The retro edit.

All three plug into an HDMI port and come with two wireless controllers. What separates them is how far forward in gaming history they reach, and what else they do.

Four Trimui handhelds, one family resemblance. How the pocket Brick, the metal Hammer, the stick-equipped Brick Pro and the widescreen Smart Pro S differ, and who each one suits.

Same processor, same games, different screens. How our two least expensive handhelds compare, and when it is worth stepping up to a Trimui.

For the family, the commuter, the teenager and the person who used to be a gamer. Which of our consoles to give, what to add to the box and what to do before you wrap it.

Our least expensive console is also our longest-running one. What it does well, where it falls short, and who it suits, with what our buyers have said.

Eight of our nine consoles play PS1 games well, and some reach further into the N64 and PSP years. Here is how each one handles the first 3D generation, on the TV and in your hands.

Platformers want a good D-pad, role-playing games want a sharp screen, racing games want sticks and fighting games want a sofa. Match the console to what you love playing.

Prepare compatible storage for your console, connect HDMI and power, and troubleshoot first-use problems. Games and a ready-made library are not supplied.

Prepare a new card, back up a working system and choose compatible storage for your own files. Understand the difference between system and game cards.

Two controllers, one sofa and games that anyone can pick up in a minute. How to set the evening up so nobody spends it reading menus.

Simple controls, games that end and no in-game shop. What to check before handing a retro console to a child, and how to make it something you play together.

Your phone can run classic games, so why carry a second device? Real buttons, the right screen shape, a battery that is not needed for your day, and no notifications halfway through a level.

You remember the games better than the hardware, and the games remember being harder than you think. How to choose a console from your own memories, and how to make the first week fun.

An honest comparison of collecting original consoles and cartridges against buying one modern console that plays the classics, from someone who sells the second kind.

There is no official cut-off, but there is a useful rule of thumb. The console generations explained, what makes a game feel retro, and which eras our consoles cover.

Yes, if the monitor has an HDMI port. What to do about sound, power and DisplayPort-only screens, and why a desk can be a better place to play than the living room.

A hidden room with a programmer's name, a code that gave thirty lives, a world that should not exist. The story of secrets in classic games, and how to hunt for them today.