As the holidays approach, we're doing everything we can to take the stress out of your shopping while making your hard-earned cash go further at the same time. We know what it's like when you have multiple mini gamers to buy for, or equally, when you simply don't have any idea what to buy your friend when it comes to Secret Santa.
Don't worry; we're humongous nerds here at Retro Dodo, and we've spent hundreds of pounds of our own money to test out items so that we can advise you best on what to buy when birthdays and celebrations come around. All of the items in the list below are part of our own personal collections, and they're all currently under $77!
So, without further ado, let's take a look at 7 of the best Retro Gaming gifts that you can get for under $77. It might seem niche, but every penny counts!
NB: All prices are correct as of 27/10/2025 and include current deals
Want to spend more? Here's the best 9 gifts under $99.99!
1. LEGO Game Boy
- Release Date: October 2025
- Price: $59.97/£54.99
- Where To Buy: Amazon
The LEGO Game Boy is a set that we feel like we've been waiting for for far too long, and now that Natalie the Nerd has announced that mod kits are on the way, we're sure that we'll be turning ours into a working handheld very soon. At $59.97 or £54.99 for anyone from the United Kingdom like me, it's a great price and a fun set to both build and display in your game room.
The likeness is fantastic, right down to the battery light and speaker grill. Plus, the fact that the kit comes with lenticular screens that actually make it look like you're playing Game Boy games is a nice touch. You'll get two LEGO cartridges to put together; Tetris, and Super Mario World. They're the same size as a regular cartridge and have stickers you can place on the front too to make them look just like the real deal.
2. TRIMUI Brick
- Released: Late 2024
- Price: $69.99+
- Where To Buy: AliExpress, TRIMUI Store and Amazon (also now available in metal)
- Our Review: TRIMUI Brick Review
If you're looking to buy a handheld emulator that can both fit in your pocket and emulate up to Dreamcast and N64 games, then look no further than the TRIMUI Brick. It's a beautiful device that looks like it should be sold along Apple's iPhones and comes with a custom-made Linux OS which is an absolute joy to use.
One of the things I like the most about this handheld is a function button that allows you to change the D-pad controls to Analogue Stick controls with ease, so you don't have to mess around going into settings to remap buttons and remember how the X & Y axis works. It has a slick 3.2" display that's incredibly bright along with some fantastic face and shoulder buttons that can more than withstand your fevered button-mashing gaming sessions.
Speaking of shoulder buttons, you can actually remove these and chose a set that you find the most comfortable. The light at the back makes you feel a little like you're at a rave, but is also customisable. It's a handheld that promoters user compatability and fun, as well as being one of the best vertical handhelds that we've used. Everything just works, and the Retro Gamer in your life will be over the moon with it once they get their favourite ROMs uploaded!
3. Retro Fighters BattlerGC Pro
- Release Date: Jun 2025
- Price: RRP $64.95/£59.99
- Where To Buy: Amazon
- Our Review: Retro Fighters BattlerGC Pro Review
Retro Fighters have been reinventing our favourite controllers and improving them for years now, and their BattlerGC Pro is, for all intents and purposes, the evolved version of the WaveBird - lighter, more responsive, and more ergonomically pleasing!
I'm very honest with my reviews, and if something isn't up to scratch, I'll say so. I gave the BattlerGC Pro 9.5 out of 10 and have been using it every time I've played my GameCube ever since receiving it. The rumble is great, the connectivity is solid, and it's just an amazing product - you can't say fairer than that!
So what features does the BattlerGC Pro have? Well, it comes with custom-built Hall effect sticks to eliminate drift and has ultra-responsive triggers. There's no lag either, which is going to make racing in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! or battling Ganondorf in The Wind Waker much easier!
4. HyperMegaTech Super Pocket: Neo Geo Edition
- Price: From $69/£49/€59
- What's In The Box: Data East or Neo-Geo themed handheld, charging cable, Instruction booklet
- Where To Buy: Amazon (Data East), Amazon (Neo-Geo), HyperMegaTech!
- Pair With: Neo Geo Arcade 1
- Our Review: Super Pocket Review
If you want a handheld that plays retro games in physical form rather than having to rely on ROMs, then the Neo Geo Super Pocket from HyperMegaTech! should definitely be on your list. It doesn't take hours to set up, it doesn't require any files to be downloaded - you simply plug games in, turn it on, and relive classic retro titles.
I've picked the Neo Geo edition here because it's a stylish handheld that looks very slick. The 2.8" screen displays your games perfectly, with all the colours appearing rich and vibrant no matter what angle you look at it. Check out the included pre-installed games below!
