Odin starter guide

Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
02:15 tech specs
03:12 price and availability
06:31 unboxing and impressions
09:44 LTE (cellular data) testing
11:27 comparison with Pro (WiFi, screen, battery)
17:08 HDMI video out
18:01 retro game emulation testing
19:23 Saturn, N64, Dreamcast, PSP
21:51 GameCube, PS2
25:10 3DS, Switch (Skyline)
27:13 Android gaming
27:52 streaming (Xbox, PlayStation, PC/Moonlight)
30:23 summary (likes and dislikes)
33:37 conclusion

Buy one here
AYN Odin shipping dashboard

Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
01:00 unboxing
01:29 first impressions
02:42 purpleness and buttons
03:40 LED check
04:46 comparison with black model / conclusion

GitHub page for installation instructions
Guiformat tool to format your flash drive to FAT32
Community compatibility sheet where you can see performance results for games that have already been tested
My Odin Starter Guide

Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
01:47 download files
03:21 install Google drivers
03:51 flash custom boot installer
05:53 install Windows
07:46 Windows setup
09:55 summary & conclusion

Notes:

• If the Android drivers fail to detect the Odin when you plug it in during installation, some users have noted that installing the Microsoft Media Features Pack onto your PC can resolve the issue.
• When downloading the install.wim file from the instructions/video above, I mention that any install.wim file. Based on community reports, it appears the 22621.1 version seems to work the best (direct link here).
• Setting the Display resolution to 1366×768 will give you a sharper image than 720p with minimal performance cost, and works well with Windows 11’s tablet UI.
• When first setting up your device, be sure to go to the “Essentials” tab of the Community Compatibility Sheet and install all of the plugins listed, as they will greatly improve gameplay performance.
• Developer Alessandro “Locutus73” Miele has created a collection of ARM-based emulators from resources available already, or those that he compiled himself specifically for the Odin. So far he has compiled ARM-friendly builds for Dolphin, PPSSPP, and PrimeHack.
  • Dolphin tips: add an empty portable.txt file to the Dolphin.exe’s directory to create a local settings file, so that it won’t conflict with the PrimeHack settings.
  • Run Dolphin in Direct3D 12, 2x or 3x resolution, “skip drawing”, “defer EFB cache invalidation”, and “immediately present XFB”
  • Expect parity of performance for some games with Dolphin MMJR, but with better accuracy and the ability to set hotkeys. On a few games they might be a bit better than on Android (like Wave Race: Blue Storm), but on others they will be worse (Super Mario Sunshine).
• If you run into any other issues with the installation, I would recommend using the GitHub issues tab to alert the developers.

Here is a performance showcase of Windows 11 on the Odin:

The AYN Odin handhelds are a perfect storm of emulation gaming goodness — they provide excellent performance for their price, great battery life, and a nice screen, all will solid controls and ergonomics.

This guide will work with any AYN Odin and Odin 2 model, with notes for each distinct device when necessary.

Because the AYN Odin runs on an Android platform, setting up the device is similar to setting up any other Android device for the purpose of game emulation. I already have complete Android and RetroArch guides on this website, which will serve as the foundation of setting up your Odin. There are some unique setup aspects for the Odin which we’ll cover in this guide, to complement the two guides above, but I would highly encourage you to check out those two guides if you want to take a deeper dive into the platforms.

Are the Odin devices pre-loaded with games? No, the devices ship as a general Android phone or tablet, with only essential apps (Play Store, Chrome, etc.) pre-installed. You are on your own to find the emulated game files (ROMs) to play on this device. There are no copyrighted files on this website.

Table of Contents

Choose your model
Recommended accessories
Build your ROM (and BIOS) library
Startup and orientation
Recommended emulators
Button mapping and hotkeys
Increase rendering resolution in 3D-based games
Advanced emulation considerations
Streaming apps
Android frontends
Upgrade the hardware
Dual boot mode for Odin Base/Pro

Changelog

Choose your model

There are essentially two main models of Odin: the Odin (which released in 2022), and the Odin 2 (which released in 2023). Within each of these main models, there are some different buildouts:

Odin Lite: The Odin Lite is AYN’s budget listing. It has the same shell as the Odin Base/Pro, but runs a different chipset: the Dimensity D900. Surprisingly, this chip actually performs very similarly to the Odin Base/Pro models. For more detailed specs about the two units, here is a great guide made by the Odin community.

