RetroArch - Texture Pack Guide

About Texture Packs

Each RetroArch core handles texture packs differently.

To simplify management, RetroDECK tries to organize all texture packs under the following directory for convenience:

retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/<system>

RetroDECK - Texture Pack Locations

Core	Texture Pack Locations	Source Directory	System
Beetle PSX HW	`retrodeck/roms/psx/<game_filename>-texture-replacements/`	The folder is next to the game itself	PlayStation 1
Citra	`retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Citra/textures`	`retroarch/saves/Citra/load/textures`	Nintendo 3DS
Dolphin	`retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Dolphin/Textures`	`retroarch/saves/dolphin-emu/User/Load/Textures/`	GameCube / Wii
Flycast	`retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Flycast/textures`	`system/dc/textures`	Sega Dreamcast
Mesen	`retrodeck/exture_packs/retroarch/Mesen/HdPacks`	`retroarch/system/HdPacks`	NES
Mupen64Plus	Cached textures: `retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Mupen64Plus/cache` Hires textures: `retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Mupen64Plus/hires_texture`	Cached textures: `retroarch/system/Mupen64plus/cache` Hires textures: `retroarch/system/Mupen64plus/hires_texture`	Nintendo 64
PPSSPP	`retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/PPSSPP/TEXTURES`	`retroarch/saves/PPSSPP/PSP/TEXTURES`	PSP

Before You Begin

Extract the texture pack from any .zip or other compressed archive. Texture packs must be fully extracted; do not use them while compressed.
Ensure that texture replacement is enabled in RetroArch for the specific core you intend to use. Note: Texture replacement settings can vary between cores. Refer to the relevant section of this guide for core-specific instructions.
After placing the textures in the correct directory, launch the game normally through ES-DE and verify that the new textures load correctly in-game.

Troubleshooting: Textures Not Showing

Ensure that the texture pack folder name matches the ROM name and/or contains the SERIAL / GAME_ID / TITLE_ID .
All files must be properly extracted for RetroArch to recognize them.
Some texture packs are designed for specific game versions or regions. Verify that the texture pack matches the exact version of the game you are using.
Check for unnecessary subfolders. In most cases, textures should be located directly in the root of the texture pack folder rather than nested inside additional directories.

Beetle PSX HW Core

Important:

Works only with Vulkan.
<game_filename> must exactly match the game file name.
<game_filename>-texture-replacements must not contain subfolders.
<game_filename>-texture-replacements must not contain compressed files all textures must be extracted.
Internal GPU Resolution should be set higher than 1x (Native).
Supersampling → Downsample to Native Resolution should be Disabled otherwise, differences may not be noticeable at low resolution.
Custom textures may not load when using a save state. Triggering a scene change in-game may be necessary to refresh textures.

Enable Texture Replacements

Launch RetroArch via RetroDECK’s ES-DE frontend.
Open the Quick Menu → Options.
Load Texture Replacements to Enabled .
Save the configuration for the game via Core Options → Manage Core Options → Save Game Options.

Adding Texture Packs

Extract your textures into a folder named: <game_filename>-texture-replacements next to your game in the retrodeck/psx/<game> or retrodeck/psx/<game subfolder>/<game> ddirectory.
<game_filename> must match the actual game file name.

Example: Alundra

If the game is stored inside a subfolder:

retrodeck/psx/Alundra/Alundra-texture-replacements/

If the game file is placed directly in the main PSX directory:

retrodeck/psx/Alundra-texture-replacements/

Textures in .m3u files

If the game uses an .m3u structure, create the folder <game_filename>-texture-replacements and place it inside the same directory as the .m3u file and its disc images.

Folder content:

─── Dragon Fantasy VII.m3u   <--- Folder in retrodeck/roms/psx/
    ├── Dragon Fantasy VII - Disk1.chd <--- Game Disc
    ├── Dragon Fantasy VII - Disk2.chd <--- Game Disc
    ├── Dragon Fantasy VII - Disk3.chd <--- Game Disc
    ├── Dragon Fantasy VII-texture-replacements/ <--- Texture Replacement folder
    └── Dragon Fantasy VII.m3u <--- The .m3u file

.m3u file content

Dragon Fantasy VII - Disk1.chd
Dragon Fantasy VII - Disk2.chd
Dragon Fantasy VII - Disk3.chd
Dragon Fantasy VII-texture-replacements/

Read more about .m3u files:

Multi Disk: Guide

Citra Core

Important:

TITLE_ID is different for every game. It's a unique code for each released game per region.
TITLE_ID must exactly match the ROM you are using.

Example:

**TITLE_ID:**00040000000DE200corresponds to the NTSC-U release of3D Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master`.

You can search various databases or wikis online to find the correct serial for the version of the game you have for example:

3dsdb
Wikipedia

Enable Texture Packs

Open the RetroArch Quick Menu.
Go to Core Options
Enable Custom Textures and set it to On.
Resolution Scale and set it to 4x (or more).
Save this configuration for the game via Core Options → Manage Core Options → Save Game Options.

