🎮 Why 90% of retro consoles sold online are an illusion

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⭐ Quick summary

No, there is no magical retro gaming console with 10,000 games included .
Yes, it's illegal and misleading .
And no, emulation is not “plug and play” , but it becomes exciting as soon as you understand how it works.

It is possible to advocate for another approach: a documented, evolving, conscious and honest retrogaming.

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🌍 The dream of easy retro gaming… and the disillusionment

Retro gaming has exploded in recent years.
Players want to relive their retro classics — Mario, Zelda, Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear — on small, modern handheld consoles that are easy to use, affordable, and have lots of games.

It's a legitimate dream:

• 🧩 Simplicity: we want to play, not configure;

• 💰 accessibility: without paying the price of a Switch or a Steam Deck;

• 🎮 Variety: being able to replay everything, from the NES to the PS2.

But this dream has become a business opportunity for unscrupulous resellers , who have turned “plug and play” into a misleading slogan .

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⚠️ The lie of “10,000 games included”

Advertisements for “retro consoles with 10,000 games included” are everywhere, and admittedly, incredibly attractive.

But here's the truth:

• No legal manufacturer or reseller can include copyrighted games, since they are, by definition, protected.
  
  
• These machines use pirated ROMs, often corrupted or unplayable.
  
  
• The famous "lists of included games" do not meet customer expectations: they offer a subjective selection in versions that are mostly Chinese, Japanese or US.

Result :

• menus not translated

• Incorrectly named files, duplicates, games that won't launch,

• There is a complete absence of customer support; everything is provided on a take-it-or-leave-it basis.

These consoles are often counterfeit, sold on marketplaces , sometimes at ridiculously low prices. Worse still, they are often artificially rebranded, plastered with a distributor's logo and supposedly boasting local manufacturing.
These devices and the resellers who tout their merits discredit the entire market:

“Retro gaming is rubbish, it never works.”

That's false. The problem stems from marketing lies , not technology.

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🧠 What an emulation console really is

A true emulation console (like Retroid , Anbernic , AYN, Trimui, Miyoo etc.) works on a simple principle:

1. An operating system (Android or Linux).

2. Emulators (RetroArch, AetherSX2, Dolphin, etc.).

3. ROMs that you add yourself.

It's an open , adaptable , and flexible console table. But it does require a bit of learning. It's an Ikea piece of furniture that you assemble yourself. You're warned from the moment you buy it: if you want to successfully assemble it, you have to read the instructions and follow the steps in order. You can't receive the furniture already assembled—it wouldn't even fit through the door. And it's precisely this assembly that's part of the fun: the satisfaction of having understood, learned, and succeeded, like when you're building a Lego brick structure.

This modular approach also justifies the relatively affordable price. Imagine how much a machine including thousands of legally acquired games would actually cost? Probably not hundreds, but thousands of dollars.

💡 An emulation console without ROMs is like a record player without vinyl: it's just a tool, it's up to you to choose what you want to listen to, or what you want to play.

Emulation is therefore not magic , it is earned.

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🚫 Why “plug & play” consoles are illegal and disappointing

• They violate copyright.

• They are often unstable or poorly optimized.

• They offer no updates or technical support.

• And above all, they make any personalization impossible .

In summary: you think you're buying nostalgia, but you're receiving a box devoid of meaning.
Here we do the opposite:

No pirated games.
Properly configured consoles, without unnecessary additions.
Tutorials and appropriate documentation.

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💡 The real "plug and play" alternatives

Are you looking for an immediate and legal retro experience?
Real "turn on and play" solutions do exist:

• Nintendo Switch Online → Official access to a catalog of NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, GB Advance, and Gamecube games. Requires a Switch and a subscription.

• PlayStation Plus Premium → Retro library streaming: PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4. Accessible from PS4, PS5 and PS Portal, by subscription or individually on the PS Store.

• Xbox Game Pass → Retro Xbox titles available instantly, on Xbox console, PC and smartphone, by subscription or individually.

• Evercade → Home, portable or bartop arcade consoles with physical cartridges offering compilations of games with official licenses.
  

• Mini Arcade Consoles Sega Astrocity, MVS Mini, Neo Geo Mini, Taito Egret 2, Capcom Retro Station... → Bartop format consoles with a selection of licensed games.
  
  
• Anstream → Cloud Gaming Service offering a retro catalogue with added features such as online play, challenges and trophies.

These platforms offer true plug-and-play, 100% legal.
But if you want to go further, personalize your experience, and explore the independent retro scene, while being fully aware of the limitations of the exercise, emulation is your best ally.

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🌱 Retro gaming with a twist: the independent neo-retro scene

Retro gaming is not just about replaying old Mario or Zelda games.
It is also an opportunity to discover original creations inspired by the past , developed by independent studios.

This emerging neo-retro scene is exciting and deserves the support of curious gamers eager for a new experience: developers like JohnDo , Incube8 Games , Mega Cat Studios , Retro Room Games or Bitmap Bureau are creating new games for old consoles or in a modern 8/16 bit style.

Why is this important?

• These games are 100% legal .

• They are compatible with emulation .

• They keep the video game heritage alive while renewing it.

Playing these games on an emulation console supports creativity and passion.
It's opening your console to new horizons, which will perhaps see the birth of future neo-retro hits, totally new, but in period pixels, of the caliber of Shovel Knight, Celeste, Axiom Verge or Earthion .

