A modern way to relive classic gaming—right here in the Clubhouse.
Welcome to the Clubhouse Retro Gaming Build, a curated old-school video game system powered by the Raspberry Pi 5. This setup is designed for fans of classic consoles, arcade nostalgia, and Saturday-morning vibes—built with modern hardware for smooth gameplay, fast loading, and clean HDMI output on today’s TVs.
This is the exact build we recommend (and use) when creating a compact, powerful retro gaming system at home.
🧠 What This System Can Do
- Play classic games from retro consoles and arcades
- Output up to 4K @ 60Hz over HDMI
- Use wireless, pro-grade controllers
- Boot directly into a console-style interface
- Small footprint, quiet cooling, low power draw
(Games are not included. You must own original copies to use backups.)
🧩 Recommended Build Components
🖥️ Core Hardware
Raspberry Pi 5 – 8GB RAM
The brain of the system. Powerful enough for NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, PS1, many N64 titles, PSP, arcade systems, and more.
🧊 Case & Cooling
GeeekPi Retro Gaming Case for Raspberry Pi 5
Includes Armor Lite V5 active cooling to keep the system running cool during long sessions.
👉 Buy GeeekPi Retro Case + Cooler
🎮 Controller
8BitDo Pro 3 Bluetooth Controller – G Classic Edition
A modern controller with a retro soul. Features Hall-effect triggers, swappable buttons, rear paddles, and a charging dock.
📺 Video Cable
Highwings Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable (4K @ 60Hz)
Reliable, braided cable for clean output to modern TVs and monitors.
👉 Buy Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable
💾 Operating System Options
⭐ Option 1: Batocera (Recommended)
- Console-like experience
- Boots straight into games
- Easy controller setup
- Perfect for living-room play
Best choice for most Clubhouse members
🛠️ Option 2: LaunchBox
- Highly customizable frontend
- Best for advanced users
- Ideal if you prefer a PC-style setup
💰 Cost Breakdown
DIY Build Cost (Parts Only):
Approx. $260–$300 (before tax)
This guide uses affiliate links—supporting Saturday Morning Studios at no extra cost to you.
