3DS Random Game Launcher: Difference between revisions

3DS Random Game Launcher
3DS Random Game Launcher
General
Author	selloa
Type	Utilities
Version	0.2.2
License	MIT License
Last Updated	2026/07/04
Links
	Download
	Website
	Source

Latest revision as of 04:17, 5 July 2026

Can't decide what to play? Let your 3DS pick a random installed title and launch it.

Originally created by einso as a proof-of-concept, this fork adds SMDH title resolution, filtering, persistent settings, and a rebuilt offline catalog. The project uses code from the devkitPro 3ds-examples app_launch template.

The offline catalog in source/title_database.c enables filtering of homebrew apps against official title IDs (8,700+ entries).

Features

Picks a random eligible title from your library and launches it.
Shows a readable name (from the title's SMDH icon).
Reroll as many times as you like before launching.
Press SELECT for detailed filter options
Filter what can be picked: native apps, Virtual Console, DSiWare, demos, DLC, patches, system titles, and more.
Scan SD card and/or NAND (both configurable).
Unlisted only / Homebrew only mode for homebrew and titles not in the database.
Options saved to SD - your filters and preferences persist between sessions.
While viewing a pick, use L/R to page through game, detail, and technical info screens.

Installation

Via Universal Updater

Open Universal-Updater 3DS on your 3DS.
Search for "3DS Random Game Launcher".
Install the CIA (Home Menu icon) or 3DSX (Homebrew Launcher).

Manual installation (3dsx)

Download the latest .3dsx file from the Releases page.
Copy the .3dsx file to the /3ds/ folder on the SD card.
Launch from the Homebrew Launcher.

Manual installation (CIA)

Download the latest .cia file from the Releases page.
Install using FBI, Universal Updater, or another CIA installer.
Launch from the 3DS Home Screen.

Controls

A - Launch selected title

Y - Reroll

L/R - Switch Game / Details / Technical pages

SELECT - Options / filters

X - Toggle homebrew-only mode (Game page)

START - Exit

In the options menu: Up/Down to move, A to toggle or restore defaults, B or SELECT to close (saves settings).

Screenshots

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination

Changelog

v0.2.2 2026/07/04

Default filters: demos are now excluded by default; short game names preferred (toggle Long game name in Options)
Details page layout fix on the DETAILS tab
Banner artwork updated to v0.2.2

v0.2.1 2026/05/23

UI polish and build tooling update over v0.2.0.
Highlights
- Redesigned info screens — Details and Technical tabs use aligned label/value columns, section spacing, and wrapped long text with proper indentation
- Technical filter summary — two-column ON/OFF grid for active filters and sources at the bottom of the Technical page
- Cleaner chrome — inverted header/footer bar, L/R page tabs (Game / Details / Technical), and simplified Options header
- Banner generator — config-driven meta/banner-src/ pipeline plus build.ps1 / build.bat banners for store and CIA artwork
- Docs and release workflow — updated VERSIONING, tools, and meta README for v0.2.1 builds
Controls
- A — Launch selected title
- Y — Reroll
- L/R — Switch Game / Details / Technical pages
- SELECT — Options / filters
- X — Toggle homebrew-only mode (Game page)
- START — Exit
Install
- 3DSX: copy to 3ds/ on SD card, launch from Homebrew Launcher
- CIA: install with FBI or Universal Updater for a Home Menu icon
Universal Updater users on Universal-DB should see this update after the store refreshes.

v18-beta 2025/09/24

Added CIA file support.
Added greyscale color scheme.
Added homebrew mode, to disable database filtering.
Minor visual tweaks.

v1.0 2025/09/07

First release.

Credits

einso - Original concept and implementation.
DevKitPro team - For the 3ds-examples that made this possible (app_launch template).
3DS homebrew community - For keeping the scene alive.

