TruchiEmu Features
Discover the powerful features that make TruchiEmu the premier emulation experience on macOS
Shader Collection
Transform your gaming experience with our curated collection of high-quality Metal shaders. Each shader is optimized for macOS and designed to enhance or authentically reproduce classic gaming visuals.
The shader picker interface allows real-time preview and adjustment
Passthrough
No post-processing. Integer-scaled raw pixels rendered exactly as the original hardware intended. Perfect for purists who want unfiltered, authentic visuals with sharp pixel edges.
Use Case: Development, pixel-perfect reproduction, speedrunning
8b Game Boy
High-fidelity Game Boy DMG simulation with a customizable bezel, dynamic lighting, grid pattern, and the characteristic monochrome display feel.
Use Case: Game Boy games, authentic portable experience
8b Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color LCD simulation with temporal feedback, ghosting, iridescent effects, and customizable shell colors (Berry, Grape, Onyx, Glacier, and more).
Use Case: Game Boy Color games, accurate color representation
GBA (Advanced LCD)
Advanced Game Boy Advance LCD simulation with ghosting, grid pattern, metallic reflections, and configurable light position.
Use Case: GBA games, accurate portable gaming experience
CRT Classic
Classic CRT scanlines with barrel distortion, vignette, chromatic aberration, phosphor masking, and color bleed. Highly customizable with over 20 parameters.
Use Case: General retro gaming, consistent look across multiple systems
Shader Customization
Each shader includes adjustable parameters to fine-tune the effect:
- Intensity Sliders: Adjust the strength of each effect
- Parameter Presets: Quick settings for different display types
- Real-time Preview: See changes instantly as you adjust
- Per-Game Settings: Save shader preferences for individual games
- Global Defaults: Set system-wide shader preferences
Performance Impact: Passthrough and Smooth Upscale have minimal performance impact. CRT shaders (Multipass, Lottes, Classic) and LCD simulations use more GPU resources. Most modern Macs can run any shader at full speed.
Recommended Shader Pairings
| System Type | Primary Shader | Secondary Options | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-bit Consoles | CRT Multipass | Lite CRT, CRT Lottes | Classic TV experience |
| 16-bit Consoles | CRT Lottes | Sharp Bilinear, CRT Classic | Authentic arcade/TV feel |
| Game Boy | 8b Game Boy | Dot Matrix LCD, Passthrough | True portable experience |
| Game Boy Color | 8b Game Boy Color | Dot Matrix LCD, Passthrough | Authentic GBC screen |
| Game Boy Advance | GBA (Advanced LCD) | Smooth Upscale, Sharp Bilinear | Authentic GBA screen |
| PSP | PSP (Advanced LCD) | Smooth Upscale, Passthrough | Authentic PSP display |
| NDS | NDS (Advanced LCD) | Smooth Upscale, Passthrough | Authentic DS display |
| 3DS | 3DS (Advanced LCD) | Smooth Upscale, Passthrough | Clean portable display |
| Modern Displays | Smooth Upscale | Sharp Bilinear, Passthrough | Clean, modern look |
Library Management
Organize your game collection with powerful library management features designed for serious collectors and casual gamers alike.
Your games are automatically organized with cover art and metadata
Automatic Organization
- Smart Detection: Automatically identifies games from ROM file hashes
- Metadata Fetching: Downloads game descriptions, release dates, and details
- Cover Art: Automatically downloads high-quality box art from multiple sources (ScreenScraper, Libretro CDN)
- System Categorization: Groups games by original console/system
- Achievement Detection: Identifies games with RetroAchievements support
Grid View
Visual grid with cover art thumbnails. Perfect for browsing large collections.
- Adjustable grid size via zoom slider
- Sort by name, last played, or last added
- Quick search and filter
List View
Detailed list with metadata and stats. Great for sorting and organizing.
- Compact display for large libraries
- Quick status indicators
Collections & Playlists
Organize your games with custom categories and built-in filters:
- Manual Collections: Create custom categories to group your favorite games
- Favorites: Quick access to your must-play titles via the favorites filter
- Recently Played: Automatically tracks and displays your most recent sessions
Advanced Library Features
| Feature | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate Detection | Identifies and prevents duplicate ROM entries during scans | Clean library without duplicates |
| BIOS Detection | Detects and bundles required BIOS files (e.g., Saturn) with the core download | Proper system emulation without manual setup |
| Region Detection | Identifies game region (USA, Europe, Japan) during identification | Sort and filter by region |
| ROM Verification | Validates ROMs against No-Intro/Libretro DAT databases using CRC32 | Ensure you have verified dumps |
| Session Tracking | Records total play time and the last played date for every game | Track your gaming progress and activity |
Search & Filter
Find games instantly with powerful search capabilities:
- Text Search: Search by game name or metadata
- System Filter: Show only games from specific consoles
- Achievement Support: Show games with RetroAchievements
- Play Status: Filter by favorites or recently played
Import & Export
Import Options
- Add library folders including all subfolders
- Automatic recursive scanning of ROM directories
- Drag and drop support for library management
Export Options
- Automatic metadata export to games.xml
- Backup library metadata for portability
Organization Tip: Use the custom categories to group games by genre or project, and leverage the favorites filter for your current rotation of games.
