Retro games developed by Nintendo remain as popular today as they were decades ago. They’re so popular that a number of retro handhelds are specifically designed to emulate the feeling of using certain Nintendo consoles. Wondering which one is the best for your favorite Nintendo console? I’ve done the work for you.
Picking the Perfect Nintendo Retro Handheld
Before we begin, I would like to share a few details about my selection process. I opted for tried-and-true fan favorites that are well-regarded by the retro handheld community whenever possible.
In some cases, I opted for newer, well-reviewed devices instead of fan favorites if said device offers a notably better experience than an older, more popular handheld. Case in point is the MagicX Zero 40. It has just come out, but it is clearly the best way to enjoy Nintendo DS games, other than playing them on an actual DS, of course. Anyway, I hope you find your next retro handheld below and feel free to drop your favorite devices in the comments!
The legality of video game ROMs isa gray area, so it’s important to understand the risks before getting involved.
1NES and SNES: ANBERNIC RG353PS
Just one quick glance at theANBERNIC RG353PSis enough to realize why I picked this one as the best retro handheld for revisiting your NES and SNES favorites. The thing looks like one of thosefancy SNES controllers with an LCD, only bigger.
The 3.5-inch screen sports a 640x480 resolution and a 4:3 aspect ratio, making it ideal for playingNESand SNES games. The device is powered by an RK3566SoCand 1GB of memory, a solid combo that has enough juice to run not only NES and SNES titles, but also every PS1 game as well as a fair portion of the N64, PSP, and SEGA Dreamcast libraries. The rechargeable battery can offer approximately five hours of playtime, slightly less if you play PS1 or N64 games.
The face buttons and d-pad have that pleasant feeling of mushiness coupled with just the right amount of resistance, similar to those found on the classic SNES controller. The handheld is equipped with downward-firing stereo speakers, twomicroSD cardslots, a mini HDMI port for outputting video to a TV or monitor, and two USB-C ports, one used for charging and the other for data transfer.
You’re also getting a 3.5mm headphone jack located between the two SD card slots. Software-wise, the ANBERNIC RG353PS runs Linux and comes with a bunch of different emulators; all you’ve got to do is feed it ROMs, and you’re off to the races.
If you’d like something more pocketable and affordable, theMiyoo Mini Plusis the best alternative out there. It packs an excellent d-pad and a very similar 3.5-inch screen, but lacks thumbsticks and can’t emulate anything more demanding than the PS1.
ANBERNIC RG353PS
Want to enjoy NES and SNES games and are looking for the perfect retro handheld for the job? Just buy the Anbernic RG353PS. It’s modeled after the SNES controller, sports more than a decent price, has enough power to perfectly run every NES and SNES game, and its 4:3 display is perfect for retro games optimized for CRT TVs.
2Game Boy and Game Boy Color: PowKiddy V10
If you have an itch to play some Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, check out thePowKiddy V10. While extremely compact, it fits surprisingly well into most hands and is one of the most comfortable retro handhelds on the market. The only issue here is the extra-wide body, which hurts its pocketability.
The software powering it all is ArkOS, anArch Linux-based emulation-first operating system that supports every emulator available on Linux. The stars of the show here are the d-pad and face buttons, which feel perfect. Not too mushy, very responsive, and with just the right amount of resistance.
On the flipside, the mono speaker won’t wow anyone, and you also aren’t getting any cool extras, such as video output. At least you get a USB-C charging port, 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card slot.
Regarding the chipset, the RK3326 SoC is perfect for Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, as well as for GBA, SNES, and even PS1 games. Try running anything more demanding, though, like N64, and you’ll have a bad time. That said, I don’t recommend playing 3D games on the V10 anyway, since the console doesn’t pack analog sticks. Overall, the PowKiddy V10 is a fantastic option for enjoying Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.
