It’s been a few years since I made a proper PortMaster guide, and there have been lots of updates to the platform since then. PortMaster started as a way for the ArkOS developer to easily collect various PC port options on their OS, but it has now grown to its own platform independent of any particular OS. This guide will help you get started with PortMaster on your favorite handheld device.

Table of Contents

What is PortMaster?
Supported devices
Installation
Port installation process
Installation examples
Porting other games
Notes

Changelog

What is PortMaster?

In a nutshell, PortMaster is a program designed for Linux-based handheld devices that organizes and simplifies the installation process for hundreds of PC ports. In its most simple form, you open the app on your device, download the PC port (and maybe add some commercial data files if necessary) from its user menu, and then launch that new PC port on your handheld once it’s been installed. These games run natively on the device, as opposed to the typical emulation you expect on these types of handhelds.

If you want the latest information about this awesome tool, I would recommend checking the official PortMaster website, which is maintained by their fantastic development team and other enthusiasts. They also have an active discord server for help with troubleshooting or if you want to help develop for the platform. Also, if you have the means, please consider donating to the project as a show of thanks for all the wonderful gaming opportunities they provide to the community.

Disclaimer: PortMaster (and porting PC games in general) is an experimental and fun project, but not perfect. The team does their best to test and confirm that these ports will be universally compatible with the 30+ handhelds that work with the platform, but there will be hiccups from time to time. It’s a complicated process, as the games, runtime files, firmware options, and the PortMaster app itself are all under constant development and improvement, which can cause bugs from time to time. If a game is not launching as expected, I would recommend checking out the PortMaster discord server to see if there are any insights from the community.

Long story short, I would not recommend buying a PC game at full price solely to play it on PortMaster, since there is a small risk that the game will not work properly on your favorite device or operating system. But if you already own the game, or you also want to play it on PC, or maybe there’s a killer sale on Steam, then it’s probably worth trying!

Also, please keep in mind that PortMaster is developed with Linux-based handhelds in mind. Android-based devices (like those from Retroid) have all sorts of excellent features and perks, such as Play Store games, effortless sleep and streaming, and more — but PortMaster is not available on Android.

Supported devices

The list of devices that are supported by PortMaster is constantly growing, and thanks to development work from the custom firmware community, it is often a matter of days before a new device has PortMaster support. There is an official list of supported devices on the PortMaster website, but it is not up to date as of making this guide (like I said, the list is constantly growing!).

Instead of focusing on an individual list of supported devices, let’s organize it by operating systems that support the platform:

• ArkOS: the initial release of PortMaster was designed by the ArkOS developer, but since then it has expanded to other communities. Thankfully, PortMaster continues to work on ArkOS!
  • Supported devices: Anbernic RG351* and RG353** series, PowKiddy RGB30 and RK2023, R35S and similar handhelds, GameForce Chi, and other legacy devices like the PowKiddy RGB10, OGA, etc.
  • * The Anbernic RG351P and RG351M devices were dropped from ArkOS support prior to PortMaster’s inception, so you will need to use the WuMMLe versions of that OS to bring PortMaster onboard.
  • ** Not all Anbernic RG353 devices are supported by ArkOS, only the RG353M, RG353V, and RG3553VS (plus the RG503, which has the same chipset). The RG353P and RG353PS devices will still generally work with the RG353M build of ArkOS, but aren’t officially supported by the developer.

• AmberELEC: formerly known as 351ELEC, one of the lead PortMaster developers also works on the AmberELEC team and so they are synced very well. Development on this OS has slowed over the years, but it’s still a solid experience for the devices work with it. Also, if you install the latest pre-release version of the OS, it will expand support to other handhelds like the R36S.
  • Supported devices: Anbernic RG351P, RG351M, RG351V, RG351MP, and RG552; PowKiddy RGB20S, XU10, R35X, R36S, D007 Plus

• ROCKNIX: formerly known as JELOS, this OS has a large range of supported devices, and some very robust Linux kernel foundation, making it streamlined and powerful.
  • Supported devices: Anbernic RG351 and RG353 series, RG-ARC, RG552, R35S and similar handhelds, PowKiddy RGB30 and X55 (among others), ODROID devices, and the GameForce Ace.

• UnofficialOS: this is a fork of JELOS that provides support to RK3326 and RK3566 devices. It no longer appears to be in active development, but PortMaster should still work on it for most games.
  • Supported devices: Anbernic RG351 and RG353 series

• The Retro Arena: this custom firmware (often stylized as TheRA) is based on Ubuntu and has various levels of support on a variety of handhelds. Many of their OS builds are in beta or unfinished states, so compatibility with PortMaster is relatively inconsistent. Your best bet is to consult their website and YouTube channel to see what projects they are currently working on.

• muOS: this OS is focused on Anbernic devices that use the H700 processor. There are some compatibility limitations with this chipset and PortMaster (many of which get better each day), and among the H700 OS options this one has the most compatibility with PortMaster.
  • Supported devices: Anbernic RG35XX Plus, RG35XX H, RG28XX, and RG35XX SP.

• KNULLI: this OS is a fork of Batocera focused on handheld devices, to include H700 chipset handheld with plans for more in the future.
  • Supported devices: Anbernic RG35XX Plus, RG35XX H, RG28XX, and RG35XX SP; TrimUI Smart Pro
  • By default, KNULLI uses an EXT4 file system for storage, which improves functionality with PortMaster. This is a Linux-readable file system, which means you can’t just plug your microSD card into a Windows/Mac computer to transfer files; instead, you will need to transfer files via a network connection (detailed in my RG35XX starter guide). If you are prioritizing PortMaster functionality on your KNULLI handheld, then keeping it at EXT4 is recommended; otherwise, it is possible to format the file system to exFAT for easier file transfers on Windows and Mac computers. More information on this subject is available in the Add Games and PortMaster sections of the KNULLI wiki.

• CrossMixOS: this is an enhanced version of the stock TrimUI Smart Pro OS, with baked-in PortMaster support.
  • Supported device: TrimUI Smart Pro
  • Note that the TrimUI Smart Pro is missing 32-bit drivers so many games (especially those with gmloaderr and box86 backends) will not run
  • Note you can also make PortMaster work on TrimUI Smart Pro’s stock OS using these tools
  • For commercial ports, their gamedata files will need to be placed in the Data > ports folder

One final note: while this guide is focused on handhelds, PortMaster is increasing support for TV boxes and SBCs within OS options like ROCKNIX. So be sure to check out the respective OS pages in case other devices you own are supported!

Installation

Note: PortMaster requires you to be connected to the Internet in order to work as intended, so be sure to connect to your local network before using it.

For most of the supported operating systems, they will already have PortMaster installed as part of the setup process. In general, you can navigate to the Ports section of that OS and find a link to the PortMaster app, and launch it from there. There are some exceptions: for example, in muOS, you can find PortMaster under their “Apps” section, and it’s in the “Tools” sections of ArkOS and ROCKNIX.

For KNULLI, you will need to run a built-in PortMaster install script the very first time. Head to Ports section on your device and choose “Install PortMaster”; once complete, it will restart EmulationStation, and under the Ports section you should now just see the PortMaster app.

If the OS doesn’t have PortMaster listed (for example if you updated from an older version of that OS), you can manually install PortMaster. There are two methods to this: you can add a custom installation script that will install PortMaster, or you can install the “full” version of this script which will include all of its runtimes (usually these are installed as needed when you install individual ports, so this just saves you that extra step later).

• Head over to the PortMaster GitHub Releases page
  • Download the latest “Install.PortMaster.sh” or “Install.Full.PortMaster.sh” file onto your computer
  • Insert your device’s microSD card (if you are using a dual-card setup, it will be whatever card you use to store your ROM files)
  • Place the .sh file of your choice into the “Ports” section of your device’s microSD card (it will usually be listed in the same section as the rest of your ROMs folders, which can vary by OS).
  • Eject your SD card and place it in your device, then navigate to the Ports section of your OS and launch the “Install PortMaster” script.
  • Once complete, you should see PortMaster in the Ports section of your device; if not, try restarting the device and checking again.

