I made an arcade light gun setup using a handheld, and you can too over Christmas
Deck the halls with arcade hardware

As a retro gaming enthusiast, I am a complete sucker for old light gun games. The only problem is, my local amusement center just retired its long-standing House of the Dead 2 arcade cabinet, and using console alternatives like the PS2 Namco GunCon requires fishing an old CRT TV out of storage. Simply put, the whole affair felt like an out-of-reach faff. At least, that was the case until I realized I could put together a small and authentic arcade light gun system in my living room. So, since the Holiday season is upon us, I thought it'd be a good idea to cover what I used to make it happen, as you'll be able to put🔯 your own setup together over Christmas.
Admittedly, there are various ways you can put together this arcade setup, but there’s one key element that’s mandatory - a Sinden Lightgun. I’ll get onto why the peripheral is key, but once you’ve got the sidearm to hand, you’ll be able to pick up everything else at your leisure. Some of you may already be rocking the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming TV at home, and you'll technically be able to use any capable 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming PC to put together this setup, but perhaps my setup will lend some ins🔯piration in any case
My 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Sinden Lightgun review is now live if you want a closer look at the peripheral, but here’s a rundown of what it actually is. Dressed up just like an original Namco GunCon, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PC controller uses a combination of clever tech and software to replicate the experience of retro light guns on modern displays. Whether you’re looking to play modern releases like House of the Dead Remake on Steam or you need a waಞy to revisit emulated classics like Time Crisis, this accessory is going to have you playing like it's 1999. That’s perhaps a bit cheesy even for me, but this thing even has recoil and pedal support, so it’s technically better than anything you could have achieved at home before.
1. A Sinden Lightgun
As we’ve already covered, the Sinden Lightgun is a key part of this whole project, and you won&rܫsquo;t be able to use any alternatives in its place. Over at the official store, you’ll find various bundles that include multiple guns and foot pedals, so you’ll be able to decide how much money you actually want to invest in this. A single piece is going to set you back $104.99, which I’d argue is a fair price considering the tech inside and the fact they’re made by a smal🌼l company in the UK.
Sinden Light Gun |
You won't find the Sinden Lightgun at Amazon or big box stores, but it is waiting in the wings over at the maker's own storefront. You'll also be able to grab additional acc💫essories like pedals and holsters depending on how much you want to sink into this ♔project.
Buy it if:
✅ You want to play light gun games on PC
✅ You've only got modern screens
✅ You'd prefer something authentic but modern
Don't buy it if:
❌ You've got an old CRT and original guns
❌ You'd rather play with a mouse
2. A Windows gaming handheld (or mini PC)
The Sinden Lightgun will work with any PC, but my setup trades a traditional bulky rig for one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming handhelds around. Specifically, I decided to use the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Ayaneo 2S, as while I'd normally opt for the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Steam Deck instead, SteamOS support is still in the early stages. If you own neither of those, I'd actually suggest seriously considering an 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally inste🎃ad, as it's currentl💟y down over at Best Buy.
Asus ROG Ally |
Save $200 - Black Friday 2023 is history, but the Asus ROG Ally is still $100 cheaper at Best Buy right now. The discount marks the first time the handheld has ever dropped in price, and it's a fair deal considering the p꧟rice of🙈 competitors.
Buy it if:
✅ You prefer to play with a controller
✅ You can play plugged in most of the time
✅ You want to play as many games as possible
Don't buy it if:
❌ You only play Steam games
❌ You want to boost fps further at 1080p
For what we're going to be using this setup for, there shouldn't be a noticeable difference in using the Asus ROG Ally instead of the Ayaneo 2S. Sure, the handheld I've got to hand boasts a beefier AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU, but performance should be around the same in practice. Plus, the ROG Ally is our favorite handheld gaming PC overall thanks to its balance of price and specs, so it won't disappoint when you switch to pl༺aying with your fingers and thumbs.
Alter🌌natively, you could also use a tiny rig to achieve the same sort of compact setup, and something like the coul🐼d fit the bill. Just like with a handheld, your mileage will vary when it comes to newer releases, but it should be able to handle Steam's selection of light gun romps and some PS2 emulation.
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3. A docking station
We might not be using Valve's handheld for this project, but the next piece of the puzzle requires shopping around for the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Steam Deck dock. The Ayaneo 2S and Asus ROG Ally will play nicely with most docking stations out there, and I've tested most options using both portable powerh🍃ouses.
