5 Modern Amiga Computers You Can Buy Today

Want to play Amiga games in 2024 without messing around with emulators? These modern Amiga computer systems can help.

There’s an Amiga 1200 in a box in my office, which I rarely unpack. Why? Because there are plenty of modern alternatives, not least TheA500 Mini. But this isn’t the only option if you want a modern Amiga system. Here’s a look at five current Amigas you can get hold of today, complete with corresponding prices and links.

1. A500 Mini

Undoubtedly the most widely available Amiga computer right now is TheA500 Mini, produced under license by Retro Games Ltd.

This micro-sized device (a maxi Amiga with working keyboard is expected in 2024) doesn’t give you a genuine Amiga desktop experience. But it does run pretty much any Amiga game, whether pre-installed or added from a USB device.

Its simplicity is ideal for anyone looking to play 16-bit classics with the minimum of fuss, and ships with an authentic-looking optical mouse and game controller. You can pick up TheA500 Mini on Amazon for under £100, and play games for Amiga 500, Amiga 1200, CD32, and pretty much every other model besides.

2. Denise

At the time of writing, the Denise is the newest Amiga-esque PCB (printed circuit board), designed by an anonymous Swedish engineer. This is a reverse-engineered Amiga, rather than an FPGA (more on that below) system, and relies on custom chips.

It has been described as a “compact A500+ compatible motherboard with two Zorro2 compatible slots,” and is not a project for the faint-hearted.

Basically, you buy the PCB, then source your own parts for manual soldering. If that’s something you’re up for, you can order the Denise mainboard on Tindie.

3. Ramixx500

Another Amiga computer you can buy today, the Ramixx500 is a remake of the Amiga 500 Plus. Specifically, it is a “motherboard clone of the classic A500 Plus REV 8.1A made by SukkoPera.”

With the option to select between two Kickstart ROMs and a switch for Gotek and external (or vice-versa) storage devices, the board ships either fully populated with custom chips or bare, so that you can add your own.

This open source Amiga computer project will set you back around £650 at the time of writing. Find out more at RetroPassion, where you’ll also find an A1200 remake.

4. MiniMig

Here’s a look at the MiniMig; be warned, this is a pretty in-depth video that is aimed at enthusiasts, not casual gamers…

MiniMig relies on FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), which is a type of integrated circuit that can be programmed or reprogrammed after it’s been manufactured. Think of it as a blank canvas for digital circuits, where you can define the logic and functionality using software instead of physically etching it onto the chip like in traditional CPUs or ASICs. This makes FPGAs incredibly versatile and useful for a wide range of applications, including recreating retro gaming systems in hardware without emulation.

So, while the MiniMig isn’t a genuine Amiga, it’s the closest you can get without using an emulator.

You can learn more about getting your own MiniMig from the project’s website.

5. Apollo V4+

Since the 1990s, Apollo has been releasing accelerator cards for Amiga computers. This Apollo Standalone V4+ features traditional DB9 ports, Ethernet, and internal 128GB CompactFlash storage, as well as USB and a microSD slot.

It looks amazing, as you can see from this unboxing and testing video.

However, the Apollo V4+ will set you back almost £700. Learn more on the Apollo computers website.

The Amiga computer will never die

You probably know that the Amiga was a 16-bit system that featured a custom designed chipset, a desktop mouse-driven operating system, and was used in everything from home computing and gaming to video effects in the TV industry.

It also featured an immense collection of games, with new titles still released to this day. A system that was particularly popular in the UK and Europe, it truly seems as if the Amiga has no plans to die.

And why should it?