Help Centre
Downloading, extracting, writing and playing: 46 step-by-step guides, plus 8-Bit Buddy to point you at the right one. Ask Buddy below, or browse the sections.
Getting started
New to retro gaming builds? Start here: what Arcade Punks is, how builds work, which device to use and the kit you need.
Downloading
Every way to get a build from Arcade Punks: Usenet and NZB, Usenet Share, torrents, Mega, RapidGator and Google Drive, plus fixes for slow or failed downloads.
- How downloading works on Arcade Punks
- Which download option should I pick?
- Usenet and NZB for beginners
- Choosing a Usenet downloader
- Usenet Share explained
- Getting started with Usenet Share
- Torrents for beginners: downloading builds with Tixati
- Downloading from MEGA: transfer quota, the desktop app and Pro
- RapidGator and other file hosts (Google Drive, Dropbox, MediaFire, 1fichier)
- Google Drive says “download quota exceeded”: how to fix it
- My download is really slow: how to speed it up
- My download failed or will not finish
- I cannot see the download links
Extracting files
Unpacking RAR and 7z archives, fixing extraction errors and dealing with antivirus false alarms.
Writing images
Putting an image on an SD card, SSD, hard drive or USB stick, and what to do when it will not fit.
- Writing a build to an SD card (Raspberry Pi Imager, balenaEtcher)
- Writing a build to an SSD or hard drive (USB to SATA adapters and NVMe)
- Writing a build to a USB stick or USB drive
- Why a 256GB image won’t fit on my 256GB card
- Using the whole card: expanding the partition after writing a build
- Buying SD cards: A1, A2, U3, trusted brands and spotting fakes
Setting up and first boot
First boot, installing PC builds, Steam Deck and Raspberry Pi setup, and the hotkeys you need.
- First boot: what to expect and why you must not pull the power
- Installing PC folder builds like RetroBat and CoinOPS
- Steam Deck builds: booting from SD card vs Windows and desktop builds
- Raspberry Pi basics: power, cooling, micro HDMI and which Pi
- Hotkeys: exiting games, saving and getting to the menu
Controllers
Pads, arcade sticks, encoders and light guns: getting them working with your build.
Troubleshooting
It will not boot, games run slowly, black screens and games that will not load.
Membership and your account
Free and paid membership, the members area, your profile and where to get more help.
Sharing your builds
Builders: sharing your build with Arcade Punks, uploading to our FTP and releasing exclusively with us.
In-depth guides
- Best Retro Gaming Handhelds in 2026 (and the Builds That Suit Them)
- How to Set Up a Touchscreen Arcade Machine at Home
- What Size SD Card or Drive Do I Need for a Retro Gaming Build?
- How to Write a Retro Gaming Image to an SD Card, SSD or USB Drive
- RetroBat vs Batocera: Which Should You Use for Retro Gaming?
- Best Retro Gaming Build for the Raspberry Pi 5 (2026 Guide)