Tokens
Tokens are physical objects that trigger actions in Zaparoo. Writable tokens hold a small piece of text, like a game title or ZapScript command, not the game itself. Read-only tokens, such as some NFC toys or product barcodes, can be matched to ZapScript with mappings. When you scan a token on a reader, Zaparoo reads the token data and runs the matching action.
The most common tokens are NFC cards, but Zaparoo also supports QR codes, barcodes, and NFC toys like Amiibo figures.
From left: cards by Karl Fayeton from Community Showcase #5, then NFC coins by Foolz and floppy-style tokens by Suiren from Community Showcase #6.
The Zaparoo Shop stocks premium NFC cards with pre-printed designs ready to use with Zaparoo.
Token types
| Token | Storage | Writable | Reader needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFC tags | 48–888 bytes | Yes | NFC reader | Cards, stickers, key fobs |
| PCB cards | NFC sticker | Yes | NFC reader | Custom PCBs with NFC stickers |
| NFC toys | UID | No (mapped) | NFC reader | Amiibo, Skylanders, and similar |
| QR codes | Text or URL | Printable | App, camera, or scanner | Free to create, no special hardware |
| Barcodes | Barcode value | Printable | App or barcode scanner | Works with existing product barcodes |
Using tokens on multiple devices
The token's contents determine how portable it is:
@System/Titleis the preferred cross-device format. Each device resolves the title against its own indexed library, so filenames and folder layouts can differ.- A relative system/path token can work on another device when both devices use compatible internal folder structures.
- An absolute filesystem path is generally specific to one device and platform.
- Mappings live on Core rather than the physical token. The same mapping must exist on each destination device or be transferred through a backup.
The destination device still needs compatible media and a launcher for the requested system. See ZapScript path formats for examples and matching behavior.
Storage
We have recommendations for storing tokens in fun and convenient ways, like cassette cases and Nintendo Switch replacement cases.