Every console you grew up with, in one box
RetroPie is one of the most satisfying Raspberry Pi projects you can build. Plug it into your TV and you have a clean, controller-driven interface for playing games from the NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Game Boy, PS1, N64, and dozens of other platforms – all from a single device running on hardware you almost certainly have lying around.
It’s a legitimate piece of hardware hacking. You’re building a games console from components, configuring an OS purpose-built for emulation, and tuning it to get the best performance from whatever Pi you’ve got available.
What you’ll need
- A Raspberry Pi – 3B, 4, or 5 all work; a Pi 4 or 5 is best if you want to emulate PS1 and N64
- A microSD card (32GB minimum; 64GB gives you comfortable room)
- An HDMI cable
- A controller – USB works out of the box; Bluetooth is supported with a small setup step
- A case if you want it to look the part
Installation
Download the RetroPie image for your Pi model from retropie.org.uk. Flash it to your SD card using the Raspberry Pi Imager – select “Use Custom” and choose the downloaded file.
Boot the Pi with a keyboard and controller connected. RetroPie will walk you through controller mapping on first boot. Once mapped, the keyboard isn’t needed anymore – the entire system is navigable with the controller.
Getting games on
RetroPie sets up a Samba share automatically – \retropieroms – organised into folders by system. Copy your ROM files into the appropriate folder and either restart EmulationStation or press Start > Quit > Restart EmulationStation to refresh the library. Games appear automatically, sorted by system.
You’ll need to source ROMs yourself – legally, this means dumping them from cartridges you own. The tooling for this exists and is worth researching if you have original hardware.
Scraping artwork
Once your games are on the system, run the built-in Skyscraper or the EmulationStation scraper (Start > Scraper) to pull down boxart, screenshots, and game descriptions for each title. The difference this makes to the interface is dramatic – going from a plain list of file names to a proper visual library with box art and ratings.
Performance by Pi model
- Pi 3B – NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Game Boy Advance all run perfectly; N64 is hit and miss; PS1 mostly works
- Pi 4 – Everything up to PS1 and N64 runs flawlessly; Dreamcast is playable; PSP is mixed
- Pi 5 – Opens up Dreamcast and early PSP emulation more reliably; also runs Retroarch cores with better shaders
Controllers
Almost any USB controller works without any configuration. For a more authentic feel, the 8BitDo range is excellent – Bluetooth, good build quality, and classic form factors matching the original console designs. The SN30 Pro is a particular favourite for SNES-era gaming.
Cases and presentation
This is where the project gets fun. You can 3D print or buy cases shaped like miniature versions of classic consoles – tiny SNES, miniature Mega Drive, NES-style boxes. Argon and Retroflag both make well-regarded cases with safe shutdown buttons wired to the Pi’s GPIO. A proper case turns this from a circuit board on a shelf into something that looks deliberate and finished.
Kodi integration
RetroPie can run Kodi alongside EmulationStation – so the same Pi that’s your retro gaming console is also your media player. Enable it from the RetroPie setup menu and it appears as an option in the main interface. One box, two uses.
This is part nine of our “Things to do with your old Raspberry Pi” series. Next week: the final post – running local AI models on a Pi 5 with Ollama.
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