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7 Best Raspberry Pi Arcade Kits for Sale Right Now

raspberry pi arcade kits

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The Raspberry Pi is a great little device that’s not only perfect for retro gaming, it’s also incredibly cheap. If you’re after the best Raspberry Pi arcade kits for sale, you’ve come to the right place.

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What Are the Best Raspberry Pi Arcade Kits?

Raspberry Pi 4 Arcade Kit Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Insane value
  • Latest Raspberry Pi 4 Model
  • Great case
Price: $108.99 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
LABISTS Raspberry Pi 4 Complete Starter Kit Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Includes the latest Pi 4 model
  • Comes pre-loaded with NOOBS software
  • Stylish case with fan and heatsinks
Price: $99.97 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (B Plus) Ultimate Kit Amazon Customer Reviews
  • It's a TV console and a tablet
  • That keyboard will come in useful
  • Massive HDMI cable
Price: $159.99 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
V-Kits Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ (B Plus) Retro Arcade Gaming Kit with 2 Classic USB Gamepads Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Great price
  • Has everything you need to get up and running
  • Controllers are great for retro games
Price: $79.99 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
V-Kits Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ (Plus) Basic Starter Kit with Aluminum Alloy Pi Cooling Case Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Looks great
  • Comes with cooling paste
  • Very affordable
Price: $114.99 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
Rasptendo SNES Classic Inspired Raspberry Pi 3 B/B Plus Case Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Great SNES-style shell
  • Includes Raspberry Pi 3
  • That shell, though!
Price: $26.93 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
Vilros Retro Gaming 5 USB Classic Controller Set Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Super affordable!
  • Includes most retro controllers you'll want
  • Again, the price is great!
Price: $39.99 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
Our Unbiased Reviews
  1. 1. Raspberry Pi 4 4GB RAM – Aluminum XTG Starter Kit

    Pros:
    • Insane value
    • Latest Raspberry Pi 4 Model
    • Great case
    Cons:
    • No color options
    • Doesn't come with a controller
    • Doesn't come with as much stuff as the LABISTS pack

    The Raspberry Pi 4 4GB RAM Aluminum XTG Starter Kit is the one you want. 

    This is the latest model of the Raspberry Pi which boasts an insane 4GB of RAM. To put this in perspective, a decent 4GB mobile phone or laptop will cost in the region of $200. I still have no idea how Raspberry Pi was able to pull off something powerful for such a low price, but hey, let’s not question it too much. 

    In terms of emulation power, 4GB opens the Pi 4 to the possibility of PSP, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, and even the Sega Saturn – though the latter is a pain to emulate so the chances of that one running smoothly will be slim. 

    Moving onto what’s in this pack, given the extra power, the inclusion of the cooling gel and the aluminum alloy heatsinking case is a super smart choice. You also get a power supply along with a 32GB micro SD card and adaptor. 

    Everything you need to get up and running is in this set, and given how much you get for the very affordable price, I can’t recommend this pack enough. 

    Is this the best of the raspberry pi arcade kits? Absolutely!

  2. 2. LABISTS Raspberry Pi 4 Complete Starter Kit

    Pros:
    • Includes the latest Pi 4 model
    • Comes pre-loaded with NOOBS software
    • Stylish case with fan and heatsinks
    Cons:
    • No other color options
    • If you've got an operating system in mind, NOOBS will need to be removed
    • No controller included

    If you’re after another affordable option to get the latest Raspberry Pi 4 model, check out the LABISTS Raspberry Pi 4 Complete Starter Kit.

    As I say, this kit features the latest model, which opens up emulation possibilities to include PS2, PSP, Dreamcast, Sega Saturn, and a host of the more RAM-heavy arcade machines.

    As for what comes in this kit, the case features a copper heatsink and two aluminum heatsinks to aid with heat dissipation produced by the more powerful Pi unit, a fan, a screwdriver, a micro SD adaptor, and a 32GB micro SD card pre-loaded with the NOOBS software.

    NOOBS is a basic operating system that features Raspbian and LibreELEC. It also provides the option to switch to other operating systems. If you’re new to the world of Pi modding, NOOBS is a great place to start for even the most tech-adverse users. 

    This kit has everything you need to get up and running, and although this isn’t the most important factor, that case is rather fetching. Why not factor in style?

  3. 3. Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (B Plus) Ultimate Kit

    Pros:
    • It's a TV console and a tablet
    • That keyboard will come in useful
    • Massive HDMI cable
    Cons:
    • Not everyone wants the tabet option for some reason
    • Doesn't include retro-theme controllers
    • Is one of the more expensive options

    Why limit yourself to the couch when you can also play anywhere? 

    The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ Ultimate Kit lets you play retro games on the TV, which is great, but what about when you’re out and about? 

    That’s where the tablet side of things comes into play.

    Included in this kit is a seven-inch touchscreen display and a shell to keep the Pi in. 