RetroAchievements Integration
Earn achievements while playing classic games! TruchiEmu integrates seamlessly with RetroAchievements.org to add modern achievement hunting to retro gaming.
Track your progress and compare with friends on the global leaderboard
Getting Started with Achievements
Step 1: Create RetroAchievements Account
Visit RetroAchievements.org and create a free account.
Step 2: Link Account in TruchiEmu
Navigate to Settings → Achievements and enter your RetroAchievements username, password, and Web API key.
Step 3: Connect
Use the “Connect” button to verify your credentials and sync your profile. A green “Connected” indicator confirms success.
Step 4: Play Supported Games
Launch any game with achievement support. Your progress will be synced to your global profile.
Achievement Types
TruchiEmu supports the variety of achievement types defined by the RetroAchievements community, including progress milestones, skill-based challenges, and completionist goals.
Supported Systems
RetroAchievements support varies by system. TruchiEmu provides mapping for all major consoles, including:
| System | Achievement Support | Games Supported |
|---|---|---|
| NES / SNES | Full Support | 1,000+ games |
| Game Boy / Color / Advance | Full Support | 1,000+ games |
| Genesis / Mega Drive | Full Support | 500+ games |
| Nintendo 64 / PS1 | Limited / Experimental | 100+ games |
| PC Engine / TurboGrafx | Full Support | 300+ games |
Integration Features
- Rich Presence: Automatically updates your profile to show friends which game you are currently playing
- Leaderboards: Submit and compare high scores and times on global leaderboards
- Hardcore Mode: Option to disable save states, rewind, slow motion, and cheats for a purist experience, required for earning Hardcore-tier achievements
Achievement Tips:
- Ensure you are using verified ROM files that match the RetroAchievements database hashes.
- Check the achievement lists on the RA website to plan your approach for difficult trophies.
- Join the RetroAchievements community to track your progress against other players.
- Hardcore Mode: Enable Hardcore Mode via settings to block save states, rewind, slow motion, and cheats, which is required for earning Hardcore-tier achievements.
Important: Achievements only work with verified ROM files that match the RetroAchievements database hashes. Use No-Intro verified dumps for best compatibility.
Emulation Cores
TruchiEmu is powered by libretro, a universal emulation API. Each system runs on a dedicated core — think of them as plug-in engines. Cores are automatically downloaded, updated, and configured through the integrated Core Downloader.
For a complete reference on which cores power each system, performance tuning, and the technical architecture, see the Developer Guide.
Save State Features
Save states allow you to capture and restore your exact position in a game instantly, providing a modern safety net for retro gaming.
Visual Save States
- Automatic thumbnail capture for every save slot
- Visual grid browser for quick state selection
- Up to 10 save slots per game
- Timestamps for each captured state
Optimized Storage
- LZ4 compression for all state files
- Custom TCS2 header for state integrity
- Low disk footprint for large libraries
- Fast load/save speeds
Battery Save Support
- Dedicated storage for traditional battery saves
- Compatibility with original hardware save files
- Automatic handling by emulation cores
- Separated from snapshot state files
Save State Manager
The integrated save state browser provides a visual way to manage your progress:
- Thumbnail Grid: Browse your saved positions visually via 320x240 previews
- Slot Management: Easy access to slots 0 through 9
- Metadata: View exactly when each state was created
- Automated Paths: Consistent folder structure for easy backup and migration
Themes & Appearance
Make TruchiEmu yours with 16 curated accent color themes plus custom colors — inspired by gaming legends from Samus to Doom — plus light/dark appearance modes and tinted surfaces.
All 17 TruchiEmu themes (16 curated + 1 custom)
What You Can Customize
- 16 Curated + 1 Custom: Accent palettes organized into Standard (Samus, Chocobo, Protoss, Joker, Geralt, Mega Man, Custom) and Gaming (Mario, Luigi, Sonic, Half-Life, Kratos, Kirby, Zelda, Pikachu, Doom, Master Chief) categories
- Appearance Mode: Light, Dark, or Automatic — follow your system preference or override it per-app
- Custom Colors: Pick any color as your accent with the built-in Color Picker
- Tinted Surfaces: Subtle accent color tinting on window, sidebar, and toolbar backgrounds
- Toolbar Accent: Optionally color toolbar icons with the accent color instead of system defaults
- Per-Mode Adaptations: Many themes automatically adjust their accent for better contrast in light vs. dark mode
Bezels & Screen Framing
Enhance your immersion with custom bezels that frame your game screen, perfect for filling the void on modern wide-aspect displays.
Browse and download high-quality bezels tailored to your system
- Automatic Mapping: Bezels are automatically matched based on the game name, following a resolution cascade (user override → exact match → cleaned name → fuzzy match → no bezel).
- Bezel Browser: Integrated downloader to find and apply community-created borders.
- Custom Import: Import your own bezel images for any game.
