Nostalgia hit me hard one night. I missed playing the classics—Super Mario, Sonic, Street Fighter—on an old chunky TV with a wired controller.
But retro consoles are expensive (and hunting them down is a nightmare).
So I built my own. And guess what? It cost less than $40.
Here's how I did it:
What You’ll Need:
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (~$15–$20)
- Micro USB power cable (probably already lying around)
- Mini HDMI to HDMI cable (~$5)
- USB game controller (~$10)
Optional:
- Case (3D printed or $5 plastic shell)
The Steps:
Install RetroPie:
Download the RetroPie image, flash it onto the SD card (I used BalenaEtcher), pop the card into the Raspberry Pi.Load the ROMs:
I added legal backups of the games I owned (seriously—stay legal). Just drag and drop into the right folders.Connect Everything:
Plug the Pi into the TV, connect your controller, and power it up.Play! 🎮
RetroPie has a super easy menu, and you can customize themes, save states, and even rewind gameplay if you mess up.
Why It's Awesome:
Tiny (fits in my pocket)
Cheap (compared to real retro consoles)
Endless games (across dozens of systems)
It’s a simple, no-drama setup that delivers massive nostalgia vibes.
Trust me: when that 16-bit start screen boots up... you’ll feel all the feels.
Posted Using INLEO