    Also included in this set is a 32GB SD card, two-piece heatsink set, six-foot HDMI cable, power charger, and the NeeGo keyboard. 

    Although this set doesn’t include retro controllers, you can always buy them in a bundle separately.

    If you’re looking to create one of the best raspberry pi arcade kits around, this is it.

     

  4. 4. V-Kits Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ (B Plus) Retro Arcade Gaming Kit with 2 Classic USB Gamepads

    Pros:
    • Great price
    • Has everything you need to get up and running
    • Controllers are great for retro games
    Cons:
    • Controllers aren't good for N64 titles
    • 32GB isn't enough for PSOne and onwards games
    • The NES case won't be for everyone

    The best thing about the V-Kits Gaming Kit is it’s affordable and a great value.

    In this pack you get the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, along with two newly-upgraded USB gamepads with a Super Nintendo layout. 

    Of course, you don’t need two controllers, but hey, two is better than one so let’s roll with it. 

    You also get a Samsung 32GB micro SD card, which is the perfect size if you’re looking to play retro games. 

    If you’re thinking of maybe trying to get PSOne games, or other games from that era, you may need a larger card down the line. 

    But for 16-bit or below stuff, 32GB is hard to fill.

    You also get a power supply, HDMI cable, and that absolutely stunning NES-style case.

    All in all, this is a great set for those looking to get up and running without needing to order everything separately.

  5. 5. V-Kits Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Basic Starter Kit with Aluminum Alloy Pi Cooling Case

    Pros:
    • Looks great
    • Comes with cooling paste
    • Very affordable
    Cons:
    • If you want a retro-themed shell, this ain't it
    • Doesn't come with any controllers
    • The idea of putting paste on a motherboard is terrifying

    Maybe you don’t want a retro-themed shell. Maybe you want something sleek that goes with your cable box. Or maybe you want to save money. 

    If all of that sounds like you, go with the V-Kits Raspberry Pi 3 Basic Starter Kit with Aluminum Alloy Pi Cooling Case

    As you can guess from the title, this set comes packed with the Raspberry Pi 3 model. 

    But what it also comes with is a breathtaking black self-cooling aluminum case. 

    This is a much more stylish option if you don’t want something that looks like a plastic toy in your TV cabinet. 

    Sure, nostalgia is great and all, but this thing won’t look out of place when it’s not in use. 

  6. 6. Rasptendo SNES Classic Inspired Raspberry Pi 3 B/B Plus Case

    Pros:
    • Great SNES-style shell
    • Includes Raspberry Pi 3
    • That shell, though!
    Cons:
    • No controllers
    • No HMDI cable
    • No power cable

    The Rasptendo SNES Classic is just pure nostalgia-fueled joy. 

    What’s best about this shell is the power and reset buttons are actually functional. 

    Of course, this is a pretty basic set. You get the lovely shell, the Raspberry Pi 3, and that’s about it. 

    There’s no memory card, power cable, or HDMI – factors that are sure to boost the cost slightly. 

    That said, you can always buy the awesome shell separately and pair it with one of the more robust offerings elsewhere on this list. 

    The choice is yours. 

  7. 7. Vilros Retro Gaming 5 USB Classic Controller Set

    Pros:
    • Super affordable!
    • Includes most retro controllers you'll want
    • Again, the price is great!
    Cons:
    • The N64 controller is still a pain to use (not the company's fault, but it is!)
    • The name branding on the controllers is a bit meh
    • Doesn't feature a Dreamcast controller, understandably

    If you’re going to the trouble of turning a Raspberry Pi into an arcade kit, you may as well as go all-in with the Vilros Retro Gaming 5 USB Classic Controller Set.

    The best part of this set? The price. When you’ve spent $100 on the Pi and the add-ons to build your kit, you don’t want to spend loads more on a selection of controllers to play retro games with. That’s why this pack rocks. It’s five nostalgia-filled controllers for one low price. What’s not to love?

    This pack includes recreations of all the controllers you need, namely NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and PlayStation One. 

    Given the fact the Raspberry Pi 4 can now run PSP, PSOne, and some PS2 titles, the original-style Dualshock controller is a must. 

Even though you'll need to buy more than just the Raspberry Pi to get a true retro station up and running, the extras aren't going to leave you strapped for cash either.

But before you purchase anything, it's worth getting a rough idea of how it all works. In terms of what's what, there's only really two things you need to know about: Emulators and ROMs.

Emulators are programs that play the original hardware operating system. ROMs, on the other hand, are direct rips of a game from their original form.

If you're new to all this definitely Google the legalities of emulators and ROMs before anything. 

If you're after a one-stop shop filled with every important emulator, you're best going with the mighty RetroPie. If you're unsure of how to whack the software onto the Raspberry Pi, there are a few decent guides out there that are well worth a quick read.

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