The Raspberry Pi is a small, affordable single-board computer that has become one of the most popular ways to build a retro gaming system. Plug it into your TV, load up the right software, and you have access to decades of gaming history — NES, SNES, Mega Drive, PlayStation, arcade machines and more — all from a device the size of a credit card.
It’s not the only way to play retro games, and it’s not always the easiest. But it’s one of the most flexible, most affordable, and most rewarding — and once it’s set up, it’s genuinely excellent. This guide is the starting point. More detailed guides on specific setups and software will follow, but if you want to understand what a Raspberry Pi can do for retro gaming and which model to start with, this is where to begin.
What Is a Raspberry Pi?
The Raspberry Pi is a fully functional computer on a single circuit board, developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the UK. It was originally designed as an affordable computing tool for education, but its low cost, small size, and open nature made it enormously popular with hobbyists, makers, and — very quickly — retro gaming enthusiasts.
It runs Linux-based operating systems, connects to a TV via HDMI, and supports USB and Bluetooth controllers. On its own it’s just a computer. Paired with the right retro gaming software, it becomes a machine that can play thousands of classic games across dozens of systems.
Which Model Should You Get?
The Raspberry Pi has gone through several generations, and the right choice depends on your budget and what you want to play.
Raspberry Pi 3B+ — Budget Option
The Pi 3B+ is the right choice if you’re primarily interested in 8-bit and 16-bit gaming — NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Game Boy, Arcade, and similar. It handles these systems brilliantly and is available secondhand for around £20–35. N64 and PlayStation 1 are possible but inconsistent; anything beyond that isn’t really viable.
If you have one already, or find one cheaply, it’s a perfectly good starting point for classic retro gaming. If you’re buying new, the Pi 4 is the better investment.
Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB, 4GB or 8GB) — The Sweet Spot
The Pi 4 remains the most popular choice for retro gaming in 2026. It handles everything up to PlayStation 1 excellently, runs N64 well, and can manage Dreamcast and PSP at reasonable settings. The 4GB model is the one to buy for retro gaming — the 8GB offers no meaningful improvement for gaming purposes, and the 2GB is sufficient if budget is tight.
New Pi 4 boards are available for around £45–55 for the 4GB model. Secondhand units are widely available and generally reliable.
Search Raspberry Pi 4 on Amazon UK
Raspberry Pi 5 — Current Generation
The Pi 5, released in late 2023, is significantly more powerful than the Pi 4. It handles Dreamcast and PSP comfortably and pushes into territory that the Pi 4 struggled with. The trade-off is that retro gaming software support — particularly RetroPie — is still catching up with the Pi 5’s hardware. Batocera and Recalbox (covered below) offer better out-of-the-box Pi 5 support currently.
The Pi 5 with 4GB RAM is around £60–70 new. If you want the best possible performance and don’t mind the slightly rougher software edges, it’s the right choice. If you want the easiest setup experience, the Pi 4 is still more straightforward.
Search Raspberry Pi 5 on Amazon UK
What Software Does It Run?
The Raspberry Pi runs retro gaming through emulation — software that mimics the hardware of classic consoles and computers, allowing games originally written for those systems to run on modern hardware. Several operating systems wrap this up into a ready-to-use package.
RetroPie
The most popular retro gaming OS for the Raspberry Pi. Built on top of Raspberry Pi OS, it uses EmulationStation as a front-end (the menu system you navigate) and RetroArch for running the actual emulators. It supports an enormous range of systems and has by far the largest community and the most online resources for troubleshooting.
The trade-off is that it requires more setup than the alternatives. Configuration is done through menus and, occasionally, text files. For anyone comfortable following guides, it’s entirely manageable — there’s a tutorial for virtually every question. For complete beginners who want the simplest possible path to playing games, Recalbox or Batocera may be easier first steps.
RetroPie is free and open source: retropie.org.uk
Recalbox
Recalbox is designed to be as close to plug-and-play as possible. It uses the same EmulationStation interface as RetroPie but handles most configuration automatically. Controllers generally work without manual setup. It’s a noticeably smoother experience for beginners and has excellent Pi 5 support.
The limitation compared to RetroPie is slightly fewer emulators and less flexibility for advanced customisation. For most people who want to get gaming quickly without reading documentation, it’s the right choice.
Batocera
Batocera sits between the two. It’s straightforward to set up, boots quickly, has excellent controller support, and performs particularly well on demanding systems like N64, Dreamcast and PSP. It also includes netplay — online multiplayer for retro games — which neither RetroPie nor Recalbox makes quite as straightforward. A strong choice for the Pi 5 specifically.
What Can It Actually Play?
This is the question that matters most. Here’s a practical guide by hardware:
Raspberry Pi 3B+: NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga (basic), MAME arcade games from the late 80s/early 90s. All excellent. PlayStation 1 — possible, but inconsistent. N64 — largely too demanding.
Raspberry Pi 4: Everything above, plus PlayStation 1 (excellent), N64 (good), Dreamcast (most titles), PSP (many titles), Amiga (full library), Neo Geo, Atari ST, DOS games. This covers the vast majority of classic gaming up to around 2000.
Raspberry Pi 5: Everything above, plus more consistent Dreamcast and PSP, and the beginning of PlayStation 2 and GameCube emulation in some titles. Software support for these systems on Pi 5 is still maturing, but the hardware is capable.
What Else Do You Need?
The Pi board alone isn’t enough. You’ll also need:
MicroSD card — minimum 32GB, faster is better. A Class 10 or UHS-I card (look for a U1 or U3 marking) makes a real difference to loading times and system responsiveness. 64GB or 128GB gives you comfortable room for a decent game library. Search microSD cards on Amazon UK
Power supply — the official Raspberry Pi power supply is the safest choice. Underpowered third-party supplies cause instability and are a common source of problems. Search Raspberry Pi power supplies on Amazon UK
Case — not strictly necessary but recommended for protecting the board. Dozens of options available at £5–20. Cases with built-in fans are worth considering for regular use, particularly on the Pi 4. Search Raspberry Pi cases on Amazon UK
HDMI cable — micro-HDMI on Pi 4 and Pi 5, so you’ll need either a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable or an adapter.
Controller — USB or Bluetooth. Xbox controllers, PlayStation controllers, and 8BitDo’s retro-style pads all work well. For the most authentic experience with classic games, the 8BitDo range is hard to beat.
Is It Legal?
RetroPie, Recalbox, and Batocera are all completely legal — they’re free, open-source software. The emulators themselves are legal. The legal question concerns the game files (ROMs). UK law on this is not entirely clear-cut, but the broadly understood position is that you should only use ROMs for games you physically own. Downloading commercial ROMs for games you don’t own is copyright infringement.
There is a large library of games that are legally and freely available — homebrew titles, games released into the public domain, and demos. These are worth exploring.
What’s Next
This guide is the starting point. Future guides in this series will cover setting up RetroPie step by step, adding games, configuring controllers, and getting the most out of specific systems. If you’re ready to take the next step from here, the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s own documentation at raspberrypi.com and the RetroPie documentation at retropie.org.uk/docs are both well-maintained and beginner-friendly.
Prices were accurate when we wrote this — but the market moves fast. Always check before you buy.
Want to take the Raspberry Pi further? Our Bartop Arcade Cabinet Build Guide covers turning a Raspberry Pi into a full bartop arcade machine. For the best controllers to pair with your setup, see our Retro Gaming Controllers guide.