Best retro console on Reddit
206 reviews from r/retrogaming, r/SBCGaming, r/patientgamers and 12 more subreddits
206 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Nintendo
4.5
(53)
"For DS emulation, buy a 3ds."
"I think a Switch Lite would be best."
"I would suggest to get him a second hand switch lite for the cost of an rg353v."
"Get a Switch with the Nintendo Online."
"Get Switch."
"Gotta be SNES for me. Just too many great titles that still stand up today."
"The N64 is the retro console that brings me the most joy."
"Get a 2DS, regular one not XL, hack it and then fill it up with games."
"The SNES mini and PS1 classic have some RPGs."
"PS3 or SNES. Best of the best right there."
#2
Sony
4.6
(27)
"As much as I love a fully kitted Genesis and the SNES I think I'm going to have to go with the PS1."
"PS1 for sure. Doom 1 and 2 on the same disc, definitely a different experience than PC Doom."
"PS1. The music is different (not necessarily worse) bur easily runs the best out of all."
"Getting a used PSP and hacking it might be a viable option."
"If I stretch that to the post-vintage era, I'd go for the PS2 - you get almost everything from the PlayStation, but with more on top."
"I'm changing that to Playstation 2. It's backwards compatible with PS1 so you get two consoles worth of games."
"Even though SNES has some of my favorite games, I'd say PS1."
"I am going to say PS1 even though my collection of SNES is much larger... PS1 games especially the RPGs were just so much better."
"But since you said console, PS1. It has one of the biggest libraries and has a good variety of different genres."
"Playstation 1. Its RPG game is top notch."
#3
Sega
4.5
(24)
"Dreamcast."
"Dreamcast for me."
"Anything Sega hands down."
"For me the Sega Genesis slaps! The 16 bit era for me is the best for retro."
"I think the maxed out sega genesis with a sega-cd, 32x, master system/3d adapter was the peak."
"Sorry everyone the correct answer was 'Dreamcast'. Dreamcast is the best console."
"Sega Genesis"
"The Sega Dreamcast probably has the largest selection of fighters among the post-PS1 home consoles."
"The Sega Genesis is pretty great for Sonic 1, 2, 3, & Knuckles alone."
"Sega Saturn easily is one of the best because it did great in Japan but shit in the US."
#4
Anbernic
4.7
(14)
"Buy a portable game console "Ambernic RG40XX" and turn it into a stationary one."
"For Anbernic the RG 556 is what I would get."
"This is probably where the Anbernic RG556 shines."
"Let me add my vote to the RG505."
"Anbernic RG505"
"For anbernic, rg556 hands down."
"I think the above RG556 is likely the best solution for PSP."
"Anbernic arc d rg."
"If you have the budget, get 2 of the rg280v, it's resistant, It has 2 tft cards slots."
"280V is perfect. It is built like a tank, relatively cheap and the Adam firmware is super simple."
#5
Retroid
4.4
(14)
"I personally have a Retroid Pocket 4+ for PSP"
"Retroid pocket 3+"
"Retroid Pocket4/3 They play everything flawlessly..."
"Retroid Pocket 3+"
"My recommendation - RP4P brings the power that it should last you multiple years."
"The Retroid Pocket 3+"
"Retroid pocket 3+ I have an indigo one. Ps works perfectly..."
"It's probably going to be the Retroid Pocket Mini or 5 which are being officially announced this week."
"Otherwise, the Retroid pocket 4 is really good and far enough for upscaled PSP."
"Anyway it's probably a Retroid 3+/Flip/4 or 16:9 Anbernic."
#6
Raspberry Pi
4.0
(7)
"Something like a raspberry pi would be your best best."
"Just grab a Raspberry Pi and put Retropie on it."
"If your going the emulation route, I'd recommend a raspberry pi instead."
"If you have a PC at home, install some emulators and get some usb retro controllers."
"A Rasp Pi for home or a Razer Kishi V2 for on the go."
"You could build something with a raspberry pi though."
"I was seriously disappointed with the Pi's performance, especially considering how often it's recommended for retro gaming."
#7
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
5.0
(3)
"I'd say snes on local classifieds, plus the everdrive x5 if you want cheap."
"If you're specifically only wanting physical then Super Nintendo."
"My go to is always the super Nintendo."
#8
RG
4.7
(3)
"Rg556 without a doubt. Everything looks gorgeous on it's screen."
"Rg556 hands down!"
"PSP. Easy to get. Easy to mod. After that, a RG556 or one of the retroid gizmos."
#9
Atari
4.7
(3)
"Cant beat the value of atari 2600!"
"An Atari 2600 and about 20 games for $5 at a garage sale."
"There may be some gems on older consoles around the Atari 2600 era."
#10
Retron
3.5
(4)
"Retron1 plays nes games. My kids have one and they knock it off the shelf all the time and it still works."
"Look into Emulation Machines like the Retron 5 or RetroFreak."
"I have a Retron5 and I'm fairly satisfied with it. It can play custom/hacked ROMs."
"I've heard mixed things on the Retron 5."
#11
MiSTer
5.0
(2)
"MiSTer."
"Get a Mister and have them all."
#12
Retro Games Ltd
5.0
(2)
"The C64 (preferably the full size version) and The Amiga Mini by Retro Games Ltd are both excellent."
"The C64 (preferably the full size version) and The Amiga Mini by Retro Games Ltd are both excellent."