That’s it, you should now be able to launch PortMaster! If it’s been a while since you last launched the app, it will likely have an update waiting for you, and will restart the app when ready.

Port installation process

Note: PortMaster requires you to be connected to the Internet in order to work as intended, so be sure to connect to your local network before using it.

When you open PortMaster on your device, you will be be greeted by their main menu:

• Featured Ports: these are recommended ports curated by the PortMaster team.
• All Ports: this is a full list of all ports available on the platform, all 500+ of them
• Ready to Run Ports: these are freeware, open-source, or games that PortMaster got express permission to distribute. These ports fully installed directly from the PortMaster interface, no commercial files required
• Manage Ports: this will allow you to reinstall or uninstall your current ports
• Options: here you can adjust the language, theme, and sound of the PortMaster app. This section also has a Runtime Manager app, that lets you install or reinstall runtime files to make sure your games are working properly
• Exit: this exits the app, of course! You can also just press the “B” button on your device while in the main menu to exit the app

Installing “Ready to Run” ports: this process is very simple, it’s just a matter of navigating through the Ready to Run Ports section, choose your game, and install it from there. Next, exit PortMaster and you should find it in your Ports section (if you don’t see it, you may need to refresh your games list or restart the device).

Installing commercial ports: Navigate to the “All Ports” section in PortMaster, choose the game, and install it. Note that this will only install the package/wrapper and any necessary runtime files for the game, not the game itself. After that, you will need to manually add the commercial files to your microSD card. For specifics, I recommend going to the PortMaster Games page on your computer, then find your game, and click the “Details” button for that game. This will show you instructions for where to put your commercial files, and whether you need to get the game from a specific store (like Steam vs Epic vs GOG).

Installing without WiFi: if you are using a device without network connectivity, you can still install ports. To start, make sure that you install (or update) PortMaster using the latest “Install.Full.PortMaster.sh” file explained in the Installation section above. After everything is installed and updated, you will find a PortMaster folder inside of your ROMs > ports folder on your device’s microSD card. Inside that PortMaster folder, you’ll see a folder named “autoinstall”. On your computer, browse the PortMaster Games section of their website, click on the game of your choice, then click the “Download” button to download that game’s zip file. Place the zip file in the PortMaster > autoinstall folder, and then next time you start PortMaster (even if not connected to the internet) the game will install into the appropriate location and be playable.

Because the installation process for commercial ports can vary, let’s go over a few examples that will demonstrate some of the main ways to install these games.

Installation examples

Here are some installation examples for various methods and operating systems:

Simple drag-and-drop (Windows): Half-Life

For a good chunk of games, you simply need to grab your game’s data files after installing it onto your Windows PC. Most PortMaster games will work with a Steam installation, but some others may specify if it needs to be from an alternative source like Epic, GOG, or Itch.io.

• Install Half-Life on your Windows PC via Steam.
• Within your Steam client’s “Library” section, right click on the game and select Manage > Browse Local File.
• Navigate to the “valve” directory, and drag this folder’s contents to the Ports > Half-Life > valve directory on your microSD card
• Eject the SD card, put it back into your device, then launch the game via your Ports section

Simple drag-and-drop (Mac): Balatro

Sometimes the simple drag-and-drop process will work on Mac without any issue. Balatro is an easy example.

• Install Balatro on your Mac via Steam.
• Within your Steam client’s “Library” section, right click on the game and select Manage > Browse Local File.
• In Finder, you will see an app called Balatro.app. Right-click on that, then select Show Package Contents > Contents > Resources
• Find the Balatro.love file, and drag this into the Ports > Balatro folder on your microSD card
• Eject the SD card, put it back into your device, then launch the game via your Ports section

For games that require the Windows files specifically, you can still get them via Mac, by following the “Install Linux version via Steam (Mac)” section below but with the Windows version of the game instead.

Install Linux version via Steam (Windows): Shovel Knight – Treasure Trove

Sometimes, the port will require the Linux version of the game. It’s still possible to grab those files from a Windows PC, and it’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Let’s use Shovel Knight as our example.

• On your Windows PC, press WIN + R to bring up the Run command
• In the Run window, type steam://open/console and press ENTER
• This will open up Steam into a new tab called “Console”
• Head over to steamdb.info and search for the game (Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove in this example)
• Make note of the App ID of the game (250760), then click on the Depots section on the left and note the Linux file Depot ID (250764 as of making this guide; this number may change with future updates to the game)
• Back on the Steam Console tap, type download_depot 250760 250764 and press ENTER
• Wait a while for the game to download (it can take upwards of 20 minutes), then the console window will show you the location of the file depot
• Copy that location, then paste it into a Windows navigation bar to go directly to that folder
• Copy the folder contents (in this case it should be subfolders named 32, 64, and data) and drag them into the Ports > shovelknight > gamedata > shovelknight folder on your microSD card as specified in the PortMaster game page
• Eject the SD card, put it back into your device, then launch the game via your Ports section

Install Linux version via Steam (Mac): Undertale

Installing the Linux version of a game via Mac is also possible, and it’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it. This can also be used for ports that require the Windows version of the game when you are on a Mac. Let’s use Undertale as our example.

• On your Mac, open the Terminal app (it can be found in your Applications folder)
•  Exit out of Steam if you have it open, then type the following command /Applications/Steam.app/Contents/MacOS/steam_osx -console and press ENTER
• This will open up Steam into a new tab called “Console”
• Head over to steamdb.info and search for the game (Undertale in this example)
• Make note of the App ID of the game (391540), then click on the Depots section on the left and note the Linux file Depot ID (391544 as of making this guide; this number may change with future updates to the game)
• Back on the Steam Console tap, type download_depot 391540 391544 and press ENTER
• Wait a while for the game to download (it can take upwards of 20 minutes), then the console window will show you the location of the file depot
• Copy that location, then go to Finder > Go > Go to Folder and paste it in. You may get an error, if so you can navigate to /Users/(NameOfMac)/Library/Application Support/Steam/Steam.AppBundle/Steam/Contents/MacOS, then go to steamapps > content > app_391540 > depot_351544 and you will find your game data files
• Navigate to the assets folder, and drag this folder’s contents to the Ports > undertale > assets folder on your microSD card as specified in the PortMaster game page
• Eject the SD card, put it back into your device, then launch the game via your Ports section

Compatibility version (Windows or Mac): Stardew Valley

For games like Stardew Valley, you will need the compatibility (32-bit) version of the game.

• On your PC or Mac, open Steam and go to the Library section
• Right click on the game and select Properties
• Navigate to the Betas tab, then click on the drop-down menu and select “Compatibility”
• The game will update in Steam to download and install the required compatibility files
• Once updated, right-click on the game in your Library and select Manage > Browse Local Files
• Drag and drop these content files to the Ports > stardewvalley > gamedata folder on your SD card
• Eject the SD card, put it back into your device, then launch the game via your Ports section

DLC (Windows or Mac): TMNT Shredder’s Revenge

Some ports also support the DLC for that game, including TMNT Shredder’s Revenge. The process is mostly the same, other than an additional step of downloading the DLC files. Note that you will need to have purchased the DLC ahead of time.

• Follow the same instructions as above for installing the Linux version of a game (like Shovel Knight or Undertale above).
• The DepotID for this game will be download_depot 1361510 1361511
• Next, do the same for the DLC DepotID, which will be download_depot 1361510 2348930
• Go to the individual game data folders on your computer, then add their contents to the Ports > tmntsr > gamedata folder on your device’s microSD card
• Eject the SD card, put it back into your device, then launch the game via your Ports section

Port from an Android game: AM2R (Another Metroid 2 Remake)

Some ports, like AM2R, require the Android apk for the game. These apk files are generally available via the Internet or by using an APK extractor app if you already have the game installed on your Android device.

