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Build Your Own Raspberry Pi Arcade (the Legal Way)
In short
A Raspberry Pi is cheap, quiet and small enough to fit inside almost anything, which makes it a favourite for home arcade projects. Here's how to plan a Pi build that plays games you're actually entitled to play.
Fun fact: The Raspberry Pi 5's quad-core processor runs at 2.4 GHz, over a thousand times the clock speed of the 1.9968 MHz chip in a Space Invaders cabinet.
The full guide
First, the legal bit
Emulation software is legal; the games are the tricky part. The popular Pi gaming systems ship with no games or console BIOS files at all, and leave it to you to supply your own legally obtained content. Downloading copyrighted games you don't own is not legal, and we won't link to or explain how to find them.
Legal routes include:
- Dumping your own cartridges with purpose-built hardware such as the Retrode 2 (SNES and Mega Drive) or Epilogue's GB Operator (Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance) and SN Operator (SNES). Epilogue states its devices are for personal, non-commercial use with legally owned cartridges.
- Homebrew and freely licensed games, released by their creators for anyone to play. There's a thriving modern homebrew scene for old systems.
- Officially licensed collections and mini consoles, if you'd rather skip the build altogether (see our NES and SNES DIY page).
UK law has no general private-copying exception. One was introduced in 2014 but quashed by the High Court in 2015, so even backups of games you own are legally risky. If you're unsure, stick to homebrew or official releases. Never share dumps online.
Choosing your software
Three free, open-source systems dominate Pi gaming:
- Batocera: a flash-and-boot image with official Raspberry Pi 5 support, and the easy choice for most people in 2026.
- RetroPie: the long-standing favourite, with very fine control over each emulator. There's still no ready-made Pi 5 image; you install it on top of Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit).
- Recalbox: simple to set up, with strong tools for CRT screens and arcade wiring. Recalbox 10 arrived in February 2026 with Pi 5 support.
Choosing your Pi
The Raspberry Pi 5 handles 8-bit, 16-bit and most 32-bit era systems comfortably. An older Pi 4 is still fine for 8-bit and 16-bit consoles. Use the official power supply: underpowered Pis cause odd crashes. Add a case with a fan or heatsink if it's going inside a cabinet.
Controls and screens
- USB encoder boards turn arcade sticks and buttons into a standard USB controller the Pi recognises without fuss. See our arcade kits guide.
- Ready-made USB arcade sticks are the plug-and-play option.
- Screens: a spare monitor or old TV works. 4:3 monitors suit older games best, and an HDMI-to-VGA or composite adaptor opens up CRT options.
For the nerds
Board specs: Pi 5 vs Pi 4
| Spec | Raspberry Pi 5 | Raspberry Pi 4 Model B |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Broadcom BCM2712, quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 at 2.4 GHz | Broadcom BCM2711, quad-core Cortex-A72 at 1.8 GHz |
| Graphics | VideoCore VII at 800 MHz | VideoCore VI at up to 500 MHz |
| RAM options | 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 GB LPDDR4X | 1, 2, 4 or 8 GB LPDDR4 |
| Video out | 2 × micro-HDMI, dual 4Kp60 | 2 × micro-HDMI, up to 4Kp60 |
| Power | 5 V / 5 A USB-C (official 27 W supply recommended) | 5 V / 3 A USB-C minimum (official 15 W supply) |
| Extras | Power button, real-time clock, PCIe 2.0 x1 | — |
Raspberry Pi says the Pi 5 delivers 2–3 times the CPU performance of the Pi 4.
Builds, safety and where to buy
Build ideas
- Pocket build: a Pi in a small case with two USB pads, plugged into the living room TV.
- Bartop: a two-player control panel and a screen of roughly 17 to 24 inches in a flat-pack cabinet.
- Full cabinet: the dream project. Plan for the space and weight before you start.
Safety notes
- Mains power: keep any 230V wiring (monitor, power strip, marquee light) enclosed and away from the low-voltage electronics. Use a fused, switched power strip rather than hand-wiring mains. If you're not confident, ask a qualified electrician. Never open a CRT: they hold a dangerous charge long after unplugging.
- Soldering: most Pi builds need no soldering at all thanks to plug-in connectors. If you do solder, work in a ventilated space, use a stand for the iron and wear eye protection.
- Power: use the official Raspberry Pi power supply (27W for the Pi 5).
- Heat: leave airflow inside cabinets, especially with an enclosed Pi and monitor.
Where to buy now
Buy a blank microSD card and install the software yourself. Avoid cards sold preloaded with games.