Raspberry Pi Guide to Retro Gaming: What the New Book Covers

Raspberry Pi Press has released the Raspberry Pi Guide to Retro Gaming, a new book that aims to be the one-stop manual for turning a Raspberry Pi into a classic games machine. Announced on October 20, 2026 by editor Rob Zwetsloot on the official Raspberry Pi blog, it is available now at an introductory price of £9.99, down from £19.99.

• Price: £9.99 introductory price (normally £19.99) from the Raspberry Pi store, plus Amazon UK, Amazon US and the Raspberry Pi Store in Cambridge
• Authors: Rob Zwetsloot, Brian Jepson, K.G. Orphanides and Sean McManus
• Coverage: quick-start setup, emulation operating systems by Pi model, classic computer emulation, arcade builds, CRT displays and legal ROM sources
• Bonus: ZX Spectrum programming tutorials with type-in listings that can also be downloaded

Why Raspberry Pi Retro Gaming Still Draws Makers

Retro emulation has been one of the most popular single board computer projects since the original Pi launched, and today's boards can emulate hundreds of platforms. The flip side is choice overload: multiple emulation distributions, per-system settings and a maze of controller options. The book's goal is to demystify that, starting with a quick-start chapter designed to get you playing as fast as possible, then a guide to the emulation operating systems available and what each Raspberry Pi model can realistically handle. If you are still picking hardware, our Raspberry Pi buyer's guide pairs well with that chapter.

What Is Inside the Raspberry Pi Guide to Retro Gaming?

According to the Raspberry Pi announcement, the chapters go well beyond console emulators:

• Classic computers: Brian Jepson, Publishing Director at Raspberry Pi Press and a volunteer at the Rhode Island Computer Museum, contributes tutorials for emulating about a dozen 8-bit and 16-bit computers plus a few early 32-bit systems, and covers DOSBox Staging
• Advanced tuning: K.G. Orphanides dives into emulator settings and shows how to build a full arcade cabinet and use old CDs, floppy disks and DB9 joysticks with a modern Pi
• Legal games: a guide to finding classic ROMs sold legitimately on modern stores such as Steam and GOG, plus the homebrew scene still making new games for decades-old consoles
• CRT setups: running a Raspberry Pi on old tube TVs with add-on boards, so scanline-era games look the way they were designed, including using a classic PS2 light gun
• Make your own: Sean McManus teaches ZX Spectrum game programming in an emulator, complete with listings to type out

Is the Retro Gaming Book Good for Beginners?

Yes, by design. The quick-start chapter is aimed at people who just want to play, while later chapters reward tinkerers who want to build a handheld, a bartop arcade or a CRT-based setup. The legal-ROM chapter is a thoughtful touch, since sourcing games is often the most confusing part for newcomers. If you want a ready-made hardware kit to go with it, the Arduino UNO Q Arcade Bundle shows how affordable dedicated retro builds have become.

Where to Buy It

The book is available now from the Raspberry Pi online store at the £9.99 launch price, on Amazon UK and Amazon US, and in person at the Raspberry Pi Store in Cambridge. Raspberry Pi has not listed a US dollar price or page count in its announcement. For more Raspberry Pi projects and board news, browse our mini computer coverage.

Sources: Raspberry Pi — Introducing the Raspberry Pi Guide to Retro Gaming — October 20, 2026.