controller Layout. Go through and tap on each button and then
disable them, t hen select Apply. When that is complete, select Menu > Save as global layout. Repeat
this process for the “Landscape 1:1” layout as well. This will remove the buttons altogether so they
don’t inhibit touchscreen gameplay.
Sega Saturn
Emulator: Yabasanshiro 2 (or Pro version to remove ads)
Frameskip: ON (default)
Rendering Resolution: Original (1x)
Sound Engine: Legacy (toggle with Modern as needed to improve performance)
Sound Time Synchronization Mode: Real Time
Notes: You will need to remap your controls. I recommend using YBA for ABC, and L1, X, R1 for
XYZ buttons.
If you want the original Saturn boot video sequence, you must place the BIOS file (saturn_bios.bin) in
the yabause/bios folder on your internal storage (this folder will only appear once you have opened
the app at least one time).

Sega Dreamcast
Emulator: ReDream
Frameskip: ON (default)
Notes: You will need to remap your controls. Upgrading the pro version won’t do much on the RP2+
other than remove the prompt to upgrade to pro when you start up the emulator. However, it will be
associated with your Google Play Store profile and can be used on other devices (like your phone) to
get upgraded rendering resolution.
If you want the original Dreamcast boot video sequence, you must rename the dc_boot.bin BIOS file
to boot.bin and place it in the Android/data/io.recompiled.redream/files/ folder on your SD card (this
folder will only appear once you have opened the app at least one time).
Sony PSP
Emulator: PPSSPP
Graphics Backend: OpenGL (alternate with Vulkan to assess performance on games)
Internal Resolution: 2x (reduce to 1x for better performance)
Show FPS/Speed: BOTH
Touchscreen overlay: OFF
Frameskip or auto frameskip: 1x (only for games that need it)

Notes: You will need to remap the ABXY buttons. For games that don’t run at full speed, consider
adding auto frameskip or dropping the internal resolution to 1x.

Nintendo GameCube
Emulator: Dolphin MMJR2
Internal resolution: .7x (reduce as needed to improve performance)
Notes: Use PAL ROMs as available. Be sure to download and install the MMJR2 community
configuration files (https://tinyurl.com/RP2CommunityConfig), which will work with the Dolphin
emulator to give you the best performance. Place the two .ini files in the MMJR revamp/config folder
in your internal storage (the app must be opened once before for this folder to appear) and replace
the files that are in there already. See the Part 2 video above for a demonstration.

Sony PlayStation 2
Emulator: AetherSX2
Preset: Fast/Unstable
Enable Frame Limit: toggle OFF as needed to improve performance
EE Cycle Rate: 60% (adjust to 50% as needed)
EE Cycle Skip: Maximum Underclocking (3)
Notes: Use PAL ROMs as available. You will need to remap the buttons, and follow the instructions in
the Part 2 video to toggle touchscreen controls.

Creating RetroArch playlists
In addition to using a frontend launcher (like the default Retroid Launcher), you can also set up
playlists within RetroArch to browse and launch your games. This will be helpful in certain cases,
like playing systems that aren’t listed in the Retroid Launcher. There are two methods for creating
playlists in RetroArch:
1. Scan Directory. This is the most straightforward way to make playlists, and is best for systems
with unzipped ROMs that have distinct file types (like .nes games). With this option, you will
navigate to the folder that contains your ROM files, then select “Scan this Directory”. RetroArch
will then recognize and scan the directory for games, and assign the console and assets to that
system. You should then see it in your playlist. When you have a more common file type for your
games (like .bin files for Genesis games, it’s better to do a Manual Scan).
2. Manual Scan. This is the preferred way to scan your directories because it gives you more control.
Here is the breakdown:
Content Directory: navigate to your ROM folder and select “Scan this Directory”
System Name: select the system name you want to associate with your playlist
Custom System Name: use this if you want to use a special name for this playlist. Note that you will
also need to set your “System Name” to “Custom” for this to work
Default Core: select the core you want to associate with this play list. Afterwards you can assign a
different core to specific games by selecting the game and choose “Set Core Association”
File Extensions: add in all of the file extensions you want to scan for your console. You can leave this
blank if they are all the same (e.g. zip files for arcade games), but for the most part it’s helpful to add
these in, especially if you are using several file types. Separate each file extension with a space (no
comma), like this for Dremcast: cdi, gdi, chd
Scan Recursively: turn this on if you want to scan subfolders too
Scan Inside Archives: this will scan the files within the zip file, whether you want this on will
depend on the system you are scanning. You will want this off if scanning arcade games
Arcade DAT File: this is important if you are scanning arcade games, because it will associate your
zip file (“simps2pj”) with a full file name (The Simpsons). To set this up, head to this page
(https://github.com/libretro/FBNeo/blob/master/dats/FinalBurn%20Neo%20(ClrMame%20Pro%20XM
L%2C%20Arcade%20only).dat) and download the latest FBNeo dat file (it works for MAME also).
Then save this file somewhere that you can access on your RP2+, and choose it when at this part of
the menu
Arcade DAT Filter: with this selected, only arcade games that appear in the DAT file will show up in
your playlist. Generally you want this setting OFF
Overwrite Existing Playlist: this will overwrite anything already in the playlist. You generally want
this OFF if you are just adding new games to your playlist
If you want thumbnails to appear next to your games, you need two things: 1) the files must be
named according to the “No Intro (https://datomatic.no-intro.org/stuff/The%20Official%20No-
Intro%20Convention%20(20071030).pdf)” standard (e.g. “Super Mario Bros. 3 (USA)”) and 2) go into
Online Updater > On-Demand Thumbnail Downloads > ON so that they will download when you
browse through your playlist. Alternatively, you can manually scan each playlist for thumbnails in
the Online Updater section instead.
Retroid Pocket 2+ PCB upgrade guide
If you were lucky enough to buy an RP2+ PCB upgrade kit

