The Best Retro Handheld Gaming Consoles in 2024

The Nintendo Switch reignited the flame that was dwindling for a while in the handheld gaming console space. It was arguably the catalyst behind the now highly popular Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally consoles. Other manufacturers like Lenovo, MSI, and Sony have also launched their portable console lineup in a renewed bid to challenge for market share. This has given rise to an exciting segment in the portable console world: retro handheld emulators. Modern handheld consoles are powerful enough to emulate retro games and retro consoles, and some even come with a retro design aesthetic.

These handheld consoles offer the nostalgic feeling of games that gamers grew up with but with modern-day creature comforts, like backlit screens, microSD card storage, and, for some, the ability to play multiple console generations on one machine. This list comprises some of the best consoles dedicated to retro game titles. Gamers looking to relive the days of yore or younger gamers looking to see what it was once like can now jump feet-first into the world of retro games without worrying about digging out old consoles or finding a CRT TV that still works.

Updated on September 6, 2024 by Vineet Washington: The ANBERNIC RG35XX has been crowned the best overall retro handheld console because of the better value it offers. The Miyoo Mini Plus, being the cheaper option, has been adjusted accordingly. The Steam Deck and ROG Ally have been swapped out for their upgraded versions. "Operating System" has been added as another factor to consider in the "How to Pick the Perfect Retro Handheld Console" section.

Game Rant's Picks for the Best Retro Handheld Gaming Consoles in 2024

For gamers who like the Game Boy-like design but would like a slightly bigger screen and overall handheld, the ANBERNIC RG35XX is an excellent option. This budget handheld console offers fantastic performance in games from the Game Boy era, but it starts to hitch up a bit when pushing it to PS1 or PSP games. But at this price point, most gamers should be able to overlook a few laggy moments for the overall excellent experience the RG35XX provides.

The build quality feels robust and comfortable for long gaming sessions. And for gamers who don't want to rely solely on the handheld to play games, the RG35XX can display on a TV via HDMI, and gamers can connect to a controller for a Switch experience. The operating system on this handheld has become a sore point for many users. It is plain and has kind of a roundabout way to get to some settings. However, some users have figured out how to install GarlicOS on the RG35XX, making the whole experience much more likable.

Miyoo, as a whole, has earned quite an excellent reputation with emulator fans, and the Miyoo Mini Plus is probably one of the best examples of why. This handheld console is about the size of a deck of cards and can emulate thousands of titles across multiple generations. With some well-done emulations, the Mini Plus can handle games up to the PS1 era, but it excels in Game Boy games. And because of the backlight 4:3 screen, these games can easily be played anywhere, even in the dark or fairly direct sunlight, with little to no visual problems.

When it comes down to using the Miyoo Mini Plus, the experience is even better. For gamers with larger hands, it might feel a little cramped, but for the most part, it is incredibly comfortable and easy to play games for hours without hand cramps. The 4 face buttons are raised out of the shell, making them easy to press but not too easy where accidental button presses are a concern. The Mini Plus makes it easy for first-time emulators to get started, with the console coming with thousands of games pre-installed. When gamers want to add games of their own, it is easy enough, thanks to the microSD storage.

While technically not a retro console, the Steam Deck OLED is one of the most powerful handheld gaming PCs. Because of that, it is also one of the most powerful retro handheld emulators. Still, because of the raw performance it offers, plus the number of community members working together to make emulation more accessible, the Steam Deck OLED is a great way to try out emulation without being locked into just playing retro games.

After gamers install EmuDeck, it can easily handle any retro console title from Dreamcast to GameCube and most PS2 games. The fact that gamers can swap between playing Crazy Taxi and the latest Triple AAA game in a few moments is ridiculous. It is a step in the right direction for the emulating community to grow larger. The Steam Deck is the way to go for gamers who want a handheld console that can handle everything thrown its way and doesn't mind the larger form factor.

As for specifications, the Steam Deck OLED is powered by a Zen 2 6nm AMD APU (4W to 15W) and 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM, making it performant but also efficient. It features a 7.4-inch 1280x800 OLED display that can refresh at up to 90Hz. All this is backed by a 50Wh battery giving the Steam Deck OLED anywhere from three to 12 hours of gameplay, depending on the game and several other factors.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a smaller, yet powerful variant of the best-selling Switch console. Unlike the regular Switch, users can’t remove the Lite’s Joy-Cons, as they're in-built. Despite this, the Switch Lite can play every game that the regular Switch runs in handheld mode. Many of these are retro titles that should stir up nostalgia among users.

Users simply have to subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online for $20 per year to get access to classics from legendary consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment (SNES), and Game Boy. Upgrading to the Family Plan ($50 yearly) unlocks access to titles like Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64), The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance), and Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (SEGA Genesis). Of course, gamers can also simply purchase their favorite titles individually, if they prefer.

