Retro gaming has never been more popular.

From cheap USB sticks claiming “20,000 games” to flat-pack arcade kits and mass-produced cabinets, nostalgia is everywhere. On the surface, it all looks tempting: more games, lower prices, instant gratification.

So why does ByteBack Gaming take a different approach?

Why don’t we chase game counts, race to the bottom on price, or flood our catalogue with cheap plug-and-play devices?

The answer is simple — because retro gaming is about experience, not numbers.

And experience only comes from doing things properly.

The Illusion of “More Games”

One of the biggest myths in retro gaming is that more games automatically means more fun.

In reality, most people play:

• a handful of childhood favourites
• the games they remember from arcades, bedrooms, or living rooms
• titles that feel right the moment they pick up a controller

Nobody sits down and plays 20,000 games.

What actually happens is this:

• Endless scrolling
• Duplicate titles
• Broken ROMs
• Incorrect controls
• Lag, audio issues, or crashes

Instead of reliving memories, people end up troubleshooting.

At ByteBack Gaming, we believe curation beats quantity every time.
A carefully selected, well-organised library will always deliver a better experience than an overwhelming list filled with filler.

Cheap Retro Systems Come With Hidden Costs

Low-cost retro gaming systems exist for a reason — they’re built to hit a price point, not to last.

That often means:

• Budget hardware pushed beyond its limits
• Poor cooling and power delivery
• Low-quality controls and buttons
• Sloppy software setup
• Minimal or non-existent support

For some people, fixing these problems is part of the hobby.
For most people — especially adults with limited free time — it isn’t.

Time spent tweaking settings, chasing missing files, or rebooting frozen systems is time not spent enjoying the games.

Cheap retro systems don’t save money — they shift the cost onto your time and patience.

Why We Build Systems the Way We Do

ByteBack Gaming focuses on bespoke, high-quality retro gaming systems designed for people who want things to just work.

That means:

• Proper hardware chosen for reliability, not minimum cost
• Clean, quiet builds that belong in real homes
• Fast boot times and simple interfaces
• Carefully configured emulation
• Controls that feel right, not “good enough”

Every system is built with the end user in mind — not a spec sheet or a marketing headline.

We don’t sell projects.
We sell finished experiences.

The Importance of Curation

Curation is the difference between owning games and actually playing them.

Instead of bloated libraries, we focus on:

• Games people genuinely remember
• Titles that run correctly
• Systems that feel intuitive from the first power-on

Games are organised, tested, and configured properly so that when you sit down to play, nothing gets in the way.

The goal isn’t to impress with numbers.
The goal is to make you smile when the first game loads.

Premium Pricing Is a Feature, Not a Flaw

Over the years, we’ve learned something important:

Customers who chase the cheapest option are rarely happy — no matter what they buy.
Customers who invest in quality expect professionalism — and they appreciate it.

By focusing on quality over quantity, we:

• Build better systems
• Spend more time on each customer
• Offer proper support
• Protect the experience for everyone involved

Our pricing reflects the time, care, and experience that goes into each build. It also ensures we work with customers who value the same things we do.

That’s intentional.

Who ByteBack Gaming Is For

ByteBack Gaming is for people who:

• Grew up with arcades and early consoles
• Want nostalgia without frustration
• Value quality and reliability
• Prefer something built properly over something built cheaply

We’re for people who want to plug in, pick up a controller, and enjoy the games — not troubleshoot them.

We may not be for you if:

• You want the cheapest retro system available
• You enjoy constant tinkering and tweaking
• Game count matters more than experience

And that’s okay.

There are plenty of options out there. We simply choose to focus on a different kind of customer.

Retro Gaming Should Feel Like Fun Again

Retro gaming isn’t about specs, hype, or inflated numbers.

It’s about:

• Familiar sounds
• Muscle memory kicking in
• Games that feel exactly how you remember them

At ByteBack Gaming, we believe nostalgia deserves respect.
That’s why we build systems designed to be enjoyed for years — not replaced in months.

Quality over quantity.
Always.

If that sounds like what you’re looking for, you’re in the right place.