GameDiary

GameDiary is a free playtime tracker for owners of a PSP running custom firmware. It is best for players who want automatic records across PSP games and PS1 classics, not a tracker for a broader modern library.

Overview

A kernel-mode plugin records play sessions in the background, while a separate PSP application displays per-game and library-wide playtime, session history, and activity graphs. Coverage includes native PSP games and PS1 classics running through POPS, making it a focused way to keep a record across both formats without manually logging sessions.

The plugin extracts icons from EBOOTs and ISOs. Game data, session logs, settings, and icons are stored on the Memory Stick in ms0:/PSP/COMMON/GameDiary/; the PSP application can export a backup.json file for use with the web tools.

Key features

The web tools add a visual editor for game sessions and a utility for merging backups from multiple Memory Sticks or PSP consoles. That is useful for correcting a record or consolidating play histories, but the workflow depends on exporting a backup from the PSP first. The responsive interface can be opened on a PC or smartphone.

The interface supports English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, German, French, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese, and detects language from PSP settings. A community-maintained compatibility list covers tested UMDs, PS1 games, and homebrew. Some homebrew that overwrites RAM boundaries or uses custom interrupts can temporarily interrupt tracking intervals; the status overlay may also briefly cause flicker or visual artifacts in some games.

Pricing

GameDiary is free under the MIT License. There is no paid tier to unlock the tracking or web tools, making it a straightforward option for compatible PSP owners who want a no-cost, open-source tracker.

Platforms

The core tracker runs on PlayStation Portable models 1000, 2000, 3000, and Go, with custom firmware and a Memory Stick or MicroSD-to-Memory-Stick adapter required. GameDiary also covers PS1 classics through POPS and PSP homebrew, subject to the tracking interruptions noted above. Its web tools are accessible from a PC or smartphone using the exported backup file; they do not replace the PSP app or remove the hardware requirements.

The GitHub release provides a standard ZIP containing the PRX plugin and EBOOT application, plus a separate debug ZIP that generates diagnostic text logs.

Who it's for

Choose GameDiary if you own a compatible PSP, already use custom firmware, and want automatic session tracking with library statistics and a way to edit or merge backups. It is not the right fit if you want tracking across current PC or mobile games, or if installing custom firmware and managing Memory Stick files is outside your comfort zone.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Automatic tracking covers native PSP games and PS1 classics through POPS, so both can contribute to one play history.
• Pros: Session history, activity graphs, and per-game and total-library playtime give more context than a simple cumulative counter.
• Pros: The editor and backup merger help repair or combine records, including across multiple PSP consoles.
• Cons: Custom firmware and specific PSP hardware are mandatory, sharply limiting its audience.
• Cons: Certain homebrew can temporarily pause tracking, and the status overlay may cause brief visual artifacts.
• Cons: Web editing and merging require a backup export from the PSP app rather than working directly with live data.

Alternatives

For a tracker spanning desktop platforms rather than PSP hardware, Actually Played is a free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows, focused on client-side Minecraft tracking without dependencies. PlayTracker is a better fit for a cross-platform gaming audience: it supports Android, iOS, web, and Windows, with a free gamer plan and a €12-per-month Indie plan that includes game stats and estimates and full Insight graph detail.

If your tracking need is tied to one game, Arknights: Endfield Playtime Tracker is free on web and Windows and targets Arknights: Endfield. Outplayed is a Windows alternative with a free Core plan that includes three months of Outplayed.tv hosting and a Premium plan with unlimited hosting, ad removal, layout customization, and enhanced fullscreen mode.

On iOS, GamePal offers a free download, with some features requiring Platinum; its monthly Platinum plan is $2.99 a month. For Windows users, GamingGaiden is another free option, while Game Time Manager is free and open source, with Windows 10 and 11 as its tested systems. PlayCounter is also a free Windows option; its desktop client is MIT-licensed, while production API, migrations, and deployment code are maintained privately.

Verdict

GameDiary is a strong specialist choice for PSP owners with custom firmware who want automatic tracking across PSP and POPS games, backed by useful session statistics and backup tools. Its focused coverage and free MIT-licensed release are compelling, but the hardware and firmware prerequisites—and occasional tracking or display interruptions—make a broader tracker the better choice for players outside that niche.