The Built-In Emulator Everyone’s Sleeping On
Tower Unite has a full emulator system baked directly into the game — and almost nobody talks about it. You can play retro games on in-game arcade cabinets, run handhelds in the Plaza, upload your own ROMs, and build a custom arcade your friends can actually visit. Here’s exactly how it works, what you need, and how to set it up.
How Tower Unite’s Emulator Works
Tower Unite uses Libretro, the same core system that powers RetroArch. PixelTail added Libretro directly into the game, so emulators install automatically when you launch Tower Unite — no separate downloads [4]. You play on Libretro-enabled items: consoles, arcade cabinets, lightgun cabinets, cartridges, and handhelds, all sold in the Toy Stop and Arcade ticket stores [4].
What Systems Are Supported?
The built-in core list is deep — way beyond the obvious classics [4]:
- Consoles: NES, SNES, N64, Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega CD, Saturn, Dreamcast, PS1, PS2 (experimental), 3DO, TurboGrafx, Atari 2600/5200, Jaguar, C64
- Arcade: MAME, FinalBurn Neo, Naomi
- Handhelds: Game Boy, GBA, DS, 3DS, PSP, Game Gear, NeoGeo Pocket, Virtual Boy
- PC & fantasy: DOSBox, TIC-80, LowRes NX
Some cores (PS1, Saturn, Dreamcast, arcade, etc.) need BIOS files dropped into the game’s Libretro/Systems folder — PixelTail’s guide lists each one [4].
How to Set Up Emulation in Your Condo
The setup is surprisingly easy [4]:
- Get your ROMs — Tower Unite doesn’t ship with any games, so you supply your own. PixelTail recommends testing with compatible homebrew games from itch.io [4]
- Open the ROM folder — in-game, select a game on a Libretro item and hit “Open Rom Folder,” or browse to Tower/Libretro/Roms/ in the Steam folder [4]
- Drop files into the matching core folder — ZIPs are supported, and the game sorts everything for you [4]
- Buy a Libretro item — consoles, cabinets, and handhelds are in the Toy Stop and Arcade ticket stores [4]
- Load a game — edit the console/cabinet and pick your game, or throw a cartridge at it. Place a console near a Media Player and it auto-connects to start emulation [4]
Arcade Cabinets + Emulation = Custom Arcade
Here’s the fun part: Tower Unite has Libretro-enabled arcade cabinets — standing, wheel, immersive wheel, and tabletop styles — with customizable marquee, side art, panel artwork, and idle screens [4]. There are even lightgun cabinets for rail shooters. Players walk in, sit down at a cabinet, and play. Full gamepad support is built in, and keyboard bindings are pre-mapped [4].
It’s one of the most underrated features in the game, and a huge reason community arcade condos stay busy for hours.
Keep Your Arcade Online 24/7
A home-hosted condo only exists while your PC is on. If you want your custom arcade to be visitable anytime — which is the whole point of building one — you need a dedicated server. EVLBOX runs dedicated Tower Unite condo servers from $15/mo that stay online 24/7 with DDoS protection, and their Nitro Panel makes uploading ROMs and managing files trivial.
Use code TOOBROKE20 at checkout for 20% off any order through the EVLBOX portal — that drops a condo server to $12/mo.
Disclosure: links are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
Does Tower Unite come with emulators?
Yes — Libretro emulation is built into the game and emulators install automatically on launch [4]. You supply the ROMs; the game supplies the emulator.
Is emulation in Tower Unite legal?
The emulator itself is 100% legal. ROMs are on you — stick to homebrew, public-domain, or games you own and dumped yourself. PixelTail forbids ROM-sharing discussion on their Discord and recommends itch.io homebrew for testing [4].
Can friends play my emulator cabinets?
Yes. Emulation works in multiplayer condos, so visitors can play while others watch. Note: netplay over the network isn’t supported yet — it’s local play on your server’s machines [4].
Do I need a dedicated server to run an arcade condo?
Not strictly — but your condo shuts down when your PC does. A dedicated server keeps it online 24/7 so people can actually find and visit it.