How do you feel about Mini consoles ?

[ArkenDev]

Mini-Consoles are great gifts for your midget friends

 

[Tetronomicon]

I think the mini-consoles are/were a cool idea. I know Nintendo made theirs to have something in the interim between the release of the Switch and the drought/EOL of the Wii U. But it was cool that other companies gave a shot at it.

I got the SNES Classic Edition and a PlayStation Classic. I eventually sold the SNES because I prefer the USB ports on the PlayStation over the weird proprietary Wiimote connectors. Interestingly enough, I bought some extension cords for the SNES one and still use those to connect up my Wii Classic Controller Pro to my PC via the Raphnet Adapter when I emulate games.

Of course, I also modded both of them. I prefer the PlayStation setup over the SNES one. Just kind of like the overall feel of it (also like how you can get to boot straight into Retroarch if you want). Also, from what I can see there's been a bit more development on the PlayStation whereas the SNES has less going on with it these days. Between that and the USB ports, that's why I kept the PlayStation over the SNES (I say this as someone who's favorite console is/was the SNES).

Might eventually sell the PlayStation Classic but I like it over the SNES Classic Edition either way.

 

[Aiodensghost]

He wrote "and their modding capabilities" so he KNOW where to look :)

Post automatically merged: Mar 29, 2025

I made some such things for me and for friends from SFF PC (Compaq/HP etc) from OLD ones (P3-P4) cheap variant. And there many custom OSes special for emufans. But if you want emu some "modern" (not last generation but never then PS2) consoles you need expensive modern small PC thats usually costs MORE then original console.
Other cheap variant - convert android (or Linux) stick or tv-box or mini PC to emumachine. With good hands you can make custom case look like yours favorite console for that things. Or use REAL case borrowed from broken console.
And if you have original console and want MORE games why not just buy flash-cartrige or hardware CD-emulator?
Some prefer authenticity and play games from original media on the original hardware, while for others the games themselves are more important than the method of launching them. Well, for many on THIS site, the ability to play modified games (translation, hacks, cheats, etc.) is important, which is sometimes difficult to access on the original hardware.

One of my targets is PS2, and I got eyes on an SFF PC that looks to be from 2017-18 on eBay.

 

[Sonic Boomer]

I'm a huge fan of the mini arcades but I have been absolutely devastated lately because I somehow missed out on the pre order for Egret II Memories Vol 03 and now the thing costs an insane amount of money, just the volume 3 card costs as much as a new Egret II :(

Here's some of mine

Glad I managed to get Vol 02 at least

The CAPCOM Retro Station still has the best screen of any home arcade, sadly the system never received the RetroArch that was pretty much completed so it has trouble running many games that it should be able to run easily

I also have a Famicom, SNES and PCEngine mini :)

Also Space Invaders and TMNT Turtles in Time by Nubmskull, this is THE Only way to experience Space Invaders properly with the Pepper's Ghost Effect and all without buying the actual full sized arcade

My latest addition to home arcades:

 

[NotGodlike]

Good for a shelf, not so much when gaming, depending on the type

 

[Ikagura]

buying roms

View attachment 51008

Technically if you buy a retro game compilation or retro game cartridges you're also buying roms.

Mini consoles are a bit too gimmicky or like having a figure on the desk.

 

[Hernan17]

I'm a huge fan of the mini arcades but I have been absolutely devastated lately because I somehow missed out on the pre order for Egret II Memories Vol 03 and now the thing costs an insane amount of money, just the volume 3 card costs as much as a new Egret II :(

Here's some of mine

Glad I managed to get Vol 02 at least

The CAPCOM Retro Station still has the best screen of any home arcade, sadly the system never received the RetroArch that was pretty much completed so it has trouble running many games that it should be able to run easily

I also have a Famicom, SNES and PCEngine mini :)

Also Space Invaders and TMNT Turtles in Time by Nubmskull, this is THE Only way to experience Space Invaders properly with the Pepper's Ghost Effect and all without buying the actual full sized arcade

My latest addition to home arcades:

Awesome collection man!

 

[Sonic Boomer]

Good for a shelf, not so much when gaming, depending on the type

I strongly disagree with this
I've played so many games on my retro consoles and arcades
I finished all of Dragon Quest III on the SNES Mini because the physical repro translated cart I had corrupted. I played through Ys Book I and II on the PC Engine Mini. For pick up and play gaming they're absolutely perfect if I don't feel like having one of my retro systems out because there's not that much of a difference for the games I play anyway.

I think emulation consoles, retro emulation handhelds and real retro systems are all great.

 

[WerewolfJones]

I dig the aesthetic and get the appeal of playing on a TV with a controller. At the same time however it’s just not practical for me to play on them anymore. I’m on the go so much and can emulate on so many devices it just works better to play on anything else.

 

[Jeanfranc]

Technically if you buy a retro game compilation or retro game cartridges you're also buying roms.

Yep

Mini consoles are a bit too gimmicky or like having a figure on the desk.

There's no Saturn mini but there is a 2/5 scale model kit of the Console you can buy (a shop near where I live actually has one of these for sale)

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I can't afford them, but I'm glad they are available to introduce an entire new generation of gamers to the games and consoles we grew up with.