# RetroAchievements

Provenance integrates with [RetroAchievements](https://retroachievements.org/) — a community-driven project that adds achievement systems to retro games. Earn badges, track progress, and compete on leaderboards across thousands of classic titles.

***

## Overview

RetroAchievements works by monitoring game memory for specific conditions (e.g., "defeat boss X without taking damage"). When a condition is met, you earn an achievement — just like modern console achievements.

**What you get:**

* Achievements and badges for thousands of retro games
* Progress tracking across your entire retro library
* Leaderboards and community rankings
* Mastery awards for 100% completion

{% hint style="info" %}
RetroAchievements is available for **RetroArch-based cores only**. Not all systems or games have achievement sets — check [retroachievements.org](https://retroachievements.org/) for the full game list.
{% endhint %}

***

## Setup

### 1. Create a RetroAchievements Account

1. Visit [retroachievements.org](https://retroachievements.org/)
2. Click **Register** and create a free account
3. Note your **username** and **password**

### 2. Log In from Provenance

1. Open Provenance → **Settings**
2. Scroll to **RetroAchievements**
3. Enter your **username** and **password**
4. Tap **Log In**
5. A confirmation appears when you're connected

### 3. Play!

Launch any supported game using a RetroArch-based core. Achievements trigger automatically during gameplay — no additional setup needed per game.

***

## Supported Systems

RetroAchievements are available for these systems (when using RetroArch-based cores):

| System                    | Achievement Sets Available |
| ------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| NES / Famicom             | 1,500+ games               |
| SNES / Super Famicom      | 1,200+ games               |
| Game Boy                  | 600+ games                 |
| Game Boy Color            | 400+ games                 |
| Game Boy Advance          | 900+ games                 |
| Nintendo 64               | 300+ games                 |
| Nintendo DS               | 200+ games                 |
| Genesis / Mega Drive      | 700+ games                 |
| Master System             | 200+ games                 |
| Game Gear                 | 100+ games                 |
| Sega CD                   | 50+ games                  |
| Sega Saturn               | 50+ games                  |
| PlayStation               | 900+ games                 |
| PSP                       | 300+ games                 |
| Atari 2600                | 100+ games                 |
| Atari 7800                | 50+ games                  |
| Atari Lynx                | 30+ games                  |
| PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 | 100+ games                 |
| Neo Geo Pocket            | 30+ games                  |
| WonderSwan                | 20+ games                  |

**Total:** 7,000+ games with achievement support across all systems.

{% hint style="info" %}
Achievement counts are approximate and growing — the RetroAchievements community actively creates new achievement sets.
{% endhint %}

***

## How Achievements Work

### During Gameplay

* Achievements **pop up automatically** when conditions are met
* No need to pause or check manually
* Progress towards achievements can be tracked on the RetroAchievements website

### Hardcore Mode

RetroAchievements offers two modes:

| Mode         | Save States | Cheats   | Fast Forward | Leaderboards |
| ------------ | ----------- | -------- | ------------ | ------------ |
| **Softcore** | Allowed     | Allowed  | Allowed      | No           |
| **Hardcore** | Disabled    | Disabled | Disabled     | Yes          |

**Hardcore mode** proves you earned achievements legitimately — no save-scumming or cheating. It also enables leaderboard submissions.

### Checking Your Progress

* **In-app:** Achievements display during gameplay
* **Online:** Visit your profile at `retroachievements.org/user/[YourUsername]`
* **Stats:** Track completion percentage, points earned, and rankings

***

## Tips

* **Check game compatibility first** — Search your game at [retroachievements.org](https://retroachievements.org/) to see if it has achievements
* **Use the correct ROM** — Achievements are tied to specific ROM versions (usually No-Intro verified dumps). Hacked, translated, or bad dump ROMs may not trigger achievements
* **Hardcore for competition** — Enable Hardcore mode if you want to appear on leaderboards
* **One game at a time** — Achievement tracking works for the currently active game

***

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary><strong>Achievements not triggering</strong></summary>

* Verify you're logged in (Settings → RetroAchievements)
* Check that you're using a **RetroArch-based core** — native cores don't support RetroAchievements
* Verify your ROM is the correct version — achievements require specific ROM dumps (usually No-Intro). Check the game's page on retroachievements.org for supported hashes
* Make sure the game actually has an achievement set

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Can't log in</strong></summary>

* Double-check your username and password at [retroachievements.org](https://retroachievements.org/) first
* Ensure you have an internet connection
* Try logging out and back in from Settings → RetroAchievements

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Achievements not available for my game</strong></summary>

Not all games have achievement sets. The RetroAchievements community creates them over time. You can:

* Check if someone is working on a set at [retroachievements.org](https://retroachievements.org/)
* Request a set on the RetroAchievements forums
* Learn to create achievement sets yourself (the community welcomes new developers!)

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Hardcore mode is too restrictive</strong></summary>

You can disable Hardcore mode in the RetroArch settings (pause menu → RetroArch Settings → Achievements). Softcore mode lets you use save states and fast forward while still earning achievements (but no leaderboards).

</details>

***

## See Also

* [Game Saves](/using-provenance/saves.md) — Battery saves and save states
* [Performance Optimization](/platforms-and-performance/performance-optimization.md) — Ensure smooth gameplay for achievement hunting
* [Cheats](/using-provenance/cheats.md) — Note: cheats disable Hardcore mode achievements

***

{% hint style="info" %}
Need help? Ask on [Discord](https://discord.gg/provenance) or check the [RetroAchievements Discord](https://discord.gg/retroachievements).
{% endhint %}


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