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I’m a sucker for retro gaming gear. I have way too many handhelds and I know I’ll probably buy a new one every time I see it. You don’t have to be like me, however, to want to play a game of NES Contra or relive Zelda II in all its side-scrolling glory.
Here are three of my favorite gadgets for retro game fans (and fans to be).
Retroid Pocket 3 Handheld Retro Gaming System
Retroid makes a really nice handheld and their Android-powered Pocket systems are some of the best. This iPhone sized device has two joysticks and a D-pad along with four standard buttons and two shoulder buttons. It plays almost anything, from all the Nintendo emulator to PSP games. It’s a bit big but it’s a great little device and includes a number of pre-installed emulators. It’s $119 on the Retroid website and $159 on Amazon if you want to ensure it will get to you in time.
Miyoo Mini Handheld Game Console
This is one of my favorite little consoles. It runs a stripped down version of Linux and has a superbright screen. It’s not as powerful as the Retroid but you can play almost all classic consoles on it and it has a great loader for games. At $127 it’s actually a steal. I’ve been playing on this guy all year and I haven’t gotten tired of firing it up.
Don’t forget to get a memory card for both of these. You’ll need to hold the games you download.
The Dream Arcades Retro Arcade
If you’re looking for something for the serious retro gamer in your life you have to visit Dream Arcades. They make full-sized arcade game consoles that contain a basic Windows machine. This machine lets you play almost any game under the sun including the original vector graphics version of Star Wars which is my go-to. This is for someone you REALLY love because these guys get pricey but once you have it set up it will turn your den into a true arcade. You can check them out here.
