retrom
SHA-256A self-hosted game library manager with emulation focus, letting you play your DRM-free games anywhere.
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Download Download Version
v0.8.1 · 101.7 MB
Self-hosted Steam-like game library manager with emulator sync and multi-client support.
Core Features
- Self-hosted, all game files on your own server
- Auto-scan filesystem to add games and platforms
- Cross-platform clients: Windows, macOS, Linux, and web
- Emulator profiles synced via server, share config across devices
- Automatic metadata and artwork download
What It Can't Do
- •Requires server maintenance (Docker or direct run), not for zero-configuration users; emulator profiles reference local paths, may need manual adjustment when switching PCs; only works with DRM-free games and ROMs, cannot run encrypted Steam games.
Use Cases
- Manage a large collection of ROMs and games with automatic metadata
- Sync emulator configurations across multiple PCs without manual setup
- Host your own private cloud gaming library accessible from any device
Detailed Introduction
Retrom is a centralized, self-hosted game library management service. It scans your filesystem for games and platforms, auto-fetches metadata and artworks, and lets you install, uninstall, and launch games from any client (desktop or web). It unifies your emulation library with third-party libraries like Steam and GoG (soon), and stores emulator profiles on the server so you can sync configurations across devices. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux clients, plus in-browser emulation via EmulatorJS. Think of it as a personal Steam for your own games.
Troubleshooting & FAQ (2)
TroubleshootingWhy does the container fail to start with 'ENOENT: no such file or directory, scandir /app/web/src/routes' error?
The error is benign and originates from a development tool that does not impact the production application. The web interface should still be accessible despite this log message. If the interface is not reachable, the cause is unrelated to this error—check network settings, port mappings, or other logs.
TroubleshootingHow to fix 'ERR_PNPM_NO_OFFLINE_TARBALL' hash mismatch when installing retrom via Nix?
This is caused by an outdated pnpmDeps.hash in the Nix package after a pnpm-lock.yaml update. Workaround: 1. Set pnpmDeps.hash to an empty string in the derivation. 2. Build the derivation and wait for it to fail with a hash mismatch. 3. Copy the 'got: sha256-' value from the error into the pnpmDeps.hash field. For retrom, run nix run github:/JMBeresford/retrom#retrom after applying the fix.
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Getting Started
Download installer
Click the button above to download the installer for your system
Install the software
Install the appropriate package for your distro (dpkg / rpm / AppImage)
Step 1: Download the server (Docker image or build from source) and follow the quick start guide
Step 2: Start the server, configure scan directories (your game folders)
Step 3: Connect any client (desktop or web) to browse, install, and launch games
- Step 1: Download the server (Docker image or build from source) and follow the quick start guide
- Step 2: Start the server, configure scan directories (your game folders)
- Step 3: Connect any client (desktop or web) to browse, install, and launch games
SHA-256 checksum verified
Checksum extracted from GitHub official Release page
SHA256 Checksum
2e31456eb42e249ee4a73b2bcdeeb564d02b118065c12eaf7ffffcf777bc1b67This checksum is extracted from the GitHub Release page. Verify file integrity after download.
All SHA-256 checksums on this platform are extracted from the project's official GitHub Release page, without any modification. You can independently verify them on the GitHub Releases page.
Open Source Transparency
View GitHub SourceUninstall Info
To remove server, stop the container and delete the data volume. Desktop clients can be deleted directly, but uninstall games first if possible.
No Extra Dependencies
Ready to use after download. No additional runtime required.
Having issues? Check the FAQ below
2 FAQs
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