#13
PlayStation
5.0
(2)
"It has an extremely diverse library."
"I personally love the ps2 for it's library."
#14
RetroN
4.5
(2)
"I love my retron 5. I use it for my primary tv in the living room."
"You could get a retro combo console like a Retron 5 that plays real cartridges."
#15
Xbox
4.5
(2)
"Modded original Xbox."
"I regularly buy dirt cheap games for my original Xbox."
#16
PlayStation Vita
4.0
(2)
"You can still find a PS vita and add PSP and other roms via SD card just like any retro console can do."
"Just hack a PSP VITA with a large SD will play all the PSP games u want."
#17
Trimui
4.0
(2)
"The only device under $100 that I would recommend is the Trimui Smart Pro."
"AFAIK Trimui Smart Pro if you on a budget"
#18
Nintendo Entertainment System
4.0
(2)
"Consoles like the NES and SNES on the other hand have simply been fully documented."
"I collect for the NES which seems to be one of those consoles where everyone has publicized all the good "hidden gems"."
#19
Steam Deck
5.0
(1)
"Steam Deck. It has the advantage of being a full fledged PC with truly customizable controls."
#20
Sega Genesis
5.0
(1)
"Sega Genesis. The Sonic series is my favorite game."
#21
Neo Geo
5.0
(1)
"Neo-Geo and Pioneer LaserActive. Are sold choices."
#22
Sega Dreamcast
5.0
(1)
"Of all of them, I would say that the Dreamcast has great support."
#23
Wonderswan
5.0
(1)
"I'm a fan of Wonderswan through wonderwitch."
#24
Powkiddy
5.0
(1)
"Powkiddy rgb10max3Pro."
#25
Ayn
5.0
(1)
"Ayn odin 2, retroid pocket 4 pro"
#26
Miyoo
5.0
(1)
"It does everything up to PS1 plus the community has been super active and now it can do some DS games too."
#27
R36S
5.0
(1)
"R36S is probably the best power/price device right now (~$35)."
#28
M17
5.0
(1)
"I gift my 7yo niece a M17 and she's doing great."
#29
Odroid
4.0
(1)
"I have an odroid n2+ with batocera on it and it plays up to psp very well."
#30
Commodore
4.0
(1)
"Seems to be a resurgence of people making new games for it these days."
#31
RG35XX
4.0
(1)
"FWIW: RG35XX H uses the joystick as mouse input and has a keyboard overlay option. It can be had for under $40."
#32
Turbo Duo
4.0
(1)
"Bought my turbo duo for 30 bucks from a guy who was using it to listen to CDs in his trailer."
#33
Retroid Pocket 3
4.0
(1)
"If you want quality improvements, it's reasonable to spend for at least a Retroid Pocket 3 or better."
#34
PlayStation Portable
4.0
(1)
"The PSP itself."
#35
RGB30
4.0
(1)
"The RGB30 is easy to use and you can hook it up to the TV."
#36
Google Chromecast
4.0
(1)
"I'd suggest going the DIY route and installing Retroarch on a Google Chromecast 4K."
#37
Anbernic RG35XX
4.0
(1)
"Take a look at this and see if it is what you are looking for--- Anbernic RG35XX."
#38
Miyoo Mini Plus
4.0
(1)
"Miyoo mini plus."
#39
Anbernic RG351P
4.0
(1)
"Anbernic RG351P is around $70 and has really good quality."
#40
Raspberry Pi 4
4.0
(1)
"Get a Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 400."
#41
Raspberry Pi 3
4.0
(1)
"A full Raspberry Pi 3 kit is under $100 even with controllers."
#42
Sega Master System
4.0
(1)
"For 2D gaming, I would choose the Sega Master System because the hardware is straightforward enough to learn inside out."
#43
Nintendo Game Boy
4.0
(1)
"Game boy maybe, theres quite a lot of resources."
#44
Walmart
4.0
(1)
"Walmart usually has some of those stand up mini-arcades that might work well!"
#45
Microsoft
4.0
(1)
"Original Xbox. There are still many discs around for very cheap and it is so easily modded to play ISOs."
#46
PC
4.0
(1)
"I have a home-built home-theater PC that serves as a Netflix/Youtube/Amazon box."
#47
RetroUSB
4.0
(1)
"I'd say, RetroUSB AVS + Everdrive + 8bitdo wireless controllers."
#48
Polymega
4.0
(1)
"I love my Polymega. Tough to get one though."
#49
RetroArch
4.0
(1)
"I would definitely start with emulation, because you can dip your toe into the waters and see what you like."
#50
Chromecast
4.0
(1)
"Get her a Chromecast... You can put ALOT of systems (Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, N64.....and others)."
#51
SF
4.0
(1)
"Start with an SF2000. It's less than 20 bucks and has all the snes, Genesis, nes, and 3 Gameboy, variants."
#52
Analogue
4.0
(1)
"The Analogue Pocket does a mighty fine Amiga."
#53
Data Frog SF2000
3.0
(1)
"You can also look at the Data Frog SF2000. It's ridiculously cheap."
#54
Anbernic 35XX
3.0
(1)
"You're looking for the Anberic 35xx plus or the equivalent Miyoo device."
#55
Powkiddy V90
3.0
(1)
"PowKiddy V90 should work for your budget."
#56
Plug and Play
3.0
(1)
"Maybe search for "plug and play" consoles and the specific game."
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