diff --git a/platforms/_registry.yml b/platforms/_registry.yml
index 2da6ff0a..12584541 100644
--- a/platforms/_registry.yml
+++ b/platforms/_registry.yml
@@ -213,201 +213,6 @@ platforms:
     schedule: monthly
     target_scraper: null
     target_source: null
-    cores:
-    - '2048'
-    - '81'
-    - a5200
-    - advancemame
-    - amiberry
-    - applewin
-    - arduous
-    - atari800
-    - b2
-    - beebem
-    - bk
-    - bluemsx
-    - boom3
-    - bsnes
-    - bsneshd
-    - cannonball
-    - cap32
-    - cdi2015
-    - corsixth
-    - craft
-    - crocods
-    - daphne
-    - desmume
-    - dice
-    - dinothawr
-    - dirksimple
-    - dolphin
-    - dolphin-gui
-    - dosbox
-    - dosbox_pure
-    - duckstation
-    - easyrpg
-    - ecwolf
-    - emuscv
-    - fake08
-    - fba2x
-    - fbneo
-    - fceumm
-    - flycast
-    - flycast-next
-    - fmsx
-    - freechaf
-    - freeintv
-    - frotz
-    - fuse
-    - gambatte
-    - gearcoleco
-    - geargrafx
-    - gearsystem
-    - genesisplusgx
-    - genesisplusgx_ex
-    - genesisplusgxwide
-    - geolith
-    - glide64mk2
-    - gliden64
-    - gliden64_20
-    - gong
-    - gpsp
-    - gsplus
-    - gw
-    - handy
-    - hatari
-    - hatarib
-    - holani
-    - imageviewer
-    - julius
-    - kronos
-    - lowresnx
-    - lutro
-    - mame
-    - mame0258
-    - mame0278
-    - mame2000
-    - mame2003
-    - mame2003_plus
-    - mame2010
-    - mame2015
-    - mame2016
-    - mamemess
-    - mednafen_lynx
-    - mednafen_ngp
-    - mednafen_pce_fast
-    - mednafen_pcfx
-    - mednafen_psx
-    - mednafen_psx_hw
-    - mednafen_saturn
-    - mednafen_supafaust
-    - mednafen_supergrafx
-    - mednafen_vb
-    - mednafen_wswan
-    - melonds
-    - mesen
-    - mesen_s
-    - meteor
-    - mgba
-    - minivmac
-    - mojozork
-    - moonlight
-    - mrboom
-    - mu
-    - mupen64plus
-    - mupen64plus_next
-    - n64_gles2
-    - neocd
-    - nestopia
-    - np2kai
-    - nxengine
-    - o2em
-    - openbor
-    - openlara
-    - opera
-    - oricutron
-    - parallel_n64
-    - pcsx2
-    - pcsx_rearmed
-    - pico8
-    - picodrive
-    - pisnes
-    - pokemini
-    - potator
-    - ppsspp
-    - prboom
-    - prosystem
-    - ps2
-    - puae
-    - px68k
-    - quasi88
-    - quicknes
-    - race
-    - rb5000
-    - reicast
-    - reminiscence
-    - retro8
-    - retrodream
-    - rice
-    - rice_gles2
-    - same_cdi
-    - sameboy
-    - sameduck
-    - scummvm
-    - sdlpop
-    - simcoupe
-    - snes9x
-    - snes9x2002
-    - snes9x2005
-    - snes9x2010
-    - solarus
-    - stella
-    - stella2014
-    - stonesoup
-    - supermodel
-    - swanstation
-    - tamalibretro
-    - tgbdual
-    - theodore
-    - thepowdertoy
-    - ti99sim
-    - tic80
-    - tyrquake
-    - uae4all
-    - uae4arm
-    - uzem
-    - vecx
-    - vice_x128