⚖️ A necessary warning: understand before you buy

Certain product categories display clear warnings:

• 🚬 “Smoking is seriously harmful to your health.”

• 🍷 “Alcohol should be consumed in moderation.”
  

Similarly, any buyer of an emulation console should be informed before purchasing .
Because an emulation machine is a powerful tool, but one that requires understanding its technical, ethical and legal limitations .

Like tobacco or alcohol, emulation deserves its own label: “Use responsibly.”

We have been convinced from the outset that it is essential to speak clearly:

Emulation is not a toy. It is a free, technical and exciting ecosystem, but it is not for everyone, and it has a barrier to entry.

We know what you want to hear to caress your ears and speak to your gamer heart : a ton of games, all the consoles of my childhood, guaranteed nostalgia, for less than a family McDonald's outing, best deal of the year.

We also know what you don't want to hear, but which is the truth : it doesn't just work by turning it on, you have to configure things, it won't have all the games released in the last 40 years, you have to know where to find games, how to add them, sometimes it won't work as expected, it won't give access to all machines, and it will cost a normal price, unless I'm happy with a disposable machine that lasts 3 weeks before it freezes up and is good for the bin.

If you are looking for a “magic” device that does everything by itself, this is not for you.
If you are looking to learn, explore and have fun, while being aware of the limits, then you are in the right place.

This “warning” is not a deterrent to the sale — it is a sign of respect for the customer.
Because a well-informed player makes better choices, and enjoys their console much more.

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🧩 An ethical and sustainable vision of retrogaming

Even if it works, we don't want to fall into deceptive marketing.
We offer a transparent, educational and respectful approach to both players and creators.

Our promise:

• 🧠 Consoles from quality manufacturers (Retroid, Anbernic, AYN, Miyoo, Trimui...). We refuse certain brands whose manufacturing quality or practices do not meet our standards.

• 📚 Detailed documentation, in different forms (written, video, chatbot) to learn how to use these machines.

• 🎥 Explainer videos that we recommend from our YouTube partners.
  

• ⚖️ Clear guarantee and simplified returns.

We don't sell promises.
We sell tools to understand and enjoy retrogaming as it really is, without empty promises.

In an alternate reality, this market and these devices wouldn't even exist. Let's recognize how fortunate we are that they exist, understand that despite their limitations, they achieve technical feats unthinkable just a few years ago, and be mature regarding the existing legislation, which is clear, except for those who confuse ethics with legality, or those who feign ignorance of it.

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🤝 Why this approach is the only honest one

1. Completely legal : no copyrighted content.

2. Transparency : we explain, we train, we support.

3. Durability : a product you will keep and develop.

4. Community : a base of passionate and independent players.

Thus, the player does not “endure” his console — he controls it.
And that makes all the difference.

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🧭 Comparison table

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🎯 Conclusion: emulation isn't for everyone. And that's perfectly fine.

Emulation is the freedom to play what you love, the way you want .
But this freedom comes at a price: curiosity and a little learning.

It also has limitations:
Technical details : no, you cannot emulate the PS4.
Ethics : yes, you can emulate the Switch under certain conditions, but don't count on us to show you how.
Legally speaking : no, distributing copyrighted ROMs (even free ones) is not permitted. No, using a ROM without owning the original, or just for testing purposes and deleting it after 24 hours, is also not allowed. No, there is no legal precedent regarding so-called abandonware, as this operates on a declarative basis, not by default. No, using ROMs is not in a legal gray area or ambiguity; regulations exist, and no one is supposed to be unaware of them. Beyond that, everyone is free to act as they see fit.

We are here to support those who want to understand, learn and play in this way, with full knowledge of the facts.

Emulation consoles and ROMs are in a similar situation to MP3 players in the 2000s: attractive and highly sought-after devices that suddenly became mainstream even though their use is not "plug & play".

MP3 players initially required MP3 files to be loaded onto them, at a time when the legal market was still in its infancy. While it was possible to rip audio CDs to extract .wav files and convert them to MP3, this tedious process was largely rejected in favor of other, unauthorized but far more obvious methods. The market eventually regulated itself, and the technology evolved into streaming platforms.

The same will be true for emulation consoles, which are seeking legitimacy: they have already begun to "fall into line", without restricting themselves, but by abandoning the false promises of a deviant, misleading and disturbing plug and play.

It is thanks to more responsible manufacturers, informed players and why not, curious publishers who would dare to break out of preconceived patterns, that the market will continue to evolve to find a compromise acceptable to all, which can satisfy nostalgic players, the curious, the tinkerers, publishers and game developers.

Emulation, whether official or alternative, offers a fantastic opportunity to access the rich heritage of video games, whether for educational, preservation, transmission, or simply to satisfy curiosity. We humbly offer to guide and support those who share this understanding and wish to participate in this evolution, by practicing emulation in the way it should be practiced, without lecturing, but also without distorting the reality of the industry.

Just because it's a game, fun, and leisure activity doesn't mean anything goes. On the contrary: respecting our passion for video games means being informed and aware of all aspects of emulation.

And to paraphrase the famous saying, repeated in no particular order by Danton, Churchill and Spider-Man:
"With great power comes great responsibility."

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In summary, emulation is not a promise of ease, but a school of curiosity.
And that's precisely what makes it so beautiful: understanding, exploring, preserving, and sharing yesterday's video games so we can enjoy them more today. DOCK & PLAY champions this responsible and conscious approach to retrogaming: transparent, honest, and passionate.