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).
My Steamdeck is my preferred method of handheld gaming. Works amazingly.
Yeah, I don’t have a spare $300-500 on me.
Great device but a bit big for my pocket :)
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.
I recently picked up the Miyoo Mini+ as well as Retroid pocket flip. Honestly the Miyoo is so much better being Linux based. So much easier to get going. The only thing I prefer the flip is it can play DS games and a handful of gamecube/ps2 games. Its also more comfortable for playing PS1 games. But I have been exclusively picking up the Miyoo Mini+ to play most things. They are both great handhelds, but like I said. The set up for the Miyoo Mini+ was like 5 minutes versus the couple hours its taken me with the Retroid pocket flip.
The Linux devices are fantastic. For Android, are you using Daijisho? It’s an excellent solution
Yes I am! It makes the interface much much nicer. But was another thing I had to set up and get working properly compared to the linux device. It was much more of a project than a pick up and play. Not a bad thing for me but for someone who is new to handhelds, is a good thing to be up front about.
The Miyoo Mini+ is perfect for me. Runs everything I want to play extremely well, and has Wifi for Retro Achievements!
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.
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
love my RG353M, can’t really see how the form factor for a pocketable horizontal device could be improved beyond it, besides a more powerful chip of course.
Maybe the RG405M? I’m super keen on that one
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NDS :)
Imagine an adaptor that connects a second small screen via HDMI. I wonder if the device is capable is sending two different signals to the screen and HDMI port… that would be an instant buy.
Meanwhile I do DS on my iPhone with Delta and an active capacitive stylus.
The Retroid Pocket 2+ is my favorite, and it looks like this one addresses literally every complaint I have about it… That is tempting.
I love the button placement and the Hall effect sticks. But the T610+Mali G52 being under clocked probably resulting in it being 30% slower is disappointing. The price is fantastic, however.
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+.
I love my RG35XX. I’ll stick with this until we have handhelds that can play the full (or at least most) PS2/Gamecube libraries.
