10 classic games you need to play on your Raspberry Pi

Retro games may not have the same graphics or quality-of-life features as modern titles, but it’s hard to beat some of the old gems when it comes to charm. Better yet, many of the older consoles are fairly easy to emulate. Heck, even the newer Raspberry Pi models have enough firepower to emulate a vast library of titles – and here are some of the best classical games you can experience in their retro glory on your tiny tinkering companion.

10

The Legend of the Dragoon

A hidden gem for JRPG lovers

The early 2000s were rife with Final Fantasy clones, though The Legend of the Dragoon brought a couple of interesting spins to the ol’ “fantasy world with magic and swords” formula. Its art direction is pretty unique for a PlayStation 1 game, with the 3D combat models and the overworld environments being some of the most impressive from the PS1 era. It does have some drawbacks, namely grinding and slow combat animations, though the latter can be rectified by increasing the game speed inside your preferred PS1 emulator.

9

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Emulate, game. You belong in my Raspberry Pi!

Known for their non-linear, exploration-heavy design, Metroidvania games have continued to thrive over the years. So, if you’re a fan of Hollow Knight, the Ori duology, Axiom Verge, and other modern Metroidvania titles, you’ve got to try out Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The game’s visuals are timeless, and the soundtrack is one of the best in the series. Meanwhile, the moment-to-moment gameplay continues to get better as you explore more areas. The best part is that, as a Sega Saturn title, you can emulate it on practically any Raspberry Pi.

8

Vagrant Story

You’ll need to skim through guides to truly understand its convoluted mechanics

Final Fantasy VII may be considered the best RPG on the PlayStation 1, but Vagrant Story is a close second. The narrative alone makes Vagrant Story worth experiencing, with the groping atmosphere and focus on exploration further enhancing the game. And that’s before you include the obscure yet meticulously detailed game mechanics, including the weapon swapping and equipment crafting aspects of the game!

7

Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War

And don’t forget Thracia 776

If you liked the grim setting of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you’ll have a blast with Genealogy of the Holy War. While the huge maps can seem like a slog at times, the detailed world-building and deep lore make up for this drawback. Plus, it’s hands-down the darkest game in the franchise, with a solid narrative, well-written characters (for the most part), and unexpected plot twists making it an unforgettable gem in the Fire Emblem series.

Then there’s Thracia 776, set around the same time as some of the early chapters of Genealogy of the Holy War. Besides expanding the lore of its predecessor, the game introduces a slew of new mechanics. However, the stringent resources, constant enemy reinforcements, and fog of war/escape chapters make Thracia 776 a notoriously difficult title even for strategy experts.

6

Prince of Persia trilogy

Time is an ocean in a storm…

The original Prince of Persia brought fun mechanics to the gaming table. The combat loop is simple yet diverse thanks to the myriad of cool combos you can pull off with the Prince’s acrobatics. Speaking of, cool parkour tricks and precise platforming are the core aspects of the game, with the Dagger of Time providing a unique way to erase your mistakes.

While the first game is a timeless classic on its own, the sequels are just intriguing. Warrior Within (or Revelations, for PSP owners) adds a darker (and gorier) turn to the Prince’s journey, on top of throwing tons of secondary weapons and new characters into the fray. Meanwhile, The Two Thrones (or Rival Swords, on the PSP and Wii) serves as a solid conclusion to the trilogy and introduces the Dark Prince, a playable alter-ego of the titular Prince. While there are certain discrepancies between the Gamecube and PSP versions of the last two games, you’re in for a good time regardless of the version you emulate on your Raspberry Pi.

5

Super Mario World and Super Mario 64

The kings of 2D and 3D retro platformers

Super Mario Bros is hands-down the most influential platformer in the history of gaming, but there are tons of titles that follow the adventures of the beloved mushroom-devouring, goomba-crushing brothers. For lovers of 2D platformers, you’ve got Super Mario World, which adds entirely new power-ups and, best of all, introduces Yoshi to the Mario universe.

