Zaparoo 2.18 Turns Retro Libraries Into Playlists and Gives MiSTer Users More Toys

Zaparoo updates to Core 2.18.0 and App 1.15.0, introducing Decks for playlist assembly, MiSTer CDTV and DVD launchers, and native Windows gamepad input.

Zaparoo has released Core 2.18.0 alongside App 1.15.0, and the NFC-powered retro launcher is becoming less like a neat trick with cards and more like a proper library management system. The headline addition is Decks: users can assemble lists of games and scripts that behave rather like playlists, trigger the entire collection from a card and later edit the contents without rewriting that physical card.

Games can now be liked, disliked, favourited or saved for later, with the library working locally without an account and optional free online synchronisation available between devices. Multi-disc games are presented as single library entries, systems can be grouped into custom categories, and unwanted items can be hidden.

Windows support receives genuine keyboard and gamepad input plus a PinUP Popper launcher for virtual-pinball cabinets. MiSTer users gain CDTV and DVD Player launchers, improved arcade metadata using the MiSTer arcade catalogue, Skraper-style arcade artwork support and fixes for shared directories such as Game Boy and Game Boy Color confusing one another's artwork.

There are also smaller quality-of-life changes: presenting the card for the currently running game no longer needlessly restarts it, while tapping a playlist card again advances to the next item. It is the kind of update retro hardware increasingly benefits from: fewer minutes spent lovingly organising folders named FINAL_FINAL_V3 and more minutes actually playing the games inside them.