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Creating Collections

Collections let you group games from different systems into custom categories. Build your own "Best Fighting Games" or "90s Classics" collection that spans arcade, console, and computer games.

What Are Collections?​

Think of collections as custom playlists for your games:

  • Cross-System: Mix arcade and console games together
  • Custom Themes: Each collection can have its own look
  • Flexible Organization: Group by genre, era, mood, whatever you want
  • Easy Management: Add or remove games anytime

Examples of great collections:

  • Fighting Games (Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken across systems)
  • Shmups (all your shoot-em-ups in one place)
  • Multiplayer Games (party games from any system)
  • Personal Favorites (your go-to games)
  • Kids Games (family-friendly titles)

Creating a Collection​

Let's make your first collection:

1. Navigate to Collections​

Click Collections in the sidebar.

2. Click "Add Collection"​

Give your collection a name:

  • "Fighting Games"
  • "Best of the 80s"
  • "Couch Co-op"
  • Whatever fits your theme

3. Add Games​

Click Add Games and you'll see your entire library. Pick games from any system:

  • Use the search to find games quickly
  • Filter by system if you want
  • Select multiple games at once
  • Click Add to Collection when ready

4. Customize​

Once created, you can:

  • Add a description
  • Set a display name
  • Configure which systems it includes
  • Add custom media (wheels, backgrounds)

5. Done!​

Your collection now appears in HyperSpin as its own system. It works just like any other system—but with your custom game selection.

Managing Collections​

Adding More Games​

Collections grow as your library does:

  1. Open your collection
  2. Click Add Games
  3. Select new games to add
  4. They appear immediately

Removing Games​

Changed your mind about a game?

  1. Open the collection
  2. Find the game in the list
  3. Click Remove from Collection
  4. Game stays in its original system—just not in this collection

Editing Collection Info​

Update your collection anytime:

  • Name: What shows in HyperSpin
  • Description: Notes about the collection
  • Systems: Which systems this collection pulls from
  • Visibility: Show or hide in HyperSpin

Collection Media​

Collections can have their own artwork:

Collection Wheels​

Make a custom wheel image for your collection:

  • Go to Media > [Collection] > Wheels
  • Upload a custom wheel
  • Or download one if available

Collection Backgrounds​

Add a background that fits your theme:

  • Upload custom artwork
  • Or download from HyperTheme if available

Collection Themes​

Some collections might have complete themes available on HyperTheme. Worth checking!

Collection Ideas​

Need inspiration? Here are collections that work great:

By Genre​

  • Fighting Games: All your fighters in one place
  • Racing Games: From arcade racers to sims
  • Puzzle Games: Quick pick-up-and-play titles
  • RPGs: Epic adventures across systems
  • Shooters: FPS and shmups together

By Era​

  • 80s Arcade Classics: The golden age
  • 16-Bit Era: Genesis and TurboGrafx-16 favorites
  • PlayStation Generation: PS1 and PS2 hits
  • Modern Indie: Recent indie releases

By Player Count​

  • Single Player Epics: Games for solo sessions
  • Couch Co-op: Local multiplayer fun
  • Party Games: 4-player mayhem
  • 2-Player Battles: Head-to-head classics

By Mood​

  • Quick Plays: Games under 10 minutes
  • Relaxing Games: Low-stress experiences
  • Challenge Mode: Your hardest games
  • Late Night Sessions: Long, deep games

Personal Collections​

  • Favorites: Your absolute best
  • To Play: Backlog management
  • Currently Playing: Active rotation
  • Achievement Hunting: Games you're completing

Collection Organization​

Keep Collections Focused​

Smaller, focused collections work better than huge ones:

  • 20-50 games is a sweet spot
  • Too many games defeats the purpose
  • You can always make multiple collections

Name Collections Clearly​

Use names that make sense at a glance:

  • "Fighting Games" > "Collection 1"
  • "Couch Co-op" > "Multiplayer"
  • Be specific about the theme

Use Consistent Naming​

If you make multiple themed collections, use a naming pattern:

  • "Genre: Fighting"
  • "Genre: Racing"
  • "Genre: Puzzle"

Or:

  • "Best of: 80s"
  • "Best of: 90s"
  • "Best of: 2000s"

Advanced Collection Tips​

Dynamic Collections​

Create collections that change with your habits:

  • "Most Played" - Your top games by play count
  • "Recently Added" - New games you've imported
  • "Random Picks" - Surprise yourself

(These require some manual updating, but it's worth it!)

Series Collections​

Group entire game series together:

  • "Street Fighter Series" (all SF games across systems)
  • "Sonic Collection" (Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, etc.)
  • "Final Fantasy" (across PlayStation systems)

Seasonal Collections​

Make collections for specific times:

  • "Summer Games" - Beach and sports themes
  • "Halloween Horror" - Spooky games for October
  • "Holiday Classics" - December gaming traditions

Swap them in and out throughout the year.

Collections vs. Systems​

What's the difference?

Systems

  • Represent actual hardware (Genesis, MAME, etc.)
  • Tied to specific emulators
  • Automatic ROM scanning
  • Standard media structure

Collections

  • Custom groupings
  • Games from multiple systems
  • Manual game selection
  • Same media types as systems

Think of systems as the foundation and collections as the fun customization layer on top.

Sharing Collections​

While HyperHQ doesn't have built-in collection sharing (yet), you can share collection ideas:

  1. Note down which games are in your collection
  2. Share the list with friends
  3. They can recreate it in their HyperHQ

Community forums are great for sharing collection ideas and game lists!

Common Questions​

Can a game be in multiple collections? Yes! Add the same game to as many collections as you want. It won't duplicate the ROM—just adds another entry.

Do collections affect my systems? Nope. Collections are separate. Removing a game from a collection doesn't remove it from its system.

Can I have collections within collections? Not directly, but you can create related collections with clear naming (like "Racing: Arcade" and "Racing: Simulation").

How many collections can I make? As many as you want! There's no limit. Just keep them organized.

Can I export collections? Currently collections live in your HyperHQ database. Exporting might come in a future update.

Troubleshooting​

Collection Not Showing in HyperSpin?

  • Make sure the collection has at least one game
  • Check visibility settings
  • Restart HyperSpin to reload

Games Not Launching from Collection?

  • Collections use the same launch settings as systems
  • Verify the game works from its original system
  • Check that emulators are configured correctly

Missing Collection Media?

  • Collections need their own wheel images
  • Upload custom media or create it yourself
  • The collection works without media—it just won't look as nice

What's Next?​

Collections set up? Time to configure your controls! Head to Controller Setup to map your arcade buttons and gamepads.

Want to make your cabinet lights dance? Check out LED Lighting Setup.