If you play older games, you know input lag. It’s that tiny delay between pressing a button and seeing the character move on screen. On old CRT TVs, this was virtually non-existent. On modern digital displays, it can be frustrating.

RetroArch has a feature called "Run Ahead" that solves this. Essentially, it emulates the game a few frames ahead, saves the state, and then loads it instantly when you press a button. It effectively reduces lag to zero.

The downside? It requires a powerful CPU. You might not be able to run this on a budget handheld, but on a PC or Steam Deck, it’s a must-enable feature for action-heavy games like Mega Man or Street Fighter. It makes tight jumps feel responsive again.

Call to Action: Read our detailed guide on "How to Configure Run Ahead" to squeeze every millisecond of performance out of your setup.