This is a personal project to build a retro gaming console using a Raspberry Pi and RetroPie. The goal was to create a functional, reliable, and cool (literally) gaming machine that can run classic games from multiple consoles.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Board | Raspberry Pi 3B+ |
| OS | Recalbox / RetroPie |
| Storage | 64GB microSD card |
| Power | 5V 2.5A power supply |
| Case | NES case |
| Cooling | Heatsink + fan (v2 planned) |
- Recalbox — Retro gaming OS for Raspberry Pi
- ISO/ROMs — Game files for supported consoles
| Category | Systems |
|---|---|
| Consoles | NES, SNES, N64, GameCube (Pi5), Wii (Pi5), Nintendo DS (Pi5), Game Boy, GBC, GBA, SEGA Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, PlayStation 1, Atari 2600, PC Engine, Neo-Geo, and many more. |
| Arcade | MAME, FBNeo, NEO-GEO, NAOMI, SEGA Model 3, ATOMISWAVE, CPS-1/2/3, and more. |
| Computers | Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, Apple II, MSX, ZX Spectrum, and more. |
| Total | 100+ systems supported. |
| Area | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Hardware | Understanding components, power requirements, thermal management |
| Emulation | How emulators work, ROM management, BIOS setup |
| Linux | Basic command line, file management, configuration files |
| Troubleshooting | Debugging boot issues, audio/video output, controller mapping |
| Iteration | After 10 tries, finally made it work |
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| ROM compatibility | Researching correct file formats and BIOS files |
- Improved cooling system (fan + heatsink)
- Networked save states
- Better power management
- Add more emulators (N64, Dreamcast, PSP)
- Document the full build process with photos
One random day I was bored, so I called and talked to one of my friends about trying to find a project that could interest me. He sent me a Raspberry Pi 3B. I had no idea what to do with it. Therefore I decided to figure it out.
It was a bit of challenge since I never worked with simulations before but it was an amazing experience seeing it working properly when I connected to my tv.
- Recalbox — Retro gaming OS Emulation platform
- Raspberry Pi — The board
Status: Experiment
Started: 2024
Version: v1.0 (v2 in progress)