Analog Mouse Support
TruchiEmu lets you use your gamepad's analog sticks to control the mouse cursor in DOS and ScummVM games, with configurable buttons for mouse clicks and D-pad for keyboard inputs.
Analog mouse settings with sensitivity, dead zone, and button mapping
Key Features
- Analog Stick to Mouse: The primary analog stick (left or right) controls the cursor at 60fps with configurable sensitivity
- Secondary Stick for Fine Control: The secondary analog stick moves the mouse at 1/5 speed for precise cursor placement
- D-Pad as Keyboard: D-pad sends arrow keys, Start sends Enter, Select sends Space
- Configurable Button Mapping: Assign left, right, and middle click to any gamepad button
- Per-System & Per-Game: Independent settings for DOS and ScummVM, with per-game overrides
Comfort Tip: Adjust sensitivity and dead zone in Settings → Analog Mouse. Use the secondary stick for precise pixel targeting, and map mouse buttons to comfortable gamepad buttons for your preferred play style.
Game Guide
Stuck on a puzzle? The built-in Game Guide sidebar brings progressive hints and full walkthroughs directly into your game window. It automatically appears for adventure and point-and-click games, pulling content from the Universal Hint System (UHS) and GameFAQs.
Key Features
- Progressive Hints (UHS): Spoiler-free hints that reveal one at a time — get just enough help without ruining the puzzle
- Full Walkthroughs (GameFAQs): Complete text walkthroughs as a fallback when UHS hints aren't available
- Gamepad Navigation: Browse the guide with your controller — analog sticks scroll, A/B buttons navigate, R3/L3 toggles the sidebar
- 387+ Game Mappings: Pre-matched UHS guides for classic adventures including Monkey Island, Broken Sword, Grim Fandango, and more
- Automatic Detection: Adventure and point-and-click games are identified by genre or system (ScummVM games always qualify)
Quick Access: Press Cmd+J or click the guide toolbar button to open the sidebar. For DOS and ScummVM games, input capture is automatically released when the guide opens and resumed when it closes.
Training Mode
TruchiEmu's training mode overlay provides P2 automation tools for fighting games, letting you control the dummy player to practice combos, defense, and setups.
Key Features
- Dummy Control: Configure P2 stance, guard behavior, wake-up tech, and reversal actions for realistic practice
- Sequence Programming: Build frame data sequences of moves for P2 to execute on configurable triggers
- Input Recording: Record P1 inputs via tape deck and play them back as P2 with multiple slots
- Input Display: Real-time visualization of P1 and P2 inputs with move notation tokens
- Move Integration: Browse character moves and link them to training sequences directly from the overlay
Pro Tip: Use training mode in combination with the Move List overlay to learn character-specific combos and special moves. Program P2 to block or punish specific scenarios.
Move List Overlay
Never forget a special move again. The move list overlay displays fighting game move notations directly on screen, helping you learn and execute character-specific combos and special moves during gameplay.
Key Features
- On-Screen Display: Move notations are shown as an overlay during gameplay, categorized by type
- Visual Tokens: Move notations use visual tokens for directional inputs, button combinations, and special conditions
- Per-Game Move Sets: Moves are automatically loaded based on the game being played
- Common Movesets: Pre-defined common moveset templates for popular fighting games
- Search & Filter: Quickly find specific moves by name, input type, or character
Notification System
Stay informed with TruchiEmu's built-in notification system. Get real-time alerts for game actions, controller connections, achievements, and system events without interrupting your gameplay.
Key Features
- Notification Pills: Non-intrusive pill-style notifications that appear and fade without blocking your view
- Controller Alerts: Visual notifications when controllers connect or disconnect
- Game Actions: Save state, screenshot, and other action confirmations
- Notification History: Full history panel to review past notifications
- Localized Messages: Fully translated notification text for all supported languages
Genre Management
Take control of how your games are organized with genre management. Filter, sort, and hide genres to keep your library focused on the types of games you love.
Key Features
- Visibility Controls: Show or hide specific genres in your library view
- Genre Filtering: Filter your game collection by one or more genres
- Automatic Genre Detection: Games are automatically categorized by genre during metadata enrichment
- Localized Genre Names: Genre names are translated into your preferred language
Update Checker
Stay up to date with the latest TruchiEmu releases. The built-in update checker automatically checks for new versions and notifies you when an update is available.
Key Features
- Automatic Checks: Periodic checks for new TruchiEmu releases in the background
- In-App Changelog: View release notes and changelogs directly within the app
- Update Notifications: Get notified when a new version is available without interrupting your session
- Version History: Browse the complete version history with detailed release notes
Professional Arcade Management (MAME)
Arcade emulation can be complex. TruchiEmu simplifies the process with specialized tools for MAME ROM management.
ROM Verification
Automatically verify ROM integrity against official databases using CRC32 hashes to ensure zero-corruption playback.
Dependency Tracking
Intelligent detection of parent and child ROM relationships. TruchiEmu alerts you if a required parent ROM is missing before you attempt to launch a game.
Metadata Automation
Integrates with the LaunchBox Games DB and DAT files to automatically populate game descriptions, release dates, and genres.