Sometimes it’s important to take stock of what actually matters to you in a hobby. Sure, the latest and greatest are amazing, but how much more do you really need? The fact that we’ve hit the point in time where we’re getting into PS3 emulation on handhelds is fantastic.

I’m consistently bowled over at the achievements that community dev projects are able to make. Having said that, with our gazes so intensely focused on what’s coming, we often lose sight of what we already have. Sometimes I need a helpful reminder that we’re supposed to be enjoying the games we can already play on these things.

In that spirit, I thought I would take a look back at my favorite ways to play my retro childhood system, the NES. Most gamers these days have a system or experience as a child that shaped their love for the hobby. For me, it was without a doubt the NES. Some might scoff and say, “Anything can play NES!” and they’d be right, but can anything recreate the precision controls and feel that so many of us spent our 80s childhood with?

I was barred from having one as a child. My parents were of the belief that a Commodore PC had actual value outside of gaming. If I wanted to play games, I could do it there. Looking back now as a parent myself, I can’t really fault their logic. Especially at a time when all of these technologies were still relatively new.

That didn’t stop me from getting in every second I could at the homes of friends and neighbors, though. Looking back to recapture memories from another time in your life is certainly part of emulation’s appeal, but for me, it finally offered the freedom to cash in on all the experiences that I was denied to call my own as a kid.

So, in the spirit of having fun actually playing classic games, I offer my favorite emulation handhelds for the Nintendo Entertainment System. I asked for some feedback from our other writers, and of course, I can only speak to devices that I actually own, so your favorite very well may be missing, but you certainly won’t have a bad experience with any of the devices available on this list.

Anbernic RG35XX SP

Can you hear Peter Gunn by Henry Mancini in this picture?

When the RG35XX SP was released in May 2024, most people saw it as the device they had always been waiting for. Andrew’s review of the device was titled “It’s the One“. Now, just because this device is reminiscent of your childhood GBA SP doesn’t mean it isn’t just right for some NES gaming as well.

The RG35XX SP is a 4:3 display, just like the NES. If the rumors are true, we may be seeing an updated model with the native GBA aspect ratio of 3:2, but until then, this device is a perfect pocket NES.

Buy the RG35XX SP

Powkiddy RGB30

Glass Joe was a cocky bastard

The NES didn’t have a native aspect output resolution as we think of it today, but NTSC TVs displayed at 4:3, so that’s what most folks associate with that console. It wasn’t until the 1:1 Powkiddy RGB30 came along that I found out how great the system looks displayed at an 8:7 ratio, or even stretched to the full 1:1.

I can understand if you’re a purist, and it isn’t for you, but man, it looks great filling up that vibrant screen. The sticks and shoulders on the RGB30 had some room for improvement, but the face buttons and d-pad are great if all you need to emulate is an NES controller. This popular Powkiddy is very well suited for playing these games.

This was Ban’s vote for his favorite way to play NES, and you can read all about it in his RGB30 Review.

Buy the RGB30

TrimUI Brick

The crisp dense screen is fantastic for NES games

Now a lot of you are going to read this list and say “No Analogue Pocket, No Care”. I get it. They make amazing things, but they are also very expensive things. The TrimUI Brick comes to us as a handheld that looked so good it made me question if the AP was really worth the huge gap in cost. The Brick brings with it a stunning 1024×768 IPS screen.

At 3.2″, that makes for a lot of pixel density. The NES looks better than maybe I even knew it could on this device. Its controls might be a wee bit on the small side for some, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better experience for under $60. You can read more about why the Brick is great in our full review.

Buy the TrimUI Brick

Powkiddy RGB10X

It’s a crime that we’ve still yet to make Tecmobeer a reality

This one was a bit of a toss-up. The RGB10X and V10 are both great devices that could easily have a spot on this list, but for me, the RGB10X layout just works a little bit better at lending itself to the NES experience. Its design makes for a similar control feel as you would have had back in the 80s.

The main reason the RGB10X makes the list though, is the D-pad. I adore the D-pad on this handheld. It’s larger than you’ll find on a lot of other emulation handhelds, and as someone with larger hands, I appreciate a device where I don’t have to feel like it was designed with someone else in mind. It just feels great.

You can read more about the RGB10X in Andrew’s full review.

Buy the RGB10X

Game Console R36S

Ninja Gaiden 2 intro on the R36S

Hey, don’t judge me – We can’t help who we fall in love with. The R36S came along and swept me off my feet as the little budget handheld that could. Don’t you dare refer to it as e-waste. I have written love letters to the R36S, and though the device may not seem as amazing as maybe it once did, the handheld still delivers a heck of a value for the hours of entertainment inside.

Since we’re only really worried about the buttons and D-pad parts of the controls here, we can ignore the annoyance of those loud clicky triggers. The NES color palette pops on this screen, and I still can’t believe it comes in a device that’s regularly sold for under $30.

Buy the R36S

Wrap Up

So there ya have it. My favorite devices to play NES games. There are plenty of other great candidates that deserve a nod on this one. There’s certainly a case to be made for the Anbernic 35XX and the Miyoo Mini+, and the RG CubeXX is another great 1:1 contender. At the end of the day, there are plenty of great ways to experience these games we so love, and I’d be happy reaching for any of them.

There can be only one winner, though, and after playing with a whole slew of devices while writing this article, I’m still as smitten with the RGB30. I loved it for my NES collection when it was released, and I’m happy that it’s just as great an experience today.

What did you think of this article? What’s your favorite way to play? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!

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