RetroArch incoporates a ROM scanning system to automatically produce playlists. Each ROM that is scanned by the playlist generator is checked against a database of ROMs that are known to be good copies.
chtCheats to various gamescursorsProvides methods in order to query the playlistsdatCustomized DAT files, maintained by the libretro teammetadataDifferent metadata and third-party DATs available to the systemsrdbThe compiled RetroArch database filesscriptsVarious scripts that are used to maintain the database files
Generally, RetroArch's scanner is configured for ROMs that have been validated by No-Intro or Redump DAT files but many other source databases are also in use.
| System | Source | Repository |
|---|---|---|
| The 3DO Company - 3DO | Redump > Trurip > TOSEC | libretro-dats |
| Atari - 2600 | No-Intro | |
| Atari - 7800 | No-Intro | |
| Atari - Jaguar | No-Intro | |
| Atari - Lynx | No-Intro | |
| Bandai - WonderSwan | No-Intro | |
| Bandai - WonderSwan Color | No-Intro | |
| Cave Story | CaveStory.org (English or Japanese) | |
| DOS | Total DOS Collection | libretro-database-dos |
| FB Alpha - Arcade Games | FB Alpha v0.2.97.39 | |
| GCE - Vectrex | No-Intro | |
| Id Software - Doom | Unknown | |
| Lutro | Unknown | |
| Magnavox - Odyssey2 | No-Intro | |
| MAME | MAME 0.78 | |
| Microsoft - MSX | No-Intro | |
| Microsoft - MSX 2 | No-Intro | |
| NEC - PC Engine CD - TurboGrafx-CD | Redump > Trurip > TOSEC | libretro-dats |
| NEC - PC Engine - TurboGrafx 16 | No-Intro | |
| NEC - SuperGrafx | No-Intro | |
| NEC - PC-FX | Redump > Trurip > TOSEC | libretro-dats |
| Nintendo - Famicom Disk System | No-Intro | |
| Nintendo - Nintendo DS | No-Intro | |
| Nintendo - Game Boy | No-Intro | |
| Nintendo - Game Boy Advance | No-Intro | |
| Nintendo - Game Boy Color | No-Intro | |
| Nintendo - Nintendo 64 | No-Intro | |
| Nintendo - Nintendo Entertainment System | No-Intro | |
| Nintendo - Super Nintendo Entertainment System | No-Intro | |
| Nintendo - Virtual Boy | No-Intro | |
| Quake | Unknown | |
| Phillips - Videopac+ | No-Intro | |
| ScummVM | Gruby's ScummVM Adventure Pack | libretro-database-scummvm |
| Sega - 32X | No-Intro | |
| Sega - Dreamcast | Redump > Trurip > TOSEC | libretro-dats |
| Sega - Game Gear | No-Intro | |
| Sega - Master System - Mark III | No-Intro | |
| Sega - Mega Drive - Genesis | No-Intro | |
| Sega - Mega CD - Sega CD | Redump | libretro-dats |
| Sega - Saturn | Redump > Trurip > TOSEC | libretro-dats |
| Sega - SG-1000 | No-Intro | |
| Sony - PlayStation | Redump > Trurip > TOSEC | libretro-dats |
| Sony - PlayStation Portable | No-Intro | libretro-database-dos |
| SNK - Neo Geo Pocket | No-Intro | |
| SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color | No-Intro | |
| SNK - Neo Geo CD | Redump | libretro-dats |
| Uzebox | Unknown |