• Find the AM2R apk file online, there are various places to find it (although it can be a challenge due to various takedowns over the years).
• Once you have the file, rename it to am2r.apk and add it to the Ports > am2r > gamedata folder of your device’s microSD card
• Eject the SD card, put it back into your device, then launch the game via your Ports section

Port from a ROM file: Render96ex (Super Mario 64)

Some ports require a ROM file to build everything. Games like Ship of Harkinian (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time) have a more involved process, while others like Render96ex (Super Mario 64) are more straightforward; instructions are below.

• You will need the US version of Super Mario 64, its SH1 sum is 9bef1128717f958171a4afac3ed78ee2bb4e86ce
• Re-name your ROM file to baserom.us.z64
• Place the ROM file in the Ports > render96ex folder of your microSD card
• Eject the SD card, put it back into your device, then launch the game via your Ports section
• You’ll be prompted to compile resources (done automatically by the app) and install some optional add-ons, consult the Render96ex PortMaster page for additional details
• By default, this port only uses the analog stick to control Mario (and navigate the menus). D-pad-only devices will not be able to navigate the menu. Two solutions: if you are using an OS that lets you swap between d-pad and analog stick input (like muOS), then tap the POWER button to toggle to the analog stick and remap your buttons by pressing Start then R1 while in the menu; or, if you have a device that can run the same firmware and has an analog stick, load the game on that device then remap the buttons, and then put the card back into your d-pad-only device.

Note that as of making this guide, Render96ex background music is not working properly on muOS, so skip that additional add-on when first booting the game. The muOS team is aware of it and working on a fix.

Porting other games

The process of porting a game is rather complex due to the game’s engine, dependencies, OS compatibility, and more. Most games will generally require a Linux version to exist as well, which isn’t always possible. So just because a lightweight game might sound like an awesome fit for PortMaster, it doesn’t mean that a port of the game is actually feasible. A great example is Animal Well — it would be perfect on these handhelds, but it is a DirectX12 game that only runs on Windows.

If you want to suggest a port, check out the PortMaster Suggestions page. Here you can create an account and submit suggestions, and also vote on other suggestions. Before submitting, the PortMaster team recommends consulting their portability chart.

You can also filter the Suggestions page to include rejected claims, and then read about why porting them is not possible. Some good examples include Pokemon Infinite Fusion, Guacamelee, and Hades.

If you are a developer or hobbyist and want to try porting a game on your own, they have comprehensive tutorials and resources on their website to help you get started.

Notes

• If a game keeps crashing on you, there is a log.txt file generated in each port’s folder; you can reference that log (or share it on their discord) to see why the game isn’t working on your device/OS.
• PortMaster has a bunch of themes which can enhance your browsing experience, check them out! They also have a guide if you want to try making your own theme.
• For those wondering about the PC port of Celeste, that one is a little trickier, as it requires a more involved process. Here is my written guide on the subject — some of the references to devices and operating systems are outdated, but as long as you have a device with PortMaster installed, there’s a good chance this process will work on your handheld.

Changelog

24JUL2024
-added note about TrimUI Smart Pro CrossMix OS port gamedata location

13JUL2024
– added note about Android-based devices
– made a separate “porting other games” section

12JUL2024
– published guide
– added context for SM64 on muOS

UPDATE: PortMaster has recently created a one-stop shop for all things related to running ports on retro handhelds. I recommend checking out their website and my most recent PortMaster guide instead of the guide below; I’m leaving this page up for posterity’s sake only. To get started, head over to their Games tab, find the game you want to run, and check out their instructions on that page. If you run into any issues, their discord server is also a great place to start.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge has become a massive hit, and for good reason. It’s a perfect mixture of old-school beat-em-up and modern control schemes, and it has plenty of fun stuff to unlock, too. In this guide we’ll get the game running on various handhelds so you can play this game anywhere.

This should work in any PortMaster-compatible retro handheld. For best results, make sure you are running the most recent version of ArkOS, AmberELEC, or JELOS, and that you have installed the latest version of PortMaster. Here is my PortMaster guide.

Note that the “Final” version of ArkOS for the RG351P and RG351M will not support the game due to an outdated SDL2 library. However, wuMMLe’s fork of ArkOS has been updated to support it, but there are some script changes needed (see the notes below). If you want the latest for those devices, I recommend using JELOS or AmberELEC, since they are in active development.

Setting up this game is similar to other ports such as Celeste, Shovel Knight, Undertale, Timespinner, and Iconoclasts. Big thanks to developer JohnnyOnFlame for getting this port up and running; please consider buying him a coffee for his hard work.

Installation instructions

Note that you need to have the most updated version of PortMaster installed on your device for this to work. Additionally, you need to run the install script of one of the following games within PortMaster: Timespinner, Owlboy, or Stardew Valley. This will install a mono package that is necessary for TMNT to initialize. You don’t need to actually install those ports onto your device, but the process will allow TMNT to work properly. This isn’t shown in the video, sorry about that — I didn’t realize it was necessary since I already had the mono package installed on my devices.

Alternatively you can manually grab the mono package here and place it in PortMaster/libs on your SD card.

While many people are playing this game via Game Pass, you need to own the PC (Steam) game files themselves to port the game to your retro handheld. Luckily, the Windows version of this game is compatible with the port, so setting it up is as easy as installing the game to your Windows PC.

• Purchase the game here via Steam
• Install the game onto your Windows PC
• Locate the game files. You can do this by right-clicking on the game in your Steam library, then select Properties > Local Files > Browse and it should take you directly to where the files are stored. If you want to find them manually, typically they will be in the following directory
  • Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > TMNT
• Download this TMNT port package and extract its contents. You should have two files: an .sh file and a folder.
• Inside that package folder you should see a subfolder named “gamedata”.
• Copy the contents of TMNT into the gamedata folder. You will get a prompt that there is already a file named “TMNT_GameIntro.ogv” and it will ask you if you want to overwrite that file. DO NOT overwrite it; instead, choose “Skip this file”.
• Once the files have moved over, now we can add them to your device’s SD card. For this you will want to use the second card (if using a two-card device), or just the main card if using a single-card setup. Inside that card you should see a “ports” folder. In there, add the package folder and .sh file.
• Insert the card back into the device and turn it on. In the Ports section you should now see the game, and you can start it up. It will take upwards of 20 minutes to load the game the first time, as some of the files are compressed in order to properly run. Every subsequent boot will be much faster, less than a minute. I’ve seen reports where this will sometimes take up to 30 minutes, and it appears to “freeze” the game. Don’t worry, just let it run the initialization — don’t touch it!

Manual Installation instructions

If you want to grab the game files WITHOUT installing the game onto yourWindows PC first, here is how to do that:

• Buy the game on Steam so that it is associated with your Steam account.
• On your PC, press Win+R and type: “steam://open/console” (Steam will now show console command). For best results do this command with Steam closed.
• In the Steam console, type: “download_depot 1361510 1361511” (just copy and paste this line into your command line)
• After several minutes, it will show you the location of the game files on your PC. Be patient, some games take longer to download than others. Navigate to that location and grab those files!