-    - vice_x64
-    - vice_x64sc
-    - vice_xcbm2
-    - vice_xcbm5x0
-    - vice_xpet
-    - vice_xplus4
-    - vice_xscpu64
-    - vice_xvic
-    - virtualjaguar
-    - vitaquake2
-    - vitaquake3
-    - vitavoyager
-    - vpinball
-    - vvvvvv
-    - wasm4
-    - x1
-    - x128
-    - x64
-    - x64sx
-    - xcbm2
-    - xcbm5x0
-    - xemu
-    - xpet
-    - xplus4
-    - xrick
-    - xroar
-    - xscpu64
-    - xvic
-    - yabasanshiro
-    - yabause
     install:
       detect:
       - os: linux
diff --git a/platforms/recalbox.yml b/platforms/recalbox.yml
index 490d517b..297390a6 100644
--- a/platforms/recalbox.yml
+++ b/platforms/recalbox.yml
@@ -6,112 +6,262 @@ base_destination: bios
 hash_type: md5
 verification_mode: md5
 cores:
+- "2048"
+- "81"
+- a5200
+- advancemame
 - amiberry
+- applewin
+- arduous
+- atari800
+- b2
+- beebem
+- bk
+- bluemsx
+- boom3
+- bsnes
+- bsneshd
+- cannonball
+- cap32
+- cdi2015
+- corsixth
+- craft
+- crocods
+- daphne
+- desmume
+- dice
+- dinothawr
+- dirksimple
 - dolphin
+- dolphin-gui
+- dosbox
+- dosbox_pure
 - duckstation
+- easyrpg
+- ecwolf
+- eightyone
+- emuscv
+- exel-hence
+- fake08
+- fba2x
+- fbneo
+- fceumm
+- flycast
+- flycast-next
+- fmsx
+- freechaf
+- freeintv
+- frotz
+- fuse
+- gambatte
+- gearcoleco
+- geargrafx
+- gearsystem
+- genesisplusgx
+- genesisplusgx_ex
+- genesisplusgxwide
+- geolith
+- glide64mk2
+- gliden64
+- gliden64_20
+- gong
+- gpsp
 - gsplus
+- gw
+- handy
 - hatari
-- libretro-hatari
-- libretro/ mame2003-plus
-- libretro/a5200
-- libretro/amiberry
-- libretro/atari800
-- libretro/bk
-- libretro/bluemsx
-- libretro/bsnes
-- libretro/bsnes-hd
-- libretro/cdi2015
-- libretro/desmume
-- libretro/dolphin
-- libretro/emuscv
-- libretro/fba2x
-- libretro/fbneo
-- libretro/fceumm
-- libretro/flycast
-- libretro/fmsx
-- libretro/freechaf
-- libretro/freeintv
-- libretro/fuse
-- libretro/gambatte
-- libretro/gearcoleco
-- libretro/geargrafx
-- libretro/gearsystem
-- libretro/genesisplusgx
-- libretro/genesisplusgxwide
-- libretro/geolith
-- libretro/gpsp
-- libretro/handy
-- libretro/hatari
-- libretro/kronos
-- libretro/mame2000
-- libretro/mame2003
-- libretro/mame2003-plus
-- libretro/mame2010
-- libretro/mame2015
-- libretro/mednafen_lynx
-- libretro/mednafen_pce_fast
-- libretro/mednafen_psx
-- libretro/mednafen_psx_hw
-- libretro/mednafen_saturn
-- libretro/mednafen_stv
-- libretro/mednafen_supergrafx
-- libretro/melonds
-- libretro/mesen
-- libretro/mesen_s
-- libretro/meteor
-- libretro/mgba
-- libretro/minivmac
-- libretro/mu
-- libretro/mupen64plus_next
-- libretro/neocd
-- libretro/nestopia
-- libretro/np2kai
-- libretro/o2em
-- libretro/opera
-- libretro/parallel_n64
-- libretro/pcfx
-- libretro/pcsx2
-- libretro/pcsx_rearmed
-- libretro/picodrive
-- libretro/pokemini
-- libretro/prosystem
-- libretro/px68k
-- libretro/quasi88