If you’d rather get something more capable that packs a larger screen and a thumbstick, take a look at theANBERNIC RG 40XXV. This one’s larger and pricier than the V10 but comes with Wi-Fi, HDMI video out, and a beefier chipset capable of running most N64, PSP, and Dreamcast games. You should also consider thePowKiddy V20, a follow-up to the V10, and theMiyoo Mini Plus.
Lastly, if you have a collection of Game Boy carts, theAnalogue Pocketis the best option out there.
3Game Boy Advance and GBA SP: Anbernic RG-34XX / Anbernic RG-35XX SP
TheAnbernic RG-34XXandRG-35XX SPare very similar in terms of performance, as they both feature the same chipset and 1GB of memory, a combination that enables them to emulate gaming systems up to the Nintendo 64 and SEGA Dreamcast. They also have very similar 4:3 screens, with the one on the clamshell version being a tad larger (a 3.5-inch unit compared to a 3.4-inch display on the RG-34XX).
Other specs are also pretty similar, including the number of buttons (both models include four shoulder buttons), battery (the SP has a slightly larger cell), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, dual microSD card slots, a mini-HDMI video out, and the OS used. At the end of the day, it all boils down to whether you prefer the original Game Boy Advance or the Advance SP’s clamshell design.
Anbernic RG-34XX
The Anbernic RG-34XX looks like an oversized Game Boy Advance and is arguably the best way to enjoy Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games. It packs a 4:3, 3.4-inch screen, enough performance to run every Game Boy and GBA game, as well as a fair portion of the N64 library, and it looks cute as heck!
When it comes to emulating GBA games, both are near-perfect. The 4:3 aspect ratio makes games look like they’re played on the original hardware. The battery can provide about 6-7 hours of playtime if you limit yourself to GBA games, and both devices are very comfortable to use. Both are also fairly compact and fully pocketable, especially the clamshell model.The purists who don’t want ROMs but instead want a device compatible with their Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges should take a look at theAnalogue Pocket, which also supports Neo Geo, Sega Game Gear, and Atari Lynx carts.
4Nintendo DS: MagicX Zero 40
TheMagicX Zero 40is purpose-built for two things: accurately emulating dual-screen Nintendo DS games and verticalshoot-‘em-up(shmup) games. The handheld excels at both use cases and is the best retro handheld for enjoying Nintendo DS games.
The 4-inch, 480x800 touch-screen dominates the device, allowing you to enjoy Nintendo DS games with content from both screens shown simultaneously. The large 4,300mAh battery should last for about six hours when playing Nintendo DS games, and the device ships with either a 64GB or 128GB microSD card.
The Zero 40 includes a singleHall-effectthumbstick, stereo speakers, and the OS of choice here is Android, allowing you to navigate the UI entirely with the touch-screen.
The hardware powering the Zero 40 isn’t that powerful, but it can run any DS game. If you’re here for shmups, it’s worth noting that the Zero 40 can emulate retro consoles up to and including the PSP, PS1, and N64.
MagicX Zero 40
The MagicX Zero 40 is a peculiar-looking retro handheld purpose-made to emulate the Nintendo DS, and it’s great at its job! Its tall screen can display both of the DS’s screens simultaneously, the controls and stereo speakers are better than on Nintendo’s legendary console, and you’re also getting a Hall effect thumbstick.
5Nintendo 64 and GameCube: Retroid Pocket Mini V2
If you’re only after N64 emulation, virtually every retro handheld in the ~$100 price range offers pretty good to excellent Nintendo 64 support. But if you’d also like to enjoy GameCube games, theRetroid Pocket Mini V2is the retro handheld to get.
This is a premium handheld that will set you back $200. The price of admission is worth it because this is a capable all-around device, adept at emulating more demanding systems, such as the Nintendo GameCube.
At its heart is a Snapdragon 865 chipset that, although somewhat dated, is still significantly more powerful than what’s inside any other handheld featured on this list up to this moment. It’s beefy enough to run the entire GameCube, PS2, and PSP library, and even less demanding Nintendo Switch games.