Aside from being a great way to relive the thrill of retro hits, the Switch Lite battery is quite decent and should be playable for up to seven hours at a time, according to Nintendo. Its smaller build makes it comfortable to hold for long periods compared to other Switch models too. It's also less expensive than the regular Switch or OLED variant, making it a great purchase for consumers not looking to break the bank on a new console.

Retroid doesn't need an introduction in the field of gaming handhelds, particularly the Retro ones that aim at fulfilling the dreams of adults who used to love classic retro games decades ago. While the console doesn't come with preloaded games, it doesn't restrict users from downloading them. Boasting an Android 11 operating system, the console supports every game from the Google Play Store and can play them without struggling a bit.

Powered by the T610 Octa-Core CPU and the Mali G52MC2 GPU, the console has all that juice to run games close to 60 frames per second. With its 60Hz display, featuring a 480p resolution on a 3.5-inch screen, games will play buttery smooth and will have vibrant worlds. It has quite a good amount of RAM capacity and the storage of 128GB will be sufficient for storing hundreds of games at the same time.

With its touchscreen display, the device further enhances the experience and has different types of control systems, like a D-pad, face buttons, and two joysticks to adapt to different game requirements. Supporting Bluetooth and Wi-Fi out of the box, the Pocket 2S Retro makes the life of every retro gamer convenient.

Nothing beats the Asus ROG Ally X when it comes to portable gaming. Capable of emulating a plethora of consoles, the ROG Ally is the champion of all gaming handhelds. Released in July, the Asus ROG Ally took the world by storm with its high-end specs, incorporating an octa-core Zen 4-based Z1 extreme processor and a dedicated RDNA 3-based GPU with 12 CUs. Its hardware is too powerful for retro games, which is a plus point as these aren't the only titles it can run.

By boasting Windows 11 OS natively, it acts as a mini-computer and runs Steam games with buttery smooth performance. With plenty of RAM and storage capacity, a lot of games can be stored and, with its exceptional 120Hz IPS screen, the fluidity in gameplay will be quite visibly distinguished from other retro handhelds. Users who specifically want to play older titles can emulate multiple Nintendo consoles on it, including the 64, 3DS, and SNES.

Being a full touchscreen computer, you can install other game stores like the Epic Store, Ubisoft store, EA Play, and others. The CPU is capable of operating between 9W to 30W, making it even more efficient and powerful than the Steam Deck OLED. Unfortunately, the ROG Ally X does not come with an OLED display, unlike its competitors, and is quite expensive.

How To Pick The Perfect Retro Handheld Console

When looking for handheld retro gaming consoles, below are three key factors to consider.

Nostalgia

Nostalgia and supported games go hand in hand. When playing a 2D platforming game from the Game Boy era, gamers don't want to have to use a joystick when a D-pad feels much more nostalgic. At this point, many handhelds of the time are harder to find, especially in working conditions, and the price of some games is insane. That's why a lot of these handhelds are based on designs from the original portable consoles of the day.

Operating System

There are many different operating systems that run on these handheld consoles and some are more customizable than others. The Steam Deck runs a Linux-based OS called SteamOS 3.0, while the ROG Ally X runs full Windows 11. On the other hand, some of the more budget-friendly handheld consoles allow for swapping out different operating systems, offering endless customizability.

Supported Games

Seeing as technology has progressed quite a bit from when a lot of the games played on these consoles came out, these games aren't always limited to handheld emulations. Finding out what games or generation of games a gamer wants to play will make it easier to determine which handheld to pick up.

Take the Miyoo Mini Plus, for example. This handheld will easily run games from the Game Boy, but it can also handle games from the PS1 era and almost everything in between. So, for gamers who want to play games like Super Mario Bros. or play through the original Silent Hill, the Miyoo Mini Plus will be a great option. On the other hand, if gamers want the option to choose from pretty much any retro console, the Steam Deck might be a better option.

Battery Life

When selecting a handheld console, check whether its battery life is decent or mediocre. One of the strong points of a handheld is its ability to deliver on-the-go gaming. Even if it becomes necessary to plug it into the nearest power outlet or a power bank, it should last at least a couple of hours.

FAQ

Q: What is the most powerful handheld gaming console?

While the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally are quite competent, the Ayaneo 2S is considered the most powerful handheld console for gaming. Unfortunately, it's expensive and has an underwhelming battery life.

Q: Why is retro gaming popular?

Many gamers love returning to the basics when nobody cared about graphics or FPS. Since retro games can deliver that feeling of simplicity alongside nostalgia among older gamers, their popularity continues to increase.

Q: What is the most sold gaming console?

Sony's PlayStation 2 is the most-sold game console, with more than 150 million units bought since its release in 2000.