Modern N64 setup guide: everything you need to get Ninty's retro console singing

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Create the perfect modern N64 setup.

Close up of N64 controller after cleaning with hall-effect thumbstick.
(Image credit: Phil Hayton)

Putting together a modern N64 setup is a bit of a Bob-omb Battlefield, especially if you're using a new screen. Most TVs these days trade traditional AV connections for HDMI, and even if you do manage to hook your console up, its early 3D visuals can look gnarly sprawlled across a 4K display. That's before you even get to using Ninty's worn and torn original controllers, but there are ways to help the iconic system shine in 2025.

Whether you're simply trying to work out how to connect your retro console to a modern TV, or you're just trying to perfect your N64 setup, I've got you covered. You don't have to pick up absolutely every accessory and add-on, and opting to mod your system can help you add easy HDMI output instead of using various upscalers and adapters. That said, it's well worth considering new gamepad options, fidelity-enhancing gadgets, and flash carts that'll let you play hundreds of homebrew adventures.

Phil Hayton
Phil Hayton
Hardware Editor

Phil is the Hardware Editor at GamesRadar+ who specializes in retro console setups, choosing the latest gaming handhelds, and navigating the choppy seas of using modern-day PC hardware. In the past, they have covered everything from retro gaming history to the latest gaming news, in-depth features, and tech advice for publications like TechRadar, The Daily Star, the BBC, PCGamesN, and Den of Geek. In their spare time, they pour hours into fixing old consoles, modding Game Boys, exploring ways to get the most out of the Steam Deck, and blasting old CRT TV visuals into their eye sockets.

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