New to retro gaming? Confused by terms like ROM, emulator, save state, or RetroArch? This is iGC's complete retro gaming glossary — 50+ terms explained in plain English, from beginner basics to advanced emulation concepts.
Lab-Tested · Expert-Curated by the iGC Editorial Team — www.handheldgameconsoles.games
🔤 A — B
Basic Input/Output System. A small firmware file required by some emulators (PS1, GBA) to boot games. The PS1 BIOS (scph1001.bin) is required for PCSX ReARMed. R36S includes necessary BIOS files preinstalled.
Decorative borders around the game screen that fill the empty space when playing games with different aspect ratios. RetroArch supports custom bezels. R36S supports bezel overlays via RetroArch.
Wireless protocol for connecting controllers and headphones. R36S does not have Bluetooth. For wireless controller support, consider R36MAX or Retroid Pocket Flip 2.
🔤 C — E
A RetroArch plugin that emulates a specific console. Each console has one or more cores. Examples: mGBA core (GBA), Snes9x core (SNES), PCSX ReARMed core (PS1), Mupen64Plus core (N64). R36S comes with all major cores preinstalled.
A visual filter that simulates the look of old CRT televisions — scanlines, bloom, and phosphor glow. Makes retro games look more authentic. Available in RetroArch → Shaders. R36S supports CRT shaders.
Software that mimics a gaming console's hardware, allowing games from that console to run on different hardware. R36S uses RetroArch as its main emulator frontend, with individual cores for each console.
The graphical frontend (menu system) used on R36S to browse and launch games. You see EmulationStation when you power on R36S and navigate the game library. It launches RetroArch cores in the background.
🔤 F — I
A RetroArch feature that speeds up gameplay (2x-8x). Useful for grinding in RPGs or skipping slow sections. On R36S: hold Menu + R2 to activate fast forward. Works on all emulated consoles.
Frames per second — how smoothly a game runs. Most retro games target 60fps (NTSC) or 50fps (PAL). R36S runs GBA/SNES/NES/PS1 at locked 60fps. N64 games vary by title (20-60fps).
The delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen. R36S has minimal input lag (under 1 frame) for most emulated consoles. Fighting games and rhythm games are most sensitive to input lag.
In-Plane Switching — a display technology with accurate colors and wide viewing angles. R36S uses a 3.5" IPS screen. Superior to TN panels for color accuracy and off-angle viewing.
🔤 M — O
The best Game Boy Advance emulator core. Highest accuracy, best compatibility, supports GBA, GBC, and GB games. R36S uses mGBA as the default GBA core. 100% GBA compatibility.
The storage card used in R36S to store games, save files, and system files. R36S comes with a 64GB microSD preloaded with 6,000+ games. Upgradeable to 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB.
The N64 emulator core used on R36S. Provides 97% N64 compatibility. Best settings: use GLideN64 video plugin, set resolution to 320x240 for best performance.
Running the CPU faster than its default speed to improve performance. R36S (H700 chip) can be overclocked via RetroArch settings. Useful for demanding N64 games. Increases heat and reduces battery life.
🔤 P — R
The PS1 emulator core used on R36S. Optimized for ARM processors. Provides 100% PS1 compatibility on R36S. Supports .pbp multi-disc files for multi-disc PS1 games (FF7, FF8, MGS).
PlayStation Portable format that combines multiple PS1 discs into one file. Used for multi-disc PS1 games on R36S. Final Fantasy VII (3 discs), FF8 (4 discs), and MGS (2 discs) are preloaded as .pbp on R36S.
The universal emulator frontend used on R36S. Runs all emulator cores (GBA, SNES, PS1, N64, etc.) through a single interface. Access RetroArch menu by pressing Menu button during gameplay. Preinstalled on R36S.
Read-Only Memory — a digital copy of a game cartridge or disc. ROMs are the game files that emulators run. R36S comes with 6,000+ ROMs preloaded. File formats: .gba (GBA), .sfc (SNES), .n64 (N64), .bin/.cue (PS1).
🔤 S — Z
A snapshot of the exact game state at any moment. Unlike in-game saves, save states work anywhere — mid-battle, mid-level, mid-cutscene. On R36S: Menu+R1 to save, Menu+L1 to load. 10 save state slots per game.
A visual post-processing filter applied to the game image. Types: CRT shaders (scanlines), LCD shaders (Game Boy grid), upscaling shaders (xBR, HQ2x). Access via RetroArch → Shaders on R36S.
The SNES emulator core used on R36S. 100% SNES compatibility. Supports all SNES enhancement chips (Super FX, SA-1, DSP). Star Fox and Yoshi's Island run perfectly via Snes9x on R36S.
A feature that rapidly repeats a button press automatically. Useful for games requiring rapid button mashing. Available in RetroArch input settings on R36S.
The charging port on R36S. Charges via any USB-C cable and power source. Supports charging while playing. Use a 5V/2A charger for fastest charging. Compatible with all standard USB-C power banks.
A RetroArch option that stretches some N64/PS1 games to 16:9 widescreen. Results vary by game — some look great, others have graphical glitches. Available in RetroArch → Core Options on R36S.
❓ FAQ
A ROM is a digital copy of a game cartridge or disc. ROMs are the game files that emulators run. R36S comes with 6,000+ ROMs preloaded including GBA, SNES, NES, PS1, N64, and Genesis games.
A save state is a snapshot of the exact game state at any moment. Unlike in-game saves, save states work anywhere — mid-battle, mid-level. On R36S: Menu+R1 to save state, Menu+L1 to load state.
RetroArch is the universal emulator frontend used on R36S. It runs all emulator cores (GBA, SNES, PS1, N64) through a single interface. Access the RetroArch menu by pressing the Menu button during gameplay.
A core is a RetroArch plugin that emulates a specific console. mGBA = GBA, Snes9x = SNES, PCSX ReARMed = PS1, Mupen64Plus = N64. R36S comes with all major cores preinstalled.
Fast forward speeds up gameplay 2x-8x. Useful for grinding in RPGs or skipping slow sections. On R36S: hold Menu+R2 to activate fast forward. Works on all emulated consoles.
