The game library is the folder where all the game folders go. When icarus imports a game, it creates or updates the corresponding game folder in the game library. When you use the console sub-menu items in higan’s Library menu, higan shows you the games for that console that are already in the library.

Inside the game library folder there is a sub-folder for each system. Inside each system folder are the game folders for each imported game.

Why a game library?

higan requires game folders, but it also invented game folders, so existing games need to be converted to game folder format before higan can play them. The converted copy of a game needs to go somewhere.

Also, for people who have a huge collection of games, the game library only lists the games they actually play, rather than every possible game, making it easier to find the games they like.

Where is the game library?

In Windows, the default location of the game library is the Emulation folder inside your profile folder (To find your profile folder, press Win+R to open the Run dialog, then type %USERPROFILE% and press Enter).

In Linux, the default location of the game library is the Emulation directory inside your home directory.

On all platforms, the game library location can be configured. See Moving the Game Library below.

Moving the game library

Moving the game library is a little complicated, because there are two parts to it: telling icarus where to put imported games, and telling higan where to find them.

  1. Move your existing game library folder to the new location, or otherwise create the folder you want higan to use as its game library.
  2. Launch icarus, then click the “Settings …” button in the lower-right, to open the Settings dialog.
  3. Click the “Change …” button on the right. A filesystem browser window will appear, allowing you to choose where imported games will be stored.
  4. Launch higan, then from the Settings menu, choose “Advanced …” to open higan’s Advanced settings.
  5. Click the “Change …” button on the right. A filesystem browser will appear, allowing you to choose the same folder again.