More and more gamers are discovering the delights of retro consoles thanks to the best mini consoles on the market.
All the big names are releasing mini versions of their most beloved devices, packaging them with some of the best games pre-installed for your convenience..
While we’re all excited about the Dreamcast Mini and the GameCube Mini dropping into our laps, there are still plenty of other incredible mini consoles out there to keep us entertained for the time being.
Here’s a list of the best mini consoles on the market right now and we’ve tested most of them!
1. SNES Classic Mini
It had to be, didn’t it? The SNES Classic Mini takes the top spot in our list of the best mini consoles, a console with 21 of my favourite-ever games pre-installed.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of The Seven Stars, Star Fox, Yoshi’s Island, F-Zero, Earthbound; they’re all here and more!
It even comes with Star Fox 2, a previously unreleased game!
The SNES Mini comes with two controllers for ultimate multiplayer fun. You can save your games using suspend points and come back to difficult levels without having to leave your console on all night.
The mini unit looks exactly like the classic SNES, just a heck of a lot smaller, and you can stick it in a carry case for safe transport.
2. PlayStation Classic
It was a tough choice to make between Numbers 2 and 1 on this list of the best mini consoles, but I’ve put the PlayStation Classic in the second spot.
The console comes with 20 games pre-installed, but users can buy a Tru Blu Mini pack to boost that number by 101 games. That’s more than I ever had for the original PlayStation in the first place!
Even without the expansion pack, the PlayStation classic comes with some incredible titles including Final Fantasy VII, Grand Theft Auto, Resident Evil Director’s Cut.
The classic controller still feels great even now, and the unit itself is a perfect mini replica of the original PS1. You get two wired controllers in the pack, and the console uses virtual memory for saving games.
3. Game Gear Micro
In at number 10 on our list of the best mini consoles is the Game Gear Micro, Sega’s upcoming console release. The Game Gear Micro marks 60 years of Sega, and it comes in four different colours, each with different games.
If you’re the kind of person that loves collecting the best retro handhelds, then this release will be right up your street. The new micro handheld can even be used with a micro version of the Big Window magnifier that the original Game Gear used.
Here’s what we know about the different console colours –
- Black: Out Run, Puyo Puyo Tsu, Royal Stone, Sonic the Hedgehog
- Blue: Baku Baku Animal: Sekai Shiikugakari Senshuken, Gunstar Heroes, Sonic & Tails, Sylvan Tale
- Yellow: Nazo Puyo: Arle no Roux, Shining Force, Shining Force II, Shining Force: Final Conflict
- Red: Columns, The G.G. Shinobi, Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible, Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special
There’s no word as to when or if this console will be launched outside of Japan. Pre-orders are now running for the various coloured units, so click the link above to put in on order through Amazon Japan.
4. SEGA Mega Drive Mini 2
The SEGA Mega Drive Mini 2 launched in October 2022, and it gave gamers across the globe a look at even more SEGA games, preloaded on a miniature version of the popular Mega Drive Mini 2 and SEGA Genesis.
This is certainly one of the best mini consoles for SEGA fans who want a large selection of classic SEGA games.
For example, of the 60 games included there are: Sonic The Hedgehog 3D, Earthworm Jim 2, Ecco The Dolphin, Shining Force 2, Streets of Rage 3 and lots more.
The user interface is silky smooth, it’s incredibly easy to setup as it uses HDMI in and a USB port for power. It also features a exact sized Mega Drive 2 controller, making it feel like the real deal.
However, we wish the 2 meter cable was a bit longer as we our TV is quite literally 2m away so at times we found ourselves having to stretch!
It’s the perfect SEGA mini console.
5. NES Classic Mini
The console that started it all and propelled Nintendo to greatness. This NES Classic Mini console fits in the palm of your hand and is super portable.
It comes with 30 of the best games ever made including Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and PAC-MAN.
Each game has the opportunity for you to utilise four game suspension spots, giving you the ability to pick up exactly where you left off.
The console looks superb, as do the games in crisp HD. Two different controllers can be used, and they also work with certain classic games on the WIi-U too!
6. Sega Mega Drive Mini
Just look at that box! Sega have kept everything as close to the original packaging as possible for their Sega Mega Drive Mini console. American readers will know this as the Sega Genesis Mini, but it will always be the Mega Drive to me.
Inside the box, you get the Sega Mega Drive Mini itself, two classic wired controllers, a power cable, and your HDMI cable.
What could be better than playing your favourite classic Sega games in beautiful HD? It comes with 40 classic titles including the Shinobi Series; Sonic 1, 2, and Spinball; Ecco the Dolphin; Street Fighter 2; and many more!
7. Astro City Mini
Another Japanese release, the Sega Astro City Mini is a table-top sized version of the classic Astro City arcade cabinet. The full-sized cabinet one of Sega’s proudest achievements and can still be found running in arcades today!
Like the NeoGeo, the original Astro City had some games that were only available in arcades, but now you can play them at home in your pants.
It comes with 36 games in total, putting it on a par with many of the other units in this list of the best mini consoles.
As well as a few exclusives including Dark Edge, you’ll be able to choose from titles such as Alien Syndrome, Columns II and Virtua Fighter!
8. Game Boy Mini
Ok, so the Game Boy Mini might not be a console available on any retailer, though popularity for these handhelds is gaining traction through the retro gaming world and I am hoping Nintendo eventually make one.
These mini Game Boy Color handhelds from Burger King are seeing a new lease of life thanks to modders and RaspberryPi brain boxes, and we’re loving the outcome.
The Game Boy Color Mini stands at just 9cm high, with many including preloaded ROMs from the DMG, GBC, GBA, and some home consoles such as the NES.
Those who know where to look for modded consoles (it rhymes with ‘betsy’) should be able to pick one of these little beauties up easily, or check eBay or Instagram for fellow modded Burger King Toys.
