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.
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.
I use the Retroid Pocket 3, but I really just want something in the same form factor that can reliably emulate GameCube.
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.
Why is this on my front page 5 months too late. RP3+ is now out…
This is a new release. I haven’t kept up on details but it looks like a cheaper re-shell of the 2+ with the analogs moved to the bottom.
They said in the launch email:
The Unisoc T610 delivers a much more powerful performance than RP2+
Whether that’s true or not, well have to wait and see.
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.
My Steamdeck is my preferred method of handheld gaming. Works amazingly.
Great device but a bit big for my pocket :)
Cargo pants!
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.
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.
Hacked Wii U gang checking in!
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.
GP2X? That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.
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.
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.
I tend to play on my AYN Odin Pro, but I also like my RG351V for certain games and my ROG Ally has VRR, which is neat for getting the weird refresh rates to match old consoles.
If anyone is interested, I have a magazine on kbin dedicated to retroid devices.
I got in early on the Analogue Pocket preorders and it’s been very nice, especially once they opened it up to third party cores.
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’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…
