How to Scrape Artwork, Videos, and Metadata in Batocera

A step-by-step guide to adding box art, gameplay previews, and useful game information to your arcade.

Browsing an arcade should be part of the fun. Box art brings back memories, gameplay previews help you discover something new, and descriptions make unfamiliar titles easier to explore.

Batocera can collect this information through a process called scraping. Its scraper identifies games already in your library, searches an online database, and downloads matching artwork and information.

The best approach is to test a small batch first, check the results, and then expand to the rest of your collection.

What Does Scraping Add?

Depending on your selected provider and the media available for each game, scraping can add:

Batocera stores game information and media references in files called gamelist.xml. Scraping helps populate these records without entering everything manually.

Scraping does not download the games themselves or improve how they run. It improves how your collection is presented.

Before You Begin

Have these items ready:

• An internet connection on your Batocera machine.
• Games already appearing in the correct system lists.
• Available storage for downloaded media.
• A ScreenScraper account if you use that provider.

If you have spent time customizing artwork or descriptions, make a backup before running a large scrape.

Menu wording varies between Batocera releases. Look for Scraper or Scrape in the main menu.

Step 1: Create Your ScreenScraper Account

ScreenScraper supports several artwork options and video previews, making it a useful starting point.

1. Visit ScreenScraper.fr.
2. Create an account and complete any required activation.
3. Confirm you can sign in on the website.
4. Keep your username and password available.

Batocera’s documentation says a ScreenScraper login is required. Other providers may appear in the menu, but their setup and available media differ.

Step 2: Open Batocera’s Scraper

1. Return to Batocera’s game browser.
2. Press Start to open the main menu.
3. Select Scraper.
4. Set Scrape From to ScreenScraper.
5. Enter your ScreenScraper credentials.

Use your ScreenScraper username rather than your email address. This is an easy detail to miss.

Step 3: Choose Your Artwork and Media

Open the scraper settings and choose the content you want. A practical starting point is:

A mixed image combines several artwork elements into one presentation. Choose a style that suits your theme rather than downloading every available asset.

Video previews increase download time, bandwidth use, and storage requirements. Start with images if you want to confirm everything is matching correctly before adding videos.

Step 4: Select the Games to Scrape

Under Systems Included, select one system for your first pass. Next, review Games to Scrape For:

For routine updates, start with Games Missing Any Media.

Also check Ignore Recently Scraped Games. If you are immediately retrying a game or adding videos after an artwork pass, set it to No so recently processed titles are eligible.

These filters control which games Batocera processes; selecting the right system and filter prevents unnecessary repeat work.

Step 5: Start Scraping and Check the Results

1. Review the selected systems.
2. Select Scrape Now.
3. Let the process finish.
4. Return to the game list.
5. If the artwork has not appeared, run Update Games Lists, normally under Game Settings.

Before starting another system, inspect several games:

• Does the artwork match the title?
• Is it the correct platform version?
• Is the description useful?
• Does the artwork fit your chosen layout?

A small amount of checking now can prevent a large cleanup later.

Step 6: Add Gameplay Video Previews

Once your initial results look good:

1. Return to Start → Scraper.
2. Enable Scrape Videos.
3. Select the systems you want.
4. Choose Games Missing Any Media.
5. Set Ignore Recently Scraped Games to No if you just scraped those titles.
6. Run the scraper again.

The selected provider must have a video for the game. Missing clips are not necessarily a problem with your machine. ScreenScraper supports video previews, but availability varies by title.

If videos download but do not appear, check your theme and its game-list layout options. Batocera themes differ in their features and compatibility, so use a layout that supports the media you want to display.

How to Fix Incorrect Artwork or Metadata

A sequel, regional release, or similarly named game can occasionally produce the wrong match. Correct that individual game:

1. Highlight it in the game list.
2. Open its game options or metadata editor.
3. Choose Edit This Game’s Metadata, or the equivalent option.
4. Select Scrape.
5. If offered, adjust the search and choose the correct result.
6. Save your changes.

The exact shortcut for opening game options varies by release and controller configuration. Batocera’s EmulationStation documentation supports scraping a single game from its metadata editor.

Common Scraping Problems

ScreenScraper will not sign in

Check that you entered your username, confirm the credentials on ScreenScraper’s website, and re-enter them carefully in Batocera.

Nothing happens when you try again

Review the selected systems and filters. Ignore Recently Scraped Games can exclude the titles you are trying to revisit.

Scraping stops or becomes very slow

Check the error message before restarting. Providers have service limits, and mixed artwork can require several downloads for one game. If the message reports a quota or service restriction, retry when the provider permits it.

Artwork appears, but videos do not

Check that video scraping was enabled, that the game was included in the second pass, and that your theme supports displaying previews.

Video Walkthroughs

These creator tutorials provide visual references. Older videos may show different menu labels.

• Screen Scraper — How to Scrape Video Games on Batocera — A walkthrough of scraping from within Batocera.
• Manually Scrape Games on Batocera — Focuses on individual games and correcting automatic scraping problems.
• How to Use Skraper for Batocera — Batocera Nation — Covers the separate Skraper application for managing media outside Batocera’s built-in scraper.

For your first setup, follow the built-in scraper instructions above. Once your collection grows, an external tool may be useful for more detailed artwork management.

A polished library starts with accurate matches and a consistent presentation. Scrape one system, check your results, and add video previews where they make browsing more enjoyable.

Official References

• Batocera Wiki: Scraping Sources and ScreenScraper Setup
• Batocera Wiki: Menu and Scraping Settings
• Batocera Wiki: EmulationStation Themes
• Batocera EmulationStation Documentation