GameDiary

GameDiary is a free PSP playtime tracker for owners who use custom firmware and want automatic records for both PSP games and PS1 classics. Its focus is unusually narrow, but session history, library statistics and web-based backup tools make it a practical fit for managing play records across a PSP collection.

Overview

A kernel-mode plugin tracks sessions in the background, while a user-mode PSP application presents per-game and library-wide playtime, session history and activity graphs. The tracker covers native PSP games and PS1 classics running through POPS. Automatic tracking is useful for players who do not want to remember to log each session, though the project’s scope is firmly tied to PSP play rather than broader gaming activity.

The plugin extracts icons from EBOOTs and ISOs, giving games visual identifiers in the library. The database, logs, settings and icons are stored on the Memory Stick at ms0:/PSP/COMMON/GameDiary/. That keeps the records with the PSP storage setup, while the app’s backup.json export provides the handoff to the web tools.

Key features

The responsive web interface works on a PC or smartphone and includes a visual session editor plus a tool for merging backups from multiple Memory Sticks or PSP consoles. Editing helps when a session record needs correction; merging is particularly useful for owners who move between storage media or devices. Both tools depend on exporting a backup from the PSP app.

The interface supports English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, German, French, Italian, Japanese and Chinese, with its language selected from PSP settings. A community-maintained compatibility list covers tested UMDs, PS1 games and homebrew, which is worth consulting before relying on tracking for a particular library. Some homebrew that overwrites RAM boundaries or uses custom interrupts can temporarily pause tracking intervals. The tracker status overlay may also briefly cause screen flicker or visual artifacts in some games.

Pricing

GameDiary is free, with a free plan for its PSP tracking and web tools. There are no paid tiers to weigh against one another. The project is licensed under the MIT License, and its README invites users to support development through a coffee purchase or crypto donation; those are voluntary support options, not a stated subscription plan.

Platforms

The tracking software runs on PlayStation Portable hardware, including PSP 1000, 2000, 3000 and Go models, and supports PS1 classics through POPS as well as PSP homebrew. Installation requires custom firmware and a Memory Stick or MicroSD-to-MS adapter, so this is not a plug-and-play choice for an unmodified PSP. The project also provides web tools for a PC or smartphone, but they work with a backup exported from the PSP app rather than tracking play directly on those devices.

The GitHub release page offers a standard GameDiary.zip containing the PRX plugin and EBOOT application, as well as a separate debug ZIP that produces diagnostic text logs. The debug build is useful when troubleshooting, while most users will want the standard package.

Who it's for

GameDiary suits PSP owners with compatible custom firmware who want a durable record of play across native PSP titles and POPS-based PS1 games. It is especially relevant to collectors with multiple Memory Sticks or consoles, since the web tools can edit sessions and combine backups. It is a poor fit for players seeking a tracker for current PC or mobile games, or anyone unwilling to install custom firmware.

Pros and cons

Pros: Automatic background tracking covers PSP games and POPS-based PS1 classics, so both can contribute to one play history.

Pros: Per-game and library-wide statistics, session history and activity graphs provide more context than a single total-playtime counter.

Pros: Session editing and backup merging help maintain records across multiple storage devices or PSP consoles.

Cons: Custom firmware and compatible PSP hardware are mandatory, limiting its audience to people prepared to modify and manage a PSP setup.

Cons: Certain homebrew can temporarily interrupt tracking, and the overlay can cause brief visual artifacts in some games.

Alternatives

For tracking across a broader set of devices and games, PlayTracker supports Android, iOS, web and Windows and has a free plan for gamers; its paid Indie plan is €12 per month. Actually Played is a free alternative for Linux, macOS and Windows, with a client-side Minecraft mod and no dependencies, rather than a PSP library tracker. Windows users focused on game capture and hosting can consider Outplayed, whose Core plan includes three months of Outplayed.tv hosting and Premium adds unlimited hosting, ad removal, layout customization and enhanced fullscreen mode.

Arknights: Endfield Playtime Tracker is a free option for Windows and web playtime tracking focused on Arknights: Endfield. iOS users can compare GamePal, which has a free download and optional Platinum plans. For Windows, wWaypoints is another free alternative. GamingGaiden is a free Windows option, while Steins;Tracker offers free Windows game tracking, customization and statistics, with a paid Pro tier for additional icons, themes and features. Browse the Game Playtime Trackers list for more options.

Verdict

Choose GameDiary if you have a compatible PSP with custom firmware and want automatic, consolidated play records for PSP and POPS games. Its strongest case is the combination of background tracking, useful library statistics and backup-editing tools at no cost. Look elsewhere if you need cross-platform tracking for modern games or do not want to configure custom firmware and PSP storage.