> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# RetroAchievements

> Earn achievements in GameCube and Wii games

## Overview

Dolphin supports RetroAchievements integration, allowing you to earn achievements, track progress, and compete on leaderboards while playing GameCube and Wii games.

## What is RetroAchievements?

RetroAchievements is a community-driven achievement system for retro games:

* **Custom achievements**: Community-created challenges for classic games
* **Leaderboards**: Compete with players worldwide
* **Progress tracking**: Monitor completion across games
* **Rich presence**: Show what you're playing
* **Badges & points**: Earn rewards for achievements

<Note>
  RetroAchievements is free and requires creating an account at retroachievements.org
</Note>

## Setting Up RetroAchievements

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Account">
    Visit [https://retroachievements.org](https://retroachievements.org) and create a free account
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Dolphin Achievements Settings">
    Config > Achievements
  </Step>

  <Step title="Login">
    Enter your RetroAchievements username and password

    Click "Login"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Options">
    Enable desired features:

    * Achievement notifications
    * Leaderboard submissions
    * Rich presence
    * Hardcore mode
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start Playing">
    Load a game with achievement support

    Achievements appear automatically
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Achievement Features

### Standard Mode

Play with full emulator features:

* Save states allowed
* Cheats allowed
* Slowdown/fast-forward allowed
* **Earn achievements**: Yes (marked as softcore)
* **Submit leaderboards**: No

### Hardcore Mode

Disables emulator advantages for legitimate achievement hunting:

<Warning>
  **Disabled in Hardcore Mode:**

  * Save states (in-game saves still work)
  * Cheats and action replay codes
  * Memory modification
  * Slowdown/fast-forward
  * Frame advance
</Warning>

**Benefits:**

* Achievements count as "hardcore"
* Leaderboard submission enabled
* Extra points awarded
* Community prestige

<Note>
  Hardcore mode can be toggled on/off, but achievements earned in softcore cannot be upgraded to hardcore.
</Note>

## Notifications

### Achievement Unlocked

When you unlock an achievement:

* **On-screen notification**: Badge, name, description, points
* **Sound effect**: Confirmation sound
* **Logged to account**: Progress saved automatically

### Leaderboard Submission

In hardcore mode, leaderboard achievements submit scores:

* **Your rank**: Position on global leaderboard
* **Score/time**: Your submitted value
* **Notification**: Confirmation of submission

### Rich Presence

Shows what you're doing in-game:

```
Playing Super Mario Sunshine
Current level: Delfino Plaza
Shines: 27/120
```

Visible on your RetroAchievements profile and Discord (if enabled).

## Progress Tracking

### In Dolphin

View achievement progress:

* **Tools > Achievements**: List all available achievements
* **Progress bars**: Track multi-step achievements
* **Locked/Unlocked**: See what you've earned
* **Points**: View total points for game

### On Website

Your RetroAchievements profile shows:

* **Total points**: Across all games
* **Game completion**: Percentage for each game
* **Achievement history**: Timeline of unlocks
* **Badges earned**: Visual collection
* **Leaderboard ranks**: Your positions

## Supported Games

Not all games have achievement sets. Check if a game is supported:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Visit RetroAchievements.org">
    Go to [https://retroachievements.org](https://retroachievements.org)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Search for Game">
    Use search to find your game

    Filter by platform: GameCube or Wii
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check Achievement Set">
    Game page shows:

    * Number of achievements
    * Total points available
    * Leaderboards
    * Community discussion
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Popular GameCube Achievement Sets

* Super Mario Sunshine
* The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
* Metroid Prime
* Luigi's Mansion
* Super Smash Bros. Melee
* Many more...

### Popular Wii Achievement Sets

* Super Mario Galaxy
* The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
* Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
* Donkey Kong Country Returns
* And more being added regularly

<Note>
  Achievement sets are community-created. Coverage varies by game popularity.
</Note>

## Leaderboards

Compete on time trials, score attacks, and other challenges:

### Types of Leaderboards

* **Speedruns**: Complete levels/game as fast as possible
* **Score attacks**: Achieve highest score
* **Challenge runs**: Specific in-game challenges
* **Collectathons**: Fastest collection completions

### Submitting Scores

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Hardcore Mode">
    Config > Achievements > Enable Hardcore Mode
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete Challenge">
    Play the game and complete leaderboard objective
  </Step>

  <Step title="Automatic Submission">
    Score submits automatically upon completion

    Notification shows your rank
  </Step>

  <Step title="View on Website">
    Check full leaderboard on RetroAchievements.org
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Mastery & Completion

### Game Completion

Earn all achievements in a game:

* **Softcore mastery**: All achievements in standard mode
* **Hardcore mastery**: All achievements in hardcore mode
* **Mastery badge**: Displayed on profile
* **Extra points**: Bonus points for mastery

### 100% Completion

Some achievement sets include:

* **Base achievements**: Core game content
* **Bonus achievements**: Extra challenges

True 100% requires all achievements, including bonus.