(https://www.goretroid.com/collections/frontpage/products/retroid-pocket-2-plus-pcb-upgrade)
before they sold out, here is a video on how to swap out your PCB for the new one:
Changelog
23JAN2022
– added detailed N64 configuration instructions
– added note about 32-bit PSX emulation core
22JAN2022
– added new systems
– added Starter Guide #2 video
20JAN2022
– added RetroArch playlists section
– added system art and additional recommended systems (like Sega Genesis)
17JAN2022
– added retroarch.cfg file and instructions
16JAN2022
– published guide
– added portable vs internal storage note
GUIDE RETROARCH RETROID RETROID POCKET 2 RETROID POCKET 2+ REVIEW
30 thoughts on “Retroid Pocket 2+ Starter Guide”
1. ShruggingAtlas103 (@SAtlas_103) says:

JANUARY 16, 2022 AT 1:08 PM
Great to see a guide like this. I ended up cancelling my preorder of the device, but I still think it
looks really cool.
I have a question, though. Why do you recommend .iso files for PS2 and Gamecube? For PS2, .chd
files and .gz compression don’t affect gameplay but shrink the file size (though for .gz, the
emulator has to unpack the game the first time you play it, which means like a 20-30 second black
screen on first boot up). For Gamecube, .rvz does the same thing. You can use chdman for chd
files, pigz for gz, and you can compress files into .rvz using Dolphin.
 Russ says:
Hi, it’s not about what will work with the emulators, but what file types the Retroid launcher
recognizes. I agree that .chd and .gz are the way to go in just about all other use cases!
2. droppedd says:
Great guide – thanks for the writeup!
Is there a reason you recommend (CPU intensive) video filters over (GPU-powered) shaders? As
long as you pick one or two-pass shaders, you should be able to get really nice results (including
some niftier effects) without adding much CPU load. Just pick sane low-end-friendly 1 or 2-pass
glsl shaders, not the crazy 5-pass CRT-with-bloom-type stuff, and you should get nice results with
a lot of options to choose from.
 Russ says:
For sure, shaders can add a nice touch! But I haven’t found one that will give the same
sharpness and pixel balance as the Normal2x filter — it basically normalizes the image but
balances the pixel wobble at the same time. And thankfully the CPU can handle the filter for
SNES and below, and so for that reason I think it’s a good fit for beginners who want nice
scaling and an image that’s “true” to their expectations.
1.  droppedd says:
JANUARY 20, 2022 AT 11:55 AM
I’d say the interpolation/sharp-bilinear-2x-prescale filter is very good, as is Quilez, if you’re
looking for a “faithful big pixels” kind of look; I’m not sure I could pick out either from the
Normal2x filter in an A/B test on a 640×480 screen at normal viewing distances. That said, if
you’ve got the CPU to spare, do what looks best to you!
3. scottjl says:
Your RetroArch hotkeys table has a typo, you meant R1 for Save State, you have R2 in the chart.
 Russ says:
Fixed, thanks!
1.  Tony says:
APRIL 30, 2022 AT 5:22 AM
Thanks for the great setup tutorial, this has been extremely helpful!
One issue I’m having is the hot keys aren’t working. Be set them up the way you describe
but when I try them in-game they don’t seem to work. For example, I’ve tried to access the
menu to adjust the GB color settings as you describe, but when I hold SELECT and the hit
key mapped to menu nothing comes up. Any thoughts?
4. Lionel says:
JANUARY 17, 2022 AT 3:10 AM
Thank you very much for this guide that obviously fills a gap. I’ve been looking around for such
structured and adviceful recap since I’ve received my RP2+ 10 days agos, and today I learn why
my retroArcj experience has not been smoother until now Let’s configure the thing nicely now
THANX !
5. Salah says:
Thanks a lot Russ for this guide. I ordered my unit over a month ago, I will be definitely using
your guide to configure it.
6. DERRELL GORE says:

