Budget Upgrade Paths: I Sold My Tesla but Want the Games Back
Exploring the cheapest ways to bring Tesla Arcade titles into your home or on the go.
Updated: 2025-09-29
If you’ve sold your Tesla or simply want to spend less on hardware, you can still have a great portable gaming setup without a premium budget. This guide walks through practical upgrade paths using used consoles, refurbished handhelds and smart game choices so you can keep playing on the move without overspending. We’ll point to the best values in the game library and where a Switch, Steam Deck, or smart travel setup makes sense.
Option 1: A Used Nintendo Switch
- Price range: ~£150–£200 (used or refurbished).
- Why it works: Switch carries many Tesla Arcade titles — Cuphead, Stardew Valley, Boomerang Fu, Cat Quest, Vampire Survivors.
- Extras: Portable design, couch co-op, access to Nintendo Switch Online for cloud saves and online multiplayer.
Option 2: Steam Deck (Refurbished)
- Price range: ~£250–£350 for refurbished models direct from Steam.
- Why it works: Full PC experience in handheld form. Nearly every Tesla title is available through Steam or Game Pass.
- Extras: Access to your entire PC library, mods, and emulation. Works docked to a TV for living room play.
Option 3: Mini Gaming PC
- Price range: ~£300–£500 for a budget-friendly build (e.g. Gigabyte Brix, MinisForum, or used desktops).
- Why it works: Runs the PC versions of Tesla games at higher quality. Perfect if you already have a monitor or TV.
- Extras: Expandable, handles work and browsing as well as games, and allows easy controller pairing.
Accessories that help
- Controllers: Xbox Wireless Controller, PS5 DualSense, or 8BitDo Pro 2 for multi-platform use.
- Subscription services: Xbox Game Pass or Humble Choice can cheaply fill in gaps in your Tesla library.
- Cloud saves: Steam Cloud and Nintendo Switch Online ensure progress is safe.
Final thoughts
If you’ve sold your Tesla but miss the games, there are affordable ways to bring them back. A used Switch is the most straightforward, a Steam Deck balances price with flexibility, and a mini-PC is a versatile long-term investment.
Each option costs less than a few months of car payments but gives you years of accessible, portable fun — with more features than Tesla Arcade ever offered.