Gamers love compact retro consoles, but you don’t need to spend big on a Raspberry Pi or handheld device.

With just a USB flash drive, a gamepad, and free software, you can build a fully portable gaming console that works on almost any PC. Here’s how to do it.

To set up your portable console, you’ll need:

A USB flash drive (at least 128GB recommended; 512GB is ideal).
A small wireless keyboard for navigation.
A USB-C gamepad like the 8BitDo Pro 2.

This minimal setup ensures a compact kit that costs less than $100.

Install Batocera os on your USB drive

Batocera is a free, open-source operating system designed for retro gaming emulation. Here’s the process:

Download Batocera (Windows x64 version) from the official website.
Use BalenaEtcher to flash Batocera onto your USB drive.
Once flashing is complete, ignore pop-up windows.

Boot into your flash drive

To run Batocera, you’ll need to boot your PC from the USB drive.

Method 1 (Windows):
Go to Recovery Options → Advanced Startup → Restart Now → Use a Device → choose UEFI: Removable Device.
Method 2 (BIOS):
Restart your PC, press F12 (or your system’s boot key), and select UEFI: USB.

Load and play retro games

Batocera supports emulators for consoles like PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, and more.

Press F1 in Batocera to open file manager.
Copy your ROMs into the correct ROMs folder.
Add artwork by scraping game info (requires internet).

Many free, legal ROMs come preloaded, but you can add your own for a full retro experience.

Tips for best performance

Any mid-range PC can deliver 60fps in most games.
Customize video and resolution settings per emulator for smoother visuals.
Consider watching tutorials on Batocera Nation (YouTube) for advanced tweaks.

With just a flash drive and Batocera OS, you can carry a portable retro gaming library in your pocket. It’s budget-friendly, customizable, and perfect for gamers who want a simple, travel-ready solution.