## Rich Presence & Discord

Show your gaming on Discord:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Rich Presence">
    Config > Achievements > Enable Rich Presence
  </Step>

  <Step title="Link Discord (Optional)">
    RetroAchievements.org > Settings > Discord Integration

    Connect your Discord account
  </Step>

  <Step title="Play Game">
    Discord status shows:

    * Game name
    * Current progress
    * Time played
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Achievement Development

Interested in creating achievements?

### Become a Developer

<Steps>
  <Step title="Gain Experience">
    Earn achievements, understand the system
  </Step>

  <Step title="Join Community">
    Participate in RetroAchievements Discord/forums
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply for Developer Role">
    Request developer permissions on the website
  </Step>

  <Step title="Learn Achievement Logic">
    Study existing achievement sets

    Use achievement development tools
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Achievement Set">
    Develop achievements for unsupported or incomplete games
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Achievement Logic

Achievements use memory conditions:

```
Memory Address 0x12345 == 100  (Health at max)
Memory Address 0x67890 > 50    (Score above 50)
Memory Address 0xABCDE != 0    (Item collected)
```

Combine conditions to create complex challenges.

## Best Practices

### For Players

* **Start in softcore**: Learn game mechanics first
* **Progress to hardcore**: Attempt hardcore after familiarity
* **Read descriptions**: Understand what each achievement requires
* **Join community**: Get help and share strategies
* **Backup saves**: Hardcore mode disables save states

### For Developers

* **Test thoroughly**: Verify achievements trigger correctly
* **Avoid spoilers**: Description shouldn't spoil story
* **Balance difficulty**: Mix easy, medium, hard achievements
* **Check for bugs**: Ensure no false triggers
* **Engage community**: Get feedback during development

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can't Login to RetroAchievements">
    * Verify username and password are correct
    * Check internet connection
    * Ensure RetroAchievements.org is accessible
    * Try logging in on website first
    * Update Dolphin to latest version
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Achievements Not Appearing">
    * Verify game has achievement set (check website)
    * Ensure logged into RetroAchievements in Dolphin
    * Check game version/region matches achievement set
    * Restart Dolphin after login
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Achievement Didn't Unlock">
    * Verify you met all conditions
    * Check if achievement is paused/disabled
    * Review achievement description for requirements
    * Report issue on RetroAchievements.org if legitimate
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Hardcore Mode Won't Enable">
    * Close any save states
    * Disable all cheats
    * Restart game from beginning
    * Hardcore must be enabled before loading game
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Leaderboard Not Submitting">
    * Confirm hardcore mode is enabled
    * Check internet connection
    * Verify you completed leaderboard objective
    * Look for submission notification
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Privacy & Data

### What Gets Shared

* **Achievement unlocks**: When you earn achievements
* **Game playtime**: How long you play
* **Rich presence**: Current game progress (if enabled)
* **Leaderboard scores**: Your submitted scores

### Privacy Settings

Control on RetroAchievements.org:

* **Profile visibility**: Public or private
* **Progress sharing**: Show/hide game progress
* **Discord integration**: Enable/disable rich presence

## Achievement Hunting Tips

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Missable Achievements">
    Many games have achievements only available at specific points:

    * Read all achievement descriptions before starting
    * Use achievement guides on RetroAchievements.org
    * Create manual save backups before major decisions
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Grinding Achievements">
    Some achievements require repetitive actions:

    * Combine with other objectives when possible
    * Use in-game saves to checkpoint progress
    * Take breaks to avoid burnout
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Skill-Based Achievements">
    Difficult achievements may require practice:

    * Practice in softcore first
    * Watch videos of successful attempts
    * Ask community for strategies
    * Consider using save states for practice (softcore only)
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Points System

### Point Values

* **Easy**: 1-5 points
* **Medium**: 5-10 points
* **Hard**: 10-25 points
* **Very Hard**: 25-50 points
* **Extremely Hard**: 50-100 points

### Point Bonuses

* **Hardcore multiplier**: 2x points in hardcore mode
* **Mastery bonus**: Extra points for completing all achievements
* **Early adopter**: Bonus for being among first to complete

## Community Resources

* **Website**: [https://retroachievements.org](https://retroachievements.org)
* **Discord**: Active community for help and discussion
* **Forums**: Game-specific strategy discussions
* **Achievement Guides**: Walkthroughs for difficult achievements
* **Developer Docs**: Resources for creating achievements

## Related Topics

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="TAS Tools" icon="clock" href="/advanced/tas-tools">
    Frame-perfect gameplay tools (disabled in hardcore)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cheats & Action Replay" icon="gamepad-modern" href="/advanced/cheats-and-action-replay">
    Memory modification (disabled in hardcore)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>