I transformed my Google TV streaming box into a retro gaming console

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(Photo: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Beyond the Alphabet is a weekly column focusing on the world of technology both in Mountain View and beyond.

Do you remember the old YouTube videos “Does it Blend”? Well, I kind of adopted a similar way of thinking, but instead of destroying, I try to install emulators almost All. This includes such obvious things as phones, tablets and, of course, handheld gaming devices.

However, I became fascinated with extending my emulation experiments to various streaming devices. The latest one comes courtesy of Onn. Google TV 4K Pro, my new favorite Android streaming device. That said, I’ve also done similar setups with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max and more recently with the latest Apple TV 4K.

I think one of the reasons I ventured down this path is because I’m a tinkerer at heart. It’s one thing to be able to install the app, upload some games and start playing. But the process is not like that quite so simple when it comes to trying to use emulators on streaming devices.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra plays Tears of the Kingdom — (Photo: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

First of all, it’s absolutely amazing that we can play Switch games on the best Android phones, which is another can of worms that I’ll open another day. But it’s also great to be able to lie on the couch and fire up Super Mario 64 or play Link’s Awakening on the big screen. And all this from a box or stick that is a fraction of the size of the original console.

Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, the process of getting it up and running is not as simple on streaming devices. Even with the Play Store on Google TV, the latest version of the Play Store isn’t always the best way to play.

For example, the Play Store version of RetroArch hasn’t been updated since November 2021. At first glance, you might look at it and think, “Well, the app isn’t working, where do I go now?” In fact, RetroArch is alive and well, with the latest stable version expected to be released in early June 2024, with nightly builds readily available.

RetroArch on the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook

(Photo: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

For this reason, you will want to download and load the application directly from the RetroArch website. If you install a file manager and an app that sends files to your TV, for example, you can install the latest version on your streaming device in a relatively short time. Then comes the process of actually sharing the games, which is no easy feat with a Fire TV Stick or Chromecast with Google TV.

This is because neither of these devices includes any additional ports beyond the one used for charging. All is not lost; you’ll just have to use a USB-C hub or micro USB OTG splitter. This way you will now be able to connect your USB drive, after transferring the ROM files of course.

Playing Zelda using an emulator on Fire TV Stick 4K Max

(Photo: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

The fun doesn’t end there; we’re just getting started. There’s a good chance that most of the retro games you want to play will work just fine without any tinkering. But because RetroArch takes a “one size fits most” approach, it’s about more than just picking a game and going your own way.

If you try to play one of your favorite retro games but notice poor performance, you can choose another “Core” RetroArch. For those unaware, cores are essentially barebones emulators that rely on RetroArch as their user interface.

RetroArch core update

(Photo: RetroArch)

An example of this is the N64 because there are two different cores built into the application. If you fire up Super Mario 64 and are not satisfied with the performance, you can return to the main RetroArch interface and switch to another one. The same goes for many other emulators, with a few exceptions. It’s a largely trial-and-error scenario that’s perfect for DIY enthusiasts.

Of course, RetroArch isn’t the only emulator you can use on streaming devices; this is just the one I recommend starting with. RetroArch works with all kinds of retro consoles, from the Atari 2600 all the way to the PlayStation 2. That said, I recommend staying away from PS2 emulators on streaming devices for now, at least until they gain a bit more power.

So the next time you have friends or family over and are trying to think of something to do, grab some controllers and fire up an emulator. You’ll never forget the look of surprise when the original Super Smash Bros. game appeared on your TV. and you will be able to enjoy these classics again. This way, I plan on showing my son some of the best retro games before he tries Roblox, Fortnite, or whatever else kids are playing these days.