How to Add Texture Packs

Navigate to retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Citra/textures. The folders are named by TITLE_ID.
Paste the textures into the correct folder: retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Citra/textures/<TITLE_ID>/<textures>

Example: 3D Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master

The full folder path will be:

retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Citra/textures/00040000000DE200/<textures>

Dolphin Core

Important:

GAME_ID is different for every game. It's a unique code for each released game per region.
GAME_ID must exactly match the ROM you are using.

Example:

**GAME_ID:**RPJE7Ucorresponds to the NTSC-U release ofArc Rise Fantasia`.

You can search various databases or wikis online to find the correct serial for the version of the game. Alternatively, by opening Dolphin Standalone, you can find it directly within the emulator:

Right-click the game.
Select Properties.
Navigate to the Info tab.
View the Game ID.

Enable Texture Packs

Open the RetroArch Quick Menu.
Go to Core Options
Load Custom Texturess and set it to On.
Save this configuration for the game via Core Options → Manage Core Options → Save Game Options.

How to Add Texture Packs

Navigate to retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Dolphin/Textures. The folders are named by GAME_ID.
Paste the textures into the correct folder: retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Dolphin/Textures/<GAME_ID>/<textures>

Example: Arc Rise Fantasia

The full folder path will be:

retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Dolphin/Textures/RPJE7U/<textures>

Flycast Core

Important:

SERIAL is different for every game. It's a unique code for each released game per region.
SERIAL must exactly match the ROM you are using.

Example:

SERIAL: T36802N corresponds to the NTSC-U release of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver.

You can search various databases or wikis online to find the correct serial for the version of the game you have.

Enable Texture Packs

Open the RetroArch Quick Menu.
Go to Core Options → Emulation Hacks
Load Custom Textures and set it to On.
Save this configuration for the game via Core Options → Manage Core Options → Save Game Options.

How to Add Texture Packs

Navigate to retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Flycast/textures. The folders are named by SERIAL.
Paste the textures into the correct folder: retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Flycast/textures/<SERIAL>/<textures>

Example: Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

The full folder path will be:

retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Flycast/textures/T36802N/<textures>

Mupen64Plus-Next Core

Folder names must exactly match the ROM filename (excluding the extension).

Enable HD Texture Packs

Open the RetroArch Quick Menu.

Go to Core Options → GLideN64 and enable the following:

LOD Emulation → Off
Continuous texrect coords → Auto
Enable inaccurate texture coordinates → On
Use High-Res Textures→ On
Use High-Res Full Alpha Channel → On
Use enhanced Texture Storage → On
Use enhanced Hi-Res Storage → On

Save the configuration for this game via Core Options → Manage Core Options → Save Game Options.

Optional:

Use High-Res Texture Cache Compression → On Compresses uncompressed HD textures into .hts files.

Adding Texture Packs

Texture Types and Locations

Texture Type	Folder to Place In
Compressed (.hts)	`retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Mupen64Plus/cache`
Uncompressed (loose folders/files)	`retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Mupen64Plus/hires_textures`

Example: Space Station Silicon Valley

For the game Space Station Silicon Valley.n64 with the downloaded pack Space Station Silicon Valley TexturePACK HD.zip:

Place the extracted folder in the following renamed directory depending on the type of textures you have:

HTS file: retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Mupen64Plus/cache/Space Station Silicon Valley_HIRESTEXTURES.hts
Folder: retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Mupen64Plus/hires_textures/Space Station Silicon Valley/<textures>

Mesen Core

Important:

Folder names must exactly match the ROM filename (excluding the extension).

Enable HD Packs

Open the RetroArch Quick Menu.
Go to Core Options
Enable HD Packs and set it to On.
Save this configuration for the game via Core Options → Manage Core Options → Save Game Options.

Adding Texture Packs

Place extracted texture pack folders in: retrodeck/exture_packs/retroarch/Mesen/HdPacks/<ROM filename>/<textures>.
The folder name must match the ROM filename (without the .nes extension).

Example: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

For the game Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (USA).nes with the downloaded pack Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde TexturePACK HD.zip:

Place the extracted folder in the following renamed directory:

texture_packs/retroarch-core/Mesen/HdPacks/Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (USA)/<textures>

PPSSPP Core

Important:

SERIAL is different for every game. It's a unique code for each released game per region.
SERIAL must exactly match the ROM you are using.

Example:

SERIAL: ULUS-10080 corresponds to the NTSC-U release of 007-From Russia with Love.

You can search various databases or wikis online to find the correct serial for the version of the game you have for example:

psxdatacenter.com.
Wikipedia

Enable Texture Packs

Open the RetroArch Quick Menu.
Go to Core Options → Video
Texture Replacement and set it to On.
Save this configuration for the game via Core Options → Manage Core Options → Save Game Options.

How to Add Texture Packs

Navigate to retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/PPSSPP/TEXTURES/. The folders are named by SERIAL.
Paste the textures into the correct folder: retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/PPSSPP/TEXTURES/<SERIAL>/<textures>

Example: 007-From Russia with Love

The full folder path will be:

retrodeck/texture_packs/retroarch-core/Flycast/textures/ULUS-10080/<textures>