Odin Base/Pro: The Odin Base has now been discontinued, so only the Pro model remains (the difference was only RAM). This one runs an overclocked Snapdragon 845 processor.

Odin 2: The Odin 2 comes with the beefy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chips, and wholesale improvements in ergonomics, battery, controls, and more. It has three options, with different RAM and internal storage options: Base (8GB/128GB), Pro (12GB/256GB), and Max (16GB/512GB). Of note, the RAM amount may affect performance with higher-end emulators (Yuzu) and Android games. For best results, consider the Pro or Max model or the additional RAM. Finally, the Base model only comes in black, so if you want any fancy colors you will need to look at the higher tiers.

All models are available directly via AYN’s website. Shipping will be an additional charge and varies by region.

Recommended accessories

There are many accessories that work with the Odin, but here are some of my favorites.

The AYN Odin will not come bundled with a microSD card, but it will have at least 64GB of internal storage, or up to 512GB if you pay for an upgrade. However, it also has an SD card slot for cheaper storage. What I typically will do is use the SD card for storing my ROMs, and the internal storage for Android games (some of them can take up a lot of space). I recommend using a card from reputable brands like SanDisk or Samsung to use in your device.

In general, I recommend the cards listed below, in order or preference. The prices fluctuate all the time, so keep an eye out for deals. A 128GB card will allow you to load EVERY 8-bit and 16-bit game out there, just all of the arcade games that work, and quite a few PS1, Dreamcast, PSP, GameCube, PS2, and Sega CD games (those systems have the largest file sizes). A 256GB or 512GB card will allow you to store even more of those larger games. And yes, 1TB microSD cards will also work, if you want to load up a ton of games.

As far as model (“Extreme” vs “Ultra”, etc), this won’t matter when it comes to playing games. Some cards may transfer files more quickly (like when adding ROMs to the card), but the difference will be negligible. Instead, shop around for the best deal based on your desired amount of storage!

128GB cards:
SanDisk Extreme
Samsung EVO Select
SanDisk Ultra

256GB microSD:
SanDisk Ultra
SanDisk Extreme
Samsung EVO Select
Samsung Pro Plus

512GB microSD:
SanDisk Ultra
SanDisk Extreme
Samsung EVO Select
Samsung Pro Plus

1TB microSD:
SanDisk Ultra
SanDisk Extreme
Lexar Play

When adding your microSD card to the handheld, the Odin may prompt you to reformat the card if the card is currently using a file format that isn’t compatible with the device. In general it is best to use exFAT file format for your card, since FAT32 format limits each file to 4GB or less

Another accessory to consider: if you don’t have a nice microSD to USB reader, you might want to think about getting one. A nice adapter like this one from Anker will give you fast transfer speeds, and won’t cause any corruption issues with your card. There is also a fancy new USB-C/A adapter now available!

Additionally, the Odin doubles as a pseudo home console, thanks to its HDMI output function as well as the ability to connect to controllers via bluetooth or USB. On the Odin Base/Pro and Odin 2, you can also provide video out via its USB-C DisplayPort, with an adapter like this one. The HDMI adapter is smaller than the standard size, so you will either want to grab a micro HDMI cable like this one from Amazon Basics, or a micro HDMI adapter to use with an existing cable.

Speaking of controllers, there are plenty of options out there, but I prefer to use something that’s somewhat retro-friendly. You could use a bluetooth controller like the 8BitDo SN30 Pro, or the 8BitDo Ultimate Controller. Note that in order to use a USB controller, you will also need an OTG adapter to plug the controller into the device’s USB-C port (you could also use a USB hub to plug in multiple controllers at once!).

The original Odin Super Dock (for the Base/Pro/Lite models) has been discontinued, but the new Odin 2 Super Dock is available for that device. This functions as a USB-C hub that is capable of video output and charging. This may sound too good to be true, and it kind of is, because the Android platform isn’t well attuned to using a device with a hub like this. The end result is mixed, since you will have to toggle or re-map your controls as you plug in the Dock (or unplug it). Here is a roundup of my experience with the SuperDock.

