Setup

Epic has no Linux client yet, so Steam Deck owners use Heroic. Here is the full setup, from Discover to Game Mode, plus the failures worth knowing about.

Asobi brings PlayStation Plus Premium cloud streaming to the Steam Deck, which used to be a PS Portal exclusive. Here is what it does that chiaki-ng cannot, and what it costs.

Gen1Recomp runs natively on retro handhelds, not through an emulator. Here is what works on Anbernic, Android and Steam Deck, and what quietly does not.

Starboard runs PortMaster games on Android handhelds by putting a real Linux environment inside Android. Here is how to set it up, and an honest look at what actually runs.

Cocoon 3.0 is a free, open source Android front end built for retro handhelds, including dual screen devices like the AYN Thor and AYANEO Pocket DS. Here is what is new and how to set it up.

How to set up Daijishō on your Android handheld in 2026. Platforms, players, scraping, wallpapers, and the settings that make it feel like a console.

How to set up ES-DE on Android handhelds and Steam Deck in 2026. Folder structure, scraping box art, themes, and connecting your emulators.

How to patch ROM hacks and fan translations onto your own game dumps. IPS, BPS, and xdelta formats, the tools for PC and Android, and the checksum gotchas.

Play on your handheld, continue on your PC. How to sync emulator saves across devices with Syncthing, RetroArch cloud sync, and EmuDeck, without corrupting anything.

How to set up Winlator and play Windows PC games on your Android handheld in 2026. Containers, drivers, forks like CMOD, and realistic expectations.

A full setup guide for the AYANEO Pocket Micro 2. The best emulators, the right settings for its 3:2 screen, microSD tips, and how to get the most from the Snapdragon 865.

How to emulate Atari's classic systems on a handheld, covering the 2600, 7800, and the underrated Lynx, with setup tips and the games worth playing.

How to emulate the Commodore 64 and Amiga on a handheld, two legendary computers with huge libraries, including BIOS, disk handling, and the games to start with.

How to pair a Bluetooth controller with your retro handheld for couch play and local co-op. Pairing steps by firmware, plus how to fix lag and connection drops.

How to add box art, screenshots, and metadata to your retro handheld game library. On-device scraping versus Skraper on a computer, plus how to fix missing covers.

How to set up RetroArch netplay to play retro games online with a friend. Hosting, joining, lobbies, and the settings that keep matches smooth across the internet.

Three ways to move games onto your retro handheld. Card reader, WiFi network transfer, and FTP, with the pros and cons of each and how to avoid corrupted files.

Why do your retro games look slightly blurry or stretched? Integer scaling and aspect ratio are the reason. Here is what they mean and how to make games look right.

Sega's Naomi and the Atomiswave arcade boards hosted some of the best 2D and 3D arcade games ever. Here is how to emulate them on a handheld with Flycast.

PICO-8 is a fantasy console packed with thousands of tiny free games, and it runs perfectly on handhelds. Here is how to set it up and the best games to play.

PortMaster brings hundreds of native game ports to retro handhelds, from indie classics to open-source remakes. Here is how to install it and start.

Confused by file types like CHD, CSO, BIN, and CUE? Here is a plain-English guide to ROM and disc formats, what compresses safely, and what your emulator expects.

Setting up a retro handheld for a child? Here is how to pick the right device, load kid-friendly games, and set it up so it is simple, safe, and durable.

The Sharp X68000 was a Japanese home computer with near-arcade-perfect ports. Here is how to emulate it on a handheld and the games that make it special.

Nintendo's Virtual Boy is one of the most curious consoles ever made, and it emulates easily on a handheld. Here is how to set it up and the games worth playing.

How to set up RetroDECK on the Steam Deck in 2026, how it differs from EmuDeck, and why the recent rewrite made it one of the easiest options.

Where to get the official EmuDeck for Android APK, which handhelds it supports, and the full install walkthrough that turns hours of emulator setup into one click.

Dusk is a native PC and mobile port of Zelda: Twilight Princess, built on the GameCube decompilation. Here is how it runs on Steam Deck, PC, and Android.

A step-by-step guide to setting up the Retroid Pocket 5. Android setup, emulator installation, BIOS files, controller mapping, and library tips.

Step-by-step guide to setting up RetroAchievements for Nintendo Wii games using Dolphin. Covers PC, Steam Deck, and Android handhelds.

The complete setup guide for the Retroid Pocket 6 — install emulators, transfer your games, configure a frontend, and get the most out of Android-based emulation.

The Steam Deck is arguably the best retro gaming device ever built. Here's what it can emulate, how to set it up, and why it belongs in every retro gamer's hands.

The complete guide to setting up EmuDeck on the Steam Deck — from storage decisions and installer setup to Steam ROM Manager and launching games from Game Mode.

Add trophies and challenges to your retro games with RetroAchievements — works on RetroArch, muOS, and KNULLI.