Some games age like fine wine, which is why retro gaming is so popular. In fact, if you want to play games that are 10, 20, or even 30 years old, there are plenty of options on PC and console. If you want to play them on the go, however, those options significantly narrow.
Fortunately, there are several devices that let you play your favorite Game Boy, NES, PlayStation, and even GameCube games on the go (if you can get them legitimately, of course; we won't tell you to do otherwise). Read on for the best retro handhelds we've tested, followed by some important things to know about retro gaming.
Are Retro Handhelds Good for Emulation?
It's practically impossible to talk about classic gaming without talking about emulation, and that's the case here. More than half of these gaming handhelds are "legitimate," in that they have commercial software ecosystems and use video game cards, cartridges, or official downloads to function. They're still technically emulation-based; in many cases, they use roms and emulators that mimic those games' native systems to run on modern hardware (though there are some cases of classic games being completely ported).
Some of these gaming handhelds are open, emulation-based devices. That means you're on your own to find retro games to play. Roms are a legal gray area, so we can't point you in a direction to find them besides "back up your purchased physical games, if you have the hardware to do so." You can find dozens of different Linux- and Android-based gaming handhelds, most of which originate in China, on sites like AliExpress. The two on this list are just a sampling of the many retro gaming handhelds that you can buy, but they're among the most well-made in the category. And whether they come with roms themselves is purely up to whoever is shipping them.
Retro Handhelds vs. Portable Gaming PCs
Then there's the curious category of what are effectively PCs in handheld game system bodies. The Steam Deck and OneXPlayer Mini are both fully functional PCs with specs comparable to midrange laptops featuring relatively strong integrated graphics. You can use Steam to download classic games on any of them, and both the Steam Deck's Linux environment and the Asus ROG Ally's Windows 11 operating system offer the opportunity to dive into emulation.
If you prefer to play classic games on your PC (or want to know what software to install on your PC-like handheld), check out our guide to the best emulators. And if you want to play old-school games on your TV, read up on the best retro gaming consoles.