External links

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 |title=3DS Random Game Launcher
 |image=3DSRandomGameLauncher.png
-|description=A Nintendo 3DS homebrew application that randomly selects, displays and then launches your installed games.
+|description=Randomly selects, displays and then launches your installed games.
 |author=selloa
-|lastupdated=2025/09/25
+|lastupdated=2026/07/04
 |type=Utilities
-|version=18
+|version=0.2.2
 |license=MIT
 |download=https://dlhb.gamebrew.org/3dshomebrews/3DSRandomGameLauncher.7z
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 |image_alt=3DS Random Game Launcher
 }}
-'''3DS Random Game Launcher''' is a Nintendo 3DS homebrew application that randomly selects, displays and then launches an installed game from the SD card. It scans installed titles, filters out system applications, and picks a random game to launch.
+Can't decide what to play? Let your 3DS pick a random installed title and launch it.
-The title database contains 4,135+ 3DS game entries with title IDs and names, sourced from the [https://3dsdb.com/ 3dsdb community database].
+Originally created by [https://github.com/einso einso] as a proof-of-concept, this fork adds SMDH title resolution, filtering, persistent settings, and a rebuilt offline catalog. The project uses code from the [https://github.com/devkitPro/3ds-examples/blob/master/app_launch/source/main.c devkitPro 3ds-examples app_launch template].
-Originally created by [https://github.com/einso einso] as a proof-of-concept, it was later expanded by selloa with improved error handling, title filtering, and additional features. The project uses code from the [https://github.com/devkitPro/3ds-examples/blob/master/app_launch/source/main.c devkitPro 3ds-examples app_launch template].
+The offline catalog in <code>source/title_database.c</code> enables filtering of homebrew apps against official title IDs (8,700+ entries).
+==Features==
+* Picks a random eligible title from your library and launches it.
+* Shows a readable name (from the title's SMDH icon).
+* Reroll as many times as you like before launching.
+* Press SELECT for detailed filter options
+* Filter what can be picked: native apps, Virtual Console, DSiWare, demos, DLC, patches, system titles, and more.
+* Scan SD card and/or NAND (both configurable).
+* Unlisted only / Homebrew only mode for homebrew and titles not in the database.
+* Options saved to SD - your filters and preferences persist between sessions.
+* While viewing a pick, use L/R to page through game, detail, and technical info screens.
 ==Installation==
 ===Via Universal Updater===
-#Open '''Universal Updater''' on your 3DS.
+*Open [[Universal-Updater 3DS]] on your 3DS.
-#Search for "3DS Random Game Launcher" and install the CIA file.
+*Search for "3DS Random Game Launcher".
-#Exit Universal Updater - wait a moment for the new app to appear on the Home Screen.
+*Install the CIA (Home Menu icon) or 3DSX (Homebrew Launcher).
-#Launch 3DS Random Game Launcher from the 3DS Home Screen.
 ===Manual installation (3dsx)===
-#Download the latest .3dsx file from the [https://github.com/selloa/3DS-Random-Game-Launcher/releases Releases] page.
+*Download the latest .3dsx file from the [https://github.com/selloa/3DS-Random-Game-Launcher/releases Releases] page.
-#Copy the .3dsx file to the <code>/3ds/</code> folder on the SD card.
+*Copy the .3dsx file to the <code>/3ds/</code> folder on the SD card.
-#Launch from the Homebrew Launcher.
+*Launch from the Homebrew Launcher.
 ===Manual installation (CIA)===
-#Download the latest .cia file from the [https://github.com/selloa/3DS-Random-Game-Launcher/releases Releases] page.
+*Download the latest .cia file from the [https://github.com/selloa/3DS-Random-Game-Launcher/releases Releases] page.
-#Install using [[FBI_3DS|FBI]] or another CIA installer.
+*Install using [[FBI_3DS|FBI]], [[Universal-Updater 3DS|Universal Updater]], or another CIA installer.
-#Launch from the 3DS Home Screen.
+*Launch from the 3DS Home Screen.
+==Controls==
+A - Launch selected title
-==User guide==
+Y - Reroll
-Upon launching, the application scans the SD card for installed game titles, filters out system applications, and randomly selects a game to display. The user can then choose to launch the selected game or reroll for a different random selection.
-Features include:
+L/R - Switch Game / Details / Technical pages
-*Greyscale color scheme.
-*Homebrew mode to disable database filtering.
-*CIA file support.
-==Controls==
+SELECT - Options / filters
+X - Toggle homebrew-only mode (Game page)
+START - Exit
-{| class="wikitable"
+In the options menu: Up/Down to move, A to toggle or restore defaults, B or SELECT to close (saves settings).
-|-
-! Input !! Action
-|-
-| A || Launch the selected title
-|-
-| Y || Reroll for a different random game
-|-
-| Start || Exit
-|}
 ==Screenshots==
@@ Line 67: / Line 71: @@
 ==Changelog==
+'''v0.2.2 2026/07/04'''
+* Default filters: demos are now excluded by default; short game names preferred (toggle Long game name in Options)
+* Details page layout fix on the DETAILS tab
+* Banner artwork updated to v0.2.2
+'''v0.2.1 2026/05/23'''
+*UI polish and build tooling update over v0.2.0.
+*Highlights
+**Redesigned info screens — Details and Technical tabs use aligned label/value columns, section spacing, and wrapped long text with proper indentation
+**Technical filter summary — two-column ON/OFF grid for active filters and sources at the bottom of the Technical page
+**Cleaner chrome — inverted header/footer bar, L/R page tabs (Game / Details / Technical), and simplified Options header
+**Banner generator — config-driven <code>meta/banner-src/</code> pipeline plus <code>build.ps1</code> / <code>build.bat banners</code> for store and CIA artwork
+**Docs and release workflow — updated VERSIONING, tools, and meta README for v0.2.1 builds
+*Controls
+**A — Launch selected title
+**Y — Reroll
+**L/R — Switch Game / Details / Technical pages
+**SELECT — Options / filters
+**X — Toggle homebrew-only mode (Game page)
+**START — Exit
+*Install
+**3DSX: copy to <code>3ds/</code> on SD card, launch from Homebrew Launcher
+**CIA: install with FBI or Universal Updater for a Home Menu icon
+*Universal Updater users on Universal-DB should see this update after the store refreshes.
 '''v18-beta 2025/09/24'''
 *Added CIA file support.
@@ Line 77: / Line 105: @@
 ==Credits==
-*'''einso''' - Original concept and implementation.
+*einso - Original concept and implementation.
-*'''DevKitPro team''' - For the 3ds-examples that made this possible (app_launch template).
+*DevKitPro team - For the 3ds-examples that made this possible (app_launch template).
-*'''3DS homebrew community''' - For keeping the scene alive.
+*3DS homebrew community - For keeping the scene alive.
 == External links ==
-* Gbatemp - https://gbatemp.net/threads/3ds-random-game-launcher-finally-something-to-solve-the-what-should-i-play-problem.675053/
+* GitHub - https://github.com/selloa/3DS-Random-Game-Launcher
-* Github - https://github.com/selloa/3DS-Random-Game-Launcher
+* GBAtemp - https://gbatemp.net/threads/3ds-random-game-launcher-finally-something-to-solve-the-what-should-i-play-problem.675053/
+* Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/3dshacks/comments/1nazswi/3ds_random_game_launcher_3dsx_new_homebrew/
+* Tutorial v021 - https://www.reddit.com/r/3dshacks/comments/1tp3cs6/