How to Add ROMs to Emulators on Your Modded Switch

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Your modded Switch comes with emulators set up, each covering different systems. This guide covers exactly where to place your ROM files and how to get each emulator to detect them.

Note: This guide is for use with your own legally obtained ROM backups. Dumping your own game cartridges and discs is supported through various backup tools.

Tico

Tico is a polished emulation frontend that makes it easy to launch games across a ton of systems from one clean interface.

Adding ROMs to Tico

Place your ROM files in the matching folder on your SD card:

SystemFolder Path
DreamcastSD:/tico/roms/dc
Sega Game GearSD:/tico/roms/game-gear
Game BoySD:/tico/roms/gb
Game Boy AdvanceSD:/tico/roms/gba
Game Boy ColorSD:/tico/roms/gbc
Sega GenesisSD:/tico/roms/genesis
Sega Master SystemSD:/tico/roms/master-system
NESSD:/tico/roms/nes
PSPSD:/tico/roms/psp
PlayStation 1SD:/tico/roms/psx
Sega CDSD:/tico/roms/sega-cd
SNESSD:/tico/roms/snes
N64SD:/tico/roms/n64
Gamecube (experimental)SD:/tico/roms/gc
Wii (experimental)SD:/tico/roms/wii

For a full list of supported ROM formats per system, check the Tico supported formats page.

Bios Files

PlayStation (PSX) 

Folder: sdmc:/tico/system/psx/

One of the following:

  • scph5501.bin (recommended, USA)
  • scph5502.bin (Europe)
  • scph5500.bin (Japan)
  • scph1001.bin
Dreamcast

 Folder: sdmc:/tico/system/dc/

  • dc_boot.bin (required)
Sega Saturn 

Folder: sdmc:/tico/system/saturn/

One of the following:

  • saturn_bios.bin
  • sega_101.bin
  • mpr-17933.bin
Sega CD 

Folder: sdmc:/tico/system/genesis/

One of the following depending on your region:

  • bios_CD_U.bin (USA)
  • bios_CD_E.bin (Europe)
  • bios_CD_J.bin (Japan)
Gamecube 

Folder: sdmc:/tico/system/gc/Sys/GC/

One of the following depending on your region:

  • USA/IPL.bin (USA)
  • EUR/IPL.bin (Europe)
  • JPN/IPL.bin (Japan)

If you don’t want to provide bios head to Settings -> Emulator -> Dolphin -> Emulation -> Behavior -> Skip Gamecube BIOS or game will crash at start!

Notes
  • BIOS files must be placed directly in the console’s system folder – do not create subfolders inside it.
  • BIOS files are not provided by SCCM. You must obtain them from hardware you legally own.
  • Consoles not listed here do not require a BIOS file.

Scanning for New Games

  1. Open Tico
  2. Press R to go to the game select screen
  3. Hover over the console you added games for
  4. Press + (Plus)
  5. Select Rescan Games

Your newly added ROMs should now appear in the game list.

Downloading Cores

As of 5/1/26 I started including preconfigured cores for Tico. If your install was complete before this then you will need to download the latest cores from within the Tico Settings. To do so:

  1. Connect to Wi-Fi and open Tico
  2. Press (+) and Press A to select Settings.
  3. Scroll down to cores and download your desired cores.
  4. If you plan on using GC/Wii make sure you enable experimental cores.

MelonDS (Nintendo DS)

MelonDS is a standalone DS emulator with good compatibility.

Adding DS ROMs

Important: DS ROMs must be unzipped before adding them.

Place your unzipped ROM files in:

SD:/Roms/DS/

Loading a Game

  1. Open MelonDS
  2. Click Browse
  3. Your games should appear in the list. Select one to play.

Tips

  • Keep your ROMs organized – use subfolders within each system folder if you have a large collection (e.g., by region or genre). Tico and RetroArch will scan subfolders.
  • Check file formats – if a game isn’t showing up, make sure it’s in a supported format. Tico’s supported formats page linked above has the full list.
  • Unzip N64 and DS ROMs – this is the most common reason games don’t appear in Tico and MelonDS. Other emulators through Tico generally handle compressed files fine.
  • Rescan after adding new games – emulators don’t automatically detect new files. You need to rescan or rebrowse each time you add ROMs.

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