GameSauced
Retro Gaming
There are hundreds of retro gaming devices and handhelds on the market today. Some of them are pretty incredible, while others feel like cheap knockoffs. They often either take a lot of effort to set up, or they come with a disappointing mishmash of games and low-quality crapware.
I’ve tested and played around with the very best of these devices to help you figure out which device works best for you.
Let’s Go Back
In Time…
To a time before there were microtransactions, day-one download patches, and digital deluxe editions. To a time when a six-pack of Surge and a half Weird Al, half Green Day playlist would be the halftime show of a day-long Mario Kart tournament. To a time when it didn’t hurt your back to sit on the floor for hours at a time…
Video games have had an important impact in our lives, and while there are some really great experiences to be had in modern gaming, it’s nice to get back to the roots. Today, over 87% of retro video games aren’t available to purchase or play on modern consoles, and when they are, it’s usually overly convoluted.
The Year It All Started
Games Considered "Retro"
Console Generations
Retro Handhelds
AYN ODIN Pro
Details
Specifications:
- 8.82 inches wide
- 3.74 inches tall
- 0.59 inches thick
- 6-inch 1080p widescreen touchscreen
- Stereo speakers and headphone jack
- USB-C charging port, mini HDMI port
Game Consoles it can Play Well:
2nd Generation: Atari 2600, Atari 5200, ColecoVision, Vectrex
3rd Generation: Nintendo NES, Sega SG-1000, Sega Master System, Atari 7900
4th Generation: Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Neo Geo, TurboGrafx, Game Boy, Sega Game Gear
5th Generation: Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation, Sega Saturn, Atari Jaguar, 3DO, Gameboy Color
6th Generation: Sega Dreamcast, Gameboy Advance, Some Sony Playstation 2, Some Nintendo GameCube
7th Generation: Some Nintendo Wii (but don’t get your hopes up), Playstation Portable, Nintendo DS
Classic Arcade Games from the 80s and 90s
Most Android Games on the Google Play Store
XBox Gamepass Mobile Subscription Games
Top Pick!
A Premium, Android-Powered Powerhouse
Think of the Odin as an Android tablet with a controller built around it. It takes a minute to wrap your head around it, but with a good front-end interface installed, it will be a snap to play tons of retro games, as well as games on the Google Play Store.
It’s one of the more powerful systems out there, and can play a massive catalog of games, but performs the best as a premium retro handheld.
It’s about the size of a Nintendo Switch Lite, but it only plays Android games you download or purchase from the Google Play Store, and retro games you manage to install on it through the use of emulators.
The AYN Odin’s biggest flaw is how long it takes to ship to the US, which can take about a month.
What It Comes With:
AYN Odin Console, charging cable and power brick, hardcase
What You’ll Need:Â
512 GB Sandisk Ultra MicroSD Card
or 1TB Sandisk Ultra MicroSD Card
A Google Account
Some Games and Emulators might cost a little money on the Google Play Store. My typical build usually requires a $20 Google Play gift card.
Ambernic RG351V
Details
Specifications:
- 3.7 inches wide
- 5.51 inches tall
- 1.06 inches thick
- 3.5 inch IPS screen at a 4:3 ratio (like old TVs from the 90s)
- Mono speaker and headphone jack
- USB-C charging port, mini HDMI port
Game Consoles it can Play Well:
2nd Generation: Atari 2600, Atari 5200, ColecoVision, Vectrex
3rd Generation: Nintendo NES, Sega SG-1000, Sega Master System, Atari 7900
4th Generation: Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Neo Geo, TurboGrafx, Game Boy, Sega Game Gear
5th Generation: Sony Playstation, Gameboy Color
6th Generation: Gameboy Advance
Classic Arcade Games from the 80s and 90s
Top Pick!
Ambernic RG351V
A Simple, Nostalgic Handheld Experience
The Ambernic RG351V (or it’s newer brother, the RG353VS) is a simple, pick-up-and-play console with a custom operating system that makes it easy for you to get right into the game. It can’t play as many games as some of the others, but trust me, you’ll never have time to play everything that this guy can run.
It might look like something out of the late 80’s, especially with it’s optional wood-print design, but this device plays over 40,000 games, and sports a great Linux-based OS that is a joy to use.
What It Comes With:
RG351V, charging cable
What You’ll Need:Â
32 GB Sandisk Ultra MicroSD Card (for the operating system)
512 GB Sandisk Ultra MicroSD Card
or 1TB Sandisk Ultra MicroSD Card
Retroid Pocket 2s
Details
Specifications:
- 6 inches wide
- 3.1 inches tall
- 1 inch thick
- 3.5-inch 3:4 touchscreen
- Stereo speakers and headphone jack
- USB-C charging port, mini HDMI port
Game Consoles it can Play Well:
2nd Generation: Atari 2600, Atari 5200, ColecoVision, Vectrex
3rd Generation: Nintendo NES, Sega SG-1000, Sega Master System, Atari 7900
4th Generation: Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Neo Geo, TurboGrafx, Game Boy, Sega Game Gear
5th Generation: Some Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation, Atari Jaguar, 3DO, Gameboy Color
6th Generation: Sega Dreamcast, Gameboy Advance
Classic Arcade Games from the 80s and 90s
Most Android Games on the Google Play Store
XBox Gamepass Mobile Subscription Games (but the smaller screen doesn’t do these games justice)
Top Pick!
small, Affordable, But Very Capable
The Retroid Pocket 2 is another Android device. That means it’s more or less a tablet (although this time, it’s a very small tablet) with a controller built around it. It’s small, affordable, and boasts some really capable specs that make it a great retro gaming device. If the Ambernic 351V is a little too chunky for you, and you don’t mind having an Android interface, this one is a great pick.
What It Comes With:
Retroid Pocket Console, charging cable
What You’ll Need:Â
512 GB Sandisk Ultra MicroSD Card
A Google Account
Some Games and Emulators might cost a little money on the Google Play Store.
AtGames Legends Ultimate Arcade Cabinet
Details
Specifications:
- 29.53 inches wide
- 66.44 inches tall
- 21.65 inches thick
- 24-inch 1080p widescreen
- Stereo speakers
- Supports 1-2 players
Game Consoles it can Play Well:
 200+ built-in licensed games
1200+ Classic Arcade Games from the 80s and 90s
A bunch of pinball tables and other arcade games can be purchased from their e-store.
 Music videos/retro commercials/nostalgic videos when not in use!
Top Pick!
An All-in-One Home Arcade
You’ve probably seen the small arcade cabinets in the Walmart electronics section that come with a small handful of games. As cool as they are, their tiny size makes them really awkward, especially if adults are going to use them.
The AtGames Legends Ultimate is much closer to a full-size arcade cabinet (it’s a little shorter, but you can purchase a riser for it to give it a little more height). It supports two players, although there is an addon kit if you want to support up to four.
Right out of the box, this is a cool device. The build quality is great, and while the interface is a little sluggish, it gets the job done.
What makes this an incredible option is the ability to load your own arcade games on it. It comes with hundreds of classics, but with a little effort, you can put two decades of arcade games on this guy, and let people go to town!
When sitting idle, you can have it shuffle through videos. Throwing hundreds of music videos on it will turn it into a fun jukebox while it’s not in use.
Ask a Question
I’m here to answer any questions you might have. Hit me up on social media or shoot me a message at the link below!