The A1200 may look like a faithful Amiga 1200 replica, but the real story is what’s under the hood. Retro Games Limited has packed the machine with an ARM-based Linux system running a modified AmiBerry emulator, giving it the power to run even demanding Amiga titles without compromise.
YouTube channel Retro Games Rediscovered has gone deep on what might be inside the A1200, and it’s looking pretty interesting — and a lot more powerful than the A500 Mini:
That power is obvious when you look at the preloaded games. An impressive 25 titles will be preinstalled, with the following confirmed:
- Beneath the Steel Sky
- The Settlers 2
- Lure of the Temptress
- Rough and Tumble
- Defender of the Crown 1 and 2
- The complete Turrican trilogy
But what’s inside?
Well, Settlers 2 is the clue to some decent hardware. It’s enough to show that the A1200 isn’t just tacked-together hardware — it requires a setup that would have pushed the original Amiga 1200 to its limits: 68040 at 40 MHz, 32 MB of fast RAM, and Omega OS 3.1. Running it on the A1200 hints at pretty serious ARM hardware under the hood, handling the heavy lifting while the emulator recreates the Amiga experience.
Not just Amiga games
Beyond the games themselves, the machine includes Workbench, full WHDLoad support for adding your own titles, and multiple save slots per game. You can drop into classic Amiga applications, or simply pick up the included tank mouse and retro gamepad to start playing immediately.
HDMI output with upscaling ensures those old graphics still pop on modern TVs, and multiple USB ports let you expand your setup however you like.
This makes the A1200 (available to preorder on Amazon) less a replica and more a fully playable, preloaded Amiga system that can run classics and let you load your own games without fiddling with configuration files or outdated hardware. For anyone curious about the real inside of this mini-Amiga, it’s clear that Retro Games Limited has focused on power and usability as much as nostalgia.
I’m desperately close to ordering one.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