Finally, I tested out quite a few cases for the original Odin, and here were the results. In general, cases made for the Switch Lite are too small for the Odin/Odin2.

Build your ROM (and BIOS) library

If you haven’t already, you will want to build a ROM library for all of your favorite games. These files are copyrighted and won’t be shared on this website.

When organizing ROM files, I recommend using the “No-Intro” naming convention, which is the standard naming used for ROM sets within RetroArch and other emulation communities. By using no-intro naming, you will be more likely to get box art automatically added when you load up your games in RetroArch or most frontends. If you have a question as to how a game should be named, I recommend checking out the Libretro thumbnails directory, which is what many emulators pull from for their media files. If your game name matches the thumbnail name found in this directory, chances are that it will properly download the media for it.

To save space, you can also compress your ROM files using some methods demonstrated in this guide.

A note on Nintendo Switch emulation: when considering emulating Nintendo Switch games, the proper way to set them up is to mod a Switch and dump your cartridges and/or eShop games. The Yuzu team has an excellent quickstart guide which details how to dump your cartridges. This in no way condones pirating games (e.g. downloading ROMs from the internet without owning the game).

Additionally, an important component of a ROM library is maintaining BIOS files. BIOS files are system files necessary for some emulators (GBA, Sega CD, or PS1/PS2), and are helpful in improving accuracy with other systems. These files are also copyrighted. Note that PS2 BIOS files can be easily extracted from the PS3 firmware file following my guide. Here is more information about BIOS files.

Recommended BIOS files:

GAME BOY (for boot logo):
gb_bios.bin

GAME BOY COLOR (for boot logo):
gbc_bios.bin

GAME BOY ADVANCE:
gba_bios.bin

SWITCH:
prod.keys

PLAYSTATION 1 (many options!):
scph5501.bin

PLAYSTATION 2 (many options!):
SCPH-70012.bin
SCPH-70012.MEC
SCPH-70012.NVM

SEGA CD:
bios_CD_E.bin
bios_CD_J.bin
bios_CD_U.bin

DREAMCAST:
dc_boot.bin

NEO GEO (also place in Neo Geo ROM folder):
neogeo.zip

TURBOGRAFX-CD:
syscard1.pce
syscard2.pce
syscard3.pce

Startup and orientation

When first booting up the Odin, it will take you through a series of prompts to choose your language, time zone, and WiFi connection. You will have a choice of AOSP (Android Open Source Project) or the Odin Launcher layouts for your home screen, I recommend AOSP so that you can get the device set up first before using a frontend.

From there, I recommend going to Settings > System > Updates and run a system update so you are using the most recent version of the Odin image. Then, you can go into Settings > Odin Settings and adjust them as shown in the guide video above. If you don’t see the Odin Settings option when you first turn on your device, it needs to be rebooted at least once initially for it to appear. I recommend the Xbox ABXY button layout if you plan on playing Android games or streaming game content (Xbox, PS, etc). While in the Settings menu, also go to Display > Screen timeout and change the timeout from 1 minute of inactivity to something more reasonable (I personally set mine to 30 minutes), and turn off notifications by enabling “do not disturb” mode. Finally, within the Security settings you can disable the need to swipe the screen every time you wake the device from sleep.

After you have the system settings tweaked, the next step would be to orient yourself with the top and side menu bars.

Top and Side Menu Bars on Odin Base/Pro/Lite (click to enlarge)

To get to the top menu bar, swipe down from the top. This will look similar to any other smart phone or tablet, especially if you’re familiar with Android. Here you can make adjustments to the Performance Mode and Fan settings. I personally set my device to “High Performance” mode, and the Fan to “Smart”, so that it will overclock the CPU and speed up the fan when needed. If you plan on playing a long session of something that isn’t CPU-intensive (like SNES), then you can turn off High Performance mode to potentially save on battery life. Also within the top menu bar you can adjust the ambient LEDs, and the remove the floating icon (side bar). There are additional options within the top menu, which are more focused on smartphone functions like night mode.

