The A500 Mini Amiga Review: Retro Glory in a Palm-Sized Package
If you were gaming in the late ’80s or early ’90s, the Commodore Amiga 500 was practically a household deity. It wasn’t just a computer; it was a portal into pixel perfection, MIDI madness, and the occasional crash caused by your mate’s dodgy copy of Lemmings.
Now it’s back — only smaller, sharper, and mercifully immune to floppy-disk tantrums. The A500 Mini delivers 25 pre-installed classics, HDMI output, and modern conveniences that make retro gaming feel like luxury rather than punishment.
Design: Honey, I Shrunk the Amiga
At first glance, it’s a perfect miniature replica of the original A500, down to the key layout and vents that served absolutely no purpose. It’s half nostalgia, half collectible — the kind of thing you’d display proudly between your Switch and a mug of cold tea.
The keyboard is decorative (sorry typists), but the mouse and gamepad are fully functional, solidly built, and surprisingly comfortable. It feels like stepping back in time without the CRT static or that one mate who insists on rewinding the cassette too far.
Games: 25 Classics and Counting
The A500 Mini comes loaded with 25 Amiga legends — a line-up that reads like a who’s who of pixel royalty.
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Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe – still the finest sport ever invented where you can legally throw steel at people.
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Another World – haunting, beautiful, and still confusing after all these years.
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Worms: The Director’s Cut – for anyone who thinks warfare should involve cartoon invertebrates and sheep.
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Zool – the ninja gremlin mascot nobody asked for but everyone secretly likes.
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The Chaos Engine – steampunk mayhem with an attitude.
There’s something for everyone — platformers, puzzlers, shooters, and side-scrolling chaos. And thanks to USB compatibility, you can even load your own games if you’re brave enough to dive into the retro archives.
Performance: The Old Made New
Running modern emulation software, the A500 Mini makes those once-temperamental Amiga games run smoother than you remember.
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HDMI output at 720p – crisp enough to show off every lovingly chunky pixel.
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Save states – a modern blessing for anyone who remembers the horror of “one life only.”
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Quick-load options – no more waiting through floppy-drive symphonies.
Even the audio has that warm, nostalgic twang without the original’s background hum. It’s faithful but refined — the retro equivalent of remastering your old mixtape on vinyl.
Extras and Compatibility
The system supports both the original Amiga 500 and AGA (Advanced Graphics Architecture) games, giving you access to the best of both worlds. Firmware updates are simple via USB, and controller support means you can swap in other USB devices if you fancy experimenting.
Pros
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Compact, faithful recreation of a beloved classic.
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25 built-in games plus USB expansion.
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Modern comforts: save states, HDMI, and plug-and-play simplicity.
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Perfect for collectors and nostalgia seekers alike.
Cons
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The keyboard doesn’t function (but it’s adorable).
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720p output only — purists may wish for higher.
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You’ll lose entire weekends “testing” every game.
Verdict: 9 / 10 – “Retro Done Right”
The A500 Mini isn’t just nostalgia in plastic form; it’s a reminder of why the Amiga mattered. It captures the heart of an era where creativity outweighed processing power and floppy disks ruled the Earth.
Whether you’re reliving your youth or discovering what your parents wouldn’t stop talking about, this little box of joy nails it — accessible, authentic, and endlessly charming.
It’s retro gaming without the frustration. No cables to untangle, no discs to blow on, no mysterious smell of overheating electronics. Just timeless fun in a miniature shell.
Ready to Go Back to 1991 (Without the Haircuts)?
Grab your copy of The A500 Mini Amiga — new, sealed, and loaded with 25 iconic games. Relive the golden age of gaming, exclusively at GameRaid UK.