Making your own “retro console” out of an old PC or laptop is surprisingly easy, and even doable on some Android tablets, if they support video out. Whereas we’d always suggest a more dedicated piece of hardware, like the SuperStation One, sometimes going the recycling route is the better — free — option. If you’re more of a tinkerer, don’t forget that an old Raspberry Pi gathering dust could be put to use to play some classic games.
On pretty much all devices, we can run RetroArch by simply installing it. It’s supported on pretty much every operating system, and all types of hardware, including Fire Sticks. RetroArch is a collection of “cores,” which are based on emulation software. For instance, RetroArch has its own “core” of Dolphin, the widely used GameCube and Wii emulator. We have a dedicated setup article for Android tablets, but on PC systems, just follow the installation instructions provided in the setup wizard. This can be configured to boot at launch, but alternatively, for that true “console” feel — aside from having to add games and BIOS for the emulators — on Windows, you can use Retrobat, which will boot into its frontend when you turn the PC on.
There’s also ample chance to modify old consoles too, with the Xbox One and Series consoles in particular ripe for turning into a retro jukebox. That’ll require you to dig into Developer Mode, but it’s a fairly straight forward process.
There’s so many options for a retro machine
With Linux or old Mac devices, there are frontends like EmulationStation DE that can be launched at boot to simulate a console-like experience. If you opt to install something like Bazzite, this can be configured to launch straight into Steam’s Big Picture Mode, or “Game Mode.” This requires you to download a specific version of Bazzite. You can then flash it to a USB with Rufus or BalenaEtcher. Combined with software like EmuDeck and Steam ROM Manager, you can import and configure emulators and retro games straight into your Steam library. This also works with Windows.
On older machines, it’s probably best to opt for a Linux distribution, cutting overhead that modern Windows 11 carries with it — that or modern Windows simply isn’t supported. In some cases, your retro setup might be based around old DOS and Windows 95 or 98 era games, up to XP. If you go this route, make sure to leave it off the internet for security purposes. No one is likely interested in your retro box, but you can never be too careful.
You’ll also need secure installation media, so unless you have the original discs yourself, Microsoft doesn’t provide downloads for these anymore, so you’ll have to
Dedicated Linux distros for emulation & Android frontend setup
On Linux in particular, there are specific distributions like RetroPie or Batocera.linux, which boot from something as small as a microSD card on devices like the Raspberry Pi, which will provide nearly everything out of the box. Of course, you’ll still need to find games and BIOS files.
Depending on your device, performance will vary. Modern Raspberry Pis are just capable enough at playing up to GameCube games, but an old laptop from, say, 2016, will be more than capable of running up to PS2 — again, depending on the specs.
For old Android devices, the same thing with frontends applies here. Users recommend Daijisho, which can be set to launch on boot and act as your home screen. Don’t fret about your other non-emulator-based apps; there’s a section within the launcher for them. To set your new frontend, you’ll need to go to your Android settings and go to Apps > Default Apps > Home Screen > Daijisho (or your chosen frontend).
