How to Play PS1 Games on Your PC with Retroarch

To play PS1 games on your PC, you need to set up RetroArch, a powerful and versatile emulator. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Download RetroArch: Go to the official RetroArch website and download the latest version of the software. You can choose between a standalone version or the Steam version, depending on your preference.
Install RetroArch: Follow the installation instructions to install RetroArch on your PC. Ensure you have the latest version to take advantage of the most recent features and improvements.

Why BIOS Files Are Needed: PS1 BIOS files are essential for running PS1 games in RetroArch. These files are region-specific and must match the region of the game you want to play.
- Common BIOS Files:
  - scph5500.bin (NTSC – Japan)
  - scph5501.bin (NTSC – US)
  - scph5502.bin (PAL – Europe)
  - scph5552.bin (PAL – Europe)
Obtaining BIOS Files: You can either dump the BIOS from an original PS1 console or obtain them through other means. Note that distributing BIOS files is not allowed, so you will need to find them yourself.

Game Disc Images: You need PS1 game disc images (ISO files) to play the games. These can be sourced from your original game discs or obtained through other means.
File Formats: Ensure the game files are in a format compatible with the PS1 cores you will be using. Common formats include ISO, BIN, and MDF.

Open RetroArch: Launch RetroArch and navigate to the main menu.
Load Core: Select the "Load Core" option and then go to the "Download Core" section. Here, you will find a list of available cores. Scroll down to the Sony PlayStation section and select one of the PS1 cores, such as Beetle PSX, Beetle PSX HW, PCSX ReARMed, or SwanStation.
Download and Install Core: Download and install the chosen core. This process may take a few moments.

System Folder: Place the PS1 BIOS files in the system folder of your RetroArch directory. Ensure the file names are correct and case-sensitive.

Game Directory: Place your PS1 game disc image files in a directory of your choice. You can organize them in subfolders for better management.
Scanning for Games: In RetroArch, go to the main menu and select "Import Content" -> "Scan Directory". Navigate to the directory where your PS1 games are located and select "Scan This Directory" to add the games to RetroArch.

Load Core and Content: After setting up, go back to the main menu, select "Load Core", and choose the PS1 core you installed. Then, select "Load Content" and navigate to your PS1 game disc image file.
Run the Game: Select the game to start playing. You can also create playlists for easier access to your games.

Recommended Controllers: Use a modern gamepad with dual-analog sticks for an authentic experience. The PS3 pad or Xbox One pad are good choices.
Controller Configuration: Ensure your controller is connected and configured properly. If using a non-Xbox pad, you may need an XInput driver/wrapper.

Quick Menu: During gameplay, you can access the Quick Menu by pressing the designated button combination (e.g., L3+R3). Here, you can adjust various settings such as save states, renderer options, and more.
Renderer Options: For better performance, select "Vulkan" as the renderer if your GPU supports it. Otherwise, use "OpenGL".
Analog Stick Settings: If your analog sticks are not being recognized, go to "Controls" and set "User 1 Analog To Digital Type" to "Left Analog".

Disk Control: For multi-disc games, you can manage disk changes through the Quick Menu. Press F1 to access the Quick Menu, go to "Disk Control", and select the appropriate disk index.
Background Process: If disk changes do not work as intended, go to "Settings" -> "User Interface" and disable "Pause Content When Menu Is Active". This ensures the game continues running in the background while accessing the menu.

Upscaling: You can upscale your games to improve visual quality. Go to the Quick Menu, select "Core Options", and adjust the "Internal GPU Resolution" to upres your games.
Dithering Patterns: Adjust dithering patterns to maintain the original PS1 output look or disable it for higher color depth.

By following these steps, you can enjoy your PS1 games on your PC with RetroArch, complete with enhanced graphics and controls.