Play Retro Games on Any PC Using Only a USB

If you’re looking for a fast and portable way to play retro games directly from a USB drive, Batocera is one of the best options available. It allows you to turn any PC into a retro gaming console with just a few simple steps — no installation required on your main system.

💡 Note: Another great alternative is RetroPie, which is ideal for installing on a Raspberry Pi or a Linux-based system like Ubuntu.

Watch (Video): Booting and Playing Batocera from USB

To see how easy it is to boot Batocera from a USB drive and start playing retro games, check out this quick video:

In this video, we show:

• Booting directly from the USB
• Navigating Batocera menu
• Launching a game

How to install Batocera step to step

Technical requirements:

1. PC or laptop: Thinkpad t480 i5 8GBRAM
2. USB drive 8GB is ok but i recommend more (for put a many games)

Step 1: Install Raspberry Pi Imager

We need to download the bootloader software named: Raspberry Pi Imager download or just install in your SO favorite (windows or Linux). Simple command on your ubuntu:

sudo apt install rpi-imager

Or go to: https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/

Step 2: Download batocera

Download Batocera on the oficial web site: https://batocera.org/download I need to install it on my PC. If you need install on another kind of device, choose the right option for you

Step 3: Boot batocera on USB

1. Open the rpi-imager

2. Click Operating System and select Use custom after then choose the file batocera-file.img.gz

3. Click Choose storage and select your usb drive/SD/Hard-drive

4. Click Next

   1. Woul you like to apply OS customization setting? set NO
   2. ⚠️ All existing data on the drive will be destroyed! set YES

5. This process take a time, just wait patiently to finish

   

   
   

   

   
   

Note: If you need more detail about this process, including many step-by-step screenshots, please visit the Installation Guide

Step 4: Boot the USB drive on your PC

This step is the most simple just insert the usb on the PC and press the commons shortcut to enter the menu selection: F10, F11, F12. In my case was F12 (many times) and select boot from the USB.

This step is necessary To install batocera in USB that process create documents and directories into the USB useful for afterward put owers bios, roms o games

If not work disable or enable UEFI and try again

Step 5: Where and how Install games into the USB

On your desktop available windows or linux on your network

1. Download the games from internet: https://vimm.net/vault Just dowload your favorites.

Example: Link direct of the game Super Mario World

2. Now we need to know the main directories for to upload owner games:

• bios: Here we found files for startup a some consoles like wii and anothers.
• roms: Here we found the all consoles available to play some of them are:
  • snes: super nintendo
  • psx: PlayStation 1
  • ps2: PlayStation 2
  • wii: Wii

3. Copy and Paste the games

   3.1 By Network: on PC RETRO-GAME en connected yourseflt network

   The easy way to access is my SMB:

       smb://192.168.1.38/share/bios/
       smb://192.168.1.38/share/roms/
       smb://192.168.1.38/share/roms/snes/ # Here put all games for super nintendo

   3.2 Simple put the USB with batocera installed and put the games Here just only need to copy and paste in the directories:

    - `/share/bios/`
    - `/share/roms/`: there put the gammes according each console

Step 6: Update list of game of batocera for begin to game

• After put all games that you want, just need to update the game list to begin.
• Press select or space of your computer
• Option Game Settings > Update Game List > Yes
• And now just wait a little and looks all games was loaded

Tricks 1: Shortcut into the Game

This is my controller (looks like PS1 one). Yours might be different, so use the image to match the shortcuts to your own controller.

There are shortcuts available in the Batocera console like:

SELECT + 4  # save the current instant of the game
SELECT + 1  # recover or back the instant game

The official documentation mension this just i put there if help you:

The following options are available while in-game:

Enter RetroArch Menu – Many of the emulators/cores utilize RetroArch. To enter the RetroArch menu press SELECT+A.
Change current State – SELECT + DPAD UP/DOWN.
Save current State – SELECT + X.
Load current State – SELECT + Y.
Insert Arcade Credit – In an Arcade game, press SELECT to insert a credit.
Start Arcade Game – In an Arcade game, press START to start a 1 player game.
Change Shader – SELECT + R2/L2.
Screenshot – SELECT + L1.

Tricks 2: Access to Batocera on the local network

By default we can access by SAMBA protocol. Your PC Must be connect by an internet cable.

smb://192.168.1.38/Share/roms/snes/
smb://BATOCERA/Share/roms/snes/

• 192.168.1.38: is the IP local of the Batocera PC
• BATOCERA: is the host name of the Batocera PC

By both directions is accesible the batocera

Note: You can also use WI-FI, but it’s a bit more complicated and would take longer.

Conclusion

Batocera is a powerful and easy-to-use solution for anyone who wants to enjoy retro games on an old PC or directly from USB drive. With just a few simple steps you can bring your favorite childhood. This was my manual for not forget how to install my custom retro-game step to step, what do you think.

Reference

• Install step to step by wiki batocera: