My Game Wont Play in LaunchBox — Step by Step Troubleshooting (and How It All Works)

Written By Brian Faeran

Last updated 6 months ago

Sometimes a game refuses to launch in LaunchBox, and it can be tricky to know where the problem actually is. Is the ROM missing? Is the emulator not set up correctly? Or is it just a configuration mismatch?

This guide walks you through each part of the chain, from ROM location to emulator configuration, so you can fix your problem and understand how LaunchBox connects it all together.

Step 1: Check the Games ROM Path

LaunchBox needs to know where your ROM file is. If that path is wrong or the file is missing, the game cannot launch.

How to check:

  1. Right click the game in LaunchBox.

  2. Go to Edit > Edit Metadata/Media.

  3. In the Launching section, look at the Application Path field.

  4. Make sure that file actually exists in that location on your drive.

Tip: If the ROM is missing, the Play button will automatically change to UNAVAILABLE in the default theme.

Step 2: Check Which Emulator the Game Uses

If the ROM exists, the next link in the chain is the emulator.

How to check:

  1. In the same Edit window, go to the Emulation section.

  2. See which Default Emulator is selected.

From here, you have two ways to edit that emulators settings:

  • Quick way: Click Edit next to the emulator name.

  • Menu way: Go to Tools > Manage > Emulators, find it, and click Edit.

Step 3: Confirm the Emulator Exists and Works

If the emulators EXE is missing or moved, the game cannot launch.

How to check:

  1. On the Details tab of the emulator settings, confirm the Emulator Application Path points to an actual file on your system.

  2. To test quickly, right click your game in LaunchBox and choose Open [Emulator Name]. This will try to open the emulator directly.

    • If it opens, the EXE path is fine.

    • If it does not, fix the path under the emulators Details tab.

Step 4: Check the Associated Platforms

This is where LaunchBox decides which platforms an emulator supports and which core or special settings to use for each.

How to check:

  1. Go to the Associated Platforms tab in the emulators settings.

  2. Make sure the games platform is listed here.

    • If it is not, click the bottom row to add it.

  3. (RetroArch only) Make sure the correct Core is selected.

  4. Optional: You can add the same platform twice, each with a different core, to allow multiple ways to play.

Other options here:

  • Default — Marks which entry is used when you press Play (without using Advanced Play Options).

  • Extra Command-Line Parameters — Adds platform specific arguments to the launch command.

  • Extract ROMs Before Playing — Rarely needed today since most emulators read zip or compressed formats directly.

  • Use M3U Playlists for Multiple Discs — Automatically generates an M3U playlist for multi disc games. Only use if your emulator or core supports it.

  • Status Column — Tells you if your chosen core exists. If it is missing, use Download RetroArch in LaunchBox to grab all cores.

Step 5: Check Dependency Files (BIOS and Others)

Some systems require extra files like BIOS files to run games.

How to check:

  1. In the emulator settings, go to Dependency Files.

  2. Choose the platform from the dropdown.

  3. Look for any missing files in the Required or Optional lists.

  4. If missing, research the correct file and point LaunchBox to it.

  5. LaunchBox will place it where it needs to go and verify its MD5 hash.

Tip: If the file is present but the hash is wrong, you will see a yellow status circle.

Step 6: Test Launch Again

Once you have confirmed the ROM exists, the emulator path is correct, the platform is listed with the right core and settings, and any required dependency files are present, try launching the game again.

If it still does not launch:

  • Double check you did not set unusual Command-Line Parameters that are breaking the launch.

  • Try launching the game directly from the emulator outside of LaunchBox to confirm it works there.

Quick Reference Checklist

  • ROM file exists at the listed path

  • Emulator EXE exists and opens normally

  • Platform is listed under Associated Platforms

  • Correct core is set (RetroArch only)

  • Required dependency files are present and verified