MacOS instructions

1. Buy the game on Steam so that it is associated with your Steam account.
2. Make sure Steam is closed on your Mac, then open Terminal and run the command “/Applications/Steam.app/Contents/MacOS/steam_osx -console”
3. When Steam opens, there should be a “Console” tab on the top right
4. In the console (which will look like a Terminal window), type “download_depot 1361510 1361511″ without the quotation marks
5. It’ll take about 20 minutes to download, but then it will show you a path to where the folder is located. It’s pretty deep in the MacOS file system, the easiest way to do that is through the Library folder. To access Library, you need to go to the Menu Bar in Finder (at the very top), click on “Go” and then press the Option key to make the Library appear in that menu, then navigate to where the Steam console says to go.
6. Download the tmnt.zip package file, then unzip it. Inside the tmntsr folder will be a gamedata folder. Inside that folder, there should be a Content > Video folder, and in there a blank .ogv file. Move that OGV file somewhere else on your Mac, like onto the desktop. Copy all the files from your MacOS tmnt download folder into the gamedata folder, and if it asks, overwrite the OGV file when prompted (this is different from the video). After the copy is complete, grab that blank OGV file from your Desktop and move it BACK into the tmntsr > gamedata > Content > Videos folder, replacing the one that’s in there. The reason we are doing this roundabout step is because the copy/paste mechanism in Mac is different than in Windows.
7. Move the tmntsr folder and the TMNTShreddersRevenge.sh file to the Ports folder of your SD card.
8. Boot up your device, then go into the Tools folder and find the command that says “delete ._ files” and run that program.
9. Go into the Ports folder and run the TMNT game. It will take upwards of 20 minutes to boot that first time, but afterwards it should work fine. If you get an error it’s likely because you don’t have the most recent version of PortMaster installed and you haven’t run the Owlboy etc. install script as mentioned in the written guide above.

ArkOS RG351P or RG351M instructions

Reddit user seouljah760 gave these helpful tips for those using ArkOS Final:

If you haven’t moved from ARKOS Final, or using Wummle’s ARKOS fork on 351P/M devices, you need to do a couple things to fix the install:

The TMNTShreddersRevenge.sh script needs a small change:

if [ -d "/opt/system/Tools/PortMaster/" ]; then
controlfolder="/opt/system/Tools/PortMaster"
elif [ -d "/opt/tools/PortMaster/" ]; then
controlfolder="/opt/tools/PortMaster"
elif [ -d "/roms/ports" ]; then
controlfolder="/roms/ports/PortMaster" << CHANGE to “/roms/tools/PortMaster”
elif [ -d "/roms2/ports" ]; then
controlfolder="/roms2/ports/PortMaster"
else
controlfolder="/storage/roms/ports/PortMaster"
fi

That directory does not exist in both ARKOS Final, and Wummle’s fork. I repeat, just having Wummle’s fork is not enough, the script needs an edit. The PortMaster and lib folders do not reside in the “ports” folder, it is in “tools” for the ARKOS default program locations.

Then you need to download:

https://github.com/PortsMaster/PortMaster-Hosting/releases/download/large-files/mono-6.12.0.122-aarch64.squashfs

Copy that into your roms partition in the tools/PortMaster/libs folder, pop the SD back in and run the game in the Ports category. You may or may not already have this, depending on what other ports you’ve installed previously. This script does not install it for you, as it does in other port scripts.

Add the intro video

By default, the intro video is removed from this port because it will make the game crash. However, community member MrFaust was able to figure out how to re-encode the video file so that it will work on your device. It may result in some slight glitching on certain devices (like the RK3326 devices) during video playback, but it’s still pretty cool to see. Here is the full walkthrough via PDF file.

Hardcode controller inputs

The TMNT port uses the default PortMaster controller database configuration, which is excellent for simple and streamlined gameplay, but will also result in needing to remap the controls in the options menu every time you start a new game. However, if you don’t mind making some quick text file adjustments, you can permanently adjust the controller inputs so that you don’t have to mess with it again. Thanks to discord user 4554551// for the fix. Here we go:

In the TMNT Shredders Revenge.sh file
replace
source $controlfolder/control.txt
with
source $controlfolder/control2.txt

Then go into Portmaster folder.
Make a copy of control.txt and rename it to control2.txt
Make a copy of gamecontrollerdb.txt and rename it to gamecontrollerdbturtles.txt

In control2.txt replace all instances of gamecontrollerdb.txt with gamecontrollerdbturtles.txt

Then open gamecontrollerdbturtles.txt and make your adjustments specific to the game. It may require some trial and error, but generally it will just require you to swap the A and B, plus X and Y input codes.

Notes

• The Anbernic RG552 will provide the best gaming experience. It looks amazing.
• The game will have swapped the A/B and X/Y buttons, but this is an easy fix within the Options menu. The controls won’t save though, so you will need to do this every time you start a new game.
• For RG351 devices, the game will run at 30fps and expect some slowdown in later stages.
• If using a 3:2 device (RG351P, RG351M, RGB10), I recommend going into the settings and changing the following:
  • Display Mode: Borderless Fullscreen
  • VSYNC: OFF
• If you are getting a “Failure performing first time setup, report this” error, see the note in the green box above.

Recent updates

As of September 2023, recent updates to ArkOS have broken compatibility with this port. A fix is explained here.

Changelog

11FEB2024
– updated the package file

15SEP2023
– added “recent updates” section to account for SDL updates for ArkOS

14JUL2022
– added intro video guide
– added hardcode controller adjustment section

12JUL2022
– added ArkOS Final instructions
– added MacOS instructions

11JUL2022
– published guide
– added mono package instructions

UPDATE: PortMaster has recently created a one-stop shop for all things related to running ports on retro handhelds. I recommend checking out their website and my most recent PortMaster guide instead of the guide below; I’m leaving this page up for posterity’s sake only. To get started, head over to their Games tab, find the game you want to run, and check out their instructions on that page. If you run into any issues, their discord server is also a great place to start.

Finally! A port of Celeste is now available on retro handhelds, so you can natively play this little platforming gem.

The installation process is a little trickier than other (PortMaster) solutions, due to the fact that the game requires closed-source libs that cannot be redistributed. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to add them yourself, which we’ll do in this guide. Note that you will also need to be running PortMaster on your device in order to install certain mono files which will allow sound to work properly.

Update (29MAY2022): This guide now works on RK3326 devices as well as the RG503, when running on a compatible firmware like ArkOS, JELOS, and AmberELEC! Below is a list of devices that should be able to run the game. Big thanks to developer JohnnyOnFlame for getting this port up and running; please consider buying him a coffee for his hard work.

Anbernic RG552 (AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG503 (JELOS, ArkOS, TheRA) *when available
Anbernic RG351P (AmberELEC, JELOS, ArkOS wuMMLe fork)
Anbernic RG351M (AmberELEC, JELOS, ArkOS wuMMLe fork)
Anbernic RG351V (ArkOS, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG351MP (ArkOS, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
PowKiddy RGB10 (ArkOS)
GameForce Chi (ArkOS)
RK2020 (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Advance (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Super (The RetroArena, RetroOZ)
PowKiddy RGB10 Max (The Retro Arena, RetroOZ)

For best results, make sure you are running the most recent version of ArkOS, AmberELEC, or JELOS, and the latest version of PortMaster. The Anbernic RG552 will provide the best gaming experience (see notes below).

Note that the “Final” version of ArkOS for the RG351P and RG351M will not support the game due to an outdated SDL2 library. However, wuMMLe’s fork of ArkOS may be updated in the future to support it. In the meantime, I recommend using JELOS or AmberELEC for those two devices instead, since they are in active development.

Purchase the itch.io version of Celeste

Due to DRM issues, the Steam version of Celeste will not work with this setup. Additionally, the game is not available on GOG, and the Humble version literally just gives you a Steam code (I found this out the hard way, after buying this game for the fourth time across all of my various gaming platforms!). Instead, you will need to get the itch.io version. If you have purchased either of these bundles previously, you will already have the game in your library.

Bundle for Ukraine
Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality

Once you have purchased the game, you will want to download the Linux version. The file will be named “celeste-linux.zip” and will be 867MB.

Compile the data files

Next, we will need to gather our Celeste Package and some necessary lib files. Note that you will need to have 7zip installed on your computer for this next step, and file extensions will need to be visible. You also need to install Portmaster onto your device if you haven’t already.

