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Adding and Importing Systems

Good system setup starts with a clean game folder and one game which already works in its emulator.

Prepare the game folder​

Keep one system per folder when possible.

Games/
  Nintendo Entertainment System/
  Super Nintendo Entertainment System/
  Sony PlayStation/

Keep multi-file games together in their own subfolders.

Start the wizard​

  1. Open Systems.
  2. Select Add System.
  3. Choose the system.
  4. Enter the display name shown in HyperSpin.

Choose Custom System when the system is not listed.

Add ROM paths​

Select the folder containing the games. Add more than one path when a library spans several drives.

HyperHQ scans subfolders. Select the parent library folder instead of adding every game folder separately.

Choose file extensions​

The wizard suggests common extensions. Compare the list with the files in your library.

For disc games, keep primary files such as cue, chd, iso, or m3u. Exclude bin tracks when a cue file already describes them.

For compressed ROMs, add zip or 7z only when the selected platform opens those archives directly or HyperHQ extraction is enabled.

Choose a platform​

Select an installed platform or add one during system setup.

Automatic setup downloads the platform after the system is saved. Existing installation lets you select an emulator already on the PC.

Review the emulator guides in the sidebar when the system has several choices.

Complete BIOS setup​

The BIOS step appears for systems with known requirements.

  1. Review each required filename.
  2. Browse to the matching file.
  3. Save the platform.
  4. Test one game.

Firmware installed through the emulator stays inside the emulator. Finish firmware setup before the HyperHQ test.

Finish the import​

Save the system. HyperHQ adds the system and starts scanning games.

Open Activity to follow the import. When several systems are added together, Import Queue Status shows their order.

Multi-file and multi-disc games​

Use one of these approaches:

  • A cue file for bin and cue disc images
  • An M3U playlist for several discs
  • Game variations for alternate files or releases

Remove track-level extensions when each track appears as its own game.

Folder-based games​

Some platforms use an installed folder, profile, or title ID instead of one ROM file.

  • RPCS3, Vita3K, and ShadPS4 use installed title details.
  • TeknoParrot uses XML profiles.
  • eXoDOS uses collection launch scripts.
  • ScummVM uses game IDs.
  • Cemu supports Loadiine folders.

Follow the matching platform guide before changing launch settings.

Direct executable games​

Use Add Direct Executable for PC games or tools launched through their own executable or script.

  1. Select Add Direct Executable.
  2. Choose the executable or launch script.
  3. Enter the game name.
  4. Add media and metadata.
  5. Test the launch.

Auto Import​

Open Settings, Auto Import when your folders follow a system-per-folder structure.

  1. Select the parent folder.
  2. Review the systems HyperHQ finds.
  3. Confirm platform choices and file extensions.
  4. Start the import.

Review each detected system before confirming. Folder names guide the match.

After the import​

  1. Open the new system.
  2. Test one game.
  3. Review duplicate or missing entries.
  4. Refresh media.
  5. Launch HyperSpin and check the wheel.

Common problems​

The scan finds no games​

Check the selected folder and extensions. Add the primary launch-file extension, then run Refresh Games.

Too many files become games​

Remove data, setup, track, and support-file extensions. Keep only the files used to start each game.

A folder-based game has no title​

Finish installing or registering the game inside the emulator, then run Refresh Games.

Import work stops​

Open Activity and Import Queue Status. Resolve any item under Needs attention and leave HyperHQ open.