Curated by Quick picks
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Best for the TV (and old cartridges)Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
1. Atari 2600+
Best for: Atari fans who want the real cartridge experience on a modern TV
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Best handheldCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
2. Evercade Rare Super Pocket
Best for: Anyone who grew up on Rare games, from Jetpac to Banjo-Kazooie
- Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
Show all 7 picks
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Best for arcade fans on the goCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
4. Evercade Data East Super Pocket
Best for: Arcade fans who want the most built-in games for their money
- Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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Best big-screen handheldCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
6. Evercade EXP-R
Best for: Evercade fans who want a bigger screen and TATE mode
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Best bartop arcadeCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
7. Evercade Alpha Mega Man
Best for: Capcom fans who want a proper arcade cabinet on a desk or shelf
Retro consoles are everywhere on Amazon, and lots of them are dodgy: no-name boxes “with 10,000 games” that are really just unlicensed ROMs. This list is officially licensed hardware only, from Atari, Retro Games Ltd and Evercade, so the games are legit and the makers stand behind them. For each one I’ve listed exactly which games come in the box and whether it plugs into a TV (and how), because that’s what trips people up. Heads-up: most of these come with a USB cable but no plug, so you’ll need a spare USB charger. (Here’s how we choose products.)
- Best for the TV (and old cartridges): Atari 2600+ (#1)
- Best handheld: Evercade Rare Super Pocket (#2)
- Best for 80s computer fans: The Spectrum (#3)
- Best for arcade fans on the go: Evercade Data East Super Pocket (#4)
- Best for 7800 fans: Atari 7800+ (#5)
- Best big-screen handheld: Evercade EXP-R with Tomb Raider (#6)
- Best bartop arcade: Evercade Alpha Mega Man edition (#7)
Compare all 7 picks
| # | Product | Best for | Key spec | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atari 2600+ (with CX40+ joystick and 10-in-1 cartridge)Best for the TV (and old cartridges) | Atari fans who want the real cartridge experience on a modern TV | HDMI out · plays 2600 and 7800 cartridges · 10 games on the included cartridge | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 2 | HyperMegaTech! Evercade Rare Super PocketBest handheld | Anyone who grew up on Rare games, from Jetpac to Banjo-Kazooie | 14 built-in games incl. Banjo-Kazooie · 2.8" IPS · plays Evercade cartridges · no TV out | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 3 | The Spectrum (full-size ZX Spectrum, Retro Games Ltd)Best for 80s computer fans | Anyone who had a ZX Spectrum in the 80s | 48 built-in games · 720p HDMI (50/60Hz) · working full-size keyboard · 4 USB ports | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 4 | HyperMegaTech! Evercade Data East Super PocketBest for arcade fans on the go | Arcade fans who want the most built-in games for their money | 18 built-in arcade games · 2.8" IPS · plays Evercade cartridges · no TV out | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 5 | Atari 7800+ (with CX78+ wireless gamepad)Best for 7800 fans | Atari fans who want a wireless pad and the 7800 look | HDMI out · widescreen or 4:3 · plays 2600 and 7800 cartridges · wireless CX78+ pad | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 6 | Evercade EXP-R (with Tomb Raider Collection 1 cartridge)Best big-screen handheld | Evercade fans who want a bigger screen and TATE mode | 4.3" 800 × 480 IPS · TATE mode · 3 Tomb Raider games · no TV out | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 7 | Evercade Alpha Bartop Arcade – Mega Man editionBest bartop arcade | Capcom fans who want a proper arcade cabinet on a desk or shelf | 6 built-in Capcom games · 8" 4:3 IPS · dual Evercade cartridge slot · 2 USB pad ports | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
1. Atari 2600+ (with CX40+ joystick and 10-in-1 cartridge)
by Atari
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Anyone who grew up with an Atari, and especially anyone with a loft full of old 2600 or 7800 cartridges.
Verdict: Our top pick if they want a retro console for the living room. It’s an 80% size recreation of the four-switch woodgrain Atari 2600, with HDMI out and a widescreen mode, and the real joy is that it plays original Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges. The included 10-in-1 cartridge has Adventure, Combat, Dodge ‘Em, Haunted House, Maze Craze, Missile Command, RealSports Volleyball, Surround, Video Pinball and Yars’ Revenge, chosen with switches on the cartridge itself. The CX40+ joystick is a faithful recreation of the original. Atari says it uses emulation, so a few old cartridges won’t work – it has a compatibility list.
