GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus
$520 $739 Save $219
Rocking an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU with integrated graphics, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, this mini PC is powerful enough to emulate just about everything and play loads of Steam games all on the same box.
If you’re of a certain age, there’s a certain degree of nostalgia that comes from seeing screenshots and videos of classic games you played as a kid. For me, there are a handful that hit hardest. First, we’ve got RuneScape from the early to mid 2000s, but casting the net further back, and there are numerous Sega Genesis titles, including games such as Sonic 3 & Knuckles (and Knuckles and Knuckles …), Desert Storm, Ecco the Dolphin, James Pond, and Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun.
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Whether you grew up with the PlayStation, Xbox 360, or Wii U, software like Batocera can make it possible to enjoy all your favorites on the same system through emulation. Now, it’s a grey area and one we don’t typically cover with regards to acquiring games. I attempt to source a legitimate physical copy for each game I load up on my retro gaming PC connected to the big screen in the living room. It’s a win-win — I get access to a lifelong copy, and I don’t feel like I’m circumventing anything.
The mini PC I used to create this ultimate gaming machine is currently on sale for Prime Day, and you can grab it for just $520, equipped with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage.
What makes this the perfect retro gaming deal
A mini PC is the best form factor for retro gaming. It’s compact enough not to take up too much space, making it a great addition for your living room setup, and they can come rocking some seriously powerful internal specs, such as the NucBox K8 Plus from GMKtec. Mini PC vendors release countless new models, and most of them could be considered subpar, but this thing is quite the beast with its AMD Ryzen processor. The chip has 8 cores, 16 threads, and can boost up to 5.1GHz.
The other party trick is the integrated graphics, powered by AMD Radeon. Have some Steam games you’d like to play with friends and family? No problem! So long as the title isn’t too demanding, this mini PC will run it just fine. I’m talking Overcooked, Terraria, Among Us, The Escapists, Guacamelee!, It Takes Two, Magicka, Streets of Rogue, Torchlight II, Barony, and Children of Morta. Add a few emulators for running older games, and you’ve got quite the entertainment hub.
Bluetooth is at hand to connect controllers, though I much prefer wired gaming to avoid any potential issues relating to the signal strength and congestion when you’ve got more than two people playing on one screen. We’ve enjoyed hundreds of hours worth of multiplayer action with friends and family, and the K8 Plus keeps on chugging along. For $520, you can purchase a DIY console, load up Batocera, install an emulator or a few, and download all your Steam games.
