Android TV Retro Gaming [No ROMS Needed]

by TechDoctorUK

As promised, Here is a step by step guide on how you can configure Kodi 18.1 to play tons of ROMS from the Internet Archive on you Android TV device. In my demo, I used the Xiaomi Mi Box X.

Step by step video guide including Playstation gameplay and emulator tweaks here

----Text based guide below----

Stuff you need

  • Install Kodi 18.1 from here

  • Pair a Bluetooth controller (I used XBOX 1)

  • Use downloader to download the Internet Archive Games Launcher from here

  • Install RetroArch from here

Config

  • Start RetroArch

  • Turn off the animated background (helps with UI performance)

  • Download whichever Cores (systems) you want to play (In my demo I used ParaLLei for N64, Snes9x for SNES, PCSX ReARMed for PS)

  • Configure gamepad - I was using XBOX 1 gamepad so I didnt need to remap anything (FYI - you press start+select to exit games)

  • Start Kodi 18.1

  • Navigate to Settings --- Addons --- Install from zip file

  • Select external storage

  • Select the Downloader folder

  • Select the zip file you downloaded

  • Click on Install from repository

  • Choose the Zach Morris Addons

  • Go to Game addons

  • Go to Game providers

  • Install Internet Archive Game Launcher

  • Click on configure and you can set the size of cache (by default no games are stored and are only downloaded as and when you want to play them)

  • If you're going to be playing PS games, then I would recommend setting the cache to 2GB but of course this is dependant on your available storage.

  • Select External Launchers and set your system to "Android"

  • Select Setup Wizard and change the "Built in Retro Player" to External.

  • Start the Execute Setup Wizard and select Yes for "Do you have RetroArch installed"

  • Locate the RetroArch system folder and config file (should be auto populated)

  • Say "No" for "Do you have an archive.org account"

  • Open the Internet Archive Game Launcher

  • You can now browse by category / all lists. Any game you choose, will automatically be downloaded and injected in to RetroArch

  • You don't need to download any ROMS in advance, everything you choose will be downloaded on demand.

Problems?

  • Screen flicks to RetroArch and doesn't launch the game

  • Ensure you quit retroarch after every game. RetroArch can't be running when you select a game in Kodi, i.e it has to be a cold start, so it can launch the game.

  • Screen flicks to RetroArch and back to Kodi game list

  • Ensure you have downloaded the correct core for the game you are trying to play

  • Screen stays black after selecting a Playstation or other newer console game

  • You need to download the bios for the consoles and place them inside the Retroarch/System folder. Google "playstation bios for retroarch" etc and copy to the above location.

Enjoy classic Retro gaming !

RazClayton

For people who don’t already know:

There is a great video on YouTube which talks through how to improve graphics on PlayStation games. The improvement is amazing!! Definitely worth spending the time to do it.

Link: https://youtu.be/1OrTvsWBAJw

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wyrdough

You need not install retroarch if you only want to play games with emulators that have libretro support. Kodi will automatically prompt you to download the required add-on when you try to open a ROM. It's pretty neat if you don't mind the limited choice of emulators.

jonnygreen22

Very good! Thankyou for this it is much appreciated. I had not realised it would work in android as had done similar on windows.

Yage2006

Nice guide, Will be giving this a shot tonight.

anjbis

I was able to run NES and SNES games following your guide. But I'm not able to run any FBA or MAME games. For example, when I launch metal slug 3, the screen goes black and it returns to kodi. Are there any particular configurations needed for these?

PalebloodSky

You're guide is good but you shouldn't link the apks for Kodi and RetroArch for sideloading. The person should install them right from the Google Play Store because then they will stay updated automatically. For example Kodi 18.2 is already out.

Also not really sure why you should run games from RetroArch through Kodi, when RetroArch can run games just perfectly by itself if you download all the roms first then add them. You can even get the box art from within RetroArch. Then you don't have to mess with opening and closing both apps with each game.

Finner42

This looks awesome, thanks for the step-by-step instructions to get it configured.

What is the benefit of using RetroArch over the built-in player?

Egoj

Works a treat though I stumbled my way through some of the process

McPoon

Does this work on Xbox yet?

apadipodu

Nice.

VictorLizcano77

Commenting to check later, thanks!

gblandro

Followed EVERY step, when click to open a game > black screen >back to game list. Nothing works

Jrod10133

hey can i do this but using retrox emulators instead

infeststation

Awesome, I didn’t even know this existed. Is there a list of supported consoles?

Befa

I am sorry if it sounds stupid but when I watch your video, retroarch has a fantastic UI and when I launch it on my android box it looks like a software from the 90's.

I don't understand why.

It's also not responding very well to either the remote nor the controller.

yeezyhersh

watching

puklink

Not able to play ps1 games, even after installing bincode file

philmoeslim

Is there a way to add HD textures on to games, like ocarina of time for example? I know they make hd textures and I know how to do it on the PC but for the shield I am not sure where to start.

H96tvbox

Can H96 max x2 Android tv box be installed?

KennyLobster

Any multiplayer support here?

krasatos

Thanks for the guide! I tried it myself, after a little fiddling I got it to work.

My issue is though that I cannot get my ps4 controller to work. I have an amazon firestick 4k, I go to the game controllers options, start searching and pair with my ds4.

Although it connects seemingly OK, I cannot control my firestick with the controller.

The ds4 is in and connected but my key presses do nothing on the firestick.

I saw some YouTube videos, and it should work right away after pairing (navigate through menus) but nothing will happen on my end.

Any ideas?

hoswald

Is there a way to do this using RetroX?

Morally_Inept

Is there a way to save your progress in a game? The next time I start the same game it always starts fresh

Dunmurdering

I may be confused, but what does this have to do with Kodi?

Again, I may be misunderstanding something, but it seems like the process you are describing is used to launch an external app. Which, if true, doesn't seem to involve Kodi at all.

I hope I'm wrong, since I have Kodi running on libreelec, but I'm concerned I'm going to follow your instructions and hit a dead end.

MechaHerc

Thanks. Will try it..

Bears_On_Stilts

Is there a way to enable a “quit game” hotkey or one to open the menu for restart, save state, etc? I’ve had problems getting in game saves to work because they disappear when you force quit the app. The start plus select doesn’t seem to work...

gblandro

Tried this a few days ago and it lagged A LOT, ill retry this

brainwashednomore

Thank you!!

Raisin_334

I've already tried Parallel and some nes cores and only the SNES cores launch. Why is Retroarch so bad at this after all these years? I've never had a pleasant experience with it. Thought this game caching was gonna help but this is so frustrating. I've left all the defaults on Retroarch and I'm using the play store version with Shield TV.

Teethpasta

Come on now this is blatant piracy and this still uses roms. This is taking advantage of the internet archive