The Odin 3 is pretty much a perfect handheld in my eyes. It’s feels and plays like a natural evolution of everything that made the Odin 2 great. The Odin 3 has unmatched Android power, and a form factor that hits the 3 little bears formula for my hands. Not too big, not too small, everything feels just right (I do like to use a shell). After the initial setup and testing for writing though, these machines are meant to actually be used for playing games, and the Odin 3 has commanded the majority of my handheld attention since it arrived in the mailbox on Christmas Eve.
The only real problem that I’ve found with the Odin 3 thus far is that it’s possibly too capable. It’s going to do a great job with most anything that I want to play. Emulation is its own can of choice paralysis worms, but now I have to contend with an entire Steam Library that I’ve been building up and neglecting for years!
So here are the games that have grabbed me and held my attention since AYN’s latest behemoth debuted. Whether they take full advantage of the Odin 3 hardware is an aside. These are the games that I’m actually playing and loving right now.
AYN Odin 3 | DirectAYN Odin 3 | AliExpress
Megabonk (Steam via GameNative)
I made no secret of the fact that I was a Vampire Survivors mega-fan when it first released. The formula of turning a bullet hell shooter on its head combined with roguelike elements was the perfect dopamine drip of just one more round. Plus, I could stream it to my (back then) cutting edge Retroid Pocket 3!
It has its hooks in me
Megabonk takes the Vampire survivors formula and drops it into a new 3D world. If you’ve played VS, nothing about this game will feel out of place. Where Megabonk builds on what came before it is all in the 3D world which your protagonist now has to navigate. This includes things you never had to think about it VS, like jumping. It sounds like a minor tweak, but it makes all the difference in the world in terms of gameplay. A bevy of unlockable characters and weapons keep things fresh for multiple runs.
Santa-hatted Ninja is my guy rn
Go check it out and you’re likely to find yourself saying just one more round too.
Destiny: Rising (Android)
I first caught a glimpse of this one thanks to Retro Tech Dad. A free to play mobile take on the popular Destiny live service we all know from consoles and PC. I’d initially installed it just as a new Android game that I thought would do a good job at putting the Odin 3 through its paces, but then I found myself still playing hours later.
The gameplay on offer is nearly identical to the experience of hopping into Destiny 2, but with some tweaks that make the whole thing a little more friendly for jump-in jump-out type gaming sessions. The visuals really do shine on the Odin 3, and players have the option of using first or third person perspectives, or a blend of the two.
As someone looking to replace the odd COD Mobile match that took over way too much time on my Odin 2, it could be a contender. I’d like to see the developers expand on the PvP options in the future though, as the Control mode of Iron Bar is only available on weekends. I’m still playing it on a guest account for the time being, but if additions keep coming, they might get me for the long haul.
Burnout 3: Takedown (PS2 Emulation)
For the life of me I will never understand why Burnout Paradise got the remaster treatment on more modern systems when the best game in the series is just left to gather dust. I spent countless Natty Light hazed nights in my college apartment playing Crash Mode over and over with buddies. It’s still just as satisfying to cause a huge wreck now as it was then.
If you’ve never played a game in the series this would certainly be my favorite to recommend, and if it somehow has skipped you by until now, add it to your backlog. It’s a near perfect arcade racing game, and playing on the stunning screen of the Odin 3 at 3x native resolution might just make it the best way to play the game yet.
Bloodshed (Steam via GameNative)
The Vampire Survivors formula is back again, but this time it’s like it had a baby with early 3D FPS games like Duke Nukem 3D and Rise of the Triad!
It has magical staffs and sawed off shotguns
A huge roster of available characters, weapons, power-ups, and spells makes multiple level runs a joy. The game really shines above its humble roots with the addition of some great tongue in cheek voice work for each unique character. It keeps things light when your eyes are starting to bleed 30 minutes into mowing down a relentless horde.
Any fan of early PC “Boomer Shooters” should find plenty to love with this one.
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra (Steam via GameHub Lite)
Pork Chop Sandwiches!
When TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge came out a few years ago, it reignited my love for the classic beat em up formula. Companies with valuable intellectual properties of the era clearly took notice of its success and that’s how we have a new G.i. Joe arcade beat em up from Hasbro Interactive.
If you loved the cartoon, you’ll find things to love here too
While it lacks some of the depth seen in better recent entries of the genre (Marvel Cosmic Invasion is fantastic), I’ve been having a great deal of fun reconnecting with of my 80’s childhood heroes and helping them take down Cobra once and for all. The presentation and graphical style are a direct love letter to classic cartoon series and it’s well worth checking out if you can snag a deal.
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra (Steam)
Clover Pit (Xbox Game Pass)
Finally, something came down the pipe to get me to kick my Balatro addiction. Every so often I need to scratch that degenerate gambling itch, so what better than a game that teaches you about how playing slot machines will leave you penniless and dropping into a pit of spikes?
The setup of Clover Pit is simple. You wake up imprisoned in a room with a slot machine and an ATM. You have to win enough money on the slot machine to pay off ever-increasing sums of cash each round back into the ATM. Along the way you’ll gather power-ups and bonuses to help you along your mission of eventually escaping this prison.
I always go for another spin
Clover Pit is the kind of game that I can spend 20-30 minutes on the couch with after dinner and scratch my nagging need to spin the wheels of fate; Or it can go the other way and I find myself alone in the wee hours of the night still chasing the dragon. That’s great game design!
Hollow Knight (Switch)
This is one that has somehow eluded me until now. I always love a good Metroidvania game, and despite this one being a favorite of just about everyone who has ever played it, Hollow Knight has been one of those games that’s been forever doomed into my backlog waiting to be dusted off. Well, with the arrival of the long awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, I figured it was time I get around to seeing what all the fuss was about.
This game looks stunning on this handheld
Talk about well deserved hype. I get it now. From the stunning hand drawn graphic style to the pinpoint precise controls. This is a perfect execution of the genre. Intelligent game design guides you in the right directions without ever feeling like you’re having your hand held. Combat is satisfying and bosses provide some unique challenges. This game is tough, but never felt unfair. It strikes a lot of difficult balances, and does so very well. I can’t wait to finish this one so I can plan to eventually play the sequel in another 7 years.
Till Next Time
So that’s an honest roundup of what I’ve really been playing in the first month of my Odin 3 ownership. A lot of people might read the list and scream “but it can do so much more!”, and they’d be right, but sometimes just knowing you that can is enough. Just because I’m not trying to push this hardware to the extreme doesn’t mean that I’m not enjoying every minute with it. It’s comforting to know that whatever may be coming around the corner, you should be at least momentarily future-proofed.
The older Odin 2 is still a top-tier device in 2026 from my perspective. Any gaming enthusiast would be lucky to own one. The 3 is all about refinement and the next steps. With hardware prices growing more expensive every day, it’s nice to know that the Odin 3 should have me covered for a bit.
AYN Odin 3 DirectAYN Odin 3 @ AliExpress
Have you picked up an Odin 3? What are the titles that have taken up your playtime? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!
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