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[Trogdor1123]

Id like to build a plug and play system for emulated games but I’m not sure what is the best (easiest but still decent features) method now days.

I dont want to go the pc path as I just want something as simple as possible. I have an snes mini and added a bunch of games to it and love it. I did it with a wii too and like it as well. But, I’d like to expand the library and use a single system . Maybe up to Wii/gc/xbox/ps2 games? No need to go further and I suspect that’s a stretch as well.

Any insights would be appreciated. I have a fat 200 gig ps3 sitting too if that’s an option.

 

[64gigabyteram]

Do you want a box or a portable?
It's a lot easier to answer with portable, as there are plenty of android devices with super simple emulation like the Ayn Odin 2 or Retroid Pocket 5.

I can't think of many home solutions for a "plug n play" emulator box beyond FPGA (which doesn't provide 6th gen/wii games) or a miniPC (which requires more setup than you're comfortable with)

Most emulation is pretty easy and quick to set up.... for me at least. But for some folks out there even downloading a bios and putting it in the specific directory the emulator needs is a pain in the ass.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Maybe up to Wii/gc/xbox/ps2 games?

Get a Steam Deck, or any other good portable PC. You could plug it to a TV as well, and setting up EmuDeck is super easy.

Aside from that... I dunno man. Many chinese portable machines have great emulation capabilities, but I don't know of any particular one I could recommend.

 

[azertydu91]

I think there's some raspberrys with batocera or emulation station pre-installed, some of them include roms too.That with some 3d printed case would probably work well and suit your taste.

 

[64gigabyteram]

I have a fat 200 gig ps3 sitting too if that’s an option.

Hacking it works, you get access to all PS2 and PS1 games and it can play at least up to SNES and N64 (the latter not well)

 

[StereoVsn]

There are bunch of Chinese emulator boxes with preloaded games. Question is if there are any issues like backdoors.

 

[Antwix]

What is the problem with the PC path? You just download retroarch, pcsx2/3, dolphin and you're good with the stuff you want.

Hacking it works, you get access to all PS2 and PS1 games and it can play at least up to SNES and N64 (the latter not well)

Haven't messed around with PS3 since I sold it a few years ago but retroarch was pretty jank on it. There was one specific version that was about a year outdated at that point that wouldn't freeze up. Other than that though, ps3 was decent. All retro stuff (like you said except n64) including ps1, ps2, ps3.

 

[64gigabyteram]

There are bunch of Chinese emulator boxes with preloaded games. Question is if there are any issues like backdoors.

I think the more pressing issue is the quality of those preloaded games and whether they're all the real deal and gems or

Super Mario Bros 6 (romhack of Contra where all the characters heads are replaced with Mario heads)

 

[TintoConCasera]

What is the problem with the PC path? You just download retroarch, pcsx2/3, dolphin and you're good with the stuff you want.

Definitely the best option. If he doesn't want to emulate ps3 he should be able to build a capable emulation machine for very, very cheap.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

What is the problem with the PC path? You just download retroarch, pcsx2/3, dolphin and you're good with the stuff you want.


Haven't messed around with PS3 since I sold it a few years ago but retroarch was pretty jank on it. There was one specific version that was about a year outdated at that point that wouldn't freeze up. Other than that though, ps3 was decent. All retro stuff (like you said except n64) including ps1, ps2, ps3.

"What’s the best plug and play way to play emulated games?"

They have some Chinese boxes that work pretty well OP.
Wicked Gamer or something like that on YouTube covers these devices.


Edit:
Here Trogdor1123

 

[StereoVsn]

Definitely the best option. If he doesn't want to emulate ps3 he should be able to build a capable emulation machine for very, very cheap.

Yeah, and Steam Deck LCD or refurb OLED is the way to go. Just swap to 1TB drive for like $70.

Edit: Ton of step by step instructions for Emulation Station, and other emulators on YouTube.

 

[64gigabyteram]

What is the problem with the PC path? You just download retroarch, pcsx2/3, dolphin and you're good with the stuff you want.


Haven't messed around with PS3 since I sold it a few years ago but retroarch was pretty jank on it. There was one specific version that was about a year outdated at that point that wouldn't freeze up. Other than that though, ps3 was decent. All retro stuff (like you said except n64) including ps1, ps2, ps3.

there are better consoles for emulation (2017 era switch, PS4, Wii U, Xbox Series) but the PS3 is ok enough

Jailbreaking a PS3 is more useful for getting the native games than any sort of emulation, honestly. it's serviceable though especially if you like PS1 games

 

[RoboFu]

Don't go windows . You can't even use steam in big picture mode without windows throwing up pop ups all the time taking focus.

