An updated mini-size retro console loaded with an astonishing 70,000 games is selling for close to $90 now and has emerged as one of the most giftable gadgets of the year for nostalgic gamers and newcomers who just want to know why older games are better. It also doubles as a streaming device (meaning you can get Netflix and whatnot), so it’s a two-for-one living room upgrade for anyone looking to get great plug-and-play classics without the headache of assembling one on their own.
What You Get for $90: Hardware, Storage and Specs
The appeal is clear: thousands of titles from different generations packed into a set-top box that connects to your television through an HDMI cable and includes two wireless controllers. The package usually contains a 256GB game card, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and supports 4K video output. Retro games won’t automatically appear in native 4K, but the interface and video playback look sharp on today’s screens.
Under the hood, these units tend to couple a quad-core ARM processor with a streamlined emulation front end for fast access to libraries from systems like NES, SNES, Genesis, PlayStation, and handhelds.
The microSD card can be expanded, and there’s the ability to sideload additional titles for those familiar with manipulating ROM files.
Emulation and Streaming Combined in a Single Box
The magic comes from the system’s dual-boot nature. EmuELEC 4.5 is perfect for retro gaming with a smooth, console-like interface, and you can easily install popular streaming apps on Android 9.0 as well. You can dart from a run of Super Metroid to movie night without swapping hardware, a convenience that’s table stakes in the modern living room.
Performance varies by generation. 8- and 16-bit consoles should all play absolutely perfectly. PlayStation is usually buttery smooth; Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and PSP are on a game-by-game basis, potentially wrangled together with settings tweaks. Longtime reviewers on channels such as Retro Game Corps and ETA Prime have been consistent at proving that devices of this ilk can turn in dependable performance for the 2D era and hit-or-miss performance for early-ish 3D libraries.
The former is essentially just video decoding and UI output, while the latter isn’t at native retro game resolutions. With that being said, good shaders and scaling options can make the classics look great on a big television, especially with scanline or CRT filters.
A Setup That’s Family-Friendly and Easy to Use
When it comes to giving, no one cares about spec sheets. This unit is plug-and-play: connect HDMI and power, the included controllers are usually pre-paired, and you are playing within minutes. Save states give the kids a chance to keep trying at hard places, and front-end scraping means box art or game info can automatically be downloaded (your library looks more polished).
Where these boxes shine is local multiplayer. It’s packed with two controllers, and Bluetooth means you can use your favorite pads — from modern console controllers to retro-inspired ones made by brands like 8BitDo — for a living room setup that feels right for you.
Caveats You Should Know Before Buying One
That 70,000 number, of course, often includes duplicates, regional variations, fan translations, hacks, and homebrew; it’s also the real reason “700 unique bricks” can’t possibly compare. The total number is less important than the variety of systems supported and how well your own favorites run. The easiest way to find what you really want to play is by curating your library with this new “hide” and “favorite” feature; otherwise, perusing through the alpine lawn of garbage and forever-lost music videos will be as much a challenge as deciding what to play.
Then there’s the legal issue: although emulators are legal in most jurisdictions, downloading or distributing the copyrighted ROMs you don’t own is not. Industry groups such as the Entertainment Software Association have emphasized this. If you’re interested in keeping on the right side of licensing, your safest bet is to limit all backups to legal copies and public domain or officially licensed content.
Controller quality is another watch item. Pack-in pads are serviceable for casual play but can be hit or miss. Snapping in a known brand can make all the difference, particularly for fighting games or platformers that require tight inputs.
How It Stacks Up on Value Against Alternatives
Under $100 is a sweet spot. Similar handhelds and mini-consoles — cf. Retroid, Anbernic, or modded Raspberry Pi 4 builds — usually take more tinkering (or additional purchases) to rival the living room convenience. A TV box that’s ready to go with a big library, dual OS, and two controllers makes it an easy win when gifting for mixed skill levels.
And the analysts at Circana have observed seasonal interest in legacy IP and retro hardware as a recurring trend, with retailers experiencing surges of plug-and-play systems during past holidays. It’s easy to see why: nostalgia is a strong purchase motivator, and the bar to entry here is preferable to that of a single new-release collector’s edition.
Bottom Line: A Strong Price-to-Fun Gift Pick
For a gift that has mass appeal, unlocks decades of gaming history, and doubles as a streaming hub, this $90 retro console hits an uncommonly good price-to-fun ratio.
But gently temper that 70,000 count, budget for a controller upgrade if you’re at all picky, and you have a living room time machine just right for family tournaments, arcade nights, and marathon nostalgia sessions.