But if you’re itching for some 3D platforming action, Super Mario 64 is worth emulating on your Raspberry Pi. The art style makes up for the low poly visuals, and the game plays really well once you get used to the N64 controller layout.

4

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask

With a shout out to A Link to the Past

While I began my journey into The Legend of Zelda series with Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time’s faster pacing works in its favor, and it’s a really polished experience considering that it was the first 3D game in the franchise. The dungeons may be fairly simple, but the puzzles and bosses are quite fun, and the game makes excellent use of the new Z-targeting mechanic.

Meanwhile, Major’s Mask features a somber storyline, with the game’s dark themes and challenging difficulty adding to the experience. And I wouldn’t call myself a Zelda fan if I didn’t mention A Link to the Past. Although you’ll need separate emulators (or emulation cores, if you’re using a dedicated distro) for the three games, you won’t have any issues emulating them on your Raspberry Pi!

3

Metroid Prime trilogy

The shift to 3D worked in Metroid’s favor

The 2D Metroid games have their own perks, but the three Metroid Prime games were easily some of the best in the franchise. Like Ocarina of Time, Metroid successfully navigated the uncharted frontier of 3D graphics – though there was an even bigger paradigm shift in the gameplay with the latter. For starters, the Metroid Prime titles were mostly first-person shooters rather than third-person side-scrollers, with each game featuring unique moons, aesthetics, enemies, and abilities. While I consider Metroid Prime 2: Echoes the best game in the trilogy, the others are pretty amazing titles in their own right. With Metroid Prime 4 on the horizon, now’s the best time to relive the classic trilogy on your Raspberry Pi!

2

Chrono Trigger

A masterpiece among RPGs

I’ve played tons of RPGs, CRPGs, and JRPGs over the years, but if I had to pick one title from the entire genre, it’d be Chrono Trigger. A game where you traverse between different eras, each featuring unique aesthetics, already makes for a fantastic premise. Factor in the gorgeous pixel art, satisfying combat system, likable characters, and amazing soundtrack, and you’re looking at the masterpiece called Chrono Trigger.

Don’t you just stand there. EMULATE!

Imagine being in your teens, when this quirky stealth game with a weird name gives you a fourth wall breaking method to contact an in-game character before completely shattering the fourth wall with one of the most unique boss fights in all of gaming. While Hideo Kojima’s beloved franchise has several 10/10 games, the original Metal Gear Solid is still worth experiencing even in 2025. Be it the humor, jaw-dropping revelations, or the cheesy moments, the OG game had them all, and the PlayStation 1 version is easily the best version of the game for your Raspberry Pi.

And as someone who has spent hours playing Peace Walker on my PSP, I can’t end this section without mentioning it at least once. The comic book-style cutscenes and lack of human bosses may be a downer for fans of the series, but the base-building aspect and comic book cutscenes ooze with charm. Plus, the AI bosses and the culmination of the Boss’ story from Snake Eater are just cherry on the top!

The Raspberry Pi is a gold mine for emulation lovers

Considering the vast number of gaming systems you can emulate on the Raspberry Pi, this list is far from complete if I don’t mention some other classic gems. For instance, Goldeneye 007 may look and feel clunky in this day and age, but its solid level layout, enemy AI, and unique atmosphere make it a title worth emulating. For JRPG lovers, you’re in for a ride with Xenogears, early Final Fantasy titles, and the Mother trilogy.

In case you’re fond of racing games, you’ve got Wipeout Pure and 2097, alongside the earlier Need for Speed titles. Meanwhile, Ace Combat 2 and 3:Electrosphere are perfect if you want a story-driven game that lets you engage in aerial dogfights. Finally, you’ve got the more prominent Nintendo titles, like Sonic Unleashed and Mega Man 7, and you can even try running earlier games in their respective series on your Raspberry Pi-flavored emulation box.

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