What we like
- Plays original Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges
- HDMI cable and CX40+ joystick in the box
- 10 classic games on the included cartridge
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- No mains plug: USB-C cable only, so you need a USB charger
- Emulation inside, so a few original cartridges aren’t compatible
- Atari doesn’t publish the HDMI resolution
Key specs
- Output
- HDMI (cable included), widescreen mode
- Plays
- Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges
- Games included
- 10 on a 10-in-1 cartridge
- Controller
- CX40+ joystick (wired, DB9)
- Power
- USB-C cable (no adapter)
Source: Atari product page (checked 8 October 2026).
2. HyperMegaTech! Evercade Rare Super Pocket
by Evercade
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Rare fans of any era, and anyone who wants a pocket-sized console that can grow with Evercade cartridges.
Verdict: Our favourite handheld gift, because the built-in games are brilliant. It’s the newest Super Pocket (released June 2026) with 14 games from British studio Rare: Banjo-Kazooie, Conker’s Pocket Tales, Battletoads in Battlemaniacs, Battletoads, Cobra Triangle, R.C. Pro-Am II, Slalom, Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll, Solar Jetman, Atic Atac, Jetpac, Lunar Jetman, Knight Lore and Gunfright. It’s the first Super Pocket with a 64-bit game on it. There’s a cartridge slot on the back, so it plays every Evercade cartridge too.
What we like
- 14 Rare classics, including Banjo-Kazooie and Battletoads
- Plays the whole Evercade cartridge library
- USB-C charging, cable included
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- Small 2.8-inch screen (320 × 240)
- No TV output – it’s handheld only
- About 4 hours of battery, per the maker
Key specs
- Games built in
- 14
- Screen
- 2.8" IPS, 320 × 240
- TV output
- None
- Cartridges
- All Evercade cartridges
- Charging
- USB-C (cable included)
Source: HyperMegaTech! product page (checked 8 October 2026).
3. The Spectrum (full-size ZX Spectrum, Retro Games Ltd)
by Retro Games
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Spectrum kids now in their 40s and 50s, and anyone who wants the full home-computer experience, rubber keys and all.
Verdict: The best nostalgia gift for a Spectrum owner. It’s a full-size replica with a working keyboard that emulates the 48K and 128K models, and outputs 720p over HDMI at 50Hz or 60Hz, with 4:3, pixel-perfect and CRT-filter options. There are 48 games built in, including Manic Miner, The Hobbit, Head Over Heels, Skool Daze, The Great Escape, Horace Goes Skiing, Match Day II and The Lords of Midnight, plus some newer homebrew games. You can save anywhere and rewind up to 40 seconds.
What we like
- Full-size working keyboard, like the original
- 48 built-in games, with save states and rewind
- 720p HDMI with 4:3 and CRT-filter options
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- No joystick in the box – you play on the keyboard unless you add a USB controller
- No mains plug: USB-C cable only
- Audio is over HDMI only
Key specs
- Output
- 720p HDMI, 50Hz or 60Hz (cable included)
- Emulates
- ZX Spectrum 48K and 128K
- Games built in
- 48
- Ports
- 4 × USB-A
- Power
- USB-C cable (no adapter)
Source: Retro Games product page (checked 8 October 2026).
4. HyperMegaTech! Evercade Data East Super Pocket
by Evercade
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: 80s and 90s arcade fans, and anyone who wants a handheld with lots of quick pick-up-and-play games.
Verdict: If they’re more arcade than console, this is the Super Pocket to get, and it has the most built-in games of any handheld here. There are 18 Data East arcade games: B-Wings, Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja, BreakThru, BurgerTime, Burnin’ Rubber, Chain Reaction, Crude Buster, Gate of Doom, Joe & Mac Returns, Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, Karate Champ, Lock ‘n’ Chase, Peter Pepper’s Ice Cream Factory, Spinmaster, Super BurgerTime, Edward Randy, Tumblepop and Wizard Fire. It’s the same hardware as the Rare edition, so it plays every Evercade cartridge too.
What we like
- 18 built-in arcade games, the most on this list
- Plays the whole Evercade cartridge library
- Pocket-sized, with USB-C charging
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- Small 2.8-inch screen (320 × 240)
- No TV output
- Arcade games are tough – that’s the point, but not for everyone
Key specs
- Games built in
- 18
- Screen
- 2.8" IPS, 320 × 240
- TV output
- None
- Battery
- 4+ hours (listing)
- Cartridges
- All Evercade cartridges
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 8 October 2026.
5. Atari 7800+ (with CX78+ wireless gamepad)
by Atari
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Atari collectors, and anyone who prefers a two-button gamepad to the 2600’s joystick.