• You can grab the Celeste Package here, then save this somewhere on your computer.
• Extract the Celeste Package using 7zip, it should have a folder named “celeste” and another file named “Celeste.sh”. Place those somewhere handy, like your Desktop. If you are using this with muOS or KNULLI, replace the sh file in this package with the sh file linked in this Reddit post.
• Go to fmod.com and create a free account. Next, go to this page and download the Linux version of the fmod engine. The file will be named “fmodstudioapi20206linux.tar.gz” and will be 72MB.
• Right-click on the fmodstudioapi20206linux.tar.gz file and go to 7Zip > Extract Here. This will create a file named “fmodstudioapi20206linux.tar”; now, right-click on THAT file and select 7zip > Extract Here. In the pop-up window you will get an error about creating symlinks, you can ignore it and select “Close”. You will be left with a folder named fmodstudioapi20206linux.
• Inside that fmod folder, you need to grab these two files:
  • fmodstudioapi20206linux > api > core > lib > arm64 > libfmod.so.13.6 (1219KB in size)
  • fmodstudioapi20206linux > api > studio > lib > arm64 > libfmodstudio.so.13.6 (1201KB in size)
• Back in your “celeste” folder (the one you extracted from the Celeste Package), you should find a folder named “libs”. Inside that folder, place the two libfmod files. Next, change their file extensions from “.13.6” to just “.13”, so that they should look like the following:
  • libfmod.so.13
  • libfmodstudio.so.13

Add the Celeste game files

Finally, let’s add the Celeste game files to the appropriate folder.

• Open your “celeste” folder, then open the “gamedata” folder.
• Extract the celeste-linux.zip folder that you downloaded from Itch.io, and place the contents (including Celeste.exe) in the gamedata folder
• Insert the SD2 card from your RG552 (AmberELEC or JELOS), then open the ports folder. Inside, place the “celeste” folder and the Celeste.sh file.
• Eject the SD card and place it into your RG552. Boot the device up.
• On your device, open PortMaster and install the shell files for Timespinner or Owlboy; this will add a special mono file needed for Celeste. PortMaster is included in JELOS, but you will need to manually install it if using AmberELEC. Here is their page on it.
• Open the Celeste file and have fun. Note that the first time you boot the game it will parse through all of the data files one time, which will take a minute or two. After that it won’t happen again.

Notes

Here are some notes from the developer regarding RK3326 devices:

• Some effects were lowered in complexity or removed to get perf. to an acceptable level, those can be tweakdd via the new options menu.
• Performance on RK3326 dips into low 50s in boss fights, and has a few hard drops into the 25s in areas that aren’t mechanically complex, I’m nearly 60% done with Farewell and up until then performance seems more than great when it actually matters.
• If you are on ArkOS or RetroOZ and getting an error that prevents you from saving your game progress, download this updated mono package and place it somewhere on your SD2 card (like in your Ports folder). Then boot up the device, and go to Options > File Manager (or 351FILES for RetroOz), and move the mono file from your Ports folder to /opt/system/Tools/PortMaster/libs (and delete any mono file that’s already inside). This should fix the saving issue.

How it was achieved

Developer JohnnyOnFlame left a really fascinating list of work he did to get the game working on low-end (RK3326) devices, here is a summary if you are interested:

• A series of patches to create lower graphical setting profiles. https://github.com/JohnnyonFlame/FNAPatches/blob/master/CelestePatches.cs
• An utility to compress Celeste textures using ASTC4x4. https://github.com/JohnnyonFlame/celeste-repacker
• Patches to allow the game to load these textures . https://github.com/JohnnyonFlame/FNA3DHacks/commit/90e3b4c223af4f0d553856ae103d24d3b1b0986b and https://github.com/JohnnyonFlame/FNAPatches/blob/master/CelestePatches.cs#L396
• An FMOD 1.x wrapper was to allow compatability with FMOD 2.x (since FMOD 1.x isn’t available for ARM64) https://github.com/JohnnyonFlame/FNAPatches/blob/master/fmodstudio_fix.c

The indie classic game Timespinner has recently been ported to various handheld devices, thanks to community developers and the awesome PortMaster tool. Here are the systems that can run the game as of making this guide:

Anbernic RG351P (ArkOS final, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG351M (ArkOS final, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG351V (ArkOS, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG351MP (ArkOS, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG552 (AmberELEC, JELOS)
PowKiddy RGB10 (ArkOS)
GameForce Chi (ArkOS)
RK2020 (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Advance (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Super (The RetroArena, RetroOZ)
PowKiddy RGB10 Max (The Retro Arena, RetroOZ)

Setting up this game is similar to other ports such as Shovel Knight, Undertale, and Iconoclasts. Big thanks to developer JohnnyOnFlame for getting this port up and running; please consider buying him a coffee for his hard work.

Note that you will need to have PortMaster installed and updated on your device. Here is my PortMaster guide.

Download the Timespinner Linux files (Steam or Humble Store)

Purchase the Steam version of Timespinner from their store, and then make sure you have Steam installed on your computer (and that it is signed into your account). If you’d like, you could also buy the Humble Store version of the game, which will come with a code to redeem on Steam as well. This is a great option in case you can find it cheaper there.

• On your PC, press Win+R and type: “steam://open/console” (Steam will now show console command)
• In the Steam console, type: “download_depot 368620 368621” (just copy and paste this line into your command line)
• Once that download completes, type: “download_depot 368620 368624” (just copy and paste this line into your command line)
• After several minutes, it will show you the location of the game files on your PC. Be patient, some games take longer to download than others. Navigate to that location and grab those files!

For future reference, this method can be done when trying to download the Linux version of other games via Steam. The App ID and Depot ID of the game can be found on the site steamdb.info. When you search for a game on this site you’ll immediately see the App ID. Scroll down a bit and click on Depots. Here you’ll find all the available OS versions of the game and the corresponding Depot ID. The download command in the steam console is: “download_depot <appid> <depotid> <manifest_id>” — see the infographic above for an example. The manifest ID is not always required.

If you are using a Mac, the process is the same, other than how to open up the Steam console. To do so, open the Terminal app and type the following line of code:

/Applications/Steam.app/Contents/MacOS/steam_osx -console

If you are on Linux, you should be able to install the game onto your machine and then pull the game data files directly from there.

GOG-specific instructions

If you happen to already own the game via GOG.com, it’s theoretically easy to extract the Linux data files. Once you have purchased the game from GOG.com, it will show up in your library. Go into the Games section on your profile, and click the arrow at the bottom-right of your game, and select “View Downloads”. Change the system to Linux, and then click on the link under “Download Game Installers”. 

The downloaded file will be in .sh format. All you have to do is change the file extension from .sh to .gz, and then open it with 7zip. Note that I haven’t personally tested this method, but the method generally works in this way.

UPDATE: PortMaster has recently created a one-stop shop for all things related to running ports on retro handhelds. I recommend checking out their website and my most recent PortMaster guide instead of the guide below; I’m leaving this page up for posterity’s sake only. To get started, head over to their Games tab, find the game you want to run, and check out their instructions on that page. If you run into any issues, their discord server is also a great place to start.

The beloved farming simulator Stardew Valley has now been ported to RK3326 devices such as the Anbernic RG351 series, PowKiddy RGB10 series, ODROID Go Advance/Super, and the GameForce Chi. This game also works on other devices that work with PortMaster, such as the Anbernic RG552, RG353P, and RG503.

Setting up this game is similar to other ports such as Shovel Knight, Undertale, and Iconoclasts. Mad props to developer JohnnyOnFlame for getting this port running; please consider buying him a coffee for his hard work.

IMPORTANT NOTE: since making my installation video below, the game has been updated which affects that installation. From now on, it’s important to download the “Compatibility” version of the game in order for the process to work. The written instructions below will walk you through that process.

Download the Stardew Valley Linux files (Steam or Humble Store)

Purchase the Steam version of Stardew Valley from their store, and then make sure you have Steam installed on your computer (and that it is signed into your account). If you’d like, you could also buy the Humble Store version of the game, which will come with a code to redeem on Steam as well. This is a great option in case you can find it cheaper there.