-- libretro/same_cdi
-- libretro/sameboy
-- libretro/scummvm
-- libretro/snes9x
-- libretro/swanstation
-- libretro/uae
-- libretro/uae4all
-- libretro/uae4arm
-- libretro/vice_x128
-- libretro/vice_x64
-- libretro/vice_x64sc
-- libretro/xmil
-- libretro/xscpu64
-- libretro/yabasanshiro
-- libretro/yabause
+- hatarib
+- holani
+- hypseus_singe
+- imageviewer
+- julius
+- kronos
+- lowresnx
+- lutro
+- m2000
+- mame0258
+- mame0278
+- mame2000
+- mame2003
+- mame2003_plus
+- mame2010
+- mame2015
+- mame2016
+- mednafen_lynx
+- mednafen_ngp
+- mednafen_pce_fast
+- mednafen_pcfx
+- mednafen_psx
+- mednafen_psx_hw
+- mednafen_saturn
+- mednafen_stv
+- mednafen_supafaust
+- mednafen_supergrafx
+- mednafen_vb
+- mednafen_wswan
+- melonds
+- mesen
+- mesen_s
+- meteor
+- mgba
+- minivmac
+- mojozork
+- moonlight
+- mrboom
+- mu
+- mupen64plus
+- mupen64plus_next
+- n64_gles2
+- neocd
+- nestopia
+- np2kai
+- nxengine
+- o2em
+- openbor
+- openlara
+- opera
 - oricutron
+- parallel_n64
 - pcsx2
+- pcsx_rearmed
+- pd777
+- pico8
+- picodrive
+- pisnes
+- pokemini
+- potator
+- ppsspp
+- prboom
+- prosystem
+- ps2
+- puae
+- puae2021
+- px68k
+- quasi88
+- quicknes
+- race
+- rb5000
 - reicast
+- reminiscence
+- retro8
+- retrodream
+- rice
+- rice_gles2
+- same_cdi
+- sameboy
+- sameduck
 - scummvm
+- sdlpop
+- simcoupe
+- snes9x
+- snes9x2002
+- snes9x2005
+- snes9x2010
+- solarus
+- stella
+- stella2014
+- stonesoup
+- sugarbox2
+- supermodel
+- swanstation
+- tamalibretro
+- tgbdual
+- theodore
+- thepowdertoy
 - ti99sim
+- tic80
+- tyrquake
+- uae4all
+- uae4arm
+- uzem
+- vecx
+- vice
+- vice_x128
+- vice_x64
+- vice_x64sc
+- vice_xcbm2
+- vice_xcbm5x0
+- vice_xpet
+- vice_xplus4
+- vice_xscpu64
+- vice_xvic
+- vircon32
+- virtualjaguar
+- vitaquake2
+- vitaquake3
+- vitavoyager
+- vpinball
+- vvvvvv
+- wasm4
+- x1
+- x128
+- x64
+- x64sx
+- xcbm2
+- xcbm5x0
 - xemu
+- xpet
+- xplus4
+- xrick
 - xroar
+- xscpu64
+- xvic
+- yabasanshiro
+- yabause
+- ymir
 standalone_cores:
+- advancemame
 - amiberry
+- beebem
+- corsixth
+- daphne
 - dolphin
+- dolphin-gui
+- dosbox
 - duckstation
+- fba2x
+- frotz
+- glide64mk2
+- gliden64
+- gliden64_20
 - gsplus
 - hatari
+- julius
+- moonlight
+- mupen64plus
+- n64_gles2
+- openbor
+- openlara
 - oricutron
 - pcsx2
+- pcsx_rearmed
+- pico8
+- pisnes
+- ppsspp
+- rb5000
 - reicast
+- rice
+- rice_gles2
 - scummvm
+- sdlpop
+- simcoupe
+- solarus
+- supermodel
 - ti99sim
+- vice
+- vpinball
+- vvvvvv
+- x128
+- x64
+- x64sx
+- xcbm2
+- xcbm5x0
 - xemu
+- xpet
+- xplus4
 - xroar
+- xscpu64
+- xvic
 systems:
   commodore-amiga:
     files:
diff --git a/scripts/scraper/recalbox_scraper.py b/scripts/scraper/recalbox_scraper.py
index 22bfc1fb..62173df7 100644
--- a/scripts/scraper/recalbox_scraper.py
+++ b/scripts/scraper/recalbox_scraper.py
@@ -99,11 +99,58 @@ SYSTEM_SLUG_MAP = {
 }
 
