Which integrations are available for this server?

Provides tools for interacting with RetroArch through its Network Control Interface and Network RetroPad protocols, enabling memory read/write, save state management, screenshots, emulator control (pause, frame advance, reset), and gamepad input.

How do I use mcp-retroarch?

1. Click on "Install Server". 2. Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state. 3. In the chat, type @ followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@mcp-retroarch Save the current state to slot 2" That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed. Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.

mcp-retroarch

by pythoninthegrass

Overview Schema Related Servers Score Discussions

Python

Hybrid

mcp-retroarch

MCP server for RetroArch — memory r/w, save states, screenshots, pause/frame-advance/reset via the Network Control Interface, plus gamepad input via the Network RetroPad protocol (UDP).

Inspired by dmang-dev/mcp-retroarch. Rewritten in Python to eliminate the npm git-install reliability issues that plagued the original TypeScript distribution (npm install -g github:... produces a broken symlink on most systems due to a known npm bug). uv tool install git+... handles this correctly.

Requirements

Python 3.13
RetroArch with:
- Network Commands enabled for NCI tools (memory, save states, screenshots, emulator control)
- Network Gamepad enabled for input tools

Related MCP server: mcp-retroarch

Install

# Install as a persistent uv tool (recommended)
uv tool install git+https://github.com/pythoninthegrass/mcp-retroarch

# Or run ephemerally without installing
uvx --from git+https://github.com/pythoninthegrass/mcp-retroarch mcp-retroarch

RetroArch configuration

Network Commands (NCI — required for most tools)

In retroarch.cfg or via Settings → Network → Network Commands:

network_cmd_enable = "true"
network_cmd_port = "55355"

Network Gamepad (required for input tools)

In retroarch.cfg or via Settings → Input → Network Gamepad:

network_remote_enable = "true"
network_remote_base_port = "55400"

# Enable per player (p1 through p16)
network_remote_enable_user_p1 = "true"

Client configuration

Claude Desktop

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "retroarch": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "--from",
        "git+https://github.com/pythoninthegrass/mcp-retroarch",
        "mcp-retroarch"
      ]
    }
  }
}

If installed via uv tool install:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "retroarch": {
      "command": "mcp-retroarch"
    }
  }
}

Environment variables

Variable	Default	Description
`RETROARCH_HOST`	`127.0.0.1`	RetroArch host for both NCI and RetroPad
`RETROARCH_PORT`	`55355`	NCI UDP port (`network_cmd_port`)
`RETROARCH_RETROPAD_HOST`	`$RETROARCH_HOST`	Override host for Network Gamepad only
`RETROARCH_RETROPAD_BASE_PORT`	`55400`	Base port for Network Gamepad (`network_remote_base_port`); player N listens at base + N

Tools

Connectivity & introspection

Tool	Description
`retroarch_ping`	Verify NCI connectivity; returns RetroArch version
`retroarch_get_status`	Report playing/paused state, loaded system, game, and CRC32
`retroarch_get_config`	Read a single RetroArch config parameter by name

Memory

Tool	Description
`retroarch_read_memory`	Read bytes via the libretro system memory map (preferred)
`retroarch_read_ram`	Read bytes via the CHEEVOS address space (fallback)
`retroarch_write_memory`	Write bytes via the libretro system memory map
`retroarch_write_ram`	Write bytes via the CHEEVOS address space (no acknowledgement)

Emulator control

Tool	Description
`retroarch_pause_toggle`	Toggle pause/unpause
`retroarch_frame_advance`	Step one frame (paused only)
`retroarch_reset`	Soft-reset the loaded game
`retroarch_screenshot`	Save a screenshot to RetroArch's screenshot directory
`retroarch_show_message`	Display an OSD notification on the RetroArch window

Save states

Tool	Description
`retroarch_save_state_current`	Save to currently-selected slot
`retroarch_load_state_current`	Load from currently-selected slot
`retroarch_load_state_slot`	Load from an explicit slot number (does not change the current-slot pointer)
`retroarch_state_slot_plus`	Increment current slot pointer
`retroarch_state_slot_minus`	Decrement current slot pointer

Gamepad input (Network RetroPad)

Tool	Description
`retroarch_input_press`	Latch one or more buttons down
`retroarch_input_release`	Release one or more buttons
`retroarch_input_release_all`	Zero all buttons and analog sticks in one packet
`retroarch_input_set_analog`	Set an analog stick's X/Y position
`retroarch_input_tap`	Press, hold for a duration, then release (everyday input)

Valid RetroPad button names: b, y, select, start, up, down, left, right, a, x, l, r, l2, r2, l3, r3.

On PlayStation cores: b=Cross, a=Circle, y=Square, x=Triangle.

See docs/RECIPES.md for usage patterns.

Development

# Install with dev dependencies
uv sync

# Run tests
uv run pytest

# Format and lint
uv run ruff format .
uv run ruff check .

Docker

docker build -t mcp-retroarch .
docker run --rm -i \
  -e RETROARCH_HOST=host.docker.internal \
  mcp-retroarch

License

MIT — see LICENSE.

Install Server

license - permissive license

quality

maintenance

How are these scores calculated?

Maintenance

–Maintainers

–Response time

–Release cycle

–Releases (12mo)

Commit activity

Resources

GitHub Repository

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mcp-retroarch

Requirements

Install

RetroArch configuration

Network Commands (NCI — required for most tools)

Network Gamepad (required for input tools)

Client configuration

Claude Desktop

Environment variables

Tools

Connectivity & introspection

Memory

Emulator control

Save states

Gamepad input (Network RetroPad)

Development

Docker

License

Maintenance

Resources

Looking for Admin?

Tools

Related MCP Servers

mcp-pine

mcp-retroarch

mcp-mgba

mcp-bizhawk

Related MCP Connectors

Latest Blog Posts

MCP directory API