• On your PC, press Win+R and type: “steam://open/console” (Steam will now show console command)
• In the Steam console, type: “download_depot 413150 413153 8322187383152776702” (just copy and paste this line into your command line)
• After several minutes, it will show you the location of the game files on your PC. Be patient, some games take longer to download than others. Navigate to that location and grab those files!

For future reference, this method can be done when trying to download the Linux version of other games via Steam. The App ID and Depot ID of the game can be found on the site steamdb.info. When you search for a game on this site you’ll immediately see the App ID. Scroll down a bit and click on Depots. Here you’ll find all the available OS versions of the game and the corresponding Depot ID. The download command in the steam console is: “download_depot <appid> <depotid> <manifest_id>” — see the infographic above for an example. The manifest ID is not always required, but is for this particular Stardew Valley install.

If you are using a Mac, the process is the same, other than how to open up the Steam console. To do so, open the Terminal app and type the following line of code:

/Applications/Steam.app/Contents/MacOS/steam_osx -console

If you are on Linux, here is how to install the compatibility version of Stardew Valley via Steam. To start, you will need to install the game onto your computer.

• In your Steam library, right click “Stardew Valley”
• Select “Properties”
• Click on the “Betas” tab
• Click on the drop down menu, and select “Compatibility”
• Your game should receive an update
• You should now be able to use the Stardew Valley files found within the game’s installation folder

Download the Stardew Valley Linux files (GOG)

As of right now, the GOG version has only been confirmed to work on Linux computers, and so therefore Windows PC installs may not work. Purchase the GOG version of Stardew Valley from their store, and then install the game onto your computer.

• In your games list, right click “Stardew Valley”
• Hover over “Manage Installation” and select “Configure”
• Click the “Beta Channels” drop down menu and select “Compatability”
• Your game should receive an update
• You should now be able to use the Stardew Valley files found within the game’s installation folder

PortMaster instructions

• Make sure that you have PortMaster installed on your device. It will come with ArkOS and JELOS by default, but if you are using AmberELEC, you will need to manually install it. Also be sure to open PortMaster while connected to the internet; if prompted to update PortMaster, follow those instructions.
• Within PortMaster, install the Stardew Valley package files.
• Remove the SD card from your device, and plug it into your PC. Inside the Ports > Stardew Valley > gamedata folder, move over all of the game files from your Linux (Compatibility) version.
• Put the SD card back into your device, navigate to the Ports section, and boot up the game
• Have fun

Once you have the game up and running, it is recommended you go into the Settings and adjust the UI and graphics settings to better match the device you are using. No need to squint if you don’t have to!

Changelog

13JUL2022
– Stardew Valley is now in PortMaster, so the instructions now reflect that update.

20JAN2022
– updated guide with instructions on how to acquire the Compatibility version files

30NOV2021
– published guide

Today we’re going to set up the indie game Iconoclasts to work on RK3326-powered retro handheld devices such as the RG351MP and the RG351V, as well as the RG552, RG503, and RG353P devices running PortMaster-friendly custom firmware. This port is available thanks to the PortMaster platform, which is available on the ArkOS, Retro Arena, JELOS, and AmberELEC firmwares.

Some notes

• The video guide shows you how to set up the device on ArkOS, but the process will be the same for the other firmwares.
• This game isn’t meant to play on low-resolution screens, and so the text is mostly illegible on 480×320 displays like on the RG351P, RG351M, and RGB10. In general, I would recommend this game for the RG351MP, RG351V, and the Chi GameForce.
• As of making this video, the port doesn’t work on RetroOZ, so there is no option to play this on the RGB10 Max or ODROID Go Super.

Setup instructions

• Purchase Iconoclasts via Steam or the Humble Store. Be on the lookout for sales! The simplest way to set this up is to buy it via the Humble Store, since that will allow you to download the Linux version directly and it will also generate a Steam redemption code so that you can use the game on that platform, too. However, if you purchase it directly from Steam, it’s simple to grab the Linux version (see the box below!).

How to download the Linux version of Iconoclasts via Steam on PC

– On your PC, press Win+R and type: “steam://open/console” (Steam will now show console command)
– In the Steam console, type: “download_depot 393520 393524”
– After a minute or two, it will show you the location of the game files on your PC. Navigate to that location and grab those files!

For future reference, this method can be done when trying to download the Linux version of other games via Steam. The App ID and Depot ID of the game can be found on the site steamdb.info. When you search for a game on this site you’ll immediately see the App ID. Scroll down a bit and click on Depots. Here you’ll find all the available OS versions of the game and the corresponding Depot ID. The download command in the steam console is: “download_depot <appid> <depotid>”

If you are using a Mac computer, the process is the same, other than how to open up the Steam console. To do so, open the Terminal app and type the following line of code:

/Applications/Steam.app/Contents/MacOS/steam_osx -console

• Once you have the Linux version of the game downloaded, let’s set up your device. You’ll want to have PortMaster installed on your device, and be sure to update it to the latest version.
• Within PortMaster, install the Iconoclasts backend files.
• Remove the SD card from your device, and plug it into your PC. Inside the Ports > Iconoclasts > gamedata folder, move over all of the Iconoclasts game files from your Linux version.
• Put the SD card back into your device, navigate to the Ports section, and boot up the game
• Have fun

Note: if your game is missing music, we’ve recently learned that it’s because the music files don’t properly download from the Steam Console method above. To get the music files working, install the Windows-based version to your PC, and then navigate to the game file directory at Local Disk > Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > Iconoclasts > data and then add the “music” folder to the Ports > Iconoclasts > gamedata > data folder on the SD card.

UPDATE: PortMaster has recently created a one-stop shop for all things related to running ports on retro handhelds. I recommend checking out their website and my most recent PortMaster guide instead of the guide below; I’m leaving this page up for posterity’s sake only. To get started, head over to their Games tab, find the game you want to run, and check out their instructions on that page. If you run into any issues, their discord server is also a great place to start.

PortMaster is a new tool developed by ChristianHaitian (ArkOS developer) and a few other community members, which allows you to easily install various ports on Ubuntu-based operating systems running on the RK3326 chipset, such as ArkOS, RetroOZ, and The Retro Arena (TheRA). It also works for AmberELEC (formerly known as 351ELEC) and JELOS too! PortMaster support currently includes the following devices:

Anbernic RG351P (ArkOS final, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG351M (ArkOS final, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG351V (ArkOS, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG351MP (ArkOS, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG552 (AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG503 (JELOS, ArkOS)
Anbernic RG353P (JELOS, TheRA)
PowKiddy RGB10 (ArkOS) and by extension the RGB10S and RGB20S
GameForce Chi (ArkOS)
RK2020 (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Advance (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Super (The RetroArena, RetroOZ)
PowKiddy RGB10 Max and Max 2 (RetroOZ)

So in this guide I’ll walk you through how to use this simple tool to get some of your favorite ports up and running on your device. Note that your device will need to be connected to the Internet for this to work!

Installation

If using ArkOS on currently supported devices (Anbernic RG351V, GameForce Chi, PowKiddy RGB10, RK2020, OGA), RetroOZ, or JELOS, you can simply update your version of the firmware via the online update tool within the OPTIONS menu. You will likely find PortMaster in the OPTIONS > TOOLS section, or the Ports section. For AmberELEC, check out this page for a detailed installation procedure and compatibility list. If you are using JELOS or The Retro Arena, you will find PortMaster in the TOOLS section (provided you are using the latest builds).

If using ArkOS Final on the RG351P or RG351M, PortMaster is easy to manually install:

• Head over to this page and download these three files: PortMaster.sh, oga_controls, and version. Insert your SD card into your PC, then in the ROMS/tools folder, create a folder named PortMaster and add those three files.
• Note that later ports aren’t supported on ArkOS Final, so if you want the most seamless experience for your RG351P or RG351M device, I recommend trying out AmberELEC or JELOS.
• For ArkOS Final and TheRA, go into the OPTIONS section, then TOOLS, and you should find PortMaster there.