Another highlight is the 3.92-inch 1280x1080AMOLEDscreen, which has an almost perfect 1:1 aspect ratio, making the Pocket Mini V2 an excellent choice for enjoying GameCube titles, as most GameCube games can fill the entire screen without appearing stretched or distorted.
Storage-wise, you’re getting 128GB of built-in flash storage, which should be enough for most retro gamers out there. The Pocket Mini V2 also includes a pretty good d-pad, thumbsticks, and face buttons, and high levels of comfort and pocketability.
Another popular option for GameCube games is theRetroid Pocket 5if you don’t mind its 16:9 screen and larger size, which makes it less pocketable than the Mini V2. You can also opt for theRetroid Pocket Flip 2, which is the most comfortable handheld of the three.
6Nintendo 3DS: Retroid Pocket 5 + Retroid Dual Screen Add-on
Last but not least is the best retro handheld for playing Nintendo 3DS games. The issue here is that 3DS emulation is tricky, not only because the console itself requires a lot of horsepower for games to run correctly, but also because a dual-screen setup is desirable for an optimal experience.
The most elegant solution here is to pair the excellentRetroid Pocket 5withRetroid’s official dual-screen add-onthat works with the Retroid Pocket 5, Pocket 4 Pro, and both versions of the Retroid Mini. The combo will set you back about $290, but if you want the absolute best 3DS experience without actually purchasing the original hardware, this is the setup to aim for.
The good news is that the Pocket 5 is a compelling device in general. Aside from the 3DS, you can play more or less anything up to and including the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. In other words, if you’re looking for an all-around retro handheld to enjoy Nintendo’s retro games on, the Retroid Pocket 5 is among the best choices on the market.
Aside from the fairly capable Snapdragon 865, the Pocket 5 also boasts a gorgeous 5.5-inch 16:9 OLED screen, 128GB of internal storage, a massive 5000mAh battery, and well-made d-pad and face buttons, along with dual analog sticks. Its only weakness is its less-than-stellar ergonomics, making it somewhat uncomfortable to use for more than an hour or so.
7Best All-In-One Option: AYN Odin 2
If you have the cash and would like to get a single device capable of emulating every Nintendo console, including the Wii U and Switch, theAYN Odin 2is the retro handheld to buy. While fairly pricey, the Odin 2 is a proper emulation powerhouse thanks to the Snapdragon 8Gen2 chipset, allowing it to emulate most retro consoles without breaking a sweat.
The Odin 2 is also arguably the most comfortable retro handheld on the market, which is a good thing considering that it comes with a massive 8,000mAh battery that can last for about eight hours when playing graphically intensive games.
The console packs Hall effect sticks, an excellent pair of stereo speakers, a fantastic d-pad, and nicely feeling face and shoulder buttons. The 6-inch 1080p display has vivid colors and solid motion performance, but its contrast is a far cry compared to OLED screens found on some other high-end retro handhelds.
If you can’t live without an OLED display, the slick-lookingODIN 2 Portalcomes with a gorgeous 7-inch 120Hz OLED, but is not as comfortable as the regular ODIN 2, especially during longer playing sessions.
AYN Odin 2
The AYN Odin 2 is arguably the best retro handheld on the market. It’s powered by the beefy Snapdragon 8Gen2, which allows it to perfectly emulate most retro consoles, and even less demanding Nintendo Switch games! The Android OS makes it very versatile, it packs a massive 6-inch, 1080p screen that’s perfect for emulation as well as playing Android games. Lastly, when it comes to comfort, you won’t find a comfier retro handheld.
Retro handhelds are a great way to enjoy retro games,way better than your phonein any case. While retro handhelds, especially high-end options, can be pretty capable emulation stations, PC handhelds like the Steam Deck remainthe best wayto play retro games on the go, as long as you’re ready to pay for the privilege.
