We're all feeling the pinch at the moment, and with more and more birthdays cropping up the more friends you make and celebrations galore just around the corner, I've put together a list of 5 retro gaming gifts under $55 that you can order no matter where you are in the world.
We review and test a lot of gadgets and peripherals here at Retro Dodo, and all of the pieces in the following list are items that we currently have and use from our current collections. You get the Retro Dodo seal of approval from each of the 5 items below, and we're sure that the gamer in your life will enjoy any one of them!
NB: All prices are correct as of 27/10/2025 and include current deals
1. A Handheld History
- Release Date: 2023
- Price: $27.56+
- Available At: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones
Our first book, A Handheld History, reached its monthly target of $24K in just 23 hours on the first day of its crowdfunding campaign, meaning it's a product that was made a reality by you and the wider retro gaming community!
If you're looking for a coffee table book for a gamer in your life, then look no further. From Gunpei Yokoi messing around with a calculator and getting the idea for the Game boy to the best retro handhelds on the scene today, this book follows the history of handheld gaming right from the very begining, with in-depth entries from experts in the space.
It's the perfect nostalgic companion, allowing you to reminisce about the first time you played Super Mario World, playing Tetris by the light of the streetlamps in the back of the car, the first time you turned on a Sega Game Gear, and much more. With entries from Jason Bradbury, Mike Driver, and Larry Bundy Jr, it's jam-packed full of fascinating information from famous faces and gamers alike.
2. LEGO Genesis/Mega Drive Controller
- Release Date: 2025
- Cost: $40-50
- Where To Buy: eBay
Originally, the LEGO Sega Genesis/Mega Drive controller was only obtainable after customers spent $150 on the LEGO website. Now, however, it's available to buy from eBay for between $40 and $50. And in case you're wondering how reliable that is, it's how we got our set, and we're incredibly happy with it.
It's not the largest LEGO set in the world and won't challenge you too much, but the end result is perfect, complete with a Sonic the Hedgehog Easter egg in the back of the controller.
The curves are perfect on the face and sides of the controller, and all in all, it's a brilliant recreation of a classic pad that many of us grew up holding. And yes, there are stickers that you use to change the face design depending on whether you grew up gaming with the Genesis or the Mega Drive.
There's always the option of keeping this set boxed and waiting 10 or 20 years to see how much it's going to be worth. I think it will be a sought-after collectible for sure, but LEGO is meant to be played with, and I wouldn't blame you for ripping open the box and putting it together to display on your game room shelf the minute it arrives at your door!
3. Dragonyhm
- Release Date: 2024
- Cost: $44.99
- Where To Buy: ModRetro
- Read Our Review: Dragonyhm Review: An Exceptional RPG That Almost Broke Me
Honestly, Dragonyhm is one of the best games that I've ever played, not just on a handheld, but on any console that I've ever owned. Spacebot Interactive have created a game that requires you to think and dare in equal measure, cramming intricate puzzles, tense battles, and a superb narrative into a custom cartridge that can be played on your Game Boy Color, ModRetro chromatic, or Analogue Pocket.
Heck, you can even plug it into your Super Game Boy on the SNES to find an extra secret - these guys are the sneakiest people I've ever worked with.
RPG lovers will feel right at home here, and the fact that the game comes with an instruction booklet just like the old games is very important (you're going to want to keep that handy, trust me). You'll struggle in the dungeons, but that's all part of it. This is a game that requires you to think three steps ahead, and learning new spells and discovering new weapons and armour as you progress through the story will make you feel like you've been transported into the heart of a fantasy novel.
Check out our Podcast Episode with the team at Spacebot Interactive to find out more about the creative processes involved with making the game!
4. PACMAN: Birth of an Icon
- Release Date: 2021
- Price: $32.00+
- Available At: Cook & Becker, Amazon,
It's impossible to even think about PAC-MAN without hearing his trademark 'WAKA-WAKA-WAKA' sound. This game means so much to so many people, and Cook & Becker have published the first-ever history of PAC-Man book with untold stories and archival images that will make any Retro Gamer in your life feel like they've stepped back in time.
“Full of historical imagery, concept designs, marketing photos and more, the book examines the game’s design philosophy and origins through the artists, designers, developers, and other creative teams who brought PAC-MAN to life”.
cook & becker
The book's creators, Arjan Terpstra and Tim Lapetino, have done an impressive deep dive into the history of our famous dot-munching friend, speaking to the original Namco team members to uncover hidden secrets about the legend who ruled the Golden Age of Gaming. It's all about shedding more light on an icon you know and love in a book that allows you to immerse yourself in arcade culture!
Not only do you get some incredible facts and amazing photos, but there's also a limited edition variant that comes with a case, a coin, and a vinyl!
5. ANBERNIC RG35XXSP
- Release Date: 2024
- Cost: $49.99
- Where to Buy: ANBERNIC
- Our Review: RG35XXSP Review
I will never stop loving this handheld. Even though ANBERNIC have released an updated version in the RG34XXSP complete with thumbsticks, I still prefer the simplicity of the original. Let's face it, those sticks towards the bottom of handhelds are hard to use anyway, and you know exactly what you're getting with the RG35XXSP. What's more, it looks like the GBA SP, and that was one of my favourite handhelds as a kid.
Clamshells always excited me; they're durable, you can shove them in your pocket without worrying about the screen getting scratched, and they feel a little more quirky than standard vertical consoles. The 3.5" screen is perfect for everything from the NES to the Dreamcast. Yes, I've played Crazy Taxi and N64 games like Wave Race (After remapping the D-pad with Analogue Stick controls) with ease.
The RG35XXSP can play PS1 and PSP games too, though some PSP games are a little temperemental, so you'll need to test them out to see which of your favourites work, I've played God of War with zero issues many a time while on a plane or even just kicking back in the garden, but if you're just looking for a reliable gadget to play Pokémon Red with, you won't go wrong!
Bonus Stocking Filler: The Throne
- Released: October
- Price: £24.99
- Available At: GAMENOOK
- Discount code: 10% off using "RETRODODO"
Do you want to buy the gamer in your life a stocking filler that will not only make their collection look better, but that will also help to save the planet? The Throne is the latest product from our sister company GAMENOOK, a stand for your handheld console made from recycled plastic pulled from landfills and the ocean.
We work with small businesses to clean up local areas and the coastline, taking the plastic that would otherwise be harmful to wildlife and our children and turning it into a product that allows you to show off your handheld consoles in style. It comes in two colour variants, and we plant a tree for every order we get!