My personal go-to Steam Deck dock is the , as it's got plenty of ports and an adjustable cradle that fits most handhelds. Annoyingly, it went out of stock recently, so my next recommendation would be the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Jsaux 6-in-1 dock instead. I🙈t's still going to provide your device with plenty of juice to power your light gun and send visuals to your screen of choice, and it's pretty affordable compared to the official Valve accessory.
Jsuax 6-in-1 Steam Deck dock | Save $10 - You'll rarely find this dock sitting at full price, but it's still a great deal for a hub w𝄹ith three USB po🦋rts, 100W power delivery, and an aluminium body.
Buy it if:
✅ You want to connect a keyboard and mouse
✅ You're looking for great build quality
✅ You've got your own power adapter
Don't buy it if:
❌ You'd rather keep things official
❌ You want an additional charger
If you fancy opting for another docking station, I'd bear two things in mind. Firstly, make sure you pick something with 100W Power Delivery, aꦿs you'll need enough juice to power the Sinden Lightgun, your Windows handheld of choice, and other peripherals. You'll also want to make sure you pick something 🅠with enough ports, as while we'll be primarily using the light gun for gameplay, a mouse and keyboard will come in handy for setup.
4. A decent-sized screen
Without some sort of screen, you aren't going to get far, and chances are you've already got one at home. That'll effectively save you from having to shop for a new 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming TV, but since we're talking about my setup, I'll point you towards the 50-inch Samsung TU690T, as it's𓄧 the same 🔯as the older display dwelling in my living room at the moment.
Samsung TU690T 50-inch |
Save $101 - This no-frills 50-inch Samsung TV is down to its lowest price, and it could be a winner for anyone putting together a game room over Christmas. It also provides exceptional brightness and colors for a tradi🐻tional LED TV, all while being substantially cheaper than even other budget models.
Buy it if:
✅ You want an affordable 4K panel
✅ You're looking for something for a smaller living space
✅ You want access to Tizen smart features
Don't buy it if:
❌ You'd rather move away from ordinary LED in 2023
❌ You regularly play shooters on console or PC
While I'm currently using a larger TV, I can confirm this setup also works wonderfully with smaller displays. That means you could browse the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming monitors and emerge with a screen specifically for this kind of setup. If I were buying a screen specifi𓆏cally for this setup, I'd be tempted to opt for something like the Dough Spectrum One, especially since it's still down following a previous Black Friday discount.
5. 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard
This part is purely optional, but 8bitDo's NES-inspired keyboard has something that'll come in weirdly handy when playing light gun games. I mean, it also just looks the part, and it's going to feel even more appropriate if you're aiming to play old Ninteᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚndo games like Duck Hunt. However, I've actually been using its comically sized A and B buttons as makeshift reload pedals, which isn't as daft an idea as you'꧂d think.
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard | $99.99 at Amazon
Sadly, 8BitDo's NES-inspired keyboard is still full price right now, but it offers up clicky Kailh Box Switches, 2.4Ghz wireless, Bluetooth, and extra large A+B buttons that plug into the back. It's certainly the kind of keyboard you'd want to pair with anything remotely retro-themed, and you won't find anything else qu𒅌ite like🌠 it out there.
Buy it if:
✅ You care about retro aesthetics
✅ You want clicky switches
✅ You can think of a use for its ridiculous big buttons
Don't buy it if:
❌ You'd prefer something quieter
❌ You want something you can use on the couch
Not🌄 only is 8bitDo's Famicom Keyboard tribute wireless, but it boasts both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz via a dongle. Naturally, that means you'll be able to quickly switch from another PC to your light gun setup whenever it's required. That could be the excuse some of you have been waiting for to upgrade your existing gaming keyboard, even if it does prioritize aesthetics over practicality.
If you'd prefer something more couch-friendly, I'd probably use the likes of the Logitech K400 Plus. It's lightweight, has a trackpad built-in, and runs off of AA batteries, not to mention it boasts 2.4 GHz wireless. That's certainly more of a less fuss approach than using a keyboard that's around the same size as a Commodore 64, b꧒ut I'm still into that regardless.
And just like that, you've got yourself a compact light gun arcade setup that doesn't take up a lot of room, requires a crusty old CRT, and can live in your living room without being that intrusive. If you've already got some of these bits lying around, you're already halfway there, but you'll hopefully be able to snag some dꦫecent savings on anything✨ you don't have if you've thrifty about it.