In the side bar, you can set up screen mapping for Android games, turn on system alerts, browse AYN’s guide, monitor performance, and more. To access it, swipe from the right side towards the left while a game or emulator is running.

Recommended emulators

Now comes the fun part, we’re going to install all the apps we want to run on the Odin. To start, I would focus on the emulators, since those are fundamental to running your retro games. The apps I recommend are the same as the ones featured in my Android guide, so I recommend browsing that list because it will also dive into the recommended tweaks and settings for each app, too. Additionally, check out the community-driven compatibility sheets so you can see expected performance (and tweaks) for your favorite systems and games:

Odin Lite compatibility sheet
Odin Base/Pro compatibility sheet
Odin 2 compatibility sheet

When emulating on an Android device, I prefer to use RetroArch whenever possible, to take advantage of universal hotkeys, cheats, and Retro Achievements. However, performance on RetroArch can sometimes be less optimized than on standalone emulators. For the Odin in particular, I recommend using RetroArch for everything up to PS1. There are some systems that will perform well enough on RetroArch (Saturn, NDS, PSP, N64, and Dreamcast) for many games, but in general the standalone emulators are preferred.

Some apps are not available in the Google Play Store, or their Play Store counterparts perform worse. So for those, I recommend downloading them directly from the website and then side-loading the APK. This can be done by either browsing and downloading the APK file directly on the device (like by navigating to this page on the Odin itself), or by downloading the APK on your computer, putting it on an SD card, then inserting the SD card and navigating to that APK via a file manager app on the Odin.

Recommended emulators:

On Play Store:
Duckstation (free) -- PS1
Mupen64Plus FZ (Pro version available) -- N64
Yaba Sanshiro 2 (Pro version available) -- Saturn
Redream (free, in-app upgrade available) -- Dreamcast
DraStic (paid) -- Nintendo DS
PPSSPP (Gold version available) -- PSP
Yuzu -- Switch

Not on Play Store (free):
RetroArch (latest Aarch64 nightly build) -- classic systems
AetherSX2 (alpha build) -- PS2
AetherSX2 (v1.5-3668) -- PS2
NetherSX2 (more info below) -- PS2
Dolphin (development build) -- GameCube & Wii
Dolphin forks -- GameCube & Wii (for Odin Lite/Pro)
Citra Canary/Nightly (discontinued) or Lime3DS -- 3DS
Citra MMJ -- 3DS (for Odin Lite/Pro)
Skyline -- Switch
Vita3k -- PS Vita
Yuzu (GitHub version) -- Switch

Please note that as of March 2024, the official Yuzu and Citra apps have ceased development and were pulled from their sites (more info here), so you will need to find an archive of them to install.

UPDATING EMULATOR APPS: For apps that you installed via the Play Store, updating the app is as simple as going to the Play Store and then updating the apps under the “Manage Apps” function. For those you sideload, it’s often just a matter of going back to the website, downloading the latest APK, and then installing it — most apps will notice that you already have an older version installed, and will install the new one without messing with your settings or save data. Some apps may give you an error (“this app could not be installed” or “installation failed”), if that happens, you can uninstall the old app (be sure “not to delete your data files”keep app data” when prompted), then install the new one. You may have to reboot your device between installations if it doesn’t work the first time around. Another resource for updating sideloaded apps is Obtainium, which is explained in my Advanced emulation considerations section below.

Custom GPU drivers (Odin 2): There are custom (“turnip”) GPU drivers for the Odin 2 that work in many emulators (Dolphin, Citra, Vita3K, Yuzu, and Skyline). Be sure to download the latest release and install it from the emulator’s settings menu. Keep the file in .zip format!

Regarding Dolphin on the Odin Lite/Pro, there are several forks that may give better performance with certain games over the official app, but will introduce hacks to get them working. I would recommend using those forks only if the official app’s performance is not to your liking. The MMJR 11505 (final) and MMJR2 17878 versions are generally the best among that group.

If you’d like to try out running native Pico-8 via the Winlator app (which creates a Windows container to launch the app), check out this written guide.