Verdict: The 2600+'s younger sibling, and a good pick if you already have cartridges or want a wireless controller. It’s an 80% size 7800 with HDMI out and widescreen or 4:3 modes, it plays original 2600 and 7800 cartridges, and it comes with the wireless CX78+ gamepad, a recreation of the European 7800 pad. The catch is that it only comes with one game: Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest, a brand-new sequel to Crystal Castles. So it’s best for someone who has (or will buy) more cartridges.
What we like
- Wireless CX78+ gamepad included
- Plays original 2600 and 7800 cartridges
- Widescreen or 4:3 viewing options
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- Only one game in the box (Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest)
- No mains plug: USB-C cable only
- Emulation inside, so check the compatibility list for old cartridges
Key specs
- Output
- HDMI (cable included), widescreen or 4:3
- Plays
- Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges
- Games included
- 1 cartridge (Bentley Bear's Crystal Quest)
- Controller
- CX78+ wireless gamepad
- Power
- USB-C cable (no adapter)
Source: Atari product page (checked 8 October 2026).
6. Evercade EXP-R (with Tomb Raider Collection 1 cartridge)
by Evercade
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Someone who wants to build an Evercade cartridge collection and play it on a bigger, sharper screen than the Super Pocket’s.
Verdict: The step-up Evercade handheld. The 4.3-inch 800 × 480 IPS screen is much bigger and sharper than the Super Pocket’s, and TATE mode lets you turn it sideways for vertical shoot-'em-ups. This bundle comes with the Tomb Raider Collection 1 cartridge, with Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II and Tomb Raider III. Be clear on one thing: the EXP-R has no built-in games and, unlike the older EXP, no TV output at all, so it’s a handheld-only machine.
What we like
- Bigger, sharper 4.3-inch 800 × 480 screen
- TATE mode for vertical games
- Three Tomb Raider games on the bundled cartridge
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- No TV output – Evercade removed the HDMI port
- No built-in games beyond the bundled cartridge
- The listing’s model number ends in “USA”; Evercade cartridges aren’t region-locked and it charges over USB-C
Key specs
- Screen
- 4.3" IPS, 800 × 480
- TV output
- None
- Games included
- Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III (cartridge)
- Battery
- 4–5 hours (Evercade)
- Charging
- USB-C (cable included)
Source: Evercade product page (checked 8 October 2026).
7. Evercade Alpha Bartop Arcade – Mega Man edition
by Evercade
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Arcade fans with a bit of shelf space who want a showpiece rather than a handheld.
Verdict: The big-gift option. It’s a pre-built bartop arcade with competition-grade controls, an 8-inch 4:3 IPS screen and a light-up marquee you can swap (three are included). The Mega Man edition has six Capcom games built in: Mega Man – The Power Battle, Mega Man 2 – The Power Fighters, Carrier Air Wing, Final Fight, Knights of the Round and Strider. A dual cartridge slot plays every Evercade cartridge, and two USB ports let a second player join with a controller.
What we like
- Real arcade stick and buttons in a pre-built cabinet
- Plays every Evercade cartridge
- Swappable light-up marquee, with three in the box
- Mains plug included, with a UK adaptor (per Evercade)
Worth knowing
- No TV output listed – you play on its 8-inch screen
- Only six built-in games
- Big and heavy (about 41cm tall, 6kg)
Key specs
- Games built in
- 6 (Capcom)
- Screen
- 8" IPS, 4:3
- TV output
- None listed
- Multiplayer
- 2 players (second controller sold separately)
- Size
- 410 × 244 × 316 mm
Source: Evercade product page (checked 8 October 2026).
FAQ
What's the best retro console to plug into a TV?
The Atari 2600+ (#1), Atari 7800+ (#5) and The Spectrum (#3) all connect over HDMI. The Evercade handhelds and the Alpha bartop on this list don’t have a TV output.
Are retro consoles with thousands of games legal?
Most no-name boxes advertising thousands of games are running unlicensed copies, so we don’t recommend them. Everything on this page is officially licensed, from Atari, Retro Games Ltd or Evercade.
Do these retro consoles come with a plug?
Mostly not. The Atari 2600+, Atari 7800+ and The Spectrum come with a USB-C cable but no mains adapter, so you’ll need a USB charger. The Evercade Alpha comes with a plug and a UK adaptor.
Can the Atari 2600+ play my old cartridges?
Yes, it plays original Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges. It uses emulation, so a few don’t work – Atari publishes a compatibility list.
What's an Evercade?
A family of retro consoles that play officially licensed games on physical cartridges, with collections from publishers like Atari, Namco, Rare and Data East. The Super Pockets also have games built in, so they work straight out of the box.
