How to Scrape Games Easily & Effectively with Proxies

Imagine turning a dull list of retro game ROMs into a stunning library—complete with box art, screenshots, videos, and descriptions—ready to dazzle on your big-screen launcher. For retro gaming fans, scraping games is the key to that transformation. But here’s the catch: scraping hundreds or thousands of ROMs from sources like ScreenScraper.fr, TheGamesDB, or IGDB often hits roadblocks—rate-limits, IP bans, or geo-restrictions. In this guide, we’ll show you how to overcome these hurdles using GoProxy’s rotating residential proxies, with practical steps and tools to build your dream game library, no stress required.

Why Scrape Games?

Scraping game metadata and media isn’t just cosmetic—it’s a game-changer for retro enthusiasts. Here’s why it matters:

Enhance Game Libraries: Add titles, descriptions, box art, screenshots, and videos to your ROMs for a polished look.

Simplify Setup: Use intuitive tools to skip tedious manual work.

Overcome Access Issues: Bypass slow downloads, blocked sources, or IP restrictions.

Customize Results: Choose what media to scrape and how it displays.

Scraping Needs by Library Size

Library Size	Concerns	Proxy Solution
Small (10–50 ROMs)	Occasional timeouts, missing covers	Basic rotating pool or single static proxy
Medium (50–500 ROMs)	Rate-limits, incomplete metadata, retries	Rotating proxies with session persistence
Large (500+ ROMs)	Automation, strict rate-limits, multi-region	High-volume pool (1,000+ IPs), geo-targeting

Why Use GoProxy Rotating Proxies?

GoProxy’s rotating residential proxies are built to tackle scraping challenges head-on:

Single Endpoint, Auto Rotation: One URL handles everything—no juggling multiple proxy addresses.

Avoid IP Bans & Captchas: Requests spread across thousands of IPs keep you under the radar.

Geo-Targeted Metadata: Access region-specific data by tweaking endpoint settings (e.g., ?zone=JP for Japan).

Consistent Throughput: Steady performance without manual tweaking.

For example, a user scraping 200 SNES ROMs from ScreenScraper.fr might hit a rate limit after 50 requests with a single IP. With GoProxy, the IP rotates automatically, keeping the process smooth.

Top Tools for Scraping Games

Choose the right tool based on your setup:

Skraper  

Best For: Beginners and Pegasus frontend users.  

Source: ScreenScraper.fr.  

Setup Time: ~2 hours initially, 5-10 seconds later.  

Features: Free, beta-phase tool with visual customization (themes, media types like 2D boxart or videos).

RetroPie Scrapers  

Best For: RetroPie users with technical know-how.  

Options:  

• EmulationStation Built-In: Simple, uses TheGamesDB.net and ScreenScraper.fr.  
• Steven Selph’s Scraper: Over 30 customization options.  
• Skyscraper: Advanced caching and multiple sources (e.g., MobyGames, OpenRetro.org).

Setup Time: Varies, often quicker after initial install via RetroPie-Setup.

Note: ScreenScraper.fr often throttles unregistered users or blocks IPs during peak times—proxies are a must.

Step 1: Choose and Download Your Tool

Skraper:  

Visit Skraper.net, download for your OS (e.g., Windows), and unzip. Launch SkraperUI.exe. First load takes ~2 hours—perfect time for a break!

RetroPie:  

Access RetroPie-Setup, navigate to “Manage Optional Packages,” and install Steven Selph’s Scraper or Skyscraper.

Proxy Tip: If the download site is blocked, use a proxy server set to a region like the US or EU.

Step 2: Pick a Rotating Proxy Plan

Match your needs:

Plan	Best For	Rotating IPs	Geo-Zones	Sticky Sessions
Starter	10–50 ROMs	100	Basic	No
Advanced	50–500 ROMs	500	Yes	Optional
Enterprise	500+ ROMs	1,000+	Full	Yes

Editor’s Tip: Use the single endpoint http://USER:[email protected]:10000—no code changes needed.

Click here to check all rotating residential proxy plans. Plus, unlimited traffic plans for your scale needs.

Step 3: Integrate GoProxy

CLI tools(RetroPie)

bash

 

export HTTP_PROXY="http://USER:[email protected]:10000"

export HTTPS_PROXY="http://USER:[email protected]:10000"

Skraper GUI

1. Open Settings → Network.

2. Enter proxy endpoint and credentials.

3. Test and confirm >10 KB/s throughput

Step 4: Prepare ROM Folder

Create folders by system:

bash

 

C:/roms/nes/

C:/roms/snes/

C:/roms/ps1/

Ensure consistent file extensions (.nes, .snes, .bin, etc.)

Step 5: Configure & Run Your Scraper

Skraper: Click Start Scraping, then view progress via the “dove” icon.

CLI (Skyscraper example):

bash

 

skyscraper gather

skyscraper generate

Step 6: Verify & Retry Failures

Skraper: Use the “retry” option for missing items.

CLI: Add --only_missing to fill in gaps.

Step 7: Automate Updates

Set a cron job:

cron

 

0 3 * * * HTTP_PROXY=http://USER:[email protected]:10000 \

  sselph-scraper --only_missing

Step 8: Cache Maintenance

Clear when needed:

bash

 

skyscraper purge --all

Further Tips

Start Small: Test 10 ROMs first to get the hang of it.

Backup ROMs: Scraping’s safe, but backups are smarter.  

Monitor Proxy Speed: Slow proxies drag—swap if needed.  

RetroPie Users: Keep ROMs under 500 to avoid boot lag.  

Pre-Cache Releases: Run scrapes 12 hours before big drops.  

Geo Sampling: Add ?zone=JP,EU,US to hit multiple regions.  

Quality Check: Script a Python alert for missing art.

Final Thoughts

Scraping games doesn’t have to be daunting. With tools like Skraper or RetroPie scrapers, you can sidestep rate limits, bans, and blocks while building a stunning library tailored to your setup in hours. Follow these steps, tweak as you go, and level up your retro gaming experience today! Ready to dive in? Grab GoProxy’s 7-day free trial now—or a 1-hour unlimited traffic trial for just $20. Your dream library awaits!