For RetroArch, I recommend using the nightly build (directly linked above). Once you have installed the app, I strongly recommend going through my RetroArch Starter Guide to orient you to the platform itself. I consider this to be a necessary part of the process when it comes to mastering emulation on an Android device, particularly for retro games. It has a learning curve to it, but once you get the hang of it, you can use these skills for a variety of devices that use RetroArch. The Odin 2 starter guide video will show you the very basics to get started.

Recommended RetroArch cores:

Arcade (FinalBurn Neo) -- fighting games and beat'em ups
Arcade (MAME 2003-Plus) -- all-around arcade emulation
Commodore Amiga (PUAE)
DOS (DosBox-Pure)
NEC PCE/TG-16/PCE-CD/TG-CD (Beetle PCE)
Nintendo GB/GBC (Gambatte)
Nintendo GBA (mGBA)
Nintendo Virtual Boy (Beetle VB)
Nintendo DS (melonDS)
Nintendo NES (Nestopia)
Nintendo SNES (BSNES or Snes9x Current)
Nintendo 64 (ParaLLEl or Mupen64Plus)
ScummVM -- point-and-click PC games
Sega Master System/Genesis/CD (Genesis Plus GX)
Sega 32x (PicoDrive)
Sega Saturn (YabaSanshiro or Beetle Saturn)
Sega Dreamcast (Flycast)
SNK Neo Geo (FinalBurn Neo)
Sony PlayStation (SwanStation)
Sony Playstation Portable (PPSSPP)

Button mapping and hotkeys

When it comes to setting up hotkeys, these are the keys I recommend in RetroArch.

Reduce Input Latency: Another note specific to RetroArch is that you may experience some input delay with the Odin’s built-in controller. Some people may experience this more than others, especially when it comes to retro games. If it bothers you, then you will want to make the following adjustment in RetroArch:

Settings > Latency > Run-Ahead to Reduce Latency > ON
Main Menu > Configuration File > Save Current Configuration (to save the setting)

From there, you can set up Run-ahead as a hotkey (as demonstrated in the diagram above so you can easily toggle it on/off while playing a game.

One of the biggest challenges in setting up the Odin is mapping the controls to mimic the original controllers from retro systems. For many, the control setup will be intuitive: it’s easy to figure out how SNES, PS1, PS2, or Dreamcast games should be mapped, since their control schemes are not too different from the Odin’s. The rub comes with Nintendo systems like the Wii, or six-button layouts like the Sega Saturn.

The images above are what I personally use for mapping, but there are many ways to do this depending on personal preference.

One note when mapping Dolphin on the Odin Lite/Pro: go into Settings > Interface > System Back and map a seldom-used button to that command (like R3). Now when in a GameCube or Wii game, you can press R3 once to bring up the menu, or you can press it twice to exit the game. Super handy! The Odin 2 has a dedicated Back button so this isn’t an issue.

For N64, go into Profiles > Controller and tap the “New” option at the top-right, then name it something like Odin Gamepad. Then, map your buttons as you see fit (I’ve made a diagram above). I recommend putting the Z button on both triggers and one of the face buttons, since that button can be used in a variety of contexts. Note that for the Menu, Back, and Exit hotkeys, you must hold them down for a couple seconds. Once you have mapped everything to your liking, go to Profiles > Select Profiles > Controller 1 profile > Odin Gamepad to make it the default control scheme for your device.

Increase rendering resolution in 3D-based games

Because the Odin is so powerful, you can increase the rendering resolution for 3D-based systems to improve the sharpness and overall fidelity of your games. For best results, consult the Odin community spreadsheet where you can check to see if certain games have specific recommended tweaks. Here are some quick general recommended settings for systems:

• Sony PlayStation 1 (DuckStation or SwanStation RA core): Increase resolution to 5x (1080p) and turn on Geometry Correction to reduce pixel wobble. On the Odin Lite/Pro, you may need to reduce the resolution to 4x in order to get some games to play in full speed.
• Nintendo 64 (Mupen64Plus-FZ): Display > Rendering Resolution > 1080p. On the Lite/Pro, some games will need to be set to 720p (like Goldeneye).
• Sega Saturn (YabaSanshiro 2): You can increase rendering resolution up to 1080p but I don’t recommend it for some games as it will sometimes look too crisp and results in a poor gameplay experience. I prefer the original rendering or 2x instead. See here for a guide from the app developer specific to the Odin Pro.
• Sega Dreamcast (ReDream): Upscale to 960p or 1440p (must pay for in-app upgrade). After launching a game, tap the three-dot pause button on the top-right, then select “EDIT CHEATS”; most games will have the ability to toggle ON widescreen hacks.
• PlayStation Portable (PPSSPP): Upscale to 4x resolution (1080p), keep graphics backend on OpenGL, toggle off the touchscreen controls, and reduce the rendering resolution for games that struggle with 4x on the Odin Lite/Pro.
• Nintendo DS (DraStic): Video > High Resolution 3D Rendering > ON (will provide a 2x upscale)
• Nintendo GameCube/Wii (Dolphin): On the Odin 2, the vast majority of games will play at a 3x upscale, which is beyond a 1080p resolution. Just bear in mind that you will need to set the device to high performance mode with certain games. On the Odin Lite/Pro, some games may run at 2x resolution, but most will be best at 1x. Also, try toggling the hardware renderer from the default OpenGL to Vulkan backend, since that will improve performance on some games.
• Sony PlayStation 2 (AetherSX2): On the Odin2, most games will run at a 2.5x resolution, which is a little higher than a 1080p resolution. The games will look and play great, but be sure to set the device to high performance mode if you experience any issues. On the Odin Lite/Pro, some games may run at 2x resolution, but most will be best at 1x.
• Sony PS Vita (Vita3k): This emulator doesn’t do well with upscaling, I recommend keeping it at the default settings.
• Nintendo 3DS (Citra): Most games can run a a 4x resolution on the Odin2, but for the Odin Lite/Pro, don’t expect many games to run at an upscaled rendering resolution.
• Nintendo Switch (Yuzu). Most games will run best with Docked Mode turned, off, but some lightweight games may be playable with it turned on. Toggling that switch while the game is running won’t do anything, you have to exit the game, make the settings change, then enter the game.

Advanced emulation considerations

While this starter guide is meant to help you get initially setup with the device, there are some other features worth exploring if you want to dive even more into emulation on this device.

Cloud saves – you can use apps like AutoSync and Syncthing to sync your save folders with a cloud storage service (like Google Drive or DropBox) for backup, and then also pair the same setup with other handhelds to create a cloud save environment. This is a pretty advanced topic simply because it gets very complicated as you introduce more and more handhelds and operating systems, but is definitely possible! Here is an example video showing both Android and Linux-based handhelds.

NetherSX2 – this is a community-driven app solution for AetherSX2, which has been abandoned by its developer. This app will remove ads, disable Play Store update prompts, and enable its use with frontend launchers like Daijisho. There are two options: NetherSX2 “patch” (4248) and NetherSX2 “classic (3668). The installation process for each is the same — just download the latest GitHub release to a Windows PC, and then run the batch file. It will download AetherSX2, patch it, and output a new AetherSX2 apk file. Note that performance between the 3668 and 4248 versions can vary — some games just run better on one over the other (for example, Sly Cooper runs better on 3668). Sadly, you can’t have both installed on the device at the same time, so you will have to swap between the two.

Riivolution patches – many Wii games have special patches to inject new levels or control schemes. There isn’t a good repository online of all the patches, so you will likely have to find them yourself or pull them from the Riivolution app on a modded Wii. If you do have some patches available, here is a guide on how to install them on an Android-based device. Some patches worth considering include Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 classic controller mods, Neo Mario Galaxy for new levels, and some of the many Mario Kart Wii tracks. Riivolution patches are put in the Dolphin > Load > Riivolution folder, in a subfolder named “riivolution” that you will have to create.

Texture packs – there are a bunch of interesting texture packs available for GameCube and PS2, which will further “remaster” the experience of playing these older games at a higher resolution. Texture packs are available throughout the internet but can sometimes be hard to track down. The YouTube channel RoeTaKa has some great GameCube and PS2 texture pack guides.