Russ,
Is there anyway to map R3/L3. There apparantly was a tool to do it on old Retroid that mapped to
volume buttons. But I have read that has been removed.
7. Gullette says:
Total novice here, but I’m confused with the mapping of the A/B X/Y buttons? It seems on the
device the A/B buttons are already mapped properly? Not sure how to proceed with the buttons.
8. Steven says:
Hi. An amazing resource. Thanks for putting this together.
I’m just buying a microSD card now and I was wondering why you recommend the SanDisk Ultra
or Extreme for the 128GB but just the Ultra for the 256GB and 512GB version?
I want to buy one of the bigger sizes so is there a reason to go for the Ultra instead of the Extreme
for the 256GB and 512GB?
Thanks
9. Rocky says:
FEBRUARY 1, 2022 AT 8:16 AM
Thanks for the useful guide, Russ. One question, I connected a PS4 controller via Bluetooth, but no
input is recognized, is there a setting I am missing? Thanks again.
10. Daniel says:

I’m using my RP2+ mostly to play N64, and I’m very confused by the way the game saves work.
The guide says :
“When using the Retroid Launcher, autosave and autoload will not work properly. Instead, you
can either launch games directly from the standalone emulator, or use the Save/Load State
functions within the emulator quick menu to manually save and load states. In-game saves still
work fine either way. ”
But in my experience, I’m using in-game saves and everything works fine as long as I don’t close
Mupen64Plus-FZ, but whenever I initialy launch the game (either from the retroid launcher or
from the app), it will look like I’ve lost all my progression. Luckily I have a save state that I can
load and resume my game from but I’m only a “save state” instead of “load state” away from
messing it up!
1. Daniel says:
FEBRUARY 1, 2022 AT 11:18 PM
Apparently this is known to happen with the specific game I’m playing (Donkey Kong 64).
When using autosave/autoload or save states, the in-game save can become corrupted and
once it is, there is no way around it. I guess I’ll just be extra careful when using save states and
regularly export Mupen64Plus-FZ’s save data to external storage!
11. Bangity says:

Hi Ross,
When you connect HDMI, it still display as 480p and it’s awful, do you know of a workaround? It
doesn’t do widescreen or even higher resolution. PS4 controller doesn’t work, PS5 does however.
Dead cells resolution gets all messed up when connected and can’t change any settings.
12. Mandragora1 says:

FEBRUARY 3, 2022 AT 10:03 PM
Hello all! I have an unusual question I haven’t seen addressed anywhere else regarding the RP2+.
Is it possible to remove system apps from the home screen? It’s not like I want to uninstall them or
anything (which I don’t believe I can or even if that would wise do) but I haven’t found a way
personally. The RP2+ is obviously quite different from an actual phone where this would be easy,
does anyone here know of a way?
13. Gov says:

How can i skip all this bc im clueless and get a copy of your card? ($$$)
1. Phoenix says:
I wanna +1 this all day long lol… As much as I want to be able to follow these guides, i swear it
feels like it’s completely out of my wheelhouse (and I miss retro games like crazy)
14. neo says:

MARCH 15, 2022 AT 11:36 AM
Amazing post!! thanks!!
i have a problem, my RP2+ cant format sd (sandisk extreme)
freeze on 20%.. exFat/Fat32/ntfs…
any solution?
thanks
15. Kenneth says:

MARCH 19, 2022 AT 4:38 AM
Hi Russ, I initially used a Sandisk 64gb extreme card to setup the RP2+, but soon it runs low on
disk space due to the large PSP games, so I upgraded to a sandisk 256gn ultra card (up to
100mb/s) by copying all the content of the 64gb over to it, but i realised that in PPSSPP, half of the
psp games couldnt load in the title list on PPSSPP, may I know how do I overcome this? Is it that
the new 256gb is too slow so I should get a 266gb extreme instead?
16. Johnathan J Savage says:

