What retro console or handheld are you playing or collecting right now

[Andy81]

The retro gaming market has settled a bit after the pandemic price spike on cartridges. Original hardware prices have stabilised and flash carts have made the hobby more accessible for people who want to play rather than just collect. What are people currently playing from older generations and what is the best way to get into retro gaming in 2026 without spending a fortune?

[DarkMatter23]

GBA SP with an IPS screen mod is the peak handheld gaming experience for me. Every game in the library and the best screen the original hardware ever had

[JayJ]

MiSTer FPGA is the answer if you want accuracy across many systems in one box. It is not cheap to build but it is the most honest retro experience available outside original hardware

[ScarletWrench]

Original PS1 with a PSIO or ODE installed for optical drive emulation. No more disc rot concerns and instant loading. The library is enormous and prices are still reasonable

[RandyOrton04]

N64 library prices are still high but the Everdrive N8 Pro makes the whole thing more accessible. One cart, entire library, original hardware experience

[SuperPosition]

The retro handhelds from Anbernic and Miyoo have genuinely good build quality now. For someone wanting to play rather than collect they represent extraordinary value

[CobyOlaleye]

Game Boy Color and Pocket with flash carts are having a moment. Tiny form factor, massive library, and the modding community has kept the hardware fresh with excellent screen upgrades

[Candle]

Dreamcast is criminally undervalued still. GDEMU replaces the optical drive and then you have access to one of the most interesting software libraries of any console generation