Auto-update apps – for apps that you sideload, you can use Obtainium to manage and install new updates as they become available, instead of manually installing each one. This will work best with APKs that are hosted on GitHub, and I have gotten it working well with Yuzu, Dolphin, RetroArch, Citra Canary, and Vita3K. For Dolphin, set the URL to the Dolphin downloads page, and then within Obtainium be sure to turn ON the option that says “Sort by file names instead of full links”. For Retroarch, set the URL to the buildbot Android page, then under “Custom APK Link Filter” type in RetroArch_aarch64.apk. Note that there is also a handy update script that will auto pull the apps for you, thanks to dev RJNY. Once you have downloaded the json script onto your Odin 2, open Obtanium, tap on “import/export” then “Obtanium import” and find the json file you downloaded. It will auto-load all of the emulators for you.

OdinTools – this app provides quick access to a number of essential control functions. For example, once sideloading and installing OdinTools, you will have quick menu items for adjusting the controller profile (Odin vs Xbox), L2/R2 style (digital vs analog vs both), and you can also use it to adjust the screen saturation and determine whether the Home button needs to only be clicked one time. It also has per-app overrides, so that it will remember your optimal settings depending on the app you are using in the foreground. To install, head over to the OdinTools GitHub and download the latest release, then install it on your device; open the app and from now on it will auto-start when you turn on the device.

Streaming apps

In addition to being a capable emulation device, the Odin is well-suited for streaming apps, too. The Odin devices have analog trigger inputs, which will make a big difference in streaming racing games like Forza Horizon 5. Moreover, the Odin Lite features WiFi-6, and the Odin 2 has WiFi-7, which will provide a more stable wireless connection (provided you use a router that supports it).

Recommended streaming apps:

NVIDIA GeForce Now (PC cloud streaming)
Shadow (PC cloud streaming)
Moonlight (PC remote play)
AMD Link (PC remote play)
Steam Link (PC remote play)
Parsec (PC remote play)
PSPlay or Chiaki (PS4 & PS5 remote play)
Xbox or XBXPlay (Xbox One/Series remote play)
Xbox Game Pass (Xbox cloud streaming)

If you plan on streaming from your PC or console to the Odin, I recommend connecting your PC/console to your router via wired ethernet for the most stable connection.

Android frontends

Once you have your emulators, streaming apps, and Android games set up, you may want to consider a frontend to organize your collection and simplify the browsing experience. I have an extensive writeup on Android frontends in my Android guide, and I recommend checking that out. In particular, I prefer to use EmulationStation or Daijisho as my frontends on the Odin.

The other launchers linked below are excellent and worth your consideration as well. Note that the LaunchBox app recently increased its price to $40 for their forever license, which now makes it hard to recommend at that price point.

Recommended frontends:

EmulationStation ($5.99)
Daijisho (free)
Beacon Game Launcher ($2.99)
Reset Collection ($4.99)
Pegasus launcher (free)
ARC Browser ($7.49)
ATV Launcher Pro ($2.99)
LaunchBox ($40)

The Odin also comes with its own “Odin Launcher”, which basically just organizes your apps in an easy-to-navigate interface. One strength of this launcher is that it has unique sidebars on both the left and the right. The left side menu bar allows you to alter the performance mode and LEDs, and organize your apps into four drawers: Games, Entertainment, Productivity, and System Apps. The right menu bar gives you quick access to brightness, storage, TV settings, and sleep. Note that the top menu bar is disabled when using this launcher.

Add Android Apps and Games to EmulationStation: on its own, ES-DE doesn’t have support for individual Android apps. I have a couple workarounds in my ES-DE video above, but there is also a way to integrate the apps directly into the interface using a third-party app called ES Applauncher. Just head over to that page and follow its instructions. Additionally, if you would like to re-add Yuzu as an available emulator app in ES-DE (it was officially removed after the app was pulled from development), you can re-add it using this custom systems XML file.