If you don’t want to bother with PortMaster and would like to manually install each port, head over to this page, find the zip you want, download and unzip and place the contents into your ROMS/ports folder.

Note that The Retro Arena and RetroOZ firmwares still have some limited functionality, so some ports (like Freedom Planet) are not yet working.

Adding game assets

Many of these ports (such as Cave Story, Maldita Castilla, and Spelunky) will simply work as soon as you install them. Others will require additional licensed data files in order to boot. For those games, check out the comprehensive ArkOS wiki page regarding Ports information.

Updating PortMaster

To update PortMaster, simply open the program while connected to WiFi. If there is an update available, it will prompt you for an update.

Updating ports

Some of these port packages may get updated over time, and PortMaster is future-proof in that regard. Simply update PortMaster to its latest version (you’ll be prompted when first booting the app up), and then reinstall the port onto your device. In most cases, it will not overwrite the licensed game data files you already added, or your save games, unless there was an update to the port backend that impacted previous saves (which should be relatively rare).

Contributing to PortMaster

If you are interested in contributing a port to the platform, here is more information from the ArkOS Wiki page.

Changelog

10JUL2022
– updated links and supported device list

04MAY2022
– updated link to AmberELEC

20APR2022
– updated devices and supporting firmwares

22NOV2021
– added 351ELEC section

22SEP2021
– added 351ELEC installation instructions

21SEP2021
– published guide

UPDATE: PortMaster has recently created a one-stop shop for all things related to running ports on retro handhelds. I recommend checking out their website and my most recent PortMaster guide instead of the guide below; I’m leaving this page up for posterity’s sake only. To get started, head over to their Games tab, find the game you want to run, and check out their instructions on that page. If you run into any issues, their discord server is also a great place to start.

Streets of Rage Remake is a beloved game among emulation and homebrew fans. First released in 2011 after eight years of development, this fan-made game mashes together the first three Streets of Rage games and adds in over 100 stages, 15+ playable characters, and an epic soundtrack. Sadly, the game was pulled down from official release at the request of SEGA, but has remained available on various websites over the years.

Porting SoRR to a device is a right of passage for any true retro handheld, so today let’s walk through how to play this game on RK3326 devices running PortMaster. The following devices will work:

Anbernic RG351P (ArkOS final, TheRA, 351ELEC)
Anbernic RG351M (ArkOS final, TheRA, 351ELEC)
Anbernic RG351V (ArkOS, TheRA, 351ELEC)
Anbernic RG351MP (ArkOS, TheRA, 351ELEC)
PowKiddy RGB10 (ArkOS)
GameForce Chi (ArkOS)
RK2020 (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Advance (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Super (The RetroArena, RetroOZ)
PowKiddy RGB10 Max (The Retro Arena, RetroOZ)

Note that the video below will show you how to install the port using specific files. This process has been simplified significantly, and you can now set everything up via PortMaster.

Installation instructions

For this installation, you will need to be running PortMaster on your device. Here is a guide to get it up and running:

• After you have PortMaster installed, launch the platform and install the Streets of Rage Remake files.
• Use the google machine to find the v5.2 version of SoRR. The legality of this game is questionable so I cannot provide a direct link, but it is easy to find if you look in a few archives online. Typically the file size will be around 320MB, and either the Windows or Linux/debian versions of the game will work.
• Once you have the game, extract the following file contents to roms/ports/sorr on the SD card:
  • /mod folder
  • /palettes folder
  • SorR.dat file
• Once you have moved the files over, eject the SD card and re-insert into your device. Navigate to the Ports section and launch the game.
• Enjoy the heck out of this little beat-em-up masterpiece.

Important notes from the developer

• DO NOT DELETE THE EXISTING SAVEGAME FOLDER OR THE SAVEGAME.SOR FILE IN IT! The save game file is what will set the correct controls needed.
• Do not set the controls to anything but keyboard or the port will not function correctly. Controls will spaz.
• You can change the assigned keyboard values to a preferred key assignment of your choice using the dpad and action buttons.
• You can exit the port at anytime by holding the select key for 1 second and pressing start or use the Select key when at the SorR main menu.

Changelog

30NOV2021
– updated guide to accommodate PortMaster

08AUG2021
– published guide

UPDATE: PortMaster has recently created a one-stop shop for all things related to running ports on retro handhelds. I recommend checking out their website and my most recent PortMaster guide instead of the guide below; I’m leaving this page up for posterity’s sake only. To get started, head over to their Games tab, find the game you want to run, and check out their instructions on that page. If you run into any issues, their discord server is also a great place to start.

Let’s figure out how to play Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove on various retro handheld devices. We will primarily focus the install guide on the RG351P and RG351M, but additional instructions for other RK3326 devices are also found below.

Anbernic RG351P (ArkOS final, TheRA, 351ELEC)
Anbernic RG351M (ArkOS final, TheRA, 351ELEC)
Anbernic RG351V (ArkOS, TheRA, 351ELEC)
Anbernic RG351MP (ArkOS, TheRA, 351ELEC)
PowKiddy RGB10 (ArkOS)
GameForce Chi (ArkOS)
RK2020 (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Advance (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Super (The RetroArena, RetroOZ)
PowKiddy RGB10 Max (The Retro Arena, RetroOZ)

I’ve been playing this game for a few days now and I really love it. It reminds me of a cross between the Duck Tales and Mega Man NES games, with some lite RPG elements. Fair warning, the games are pretty difficult, but there are cheat codes available if that’s your thing.

Big shoutout to developer JohnnyonFlame for getting this port up and running on these devices. He’s also the developer who made all of those awesome Super Mario 64 ports possible! If you have the means to do so, please consider donating a coffee to show your support for his work.

Table of Contents
Purchase and download the game
GOG-specific instructions
Steam-specific instructions
Load the game onto your device
A note on controls
Changelog

Purchase and download the game

In order to play Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, you will need the game files from the Linux version of this game. I recommend buying the game from the Humble Store, since the games will already be in the appropriate file system. Be sure to watch for sales, since the MSRP for this game ($40) is pretty steep. However, bear in mind that by purchasing this game, you are getting four games in one, and you can also play it on your home PC or Mac, too.

If you already own the game via GOG.com or Steam, see the instructions below on how to extract the game files.

Once you have purchased the game, download the Linux version onto your computer. Extract the .tar file twice using 7Zip (or Archive Utility if you are on a Mac), and you should have a folder named and organized as such:

shovelknight
> 64 (folder)
> 32 (folder)
> data (folder)
> shovelknight (binary file)
> softwarelicense.txt

GOG-specific instructions

If you happen to already own the game via GOG.com, it’s easy to extract the Linux data files. Once you have purchased the game from GOG.com, it will show up in your library. Go into the Games section on your profile, and click the arrow at the bottom-right of your Shovel Knight game, and select “View Downloads”. Change the system to Linux, and then click on the link under “Download Game Installers”. 

The downloaded file will be in .sh format. All you have to do is change the file extension from .sh to .gz, and then open it with 7zip. Inside you will find all of the game data files you need, organized as such:

shovelknight
> 64 (folder)
> 32 (folder)
> data (folder)
> shovelknight (binary file)
> softwarelicense.txt

Steam-specific instructions

If you happen to already own the game via Steam, here are instructions on how to download the Linux version of Shovel Knight via a Windows PC. Thanks to dhimdi and yalsi86 on Reddit for figuring out the method:

• Press Win+R and open “steam://open/console” (Steam will now show console command)
• Enter “download_depot 250760 250764” (It will eventually show download location)
  You will end up with having: 32 (folder), 64 (folder), data (folder)
• You don’t need the shovelknight (binary) and softwarelicense.txt in the main folder, the Steam Linux version is already set.

Note: The game will prompt you that it doesn’t find the Steam client (duh!) each time you go back to the main menu of the game.. a bit annoying!