I would go with linux .. no desktop.. boot straight to a good multi launcher with nice console like front end.

 

[64gigabyteram]

Don't go windows . You can't even use steam in big picture mode without windows throwing up pop ups all the time taking focus.

I would go with linux .. no desktop.. boot straight to a good multi launcher with nice console like front end.

he said no PC. lol

 

[Antwix]

Xbox Series

Forgot about that. That would be my #1 recommendation if it wasn't such a cat and mouse game (at least it was for a bit). Haven't kept up with it regarding dev mode and such.

 

[jshackles]

The best device I have that is literally just a "copy ROMs to an SD card and play them without any fuss" has got to be the Analogue Pocket. Bonus because it's a handheld and has the most amazing screen. It can play up through PS1 stuff.

You can also buy the dock to connect it to your TV and Bluetooth controllers. It's FPGA based, but unfortunately not cheap.

 

[RoboFu]

he said no PC. lol

I was thinking mini pc running Linux they acts like a plug a play console.

 

[Alexios]

I mean, for most actual legit solutions you're gonna need to at least understand some kind of folder structure and put bios and game files in specific formats you'll need to acquire so it's no more or less plug and play than PC even if it's a different device. Otherwise you'e locked to some randomly determined game and system collection by the manufacturer of potentially dubious systems that don't care for the legality (or potentially provide any support) so just throw everything preloaded in the box (hope they chose the versions you want or not have you sift through thousands of potentially outdated romset dumps - btw, which systems/era do you even want to emulate?). Using emulators (on any device) is like barely a step above understanding how to use a computer for very basic things, everyone should (be able to) do that, download, unpack and (maybe not even) install stuff, run executables and move files around so it's what, a 10 minute research into the basics of how and why they work like that and what you need to get and do to open the floodgates and do anything (or keep it simple and just play some games, you only set it up once and then it's just there)

 

[64gigabyteram]

Using emulators is like barely a step above understanding how to use a computer for very basic thing

this i can agree on. It's usually harder to set up emulators for other systems than a PC/android due to lack of easy filesystem access. It's really hard to recommend devices that make this stuff possible, and OP hasn't replied with the standards of ease of use he expects from a plug-n-play emulation device.

 

[Trogdor1123]

What is the problem with the PC path? You just download retroarch, pcsx2/3, dolphin and you're good with the stuff you want.


Haven't messed around with PS3 since I sold it a few years ago but retroarch was pretty jank on it. There was one specific version that was about a year outdated at that point that wouldn't freeze up. Other than that though, ps3 was decent. All retro stuff (like you said except n64) including ps1, ps2, ps3.

I’d just prefer to not use pc is all. My pc would be fine to do it, (5800x3d, 32 gigs of ram, 6800) I think I’m just wanting to do something else.

I just want something where I hit a single button to turn the system on and scroll through, a very console like experience.

 

[Trogdor1123]

I was thinking mini pc running Linux they acts like a plug a play console.

I would be interested in this. Got more info?

 

[Trogdor1123]

this i can agree on. It's usually harder to set up emulators for other systems than a PC/android due to lack of easy filesystem access. It's really hard to recommend devices that make this stuff possible, and OP hasn't replied with the standards of ease of use he expects from a plug-n-play emulation device.

Frankly, ease of use like an snes mini or hacked wii would be great. Not sure if that’s reasonable. Haven’t done this in a while.

 

[64gigabyteram]

I just want something where I hit a single button to turn the system on and scroll through, a very console like experience.

Frankly, ease of use like an snes mini or hacked wii would be great. Not sure if that’s reasonable. Haven’t done this in a while.

are you fine with a lengthy first time set up (getting emulators, roms, bios, themes, cover art etc) where you get the library and such sorted out, or do you want 90% of the stuff configured on first boot?

The vast majority of the best emulation devices are usually the former

 

[Trogdor1123]

are you fine with a lengthy first time set up (getting emulators, roms, bios, themes, cover art etc) where you get the library and such sorted out, or do you want 90% of the stuff configured on first boot?

The vast majority of the best emulation devices are usually the latter

Totally ok with a setup that takes a while. That doesn’t bother me. I’m not computer illiterate, just want to build system with robust library that is easy to use. Happy to buy new hardware if it makes sense.

 

[64gigabyteram]

Totally ok with a setup that takes a while. That doesn’t bother me. I’m not computer illiterate, just want to build system with robust library that is easy to use. Happy to buy new hardware if it makes sense.