MAY 6, 2022 AT 11:22 PM
this guide has been a life saver Thanks
17. Zealvix says:

MAY 8, 2022 AT 8:51 AM
Does the guide still applies for the new OTA update 1.9?
Or has everything changed?
18. Jason says:

MAY 10, 2022 AT 5:46 AM
Hi there!
Has anyone gotten a USB-C hub to work for multiple wired controllers? This guide contains a link
to one, but I wanted to see if anyone has had any luck actually getting it to work on the RP2+. So
far, the supposedly OTG hubs that I’ve tried don’t seem to register any devices on the RP2+
Thanks!
1. radovan says:
JULY 26, 2022 AT 8:32 PM
I have same experiemce. Wireles controller also doesnt work for me. The BT connection work
but controller dont respond for anythink.
19. RetroNoob says:

MAY 29, 2022 AT 1:43 PM
Hi I followed your instructions on setting up new RP2+ but it seems all the gb, gba, gbc games
suddenly have no sound. Appreciate it if you could advise me thanks!
20. João Lucas Cintra says:

JUNE 4, 2022 AT 12:21 AM
One thing I recommend is compressing PSP ISOs to CSO format. This will cause games to scale
down to half their original sizes and as far as I’ve tested it doesn’t affect the emulation.
21. Wattie says:

JUNE 21, 2022 AT 3:30 PM
hey! lovely review. Am new to the scene, my only question on the guide does the console change
your settings per emulator for you, like after pre-setting them. or do you need o manually swap
the settings each time. Thanks
22. Charles Hazen says:

JULY 1, 2022 AT 6:20 PM
I was playing with it earlier and I got game boy set up and I went to set up game boy color and
then all the sudden my button scheme changed and now my x and a buttons don’t work. I try to
remap them on retroarch 64 but it doesn’t even register that I’m pushing the buttons
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RETRO GAME CORPS REPLY

Retroid Pocket 2+ Starter Guide

JANUARY 16, 2022JANUARY 23, 2022

Last updated: 23JAN2022 (see Changelog for details)

The Retroid Pocket 2+ (https://www.goretroid.com/) is a seemingly simple device to set up — it runs

Prepare your ROM library

Initial setup and orientation

Retro Handhelds community RP2+ compatibility spreadsheet

Creating RetroArch playlists

Retroid Pocket 2+ PCB upgrade guide

SanDisk Extreme (https://amzn.to/31X8lev)

Samsung EVO Select

(https://amzn.to/35SaSYH)SanDisk Ultra (https://amzn.to/3kMM7DE)

Samsung EVO Select (https://amzn.to/2JqDSPN)

SanDisk Ultra (https://amzn.to/3jGRFOt)

Samsung Evo Select

(https://amzn.to/3qH1Qtr)SanDisk Ultra (https://amzn.to/33EX2f0)

Anker 3.0 SD/microSD

Amazon Basics micro

Prepare your ROM library

Atari 5200 (and 800)

Nintendo Entertainment System

Famicom Disk System

Sega Master System

Game and Watch

Nintendo Game Boy

Nintendo Game Boy Color

Nintendo Game Boy Advance

Nintendo Virtual Boy

Sega Game Gear

Neo-Geo Pocket / Color

Sony Playstation Portable

Commodore 64 (and C16/Plus4, C128)

Final Burn Neo

Here is a list of recommended BIOS files for maximum gaming fun:

FAMICOM DISK SYSTEM:

GAME BOY (for boot logo):

GAME BOY COLOR (for boot logo):

GAME BOY ADVANCE:

SCPH-90001_BIOS_V18_USA_230.ROM0 (most important one)

dc_boot.bin (renamed to boot.bin)

Initial setup and orientation

Click image for full size

DraStic (Nintendo DS)

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.aethersx2.android)Yabasanshiro 2 Pro (Saturn)

Recommended streaming apps:

NVIDIA GeForce Now (PC & cloud streaming)

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nvidia.geforcenow)AMD Link (PC streaming)

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amd.link)Parsec (PC streaming)

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.parsec.client)Google Stadia (cloud gaming)

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.stadia.android)PSPlay (PS4 & PS5 remote

Recommended Android games:

Grand Theft Auto III (and its sequels)

Retro Handhelds community RP2+ compatibility spreadsheet

One important note is to download their MMJR2 community configuration files

Recommended RetroArch hotkeys for the RP2+

Other system-wide RetroArch settings I recommend for the RP2+:

Menu driver: XMB

Menu scale factor: 1.50x