The best retro gaming console is the one you already own. Any old hand-me-down or thrift office PC can handle the majority of retro titles, as can most consoles with custom firmware.
If you already own anything from the DS-3DS-PSP-Vita lineups you should be looking into making the most of the hardware you already own.
That being said, my partner is very happy with their Deck, and I’m pretty pleased with my RG351V running ArkOS. I’ve also been very happy with running my RP3B+ with Retropie.
But to be very honest, I don’t do a damn thing that my gaming PC two builds ago, and my PSP1000 I’ve had since high school wouldn’t be able to handle with flying colors.
The best retro gaming console is the one you already own.
As a former user of the original Retroid Pocket 2 I strongly disagree.
Many handhelds after that one improved a ton IMHO.
Currently I am settled for up to PSX games with my Miyoo Mini and my Anbernic RG351v, but I still want a more capable one, GCN, Wii and PS2 would be desirable.
I was more making a point about people already owning capable machines in regards to the consoles, PCs, old smartphones etc they already own being capable emulation machines.
Someone should try and rule out what they already have before buying one of the SBC-style handhelds. It’s more economical, prevents more e-waste, reparability is way more accessible on other hardware than SBCs, etc.
PS2, GC, Wii compatibility is a good point. The only argument I have against that is just going to devolve into Old Man Yells At Clouds so I’ll let you win on that.
Yeah I hear you, you got some good points, actually I would recommend for everyone who is very doubtful about this niche market to use their Android phone with a controller, that way they get a glance of what the experience would be (and any current phone is powerful enough to run plenty of stuff tbh).
Good to see that hall effect analog sticks are starting to become mainstream.
Steam Deck for me. Though I do like the idea of the really tiny retro handhelds. The Deck is super comfortable though, and with EmuDeck it’s an absolute joy for emulation.
My Steamdeck is my preferred method of handheld gaming. Works amazingly.
The only problem is the size. I’m 6’3 with large hands and it fits me perfectly, but my wife is 5’2 and has to buy children’s gloves, so she can’t use it.
Great device but a bit big for my pocket :)
Cargo pants!
Yeah, I don’t have a spare $300-500 on me.
LPT: buy the base model. You can get a matte screen protector and a 1TB ssd for like $150. It’s stupid easy to replace the ssd.
Okay, but, again, I don’t have the cash for something that expensive. Even the base model is $400.
My steam deck is kinda perfect for retro gaming. But this handheld looks neat too, so I might check it out.
Vita for me, does everything I want.
I love following these Chinese handhelds but there is always one deal-breaker which turns me off in each device. Maybe they’ll get it right one day.
I owned a GP2x back in the day, that was a fun device at the time. Playing portable SNES was unheard of but I could do it.
Same, I’ve been dabbling in these handhelds for about a year or so now and I always tend to go right back to the Vita, it’s such a solid device.
Same here! It has wonderful buttons, a gorgeous screen, long battery life, comfy form factor (compared to other handhelds, at least), plus is powerful enough to handle anything I’d want to use it for. If/when I pick up a Steam Deck I suspect I’ll use that more, but for pocket-sized handhelds the vita can’t be beat imo.
I also had a GP2x. Would be nice to play with it still but unfortunately it doesn’t turn on anymore. No idea what’s wrong with it. Though it also had a rubbish joystick so would need to fix that too in order to make it playable.
Mine has a similar problem, it would turn on under AC power but not battery. Maybe capacitors? I’m not sure I still have it anymore.
The joystick was terrible I agree. I loved the mods people did adding the Neo Geo Pocket joystick or a d-pad but they looked too difficult for me.
GP2X? That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.
Wiat, I have a vita, how do I get retro games on it? Specifically snes games.
https://vita.hacks.guide/ has all the info you need to hack your vita. From there just install retroarch, put your roms on, and you’re good to go.
To be honest I am extremely happy with my N3DS and Steam Deck. The second can let me change between a 40 years old game in a game released last month in a few seconds.
I use the Retroid Pocket 3, but I really just want something in the same form factor that can reliably emulate GameCube.
That’s what I’m holding out for too. Once they can reliably emulate 99% of the GC catalog I’m in. I’m saving up so I may be at the steam deck price before that happens. Lol.
If anyone is interested, I have a magazine on kbin dedicated to retroid devices.
Shame it’s android only
Not really. Android has been doing great in terms of emulation.
Why? You can install Dajisho and it’s great.
I just prefer an open source Linux/community supported OS so my handheld won’t be left to die like my old Nvidia Shield Portable.
I’m not dissing Retroid devices but the Android only thing puts me off buying one
I agree with you, this turns me off buying any of these devices too. I look after my stuff and keep it for a long time, so I don’t want something the manufacturer is going to forget about and never update again after 6 months.
Yeah that makes sense. On the other hand I see drivers are more optimized for android. I have an orange Pi Zero 2 that does both android and Armbian, the android versions are much more efficient than the Linux ones.
I don’t think there will ever be a perfect OS or hardware in this marketplace. Everyone is chasing a white whale. I’ve been doing it since the GP32x and I’d buy every damn device that came out if I didn’t have some rules for myself.
I’ve currently got the Miyoo Mini which is great but a bit too tiny for me. So I went and got the MM+ which seems perfect for now at least…….
Currently using my hand-me-down vita from my bro, jailbroken and set up with the slew of homebrews and plugins. I ordered two Anbernic devices two weeks ago but honestly vita is just an emulation heaven, the hardware and button layout is perfect for playing Kirby games. One downside is that my left analog started having drifting issues. Plugins like retroVita works to some extent, other than disabling the stick completely.
I’m open to any advice for fixing it aside from replacing it completely (Im living remotely so I don’t have access to a good fixer and I don’t really trust myself to do on my own)
You can get replacement joysticks on AliExpress. Apparently it’s not a difficult swap. Look up guides on iFixIt or YouTube. Make sure you get the correct stick for your device, 1000 or 2000.
Hacked Wii U gang checking in!
There are dozens of us! Ripped all my GC discs on my Wii and installed them on my Wii U. Such an incredible homebrew scene.
My preferred handheld is the only one I’ve got: RG35XX, the only thing, I play a lot of, that it struggles with is Future Cop LAPD.
I’ll eventually upgrade when a relatively flawless PS2 device hits my relatively low budget, or I get a Steam Deck. Until then I have other money sinks.
I have a RG35XX and a RG353M. I feel guilty about it, but I typically prefer playing on the XX and have to force myself to use the M sometimes. The XX is a great device even if it lacks some power.
I’m happy with my RP3+. Surprisingly, I mostly use it to stream PC & PS5 games.
But the retro games are all there when I decide to quit playing Yakuza Kiwami…
I like being able to do both those things too. Stream when possible. Local otherwise
My RP2+ is…dying. 😭 Paint is dinged and chipped, sticks drift, and the R1 button just…stopped working. I’m not dying to upgrade to a 3+, so this is right up my alley. Better analog stick placement, and hull sensor analog sticks fix my two main complaints I had with the 2+.