 
-def split_cores(names) -> tuple[list[str], list[str]]:
-    """(every core name, the standalone ones) from es_bios.xml ``core`` values."""
-    cores = {name for name in names if name}
-    standalone = {name for name in cores if not name.startswith("libretro")}
-    return sorted(cores), sorted(standalone)
+SYSTEMS_TREE_URL = (
+    "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/recalbox%2Frecalbox/repository/tree"
+    "?path=package/recalbox-romfs2/systems&ref={tag}&per_page=100&page={page}"
+)
+SYSTEM_INI_URL = (
+    "https://gitlab.com/recalbox/recalbox/-/raw/{tag}"
+    "/package/recalbox-romfs2/systems/{system}/system.ini"
+)
+
+
+def system_ini_cores(text: str) -> tuple[set[str], set[str]]:
+    """The cores one Recalbox system.ini offers, and those run standalone.
+
+    Each ``[core.N]`` section (or its board override ``[core.N.<board>]``)
+    names an ``emulator`` and a ``core``: ``libretro`` with the core's name,
+    or a standalone emulator. es_bios.xml only names the cores that need a
+    BIOS, so read alone it left most of Recalbox's cores outside the pack.
+    """
+    import re
+
+    # Recalbox's .ini files are not strict INI (a value can run on a bare
+    # line), so only sections and key = value lines are read.
+    sections: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {}
+    current: dict[str, str] | None = None
+    for raw in text.splitlines():
+        line = raw.strip()
+        if not line or line.startswith((";", "#")):
+            continue
+        header = re.fullmatch(r"\[([^\]]+)\]", line)
+        if header:
+            current = sections.setdefault(header.group(1).strip(), {})
+            continue
+        if current is not None and "=" in line:
+            key, value = line.split("=", 1)
+            current[key.strip()] = value.strip().strip('"')
+    cores: set[str] = set()
+    standalone: set[str] = set()
+    for section, values in sections.items():
+        if not re.fullmatch(r"core\.\d+(\.[\w-]+)?", section):
+            continue
+        emulator = values.get("emulator", "")
+        core = values.get("core", "")
+        if emulator == "libretro":
+            if core:
+                cores.add(core)
+        elif emulator:
+            cores.add(emulator)
+            standalone.add(emulator)
+            if core and core != emulator:
+                cores.add(core)
+                standalone.add(core)
+    return cores, standalone
 
