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The original was posted on /r/sbcgaming by /u/colasuda on 2025-07-18 18:17:25+00:00.
Hi all,
I am looking for a retro handheld gaming console for my daughter (8) and son (6). I’ve been marketed a few on instagram that seem scammy as hell, so I thought I would do a bit more research. And hoo boy, I had no idea what an extensive community there was around these sorts of devices! I tried reading a few guides I found here, and unfortunately they went over my head pretty quickly. (While I do really enjoy playing video games, I’m very hardware illiterate.)
I’m basically looking for something that can run lots of retro games without having to switch cartridges (like the junk I’ve seen on instagram but, you know, real.) Somewhat simple UI would be a huge plus. My kids can navigate the Switch/PS4/3DS without issue. I can’t spend more than $200 a piece. Maybe this is an impossible ask? The TrimUI Brick (which I learned of from this sub) looks pretty good, but I’m curious to hear some first person experience. I’m particularly interested in the UI and how easy it is to load/access games. I’m hoping for something simple enough that my kids can navigate, but with enough parental control that the six year old doesn’t accidentally access Wolfenstein or something and end up with nightmares.
I appreciate any advice you all could give me. Both of my kids are so interested in gaming, and these types of devices seem like a great next step in the hobby without going down the Roblox or Fortnite route (no shade to Roblox, just not something I’m comfortable with at their ages.)
Thank you in advance!