diff --git a/src/common/path_util.cpp b/src/common/path_util.cpp
index 53eb123dc..c736b794c 100644
--- a/src/common/path_util.cpp
+++ b/src/common/path_util.cpp
@@ -176,6 +176,33 @@ void SetUserPath(PathType shad_path, const fs::path& new_path) {
     UserPaths.insert_or_assign(shad_path, new_path);
 }
 
+std::optional<fs::path> FindGameByID(const fs::path& dir, const std::string& game_id, int max_depth) {
+    if (max_depth < 0) {
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    // Check if this is the game we're looking for
+    if (dir.filename() == game_id && fs::exists(dir / "sce_sys" / "param.sfo")) {
+        auto eboot_path = dir / "eboot.bin";
+        if (fs::exists(eboot_path)) {
+            return eboot_path;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Recursively search subdirectories
+    std::error_code ec;
+    for (const auto& entry : fs::directory_iterator(dir, ec)) {
+        if (!entry.is_directory()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (auto found = FindGameByID(entry.path(), game_id, max_depth - 1)) {
+            return found;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return std::nullopt;
+}
+
 #ifdef ENABLE_QT_GUI
 void PathToQString(QString& result, const std::filesystem::path& path) {
 #ifdef _WIN32
diff --git a/src/common/path_util.h b/src/common/path_util.h
index 09b7a3337..e477a7f6b 100644
--- a/src/common/path_util.h
+++ b/src/common/path_util.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <filesystem>
+#include <optional>
 #include <vector>
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_QT_GUI
@@ -115,4 +116,18 @@ void PathToQString(QString& result, const std::filesystem::path& path);
 [[nodiscard]] std::filesystem::path PathFromQString(const QString& path);
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * Recursively searches for a game directory by its ID.
+ * Limits search depth to prevent excessive filesystem traversal.
+ *
+ * @param dir Base directory to start the search from
+ * @param game_id The game ID to search for
+ * @param max_depth Maximum directory depth to search (default: 2)
+ *
+ * @returns Path to eboot.bin if found, std::nullopt otherwise
+ */
+[[nodiscard]] std::optional<std::filesystem::path> FindGameByID(const std::filesystem::path& dir,
+                                                              const std::string& game_id,
+                                                              int max_depth);
+
 } // namespace Common::FS
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index fad3b1f53..6b334e446 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -167,12 +167,12 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
     // Check if the provided path is a valid file
     if (!std::filesystem::exists(eboot_path)) {
-        // If not a file, treat it as a game ID and search in install directories
+        // If not a file, treat it as a game ID and search in install directories recursively
         bool game_found = false;
+        const int max_depth = 5;
         for (const auto& install_dir : Config::getGameInstallDirs()) {
-            const auto candidate_path = install_dir / game_path / "eboot.bin";
-            if (std::filesystem::exists(candidate_path)) {
-                eboot_path = candidate_path;
+            if (auto found_path = Common::FS::FindGameByID(install_dir, game_path, max_depth)) {
+                eboot_path = *found_path;
                 game_found = true;
                 break;
             }
diff --git a/src/qt_gui/main.cpp b/src/qt_gui/main.cpp
index 8babadc35..052f73f25 100644
--- a/src/qt_gui/main.cpp
+++ b/src/qt_gui/main.cpp
@@ -181,12 +181,12 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
         // Check if the provided path is a valid file
         if (!std::filesystem::exists(game_file_path)) {
-            // If not a file, treat it as a game ID and search in install directories
+            // If not a file, treat it as a game ID and search in install directories recursively
             bool game_found = false;
+            const int max_depth = 5;
             for (const auto& install_dir : Config::getGameInstallDirs()) {
-                auto potential_game_path = install_dir / game_path / "eboot.bin";
-                if (std::filesystem::exists(potential_game_path)) {
-                    game_file_path = potential_game_path;
+                if (auto found_path = Common::FS::FindGameByID(install_dir, game_path, max_depth)) {
+                    game_file_path = *found_path;
                     game_found = true;
                     break;
                 }