It's very hard not to recommend a miniPC right now as they are basically what you are asking for, so long as you stay away from Windows. Bazzite on a Beelink Mini PC with the 5800h is enough for everything up to PS3 (and it's around 300~ in US dollars, not sure about your currency or if you also live in the US)

https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-SER5-Computer-Supports-Three-Screen/dp/B0DHC8VBCZ?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3JOEGD00F6HMA

Try getting a Steam Deck and plugging it into the TV with a dock. It's still a PC, but EmuDeck makes the setup process basically idiot proof. ATP the only things you need to add are bios and roms for the specific game directories.

 

[poppabk]

Think a Pi 5 will get you up to around GameCube level.

 

[kevboard]

if you have an Xbox Series S or X, buy dev mode access for 20 bucks and install some emulators.

it's not fully plug and play, but there are tons of YouTube tutorials.


a Raspberry Pi would also be pretty good, at least for anything up to PS1/N64, and some Gen6 console emulation. not sure how well Gen6 stuff runs on the newest Pis tho.

 

[Hoddi]

Going from PS1/N64 era to PS2/GC is a pretty big jump in emulation. It's basically the difference between needing an RB Pi and PC and it's really up to how much you want to spend.

Your choice of OS/distro probably matters more in terms of usability. Setting up a linux system that boots directly into the emulator frontend makes it feel more like a console and frees you from needing a keyboard/mouse which you can't really escape on Windows. I haven't tried any of those on PC but it's pretty trivial on RB Pi where it's just a disk image on an SD card.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Get a Steam Deck

The best answer.

I've bought pretty much every system you can emulate on to date and found it the best. Portable, or you can easily set it up to a TV.

Plays just about everything you can think of

So good I ended up with three of them...
1 original for emulation
1 original for standard PC games
1 OLED for both

You can buy endless cheap Chinese crap with a dodgy warranty but its mostly shit

 

[ReBurn]

I think there's some raspberrys with batocera or emulation station pre-installed, some of them include roms too.That with some 3d printed case would probably work well and suit your taste.

If you look hard enough you can find preconfigured emulator SD cards on Etsy that you can plug into a raspberry pi and you're off. A pi kit with power supply and HDMI cable, an SD card and a USB controller and you're off and running. Just turn it on and it boots into a game launcher. I got one for an arcade cabinet that I never built. Have a nice box of buttons and joysticks to go with it if I ever get around to it.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Mister FPGA (and the upcoming SuperStation One), once set up, is the most plug-and-play retro gaming box I’ve ever had and wanted. Its main issue is that it doesn’t go beyond 5th-gen systems, and it doesn’t have all the QoL features of software emulators.

Otherwise, I guess a mini PC with Linux could serve you well enough.

If you want a handheld, Steam Deck, Ayn Odin 2 and Retroid Pocket 5 are all pretty powerful options that won’t leave you wanting too much.

 

[Cakeboxer]

Not exactly plug and play, but cheap and quite easy.

Home: Series S or old i5 system + GTX 970 for like 100 Euro.
Handheld: Smartphone for ~100-150 Euro + Lemuroid + a controller (not sure about Wii/gc/xbox/ps2 tho)

 

[azertydu91]

If you look hard enough you can find preconfigured emulator SD cards on Etsy that you can plug into a raspberry pi and you're off. A pi kit with power supply and HDMI cable, an SD card and a USB controller and you're off and running. Just turn it on and it boots into a game launcher. I got one for an arcade cabinet that I never built. Have a nice box of buttons and joysticks to go with it if I ever get around to it.

Yep that's what I wanted to say in my poorly worded post....That being said , if you have the money I'd like to echo the steam deck feeling this thread has.It's honestly great just follow a walkthrough to instal it and then adding games is as easy as drag and drop a zip to a folder, as for emulation capabilities it can go up to the switch for nintendo, ps3 and OG xbox to 360 (I've seen some game running you might want to avoid the 360, the og xbox can be shaky too).

 

[calistan]

Get a Steam Deck, or any other good portable PC. You could plug it to a TV as well, and setting up EmuDeck is super easy.

I'd have to dispute the Steam Deck part of that. I'm okay with PCs and Macs, but getting emulation set up on Steam Deck was such a ballache that I eventually gave up on it. Transferring files, configuring Linux, getting the icons to appear, the controls and sound to work. Dealing with the cable spaghetti that comes from hooking up a USB dock, monitor, keyboard and mouse, which you absolutely need to do in order to mess around with desktop mode. I found it far more fiddly than a Windows PC.

