Physica - Physical Game Cartridges for Linux

🎮 Welcome to PHYSICA!

Physica brings the nostalgic experience of physical game cartridges to modern PC gaming. Each cartridge is a self-contained, portable package with the game, saves, and Wine prefix—plug it in, play your game, unplug it, and take it anywhere.

🐧 Made for Linux! Works seamlessly on Arch, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, and the Steam Deck.

✨ Features

🔌 Plug-and-Play

Insert cartridge, game auto-launches

💾 Portable Saves

Save files sync automatically to the cartridge

⏱️ Playtime Tracking

Track hours played per game

🎨 Memory Card Manager UI

Beautiful GTK4 interface inspired by classic console memory card managers

📦 Self-Contained

Each cartridge includes game files, saves, and Wine prefix

🔔 Toast Notifications

Visual feedback for all cartridge events

⬇️ Download

Latest Version: v1.1.1

Quick Start:

# 1. Clone or download
git clone https://github.com/parkerHurst/Physica.git
cd Physica

# 2. Run installer
./install.sh

# 3. Start service
physica-service

# 4. Launch GUI (in new terminal)
physica

🌟 View on GitHub 📦 Download Release

📋 Requirements

OS: Linux (Arch, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Steam Deck)

Python: 3.11+

Desktop: GTK4 + libadwaita

Dependencies: See requirements.txt in project

Install System Dependencies

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install python3-dev python3-gi python3-dbus \
  python3-cairo python3-pyudev libgtk-4-1 libadwaita-1-0 \
  e2fsprogs udisks2

Arch/Manjaro:

sudo pacman -S python-gobject python-dbus python-cairo \
  python-pyudev gtk4 libadwaita e2fsprogs udisks2

Fedora:

sudo dnf install python3-gobject python3-dbus python3-cairo \
  python3-pyudev gtk4 libadwaita e2fsprogs udisks2

📚 Documentation

Creating Your First Game Cartridge

Launch the GTK app: physica
Click the "Format New Cartridge" card
Follow the wizard:
- Select your game directory
- Select a USB drive
- USB will be automatically formatted and prepared
- Game files will be copied to the cartridge
Done! Your cartridge will appear in the library

Using Physica

Auto-Launch Mode:

Insert a game cartridge (USB drive with .gamecard/ structure)
Wait 2 seconds
Game launches automatically! 🎮
Play your game
Exit the game - saves sync back to the cartridge
Eject the cartridge safely

Cartridge Structure

/media/username/CARTRIDGE_NAME/
├── .gamecard/
│   └── metadata.toml
├── game/
├── savedata/
└── (Wine prefix stored locally)

✦ PHYSICA ✦