A retro game console with built-in games does not ship with a fixed list of titles: it emulates systems, and every game from those systems becomes playable. All our machines cover NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Mega Drive and Neo Geo as a baseline. What separates them is the ceiling — PS1, PSP, Dreamcast or PS2. Here is which games map to which tier.
The real question is not "which games", it is "which tier"
A retro console with built-in games works by emulation: software reproduces the behaviour of the original machine and reads that machine's game files. The consequence is mechanical — once a system is emulated properly, its entire library is playable. So there is no game list to check, only a system list.
The one thing that changes between models is processor power, which sets how high you can climb. Three tiers structure the whole market.
| Tier | Systems covered | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBC, GBA, Mega Drive, Neo Geo, arcade | €35 to €50 |
| Mid range | All of the above + PlayStation 1, partial Nintendo 64 | €50 to €90 |
| High end | All of the above + PSP, Dreamcast, sometimes PS2 and GameCube | €90 and up |
The game list, system by system
The table below maps each system to landmark titles and to the tier needed to run them. This is the concrete answer to "what games are on a retro game console".
| System | Landmark games you can play | Tier required |
|---|---|---|
| NES | Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man 2, Castlevania, Contra, Metroid | Entry level |
| Super Nintendo | Super Mario World, A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI | Entry level |
| Game Boy / Color | Tetris, Link's Awakening, first and second generation Pokémon, Wario Land | Entry level |
| Game Boy Advance | Metroid Fusion, Golden Sun, Advance Wars, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Mario Kart: Super Circuit | Entry level |
| Mega Drive / Genesis | Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Streets of Rage 2, Gunstar Heroes, Shinobi III, Phantasy Star IV | Entry level |
| Neo Geo / arcade | Metal Slug, The King of Fighters '98, Samurai Shodown II, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Final Fight | Entry level |
| PlayStation 1 | Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Resident Evil 2, Tekken 3, Gran Turismo 2 | Mid range |
| Nintendo 64 | Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Ocarina of Time (with tweaking) | Mid range and up |
| PSP | Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles | High end |
| Dreamcast | Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, Soulcalibur | High end |
| PlayStation 2 | 2D and lighter 3D titles from the library | High end |
Which model runs what
Here is the real ceiling of every machine in the catalogue. The tier shown is the most demanding system that runs usably; everything below it is covered.
| Model | Format | Screen / output | Maximum system |
|---|---|---|---|
| M28 7,1″ | Handheld | 7,1″ · 1024×600 | PS2 |
| M88 | TV stick | HDMI compatible 4K | PS2 / GameCube |
| H55 5,5″ | Handheld | HD 5,5″ | PSP / Dreamcast |
| R36S Plus 4″ WiFi | Handheld | 4,0″ · 720×720 | PS1 |
| R36H 128 Go | Handheld | 3,5″ IPS | PS1 |
| SF3500 5″ | Handheld | 5″ · 854×480 | PS1 |
| J36 Ultra | Handheld | — | PS1 |
| R36 Ultra 4″ WiFi | Handheld | 4,0″ | PS1 |
| R36 Max 4″ | Handheld | 4,0″ · 720×720 (ratio 1:1) | PS1 |
| G33 4,3″ | Handheld | 4,3″ | PS1 |
| R36S 3.5″ | Handheld | 3,5″ · 640×480 | PS1 |
| R50S 5,1″ | Handheld | 5,1″ · 854×480 | PS1 |
| M15 | TV stick | HDMI 720p / 1080p (compatible 4K) | PS1 |
| X9 Pro | TV stick | HDMI compatible 4K | PS1 |
| M17 4,3″ IPS | Handheld | 4,3″ · 480×272 | PS1 (light titles) |
| G1 | TV stick | HDMI 1280×720 (compatible 4K) | PS1 (light titles) |
Every product page breaks down compatibility system by system across four levels: perfect, very good, limited, not supported. The retro gaming console specifications page lines up identical criteria across the whole range.
What is actually on the SD card
The consoles ship with a preloaded microSD card, already inserted, prepared by our supplier and varying from one production batch to the next. That is why we document what each machine runs rather than a frozen inventory: the first is a stable hardware fact, the second is not.
The card comes out and reads on any computer, with one folder per system. Legally, the EU rule is the backup copy: you may make a digital copy of a game you physically own. Owning the console and the emulator is entirely legal, as covered in is retro gaming emulation legal.
Two worked examples
To see the method applied to a specific machine, two articles break the playable catalogue down model by model: our R36S game list for the €39.99 entry level, and our R36 Max game list for the big-screen mid range. To choose between tiers, our best retro handheld game console comparison sets out the real gaps.
FAQ — Retro console games and compatibility
What games are on a retro game console?
The games of the systems it emulates. All our machines cover NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Mega Drive, Neo Geo and arcade; most reach PlayStation 1; the high-end models reach PSP, Dreamcast or PS2.
Is there a list of the built-in games?
No, and for a specific reason: the SD card is prepared per batch and its contents vary. What is stable is the list of emulated systems — and a console that emulates a system runs that system's games.
How many games does a retro console hold?
Several thousand depending on the model, sorted by original system in the front-end. Card capacity (64 GB or 128 GB) and the number of systems covered set the order of magnitude.
Which retro console runs PlayStation 1 games?
Almost the entire range, from €39.99 up. PS1 is the comfortable ceiling of the mid range and the best library-per-euro on the market.
Which retro console runs PS2 or GameCube games?
Two models: the M28 7.1″ handheld and the M88 TV stick. The rest stop earlier, at PS1 or PSP.
Can you add your own games?
Yes, across the range. The microSD card is removable and reads on any computer; each system has its own folder and the files you add appear on the next boot.
Do you have to install an emulator yourself?
No. The system and the emulators come preinstalled and preconfigured. The console boots straight into the library, sorted by original machine.
