jelos.org/docs/systems/pico-8.md

# Pico-8

## Overview

| Path(s) | Supported Extensions |
| --- | --- |
| `storage/roms/pico-8` | ++".png"++ ++".p8"++ |

## Emulator(s)

| Name | Documentation |
| --- | --- |
| Pico-8   `default` | [https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php](https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php) |
| Fake-08 | [https://github.com/jtothebell/fake-08](https://github.com/jtothebell/fake-08) |

## Instructions

### Option 1: Running Pico-8 through the native engine

Pico-8 games are best played with the default emulator as it supports all native features without any limitations.  You need to purchase it from [Lexaloffle](https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php) and we do recommend that you buy a copy if you can. Its an awesome piece of software and it also comes with the tools to make your own games.

#### Setup

Once you have purchased a license; the files you need will depend on the deivce you are using. These instructions will walk through how to set things up to work on all of our supported devices.

- Go to [Lexaloffle's download page](https://www.lexaloffle.com/games.php?page=updates)
- From that page download the `Linux 64-bit` zip file and the `Raspberry Pi` zip file
- From the Linux 64-bit zip file...
    - Create a directory in `roms/pico-8` called `x86_64`
    - Upload the `pico8_dyn` and `pico8.dat` from the Linux 64-bit zip to this directory (you do not need any other files)
- From the Raspberry Pi zip file...
    - Create a directory in `roms/pico-8` called `aarch64`
    - Upload the `pico8_64` and `pico8.dat` from the Raspberry Pi to this directory (you do not need any other files)

``` bash title="Folder Structure"
/storage/roms/pico-8/
    ├─ x86_64/
    │   ├─ pico8_dyn
    │   ├─ pico8.dat
    ├─ aarch64/
    │   ├─ pico8_64
    │   ├─ pico8.dat
    ├─ Splore.png
    └─ (your Pico-8 game files)
```

#### Playing a game

Once the above is set up is you have 2 options for playing games through Pico-8's native engine:

1. Using Splore
    - Splore is awesome as it allows you to browse and play the entire library of user creaed games with an internet connection.  
    - To use this method simply launch Splore.png from the gamelist.
    - Note that you will need an internet connection to browse the pico-8 BBS (If you don't have an internet connection you can still use it to launch games you have downlaoded previously)
2. Through .png or .p8 files added directly `roms/pico-8`
    - Browse the list of games (aka. "Carts") on [Lexaloffle's website](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?cat=7&carts_tab=1#mode=carts&sub=2)
    - Download the .png file for any game you are interested in playing and upload it to `roms/pico-8`
    - Refresh EmulationStation by pressing ++"START"++ to open the Main Menu then select `Game Settings > Update Gamelists`.
    - You should now be able to launch the game by selecting it from the gamelist.

### Option 2: Running through RetroArch Fake-08

!!! warning "Fake-08 does not support all the native features of Pico-8 so its not guaranteed that every game will work with it."

- Set the default emulator for Pico-8 to Fake-08
- Browse the list of games (aka. "Carts") on [Lexaloffle's website](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?cat=7&carts_tab=1#mode=carts&sub=2)
- Download the .png file for any game you are interested in playing and upload it to `roms/pico-8`
- Refresh EmulationStation by pressing ++"START"++ to open the Main Menu then select `Game Settings > Update Gamelists`.
- You should now be able to launch the game by selecting it from the gamelist.