Once you’ve set up your Android apps, you may find it is difficult to scrape boxart for them because Android games rarely show up in the scraping databases. Instead, you can add them manually. To do so, navigate to ES-DE > downloaded_media > androidgames (or however your android folder name was saved) > covers and add your boxart. Make sure that its name is the same as the .app files that are in your androidgames folder within your ROMs directory (SotN.app should have a SotN.png boxart name). Next, if you want to add metadata, go to ES-DE > gamelists > androidgames and modify the gamelist.xml file to account for the apps that you added. It should look like this for each game entry:

<game>
		<path>./SotN.app</path>
		<name>Castlevania: Sympthony of the Night</name>
		<desc>The iconic game from the beloved Castlevania series finally comes to mobile. This direct port of the classic console action RPG lets you jump, dash and slash your way through Dracula’s vast castle as Alucard while encountering a unique array of enemies and characters along the way.</desc>
</game>

If you get stuck, I would recommend looking at a gamelist.xml file from another system to see how they are organized.

Upgrade the hardware

My two main complaints about the original Odin Lite/Base/Pro devices are their shallow/flimsy analog sticks, and the long travel distance of their face buttons. In this video above I demonstrate how to upgrade each of these components for an improved gaming experience.

Gulikit Hall sensor sticks: Amazon // AliExpress
Sakura Retro Modding buttons: Etsy

Dual boot mode for Odin Base/Pro

The Base/Pro models have the advantage of booting into Windows 11 for those who are interested, although real-world results are mixed (see the video above for a demonstration). Between the two, I recommend the Pro model because its 8GB of RAM will make it snappier in Windows. There is also a community-driven compatibility sheet so you can get an idea of what Windows/PC games play on the device. Just bear in mind that most people have found that this concept is neat in theory, but poorly implemented in practice.

Here is the full guide:

Finally, above is the previous (Odin Pro/Lite) starter guide video for posterity.

Changelog

30APR2024
– added links to ES-DE tools for adding Android games/apps to the frontend
– added instructions on how to manually add boxart and metadata to ES-DE

05MAR2024
– removed links to Yuzu and Citra

17FEB2024
– updated NetherSX2 section with links to NetherSX2 “classic” and “patch” versions

05FEB2024
– general cleanup to better complement the Retroid Pocket guide

28JAN2024
– added OdinTools in Advanced emulation section.

05JAN2024
– added quick menu controller toggle option in Advanced emulation section

08DEC2023
– added Advanced emulation considerations section

07DEC2023
– updated links and graphics

06DEC2023
– updated guide to accompany Odin 2 starter guide video

04DEC2023
– added references to Odin 2

13APR2023
– updated wording re: Portable and Internal SD card storage

05APR2023
– updated links to Dolphin and AetherSX2 builds

16FEB2023
– added hardware upgrades section

06NOV2022
– added Daijisho frontend video guide

27AUG2022
– added Odin Lite guide
– updated starter guide to account for Odin Lite factors (like updated screen)

13AUG2022
– added link to Skyline (Nintendo Switch) emulator. For the full guide, check out the Android Starter Guide.

15JUN2022
– added Windows 11 dual boot guide

29MAY2022
– added user-submitted Wii controller setup
– added N64 mapping notes and diagram
– added instructions for Dreamcast widescreen

28MAY2022
– published guide

Install Windows 11
Taki’s installation video
Community feedback sheet

Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
01:39 setup
02:28 Windows options
03:13 game testing
15:19 summary and conclusion

Odin community spreadsheet
Get the Odin here

Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
01:08 homescreen + launcher options
06:30 RetroArch screen settings
08:25 other streaming options
12:45 keymapping fix & Android games
15:46 GameCube and Wii testing
23:43 PlayStation 2 testing
29:53 summary and conclusion

And in case you missed it, here is my Odin review:

The device is still being sold via its Indiegogo page. Please note that the prices are listed in Hong Kong dollars.

Odin compatibility spreadsheet

Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
04:14 unboxing and tech specs
07:12 hardware and impressions
17:28 software orientation
23:44 screen impressions
27:15 Android and retro game testing
30:00 DS, PS1, N64, Saturn
31:26 Dreamcast and PSP
33:05 GameCube and Wii
35:29 PS2 and 3DS
37:55 Xbox and PS streaming
41:38 Stadia and Moonlight
43:08 Summary (likes and dislikes)
47:12 conclusion