The best device I have that is literally just a "copy ROMs to an SD card and play them without any fuss" has got to be the Analogue Pocket. Bonus because it's a handheld and has the most amazing screen. It can play up through PS1 stuff.

You can also buy the dock to connect it to your TV and Bluetooth controllers. It's FPGA based, but unfortunately not cheap.

Agree, it's a very simple system to use. There are utilities that take care of all the updates and even download some of the roms. Down side, other than the price, is that it's not very powerful. It struggles with some of the biggest 2D games, and 3D stuff is off the menu.

 

[Chukhopops]

Get a Steam Deck, or any other good portable PC. You could plug it to a TV as well, and setting up EmuDeck is super easy.

Aside from that... I dunno man. Many chinese portable machines have great emulation capabilities, but I don't know of any particular one I could recommend.

Steam deck with Emudeck is ridiculously simple to use and has a lot of QOL features (collections, automatic cover download, ease of update). Just buy a JSAUX dock if you want to plug it in a TV. And the best part is you’ll also have a Steam Deck.

Anything up to GameCube included will run just fine.

 

[TintoConCasera]

but getting emulation set up on Steam Deck was such a ballache

How? Where you using EmuDeck or some other method? I found the former to be quite simple.

 

[calistan]

How? Where you using EmuDeck or some other method? I found the former to be quite simple.

It was a while ago, so I can't remember exactly what I used. I definitely tried Retroarch, which I found to be really unfriendly. Left me with multiple options for cores that I didn't want to install, and layers of menus to dig through just to load a game, which was then not guaranteed to work. Also Duckstation, which I did manage to get working but it vanished from the Steam menu after an update.

Plus, transferring files to the Deck meant I needed to be running my main PC on one monitor and the Deck on another, with two keyboards and mice. I even tried compiling Mame on there, as that was all I actually wanted, but ran into weird problems with keys and whatnot. I really dislike Linux.

Anyway, perhaps there are better options these days, but from my experience it wasn't a viable alternative to just loading a more familiar emulator in Windows.

 

[El Muerto]

Anything with a linux os is the easiest to setup. If you want a handheld that can play wii/gc/ps2 you'll want to get a Retroid Pocket 5. And you'll want to install Rocknix on it. Once you load Rocknix it'll create all the folders for you to place your roms in. Then just drag and drop your roms and you're good to go. It also runs android but that's a pain to setup so Rocknix is the way to go. You can use a usb-c dock for hdmi out too.
If you want to go the pc route then install batocera. Super easy, just install the image on the pc and transfer your roms via flash drive or over ftp.

 

[lestar]

a modded switch

 

[rodrigolfp]

Plus, transferring files to the Deck meant I needed to be running my main PC on one monitor and the Deck on another, with two keyboards and mice.

Or you just use programs like Warpinator.

 

[Dural]

I've built many emulation boxes, right now I have this hooked up to my tv with Batocera. It's the best you can do for the price. You can find images of Batocera (and a bunch of other front ends) with emulators and games preconfigured. It can play up to PS3, though PS3 isn't great last I tried (it may have gotten better). Everything below PS3 plays great though, even WiiU is pretty good.

 

[Spiral1407]

A Wii is probably the best non-fpga option if you're playing on a CRT thanks to 240p support. If not, then I'd go for a PS3 since you can do PS1/2 and most 4th gen consoles, especially if you have a BC model.

 

[littlepooch21]

What about an Nvidia Shield TV Pro?

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Mini PC with Batocera works nicely for this for sure. Raspberry Pi 5 isn't bad, but you'll get way better support for emulators with a good mini PC instead.

 

[Lokaum D+]

PC, just build a mini itx and you ll have something more compact than consoles while more powerfull

 

[keefged4]

Steam Deck / PC will give you the best results. If you are looking for portable only I'd go for a Retroid Pocket 5.

 

[Esppiral]

Steam deck or any other handheld PC would do the work.

 

[Mephisto40]

A PC with Launchbox installed, all you need is to point it at a folder with roms in, and it pretty much does everything else for you, even down to downloading the box arts and sample movies

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Buy a cheap steam deck (or equivalent) if you can find it and boot a batocera instance on the device.

Have seen the Pocket mentioned here but based on your description that device is too niche for your needs. You can also find better (more capable) hardware with a superior oled screen in the retroid pocket series.

IMO the Analogue Pocket is a collectors emulator, not a mainstream device.

 

[Thanati]

As many have said here, either a mini PC or something like a Steam Deck would suit you just fine.