 
 class Scraper(BaseScraper):
@@ -114,20 +161,46 @@ class Scraper(BaseScraper):
         super().__init__(url=SOURCE_URL.format(tag=self.tag))
 
     def _fetch_cores(self) -> tuple[list[str], list[str]]:
-        """Core names from es_bios.xml, and those Recalbox runs standalone.
+        """Every core Recalbox's systems offer, and those it runs standalone.
 
-        The ``core`` attribute writes a libretro core as ``libretro/<name>``
-        and a standalone emulator by its bare name (``dolphin``, ``pcsx2``,
-        ``xemu``), so the prefix is the build mode. One entry spells
-        ``libretro-hatari``; a name that starts with ``libretro`` is a core.
+        Read from each system.ini of recalbox-romfs2 at the scraped tag: the
+        systems ES lists and the cores a user can pick for each.
         """
-        raw = self._fetch_raw()
-        root = parse_untrusted_xml(raw, "es_bios.xml")
-        return split_cores(
-            part.strip()
-            for bios_elem in root.findall(".//system/bios")
-            for part in bios_elem.get("core", "").split(",")
-        )
+        import json
+        import urllib.error
+        import urllib.request
+
+        def get(url: str) -> bytes:
+            req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"User-Agent": "retrobios-scraper/1.0"})
+            try:
+                with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=30) as resp:
+                    return resp.read()
+            except urllib.error.URLError as e:
+                raise ConnectionError(f"Failed to fetch {url}: {e}") from e
+
+        systems: list[str] = []
+        page = 1
+        while True:
+            listing = json.loads(get(SYSTEMS_TREE_URL.format(tag=self.tag, page=page)))
+            systems += [
+                item["name"] for item in listing
+                if item.get("type") == "tree" and not item["name"].startswith(".")
+            ]
+            if len(listing) < 100:
+                break
+            page += 1
+        if not systems:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"no Recalbox system found at {self.tag}")
+        cores: set[str] = set()
+        standalone: set[str] = set()
+        for system in systems:
+            text = get(SYSTEM_INI_URL.format(tag=self.tag, system=system)).decode("utf-8")
+            found, alone = system_ini_cores(text)
+            cores |= found
+            standalone |= alone
+        if not cores:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"no core in Recalbox's system.ini files at {self.tag}")
+        return sorted(cores), sorted(standalone)
 
     def fetch_requirements(self) -> list[BiosRequirement]:
         """Parse es_bios.xml and return BIOS requirements."""
diff --git a/tests/test_scraper_contract.py b/tests/test_scraper_contract.py
index 16b38f8a..920634ed 100644
--- a/tests/test_scraper_contract.py
+++ b/tests/test_scraper_contract.py
@@ -219,23 +219,45 @@ class RetroPiePackageList(unittest.TestCase):
 
 
 class RecalboxBuildMode(unittest.TestCase):
-    """es_bios.xml names a libretro core as libretro/<name> and a standalone
-    emulator by its bare name: the prefix is the build mode, and a platform
-    that runs an emulator standalone must say so or the pack lays its files
-    out for the libretro build."""
+    """Recalbox's cores come from each system.ini of recalbox-romfs2: a
+    `[core.N]` section names `emulator = "libretro"` with the core, or a
+    standalone emulator. es_bios.xml only names the cores that need a BIOS,
+    so read alone it left most of Recalbox's cores, mame0258 and mame0278
+    among them, outside the pack."""
 
-    def test_bare_names_are_the_standalone_emulators(self):
-        from scraper.recalbox_scraper import split_cores
+    SYSTEM_INI = """\
+[system]
+name = "mame"
+fullname = "MAME"
+  extra line the parser must survive.
 
-        cores, standalone = split_cores(
-            ["libretro/uae", "amiberry", "", "dolphin", "libretro/dolphin", "libretro-hatari", "hatari"]
-        )
-        self.assertEqual(
-            cores,
-            ["amiberry", "dolphin", "hatari", "libretro-hatari", "libretro/dolphin", "libretro/uae"],
-        )
-        self.assertEqual(standalone, ["amiberry", "dolphin", "hatari"])
+[core.0]
+package = BR2_PACKAGE_LIBRETRO_MAME0278
+emulator = "libretro"
+core = "mame0278"
 
+[core.1]
+emulator = "advancemame"
+core = "advancemame"
+
+[core.2.rpi4]
+emulator = "libretro"
+core = "mame2003_plus"
+"""
+
+    def test_libretro_cores_and_standalone_emulators(self):
+        from scraper.recalbox_scraper import system_ini_cores
+
+        cores, standalone = system_ini_cores(self.SYSTEM_INI)
+        self.assertEqual(cores, {"mame0278", "advancemame", "mame2003_plus"})
+        self.assertEqual(standalone, {"advancemame"})
+
+    def test_the_registry_leaves_the_list_to_the_scraper(self):
+        import yaml
+
+        root = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+        registry = yaml.safe_load((root / "platforms" / "_registry.yml").read_text())
+        self.assertNotIn("cores", registry["platforms"]["recalbox"])
 
 
 class UnreadableReleaseStopsTheScrape(unittest.TestCase):