Want to relive the experience of early Pokémon games like Red , Gold , Sapphire , or Platinum ? Good news: there are now several retro emulator consoles that allow you to replay all the Pokémon classics without breaking the bank or struggling with old cartridges.
Here's a simple guide to choosing the best retro Pokémon console for your play style and budget.
👤 Do you want a portable experience, like on GameBoy?
If you want to play in bed, on the train, or in the park like back in the day, choose a portable console with a retina display, long battery life, and responsive buttons .
🔹 Mini RETRO Pocket PRO
- Compact, perfect for small hands or travel
- +6,000 built-in games, including all Pokemon GB, GBC, GBA
- 4-hour battery life, instant backups
🔹 RETRO Pocket
- More comfortable 4-inch screen
- Ergonomic handles and more sensitive L/R buttons
- +15,000 built-in games, including all Pokemon GB, GBC, GBA, DS
- 6 hours of battery life, 8GB of RAM for optimal fluidity on DS/PSP
Ideal for replaying: Fire Red, Leaf Green, Emerald, Platinum, Black...
🎮 Want to play Pokémon on the big screen?
For a living room experience, like on Switch or Wii, nothing beats a console that plugs into a TV .
🔹 RETRO Stick 4K
- Mini HDMI console + wireless controllers
- Connects to any 4K TV
- Simple interface and over 20,000 games
🔹 Console X2 PRO
- Powerful case + 2 controllers + HD display
- Compatible with PSP, PS2, and heavy games without slowdown
Ideal for: Playing solo or with a partner, without compromising on comfort.
🤝 Do you want to play with others or share your passion?
Some versions like Pokémon Stadium , card games or Pokémon mini-games are designed to be shared.
The aforementioned home consoles (Stick 4K, X2 PRO) allow you to play with several people on the couch. But you can also use wireless controllers with certain portable consoles!
🚀 Conclusion
It's never been easier to dive back into the Pokémon universe than in 2025. Whether you're a fan of Johto, Hoenn, or Sinnoh, there's a retro console to suit your playstyle , and all of them are available on Retroxmania.com.