Retro game consoles come in two main styles: handhelds with their own screen, and HDMI game sticks or consoles that plug into a TV. Both come with classic games preloaded. The right one depends on where you'll play and who you'll play with.

The short answer

  • Choose a handheld if you'll mostly play alone, on the couch, in bed or while traveling.
  • Choose an HDMI console if you want to play with someone else on the big screen.
Handheld HDMI game stick or console
Where you play Anywhere: couch, bed, travel Where there is a TV, projector or monitor
Players One Two (two controllers included)
Screen Built in Your TV
Power Rechargeable battery USB power cable
Starting price View current handheld prices View current TV-console prices

Where you'll play

A handheld has a built-in screen, controls and a rechargeable battery, so it works anywhere. An HDMI console needs a TV, projector or monitor with an HDMI input, plus a power source, so it stays put once it's set up.

How many players

Every TV console we sell includes two 2.4G wireless controllers, so you can choose supported two-player games and modes. Handhelds are designed for one player.

Screen and controls

Handhelds have a built-in screen, such as the 3.5-inch screen on the R36S or the square 4-inch screen on the R36S MAX, with a D-pad, face buttons, dual 3D joysticks and shoulder buttons. TV consoles show games as large as your TV allows, using full-size wireless controllers. Retro games were made for low resolutions, so on a big TV they're scaled up and look softer than modern games.

Which games you can play

Our handhelds use the RK3326 chip, with game-specific results that depend on the emulator, firmware and settings. Support for a system does not guarantee full-speed play across every title. Among the TV consoles, the M8 Game Stick Lite and M15 Game Stick Pro cover systems up to PS1, while the X2 Plus adds emulators for N64, PSP, Dreamcast and NDS.

Our picks

  • Best first handheld: R36S, in eight colors
  • Bigger screen: R36S MAX
  • Long sessions: R40S, with a wide controller-style grip
  • Best value for two players: M8 Game Stick Lite
  • 3D-era games on the TV: X2 Plus
  • Tidy setup beside the TV: M23, an upright console on its own stand

Still deciding? Our comparison page lines up every model.

A final checklist before ordering

  • Choose a built-in screen or a TV setup first.
  • Check the current price, selected capacity and package contents on the product page.
  • Confirm power, controller battery and connection requirements.
  • If a particular game or feature matters, ask about the actual configuration instead of relying on a game-count headline.

For the R36S, read our game list, compatibility and storage guide. Prefer illuminated controls? Compare the RG36 PRO RGB handheld with the other handhelds.