Neo-Geo - 14 Games
- Alpha Mission II
- Blazing Star
- Fatal Fury Special
- King of the Monsters 2: The Next Thing
- Last Resort
- Metal Slug X
- Mutation Nation
- Over Top
- Samurai Shodown II
- Sengoku 3
- Shock Troopers 2nd Squad
- Soccer Brawl
- The Last Blade
- Top Hunter Roddy & Cathy
As with all of the Super Pockets, you can boost the games available on them by inserting EverCade cartridges, cartridges that will also work on all Evercade handhelds and consoles. It feels like a toy rather than a premium handheld, but it takes me bac to the days of the Tiger Electronics handhelds that I played with as a kid, so I'm kind of getting two drops of nostalgia for the price of one here!
Each handheld gives you around 4-5 hours of gameplay per charge. The OS is easy to navigate and won't make you tear your hair out either (providing you stil have some, unlike me!).
You get about 4-5 hours of gameplay from each charge, which is great, as the selection of games lends itself more to pick-up-and-play than long stints like a Zelda adventure might. I also love the UX on this thing too - all of the games have dedicated artwork as you move through the menu, unlike the boring lists on the ANBERNIC handhelds, and navigating it is just a pleasurable experience.
5. Super Mario Piranha Plant
- Release Date: November 2023
- Pieces: 540
- Pricing: $47.95 (RRP: $59.99)
- Where To Buy: Amazon or LEGO.com
- Build Time: 2 - 3 Hours
Finally, a Piranha plant that won't eat you as you try to jump over it... although those LEGO teeth look the real deal, that's for sure!
This set came out back in 2023 and is just as impressive today. It's 540 pieces, which means it will take you around 2-3 hours to build, depending on your level of expertise when it comes to putting LEGO together.
And yes - the rumours about this being a piggy bank are true. You can either put the included coins in the pipe or store your own money in there and no one will ever know (unless they've also read this article, but that's a risk we're just going to have to take!). It's a large piece that will definitely brighten up your game room, or you can just put it next to the family TV whenever playing a Mario game for that extra slice of Mushroom Kingdom madness!
6. Funkey S
- Released: Mid 2022
- Price: $69.99
- Where To Buy: Funkey’s Website
- Our Review: The Most Adorable Mini Handheld – Funkey S Review
There's a good reason why the Funkey S continually makes our lists, and that's because it's a miniature marvel that never fails to put a smile on our faces. I'm always astounded by how well this little handheld works even after using it since 2022, and as its the smallest clamshell handheld on the market, it'll turn a few heads whenever you pull it out of your pocket too.
At $69.99, it's the perfect present to give to the person who has everything. It can emulate games up to PS1 too, all from a handheld that sits on your keys or dangles from your car ignition. Just don't be playing Pokémon Gold at the traffic lights!
The Funkey S has its own operating system to make navigating this miniature masterpiece super easy. Ok, you won't spend hours at a time playing this thing, but when you're sitting at a bus stop or on a train, it'll kill time incredibly easily, and you'll never go out without a games console ever again.
The display is 1.5", so if you've got bad eyesight, you might want to carry a magnifying glass around with you. Still, it's pretty strong and durable despite being so small, and it's an adorable little device that any gamer would be pleased to open!
7. Console Heroes
- Released: 2025
- Price: From $17.99 (Four Mega Drive Cartridge Dioramas cost $71.96!)
- Where To Buy: Amazon
- Interview With The Creator: Retro Dodo Podcast Episode #097
I've put these Sega Mega Drive Console Heroes dioramas in this list simply because they're an incredible collectable that you won't want to just buy 1 of. Yes, $17.99 is certainly under $77, but there are multiple bundles you can put together yourself that come in under budget here.
Each clamshell cartridge diorama costs $17.99, with the larger Boss Bundle set that you can use to place your figures from the dioramas, which is coincidentally shaped like a Mega Drive console when closed, costing $39.99. So, you could get 4 cartridges, or the Boss Bundle and two cartridge dioramas, all for under $77.
These are great gifts if you have to buy for multiple gamers too, or if you're looking for the perfect Secret Santa present and are working to a tight budget. They look incredible too and come with a guaranteed sense of 90s nostalgia that we can't get enough ot.
Bonus Stocking Filler - The Throne
- Release Date: October 2025
- Price: £24.99
- Where To Buy: GAMENOOK,
It wouldn't be a Retro Dodo list without a stocking filler now, would it?
The Throne is our newest product from our sister company GAMENOOK, a stand for your handheld console made from recycled plastic taken from landfill and the ocean. It's the perfect shape for hundreds of handhelds including the ones listed in this article, and you can hold up to 5 Game Boy cartridges and four batteries in it too.
The planet deserves better, and so does your collection. We work with local businesses to recycle plastic, collaborate with local areas on litter picking events, and team up with WaterHaul to help keep the UK coastline clear of plastic. What's more, we also plant a tree for every order we make!
So, this little stocking filler (which comes in two colour variants) won't just put a smile on your friend or partner's face; it will help to put a smile on the faces of future generations of gamers who can enjoy taking their handhelds out into green and clean spaces for years to come!
