About 1Retro
Why we built a cloud save service for retro gamers.
The Story
We're retro gamers who got tired of losing saves. A corrupted SD card, a new laptop, a reinstalled emulator, a new device. The modern gaming world solved this problem years ago with cloud saves. Why couldn't retro gaming have the same?
1Retro started as a simple backup tool for one emulator. It grew into a desktop app and eventually a full sync platform. The goal never changed: make save management invisible. You play. We handle the rest.
Today, 1Retro supports all retro gaming platforms and works across macOS, Windows, and Linux. It is built by a small team that cares deeply about preserving gaming history, one save file at a time.
What We Believe
Privacy-First
Your data is yours. Never analyzed, never sold.
Multi-Platform
Retro gaming doesn't happen on just one device. 1Retro works wherever you play -- macOS, Windows, Linux, and more.
Open Ecosystem
Beyond the desktop app, we offer tools for automation and custom setups. Want to integrate a new emulator or build your own workflow? You can.
Reliability
Every save is versioned and verified. Accidental overwrites? Roll back. Corrupted file? Restore a previous version.
How It Works
Desktop App
The 1Retro desktop app is lightweight and runs quietly in the background. It watches your emulator save folders for changes and uploads new or modified files to the cloud automatically. When you open it, it pulls the latest versions of your saves so you're always up to date.
Advanced Tools
For power users, we also offer command-line tools that integrate directly with your emulator's save files. They can be used on their own or alongside the desktop app for automation and custom workflows.
We support OpenEmu, RetroArch, MiSTer, Analogue Pocket, and other popular emulators and devices.
Smart Sync
Under the hood, 1Retro is smart about what it uploads. If a save hasn't changed, it skips it -- so syncs are fast and your bandwidth isn't wasted. Your files are stored securely in the cloud. Each save version is tracked separately, so you can browse and restore any previous save through the web dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What emulators are supported?
1Retro works with most popular emulators out of the box, including OpenEmu and RetroArch. The desktop app works with any emulator that stores saves as files on your computer -- and we're adding more built-in integrations all the time.
Is it free?
1Retro has a free tier that includes cloud sync and the desktop app. If you want save versioning, more storage, or want to support development, you can upgrade to Premium for just $2/month or $20/year.
Is my data safe?
Your saves are backed up regularly and stored securely. Every file is verified and every version is preserved (with paid plan). We don't access, analyze, or sell your data.
What gaming platforms are supported?
1Retro supports 43+ retro gaming platforms including NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PSP, Atari, Neo Geo, and many more.
Can I self-host?
Not currently. 1Retro is a hosted service. We're evaluating self-hosting options for the future, but our focus right now is making the hosted experience excellent.