This method can be done when trying to download the Linux version of other games via Steam. The App ID and Depot ID of the game can be found on the site steamdb.info. When you search for a game on this site you’ll immediately see the App ID. Scroll down a bit and click on Depots. Here you’ll find all the available OS versions of the game and the corresponding Depot ID. The download command in the steam console is: download_depot <appid> <depotid>

Load the game onto your device

Update: as of 30NOV 2021, Shovel Knight is working via PortMaster, which simplifies the experience significantly.

Here are the instructions from PortMaster to get the game up and running. In short, install PortMaster, then move the shovelknight game data files into the shovelknight/gamedata folder.

A note on controls

In my testing, the most important part for me was to confirm that all buttons were registering on the various devices. That being said, some of the buttons may not correspond to what you prefer on your specific device. Luckily, the Shovel Knight options menu lets you remap the entire controller to your liking, so it just takes a few moments to set up the controls on your device.

ODROID Go Super and RGB10 Max instructions (RetroOZ)

You can play this game in stunning widescreen with the ODROID Go Super running the latest (0.45b and higher) version of RetroOZ.

The .045b version will come with everything you need other than the shovelknight data file itself. So to install, just copy the shovelknight folder from your purchased Linux version of the game into the “ports” folder on your RetroOZ SD card. Just like magic, it works! This should work for the RGB10 Max as well, as long as it’s running the correct version of RetroOZ.

Changelog

30NOV2021
– changed to PortMaster instructions

13MAY2021
– added link to cheats database
– added GOG instructions

12MAY2021
– added OGS and RGB10 Max instructions

10MAY2021
– added Steam instructions
– updated zip file with licenses
– added info about ArkOS pre-load on RG351V

09MAY2021
– published guide

UPDATE: PortMaster has recently created a one-stop shop for all things related to running ports on retro handhelds. I recommend checking out their website and my most recent PortMaster guide instead of the guide below; I’m leaving this page up for posterity’s sake only. To get started, head over to their Games tab, find the game you want to run, and check out their instructions on that page. If you run into any issues, their discord server is also a great place to start.

Today we’re going to install and play Undertale on RK33265-based retro handheld devices thanks to the PortMaster app. The game can run on the following devices:

Anbernic RG351P (ArkOS final, TheRA, 351ELEC)
Anbernic RG351M (ArkOS final, TheRA, 351ELEC)
Anbernic RG351V (ArkOS, TheRA, 351ELEC)
Anbernic RG351MP (ArkOS, TheRA, 351ELEC)
PowKiddy RGB10 (ArkOS)
GameForce Chi (ArkOS)
RK2020 (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Advance (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Super (The RetroArena, RetroOZ)
PowKiddy RGB10 Max (The Retro Arena, RetroOZ)

The video below is a bit outdated, since it uses the older AnberPorts app and requires you to extract Linux files from a Windows PC. See below for the “simple conversion process” and the PortMaster solution instead.

Purchase and download Undertale

In order to run Undertale on your favorite retro device, you need to have the retail game assets. I recommend purchasing the game from GOG.com, where you can easily grab the Linux installer file, which has the exact assets you need. You cannot extract the correct assets from the PC or Mac versions of the game, you need the Linux version. I have also been told that the Humble Store version of the game is already pre-extracted, which is even easier.

Once you have purchased the game from GOG.com, it will show up in your library. Go into the Games section on your profile, and click the arrow at the bottom-right of your Undertale game, and select “View Downloads”. Change the system to Linux, and then click on the link under “Download Game Installers”. It will be a 128MB file in .sh format. Save that onto your PC.

Simple GOG conversion process

In the video above (and the instructions below), I show you how to install the Linux version of the game on your Windows PC so that you can extract the assets from the GOG version of the game. Turns out that the process is even easier. Thanks to Christian_Haitian (ArkOS developer) for turning me on to this fix.

• Take the Linux game install file from GOG.com (the one in .sh format that is 128MB), and change the file extension from .sh to .gz.
• Next, use 7zip to open the file, and grab the files.

Steam download process

You can also use Steam copies of Undertale to grab the game, using this method:

– On your PC, press Win+R and type: “steam://open/console” (Steam will now show console command)
– In the Steam console, type: “download_depot 391540 391544”
– After several minutes, it will show you the location of the game files on your PC. Be patient, some games take longer to download than others. Navigate to that location and grab those files!

For future reference, this method can be done when trying to download the Linux version of other games via Steam. The App ID and Depot ID of the game can be found on the site steamdb.info. When you search for a game on this site you’ll immediately see the App ID. Scroll down a bit and click on Depots. Here you’ll find all the available OS versions of the game and the corresponding Depot ID. The download command in the steam console is: “download_depot <appid> <depotid>”

If you are using a Mac computer, the process is the same, other than how to open up the Steam console. To do so, open the Terminal app and type the following line of code:

/Applications/Steam.app/Contents/MacOS/steam_osx -console

Install PortMaster and prep the Undertale port

In order to get this game working, you will need to be running PortMaster. Here is my guide to get it up and running:

And here are the instructions to install the game via PortMaster. Bottom line: once you have the PortMaster files installed for Undertale, move the Linux game files into the ports/undertale/assets folder.

Deltarune Beta Port

If you want to try out a beta port of Deltarune, here is the guide for it. It’s a bit outdated and so it may not work on every device, but it’s free and worth a shot.

Install Debian for Windows 10 (old version)

This is the old method to extract the GOG Linux files from a Windows PC, and it still works, and it’s a little fun. But at this point, it’s unnecessary thanks to the process highlighted above. If you still want to learn how to install Linux on your Windows PC and “install” a Linux game on your PC, here you go:

On your PC, go to the Microsoft Store, and then search for “Debian“. Install this free app, and then try and launch it. It will tell you that you need a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Head to this page, and in the “Manual Installation Steps” section, you’ll see the following code:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Go ahead and copy this code. Next, in your Windows Start Menu, search for the word “Powershell” and when the app pops up, right-click on it and select “Run as Administrator” and confirm the prompts. Inside PowerShell, paste that code above, and hit Enter. Once that is done, close out your windows and restart your PC.

Once you’ve rebooted, start up Debian again, and this time it will launch and install. It will prompt you to create a username and password.

Extract the Undertale assets

Open up the folder where you installed the Linux version of Undertale (the 128mb .sh file), and keep that window open and handy. Open up Debian and type the following:

/mnt/c/

Next, grab that .sh file and drag it into the Debian window. It will populate the rest of the code with the location of the .sh file, but you need to make some alterations to it. Change all of the backslashes to forward slashes, and remove the “C:/” from the code. Your final code will look something like this (assuming you put the .sh file in a folder named “undertale” on your Desktop):

/mnt/c/Users/(username)/Desktop/undertale/undertale_en_1_08_18328.sh

Hit Enter and you’ll be greeted by the user license. You will need to confirm “Y” that you want to see 21 more lines, just keep hitting Y and Enter until you’re at the bottom, when it asks you to accept the license. Next it will ask you to confirm the destination. Just press “1” and Enter. It will then ask you to create shortcuts, press “1” and Enter and then “2” and Enter to deselect these. Finally, press Enter to finish the install.

Now you need to find the installed files so you can grab those assets. Note that you will need to enable hidden files in order to find the “AppData” folder. Here is the file path of your assets:

This PC / Local Disk / Users / (username) / AppData / Local / Packages / TheDebianProject… / LocalState / rootfs / home / user / GOG Games / Undertale / game

Inside that folder you will find an “assets” folder and a “runner” file. Copy these files over to the ports/Undertale folder on your device’s SD card (within the EASYROMS or GAMES partition).

Changelog

13JUL2022
– added Deltarune beta port link

30NOV2021
– re-wrote installation to accommodate new PortMaster instructions

13MAY2021
– added simple conversion process for Linux file

22MAR2021
– published guide
– added notes about Humble Store and Windows extract based on feedback