Retro

Complete retro systems: Batocera, RetroPie and EmuDeck

Want a real gaming console experience with a beautiful library, without installing separate emulators? Then there are complete retro systems: you put it on a Raspberry Pi, mini PC or Steam Deck and all emulators are already configured.

Batocera

Batocera is a complete Linux distribution for retro gaming. You write it to a USB stick or SD card, boot from it and can start right away. There are versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 5, mini PCs and regular PCs.

  1. Download the right image at batocera.org.
  2. Write the image with balenaEtcher or the Raspberry Pi Imager to a stick or card.
  3. Start the device. After the first time, Batocera will create a shared folder itself.
  4. Copy your games over the network to the shared folder \\BATOCERA\share\roms, per console in its own folder. BIOS files go in share\bios.

RetroPie

RetroPie is the most well-known system for the Raspberry Pi and fits well with a DIY arcade cabinet. You select it in the Raspberry Pi Imager under Emulation and game OS → RetroPie. RetroPie works up to and including the Pi 4; for a Pi 5, Batocera is the better choice.

EmuDeck and EmulationStation-DE

  • EmuDeck installs and configures all emulators at once on a Steam Deck or Windows PC, and adds them to Steam. You start the installer in Desktop Mode.
  • EmulationStation-DE is a frontend with a beautiful library, covers and video previews. It runs on Windows, Linux and macOS and fits with a custom set of emulators.

Which one fits you?

  • Raspberry Pi 5 or mini PC as retro console: Batocera.
  • Raspberry Pi 4 or an arcade cabinet: RetroPie or Batocera.
  • Steam Deck: EmuDeck.
  • Your existing PC: separate emulators with EmulationStation-DE.

Useful tips

  • Use a wired network cable for copying games and for updating.
  • Use a good power supply and a fast card or SSD.
  • Let the system fetch artwork with the built-in scraper; that provides covers and descriptions.
  • Save your saves in a different location or synchronize them, so a broken SD card won’t cost you all your progress.