ScreenScraper.fr Scraper

Scrape the ScreenScraper.fr retro game database -- the largest community-driven retro gaming metadata repository used by emulation frontends like Recalbox, RetroArch, and Skraper.

What data can you extract?

For each game found, the scraper extracts:

• Game name (with regional variants)
• Platform (Megadrive, SNES, NES, Game Boy, PlayStation, Arcade, and many more)
• Publisher and Developer
• Genre (Platform, RPG, Action, Puzzle, etc.)
• Number of players
• Rating (community score out of 20)
• Release dates (by region: USA, Japan, Europe, etc.)
• Synopsis/Description (English preferred, falls back to other languages)
• Classification ratings (ESRB, PEGI, CERO)
• Screenshot URL
• Box art URL
• Wheel/Logo URL

How it works

ScreenScraper.fr hosts 200,000+ retro game entries. The scraper:

1. Scans game IDs sequentially within a configurable range
2. Matches game titles against your search queries
3. Extracts full metadata from matching game detail pages
4. Optionally filters by platform

Input parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
searchQueries	string[]	["Sonic"]	Game names to search for
maxListings	integer	100	Max games to return per query
scrapeDetails	boolean	true	Extract full details (publisher, developer, genre, etc.)
platform	string	""	Filter to a specific platform (e.g., "Megadrive", "SNES")
startGameId	integer	1	Game ID to start scanning from
maxGameIdToScan	integer	250000	Maximum game ID to scan
proxyConfiguration	object	{}	Proxy settings

Example Input

{
    "searchQueries": ["Sonic", "Mario"],
    "maxListings": 20,
    "scrapeDetails": true,
    "platform": "Megadrive"
}

Example Output

{
    "gameName": "Sonic The Hedgehog 2",
    "platform": "Megadrive",
    "publisher": "SEGA",
    "developer": "SEGA",
    "genre": "Platform",
    "players": "1-2",
    "releaseDate": "24/11/1992",
    "releaseDates": [
        { "region": "USA", "date": "24/11/1992" },
        { "region": "Japon", "date": "21/11/1992" },
        { "region": "Europe", "date": "24/11/1992" }
    ],
    "description": "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 continues Sonic's fast-paced adventures and introduces his loyal sidekick Tails...",
    "rating": "16/20",
    "classifications": ["CERO:A", "PEGI:3", "ESRB:E"],
    "screenshotUrl": "https://www.screenscraper.fr/medias/1/3/ss(wor).png",
    "boxartUrl": null,
    "wheelUrl": null,
    "gameNamesByRegion": {
        "USA": "Sonic The Hedgehog 2",
        "Japon": "Sonic The Hedgehog 2",
        "Europe": "Sonic The Hedgehog 2"
    },
    "gameId": "3",
    "url": "https://www.screenscraper.fr/gameinfos.php?gameid=3",
    "searchQuery": "Sonic",
    "scrapedAt": "2026-04-25T12:00:00.000Z"
}

Supported platforms

Megadrive/Genesis, SNES, NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PSP, Sega Master System, Game Gear, Neo Geo, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MSX, Arcade, and many more.

Use cases

• Emulation frontend metadata -- Build game databases for RetroArch, Recalbox, EmulationStation, Batocera, and other frontends
• Retro game research -- Analyze release dates, publishers, and platform coverage for retro game catalogs
• Collection management -- Track and catalog your retro game collection with rich metadata
• Game database -- Build comprehensive retro game databases with screenshots and box art
• Market research -- Understand the retro gaming landscape by genre, platform, and era

Performance notes

• The scraper scans game IDs sequentially, so broader searches over larger ID ranges take longer
• Use platform filter and smaller maxGameIdToScan ranges for faster results
• ScreenScraper.fr is a community project -- please be respectful with request volume
• Proxy configuration is recommended for large-scale runs

---

Run on Apify

This scraper runs on the Apify platform -- a full-stack web scraping and automation cloud. Sign up for a free account to get started with 30-day trial of all features.

Try Apify free

Related Scrapers

More scrapers and data tools by lulzasaur:

• AbeBooks Scraper -- Rare and used books
• Bonanza Scraper -- Online marketplace listings
• Craigslist Scraper -- Local classifieds
• Goodreads Scraper -- Book ratings and reviews
• Grailed Scraper -- Luxury fashion resale
• IMDb Scraper -- Movie and TV show data
• OfferUp Scraper -- Local marketplace listings
• PSA Population Report -- Card grading data
• Reverb Scraper -- Music gear marketplace
• TCGPlayer Scraper -- Trading card prices