You can fit a Raspberry Pi Zero, RetroPie, storage and USB hardware inside an old NES cartridge shell, then play legally obtained games through a television. It is an emulator computer in a cartridge-shaped enclosure—not a cartridge that an original Nintendo Entertainment System can read. The oft-repeated “2,400 classic games” figure is not verified by the documented project, so it should not be treated as a measured capacity or an included library.
What this NES cartridge project actually is
Raspberry Pi’s “Pi Cart” design places a Raspberry Pi Zero and a four-port USB mini hub in an old NES cartridge. RetroPie supplies the emulation-focused software interface; the cartridge shell is simply the enclosure. You connect the system to a display with HDMI and use USB controllers through the hub.
Because the Pi is not electrically connected to an NES cartridge edge connector, the finished object will not boot when inserted into an original NES. It must be powered as a Raspberry Pi and connected to a display separately.
Raspberry Pi estimates that its reference build can be assembled in about an hour. That is the publisher’s general estimate, not an independently timed result, and shell trimming, cable routing and troubleshooting can make an individual build take longer.
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What parts do you need?
The following list combines the components named in Raspberry Pi’s project feature and the Raspberry Pi Official Magazine’s historical parts list. Treat it as a reference design rather than a guaranteed current shopping list.
| Part | Purpose | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi Zero | Runs RetroPie and the emulators | Check the exact board’s USB, video and power connectors before buying cables or cutting the shell. |
| Four-port USB mini hub | Adds enough USB connections for multiple controllers and accessories | The project description says the hub allows more than one USB controller. |
| USB gamepad | Provides game input | The documented build uses a USB gamepad, not an original NES controller. NES-style USB controllers are an alternative. |
| MicroSD card | Stores the operating system, RetroPie and legally obtained game files | Raspberry Pi’s legal-games guide describes 8GB as sufficient for an 8- and 16-bit-only setup and 32GB as a reasonable option when planning for more powerful systems later. These are guide recommendations, not universal requirements. |
| Mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable | Connects the Pi Zero to a television or monitor | Verify the board’s video connector and the display input. |
| USB OTG cable | Connects the Pi Zero’s USB interface to the hub | Connector orientation and board revision matter. |
| Micro-USB extension | Routes power to an accessible point in or near the shell | Use a suitable, stable power supply; the cited list does not specify a universal current rating. |
| NES security screwdriver | Opens the cartridge shell | NES cartridges use security screws; do not force the shell with an unsuitable driver. |
| Old NES cartridge shell | Acts as the enclosure | Measure the interior and plan cable exits before committing to a cartridge. |
How to put a Raspberry Pi in an NES cartridge
- Open and inspect the cartridge. Remove the security screws, separate the shell and take out the original circuit board. Keep the shell halves, screw posts and label area intact where possible.
- Measure before modifying. Dry-fit the Pi Zero, hub and cable ends. Confirm that the board, USB adapter and wiring clear the shell’s posts and that the lid can close without stressing connectors.
- Plan the external connections. Decide where power, HDMI and the USB controller connection will emerge. The reference build relies on cabling rather than an original NES connector, so the finished cartridge needs accessible leads.
- Install the software on the microSD card. Set up RetroPie using its current installation instructions for the Pi model you selected. The older project documentation does not establish that every present-day RetroPie image or Pi revision has identical compatibility.
- Mount the hardware. Secure the Pi and hub so they cannot move or short against one another. Nonconductive spacers or carefully placed insulation can help, but leave ventilation and connector clearance.
- Connect and test outside the shell. Attach power, HDMI, the hub and one controller first. Confirm that RetroPie boots, the controller is detected and the display remains stable before closing the cartridge.
- Close the enclosure and retest. Route cables around screw posts, reinstall the shell and check that no cable is pinched. Test every controller port after final assembly.
What can a Pi Zero emulate?
Raspberry Pi’s legal RetroPie guide presents the Pi Zero as suitable for relatively early systems and embedded console projects. That makes it a sensible target for 8- and 16-bit-era software, but the cited sources do not provide benchmark results, a guaranteed console-by-console compatibility list or exact performance figures. Do not assume that every later system will run smoothly merely because its files fit on the card.
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Choose the board and storage around the systems you actually intend to use. A smaller board may fit the shell more easily, while a larger or newer board could offer different connectors or performance but require new measurements and cabling. The documented build does not establish a universal “best” Pi model.
How do you add games to RetroPie legally?
- Obtain files from an authorized source. Raspberry Pi’s setup tutorial tells readers to check that a download site does not provide pirated content. It points to homebrew releases on itch.io and officially released Sega ROM examples distributed through Steam.
- Use RetroPie’s console folders. Transfer each compatible ROM file into the folder for its console, using the transfer method described by the current RetroPie setup guide. Restart or refresh the front end so the newly added title appears.
- Prefer documented rights. Raspberry Pi Official Magazine discusses commercial and freeware releases, NES homebrew and a formerly lost NES game released by its creators as freeware. It also warns that unauthorized ports can appear in homebrew catalogues, so “available to download” does not by itself prove permission.
- Keep the library separate from the hardware. A cartridge shell, Pi board and RetroPie installation do not grant rights to commercial game code, music, artwork or manuals. The files must be obtained under terms that allow your use.
Nintendo Support states: “The uploading and downloading of pirate copies of Nintendo games is illegal.” That is Nintendo’s position in its Intellectual Property & Piracy FAQ; copyright rules and exceptions can vary by jurisdiction, so consult the law that applies where you live rather than treating a personal-backup assumption as universal.
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- Onboard speaker and earphone jack, listen to the familiar BGM from the old days. Volume and backlight adjustment keys, adjust the device status according to specific game, better experience.
What does “2,400 classic games” mean here?
The cited project materials do not verify 2,400 games, explain how the number was counted, identify the platforms included or establish that the files were legally licensed. An older Raspberry Pi Official Magazine article repeats a broad description that the system can hold “thousands of games from over three decades of consoles,” attributed to the project’s creator, but that is not a tested capacity measurement.
Accordingly, the defensible description is that the build can store a large library whose size depends on the microSD card, systems emulated and legally obtained files. Do not advertise it as shipping with 2,400 Nintendo games or imply that the project includes ROMs.
Quick Recap
Build decisions that matter most
| Decision | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Board and shell fit | Connector placement and board dimensions determine whether the lid closes and cables can exit safely. Measure the exact hardware. |
| Emulation target | The Pi Zero recommendation is aimed at relatively early systems; the sources do not establish later-system performance. |
| USB expansion | A four-port mini hub supports more than one USB controller, but it also consumes space and requires an OTG connection. |
| Controller style | A generic USB gamepad is the documented choice; an NES-style USB pad changes the feel without making it an original NES controller electrically. |
| Storage | Use the guide’s 8GB suggestion for an 8-/16-bit-focused setup or consider 32GB when planning broader emulation, while treating both as recommendations rather than guarantees. |
Common failure points
- The cartridge will not close: Recheck shell posts, hub height and cable bends; redesign the layout before cutting more plastic.
- The Pi boots but no controller works: Test the OTG connection and hub separately, then run RetroPie’s controller configuration again.
- The display is blank: Verify the mini-HDMI cable, display input and board-specific video connector before blaming the software image.
- Games do not appear: Confirm that files are in the correct console folder, use a format supported by the emulator and refresh or restart the RetroPie front end.
- A downloaded ROM’s status is unclear: Do not use it merely because a website hosts it. Choose a homebrew or officially distributed release with clear authorization.
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