Most of Recalbox's emulators are not standalone programs: they are Libretro cores, run by RetroArch (version 1.22.2 in Recalbox 10.1). Understanding this role will help you know where to make your settings — and where not to.
Libretro is a standardized interface: a Libretro core is an emulator (or a game engine) packaged to run in any Libretro frontend. RetroArch is the frontend Recalbox uses: it loads the core, provides it with video, audio and inputs, and brings the same services to all cores:
The so-called standalone emulators (Dolphin, PCSX2, Amiberry…) run outside RetroArch: nothing on this page applies to them.
You normally never need to configure RetroArch: at every game launch, Recalbox fully regenerates its configuration (/recalbox/share/system/configs/retroarch/retroarchcustom.cfg) from your settings — EmulationStation menus and recalbox.conf: controllers, aspect ratio, smoothing, shaders, rewind, auto-save, netplay, overlays, RetroAchievements…
This is what keeps Recalbox consistent, but it has one important consequence:
Settings changed in the RetroArch menu do not survive: the configuration is rewritten at the next launch (and RetroArch does not save its own on exit). For a lasting RetroArch setting, specific to a game or a folder, use configuration overrides —
.retroarch.cfgfiles, applied after the generated configuration. The one exception: core options (CORE OPTIONS), kept inretroarch-core-options.cfg— those are persistent.
While playing on a Libretro core, press Hotkey + B: the RetroArch menu opens (Ozone interface; RGUI on small screens like the GPi Case). There you will find in particular:
B confirms and A cancels (Nintendo-style navigation, as in EmulationStation). To leave the menu, press Hotkey + B again — the full list of Hotkey shortcuts is in Special commands.
On cabinets fitted with a Recalbox RGB JAMMA or a JVS board, the menu opens with
Hotkey+A(Bis reserved for gameplay).
📷 Screenshot to come:
retroarch-menu.png(Ozone menu in game)
Even though Recalbox simplifies everything it can, some cores have requirements:
readme.txt file present in each rom folder;mame folder.Need help? Join the Recalbox Discord.