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You can turn an old NES cartridge shell into a compact RetroPie system using a Raspberry Pi Zero, a USB hub, and a USB gamepad. It is an emulator housed inside a cartridge—not a cartridge that runs in an original NES. The “2,400 classic games” count is not verified by the available project sources, and the build should not be presented as including Nintendo games.
What the NES cartridge Raspberry Pi project is
Raspberry Pi’s Pi Cart project feature describes a Raspberry Pi Zero running RetroPie inside an old NES cartridge shell. A four-port USB mini hub provides connections for USB controllers; the system also needs display and power connections. The cartridge is an enclosure, not a working NES game cartridge, so this project does not make the device plug into an original NES.
The project feature describes the build as “fairly easy” and estimates about an hour for assembly. That is the publisher’s estimate, not a guaranteed build time: the condition of the shell, the board and cable choices, and the amount of fitting or modification needed can all affect the work.
Is there really room for 2,400 classic games?
The sources describing this project do not verify a 2,400-game library, define what would count toward that number, or establish that any such collection was tested. An older Raspberry Pi Official Magazine build article repeats a broad claim that the system can hold “thousands of games from over three decades of consoles,” but it does not substantiate a precise count or confirm the games’ legal status. Treat 2,400 as an unverified headline claim, not a measured capacity or a promise about what the build includes.
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RetroPie is software for running supported emulators; game files are separate. The number of files that fit depends on the storage card and the games involved, and a large storage capacity does not establish permission to download or use copyrighted games.
Parts to plan for
The cited reference build combines a compact board, a cartridge enclosure, USB controller connectivity, and cables for setup and display. Russell Barnes’s historical Raspberry Pi Official Magazine parts list names these components:
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| Part | Role in the build | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi Zero | Runs RetroPie and the emulators. | Confirm the selected board’s connector layout and physical fit in the cartridge shell. |
| Old NES cartridge shell | Houses the computer and wiring. | Check the usable interior space and whether the shell can close around the board, hub, and cables. |
| Four-port USB mini hub | Adds USB connections for one or more controllers and other peripherals. | Verify USB compatibility, cable routing, and available room; the reference project identifies a four-port hub. |
| USB gamepad | Provides game controls. | The reference list uses an iBuffalo USB gamepad; NES-style USB controllers are another option. This is a USB controller, not an original NES controller connected directly to the cartridge. |
| Mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable | Connects the Pi Zero’s display output to a screen. | Check that the selected board has the corresponding display connector and that the cable fits the enclosure plan. |
| USB OTG cable | Provides a USB connection for peripherals on the Pi Zero reference design. | Check connector compatibility with the specific board and hub. |
| Micro-USB extension | Routes a power connection to the build. | Match the board’s power connector and plan where the cable exits the shell. |
| MicroSD card | Stores the operating system, RetroPie setup, and game files. | Choose capacity based on the systems and legally obtained files you intend to use. Raspberry Pi’s guide gives 8GB for an 8- and 16-bit-only setup and 32GB as a reasonable option when planning for more powerful systems; these are that guide’s recommendations, not universal requirements. |
| NES security screwdriver | Opens the cartridge shell. | Use a tool that matches the fasteners in the particular cartridge. |
The list is a reference design rather than a current, guaranteed compatibility list. Raspberry Pi connector layouts and peripheral connections matter: verify the exact board revision, controller, hub, and cabling before buying parts or cutting or modifying the shell.
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How to plan the build
- Choose the cartridge shell and board together. Check the board’s dimensions and connectors against the shell’s interior. The cited design uses a Pi Zero, which Raspberry Pi describes as suitable for embedded projects and relatively early systems; the sources provide no exact cartridge fit measurements.
- Decide how many USB devices you need. The four-port mini hub in the Pi Cart feature allows more than one USB controller. Account for the hub itself and its cable when arranging components inside the shell.
- Select a controller and display connection. The historical parts list uses a USB gamepad and mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable. An NES-style USB controller is an alternative, but check that its connector and the chosen board’s display output match your setup.
- Plan power and storage. Match the power extension and OTG cable to the selected board. Raspberry Pi’s RetroPie guide recommends a microSD card, with its stated capacities tied to the systems the reader plans to emulate rather than a fixed requirement for every build.
- Install RetroPie and configure the system. Follow the current RetroPie installation and controller-configuration instructions for the specific board. The project sources establish the RetroPie-based concept, but do not provide a complete current installation procedure for every board revision.
- Transfer only game files you are entitled to use. Add files through RetroPie’s console folders after the software is set up. Do not assume a cartridge-shell project comes with games.
How to add games to RetroPie legally
Raspberry Pi’s RetroPie setup tutorial describes transferring ROM files into the relevant console folders and advises checking that a download site is not supplying pirated content. It points to homebrew games on itch.io and officially released Sega ROMs on Steam as examples of sources. Availability and terms can vary by title, so check the publisher’s own terms for the specific game.
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Raspberry Pi Official Magazine’s guide to playing classic games legally discusses freeware and homebrew, including NES homebrew and a formerly lost NES game released as freeware by its creators. It also warns that unauthorized ports may appear in homebrew catalogues; a game’s presence on a catalogue alone does not prove that its distribution is authorized.
Nintendo Support’s “Intellectual Property & Piracy FAQ” says its copyrights cover game code, audiovisual material, music, characters, packaging, manuals, labels, and artwork. Nintendo states: “The uploading and downloading of pirate copies of Nintendo games is illegal.” That is Nintendo’s stated position; legal rules can differ by jurisdiction and situation, so it should not be treated as a universal ruling about every personal backup scenario.
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What a Pi Zero can—and cannot—establish
Raspberry Pi’s legal RetroPie guide says a Pi Zero can be suitable for embedded console projects and emulating relatively early systems. That guidance supports the compact-cartridge concept, but it does not establish performance for every console, game, or Pi Zero revision. The sources do not provide benchmark comparisons or exact fit measurements. Choose the board based on the systems you actually intend to use, and verify that it fits with the hub and cabling before modifying the shell.
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