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Best Retro Mini Consoles UK 2026
Quick version: For Amiga games, get THEA500 Mini. For Spectrum games, get The Spectrum. For real cartridges on a modern TV, get the Atari 2600+. Nintendo's NES and SNES Classic Minis are no longer made, so buy them used. Every machine here plugs into a TV by HDMI.
The mini consoles at a glance
| Machine | Released | Built-in games | Controllers in the box | Your own games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THEA500 Mini (Amiga) | April 2022 | 25 | Mouse and gamepad | Yes, from USB |
| The Spectrum (ZX Spectrum) | November 2024 | 48 | No | Yes, from USB |
| THEC64 (Commodore 64) | On sale now | 64 | Joystick | Save your own programs to USB |
| THE400 Mini (Atari 400 and 800) | March 2024 | 25 | Joystick | Yes, from USB |
| Atari 2600+ | November 2023 | 10-in-1 cartridge | Joystick | Yes, real 2600 and 7800 cartridges |
| NES Classic Mini | November 2016 | 30 | One | No |
| SNES Classic Mini | September 2017 | 21 | Two | No |
| Mega Drive Mini | October 2019 | 42 | Two in Europe | No |
| Mega Drive Mini 2 | October 2022 | 60 | Check the listing | No |
| PlayStation Classic | December 2018 | 20 | Two | No |
"Your own games" means games you already own, loaded from a USB stick or a cartridge. Buying used? Check that the controllers are included. The Retro Games machines also need a USB mains adapter, which isn't in the box.
Best for Amiga games: THEA500 Mini
A small Amiga 500 with 25 games, including Another World, The Chaos Engine and Speedball 2. It comes with a mouse and gamepad and outputs 720p over HDMI. Read our THEA500 Mini review for the full games list.
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Best for Spectrum games: The Spectrum
A ZX Spectrum remake with 48 games, a Classic Mode with BASIC, save slots and a 40-second rewind. You'll need a USB gamepad. See The Spectrum vs a real ZX Spectrum.
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Best for Commodore 64 games: THEC64
A Commodore 64 remake with a fully working keyboard, a joystick and 64 games, with 720p HDMI output.
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Best for Atari fans: Atari 2600+ or THE400 Mini
The Atari 2600+ is a slightly smaller copy of the four-switch woodgrain 2600 that plays real 2600 and 7800 cartridges. It comes with a joystick and a 10-in-1 cartridge and is powered by USB-C. THE400 Mini is a half-size Atari 400 that also runs Atari 800, XL, XE and 5200 games. It comes with THECXSTICK, a copy of the CX-40 joystick, and 25 games.
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Best for Nintendo and Sega: buy used
Nintendo's NES Classic Mini has 30 games and the SNES Classic Mini has 21, including the first official release of Star Fox 2. Both are discontinued, so buy them used. Sega's Mega Drive Mini has 42 games, and the Mega Drive Mini 2 has 60, including some Mega-CD games. If you'd rather build your own or play the real consoles, see our DIY NES and SNES guide.
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Coming soon: THEA1200
Retro Games lists THEA1200, a full-size Amiga 1200 remake with a working keyboard, for launch on Friday 4 December 2026. See THEA1200 vs a real A1200 before you pre-order.
Mini console or the real thing?
A mini console is the easiest way to play on a modern TV. Original hardware needs more looking after, but it plays the original disks and cartridges. Our Amiga buying guide and retro gaming gift guide cover both.
FAQ
What is the best retro console for a TV?
Every machine in this guide plugs into a modern TV by HDMI. The Retro Games machines, THEA500 Mini, The Spectrum, THEC64 and THE400 Mini, output 720p at 50 or 60 Hz.
Can I add games to a retro mini console?
On THEA500 Mini, The Spectrum and THE400 Mini, yes: you can load games you own from a USB stick. The Atari 2600+ plays real cartridges. The Nintendo, Sega and Sony minis have fixed game lists.
Are the NES and SNES Classic Minis still made?
No. Both are discontinued, so look for them used.
See also: Retro PC guides · Retro handhelds guide
Buying for someone else? See our retro gaming gift guide.