About Retro Handhelds
Retro Handhelds was founded in 2020 by a group of friends who share a common love for portable gaming. We started this website as a hobby project to document our own adventures with retro handhelds, but soon realized that there was a huge demand for quality information and content on this topic. Since then, we have grown into a team of video content creators, writers, developers, and moderators who work hard to provide you with the best retro handhelds content on the web.
Our mission is to help you discover, enjoy, and celebrate the amazing world of handheld retro gaming. Whether you’re a veteran gamer who grew up with the Game Boy or Sega Game Gear, or a newcomer who wants to explore the classics of yesteryear, Retro Handhelds is here to offer you camaraderie, support, and inspiration.
We hope you enjoy our website and find it useful. If you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions, please feel free to contact us. We’d love to hear from you!
What is a Retro Handheld Anyway?
There’s been over three decades of portable gaming history at this point, so naturally handhelds like Nintendo’s Game Boy or Sega’s Game Gear are considered “Retro”. However, in the past few years, we’ve seen the release of numerous new devices designed solely for emulating classic handheld and console games. These devices often bring along modern niceties such as backlit LED screens and WiFi connectivity, while still celebrating the classics of yesteryear.
Our community celebrates all of these handhelds. Whether it’s a buzz-worthy device like the AYN Mini 2, a custom built Raspberry Pi handheld, or someone’s modded Game Boy, everyone’s got a seat at the table. If it can play retro video games on the go, odds are there’s someone in the Retro Handhelds community who’s eager to talk about it.
Meet the core Retro Handhelds Media TEAM
Stubbs
Stubbs is the founder and proprietor of Retro Handhelds, a community and brand born during the isolated lull of 2020 to connect people to a simpler time. Around here you may find him making videos, helping with community projects, or co-hosting the Retro Handhelds Podcast. Outside of RH, Stubbs can be found doing Dad things, playing video games, meticulously organizing his rom collection, reading a good book, or writing songs.
Favorite Game: Twisted Metal 2
Zu
Zu is an enthusiastic middle aged man with no formal reviewer training and a love of retro handhelds. Unfortunately, we have very little control over his actions. Also, it should be noted that Zu has a fondness of pickles and is the reluctant caretaker of Gary, his producer. – RH Legal Counsel.
Favorite Game: Final Fantasy 6
Andrew
Andrew is our mysterious writer and website manager, who also finds you the latest deals, and can be found on the RH Podcast! He likes to cover X86 and top end Android, but you’ll also see him testing handhelds from the minis to the macros! You could say he’s kind of a big dill.
Favorite Game: Call of Duty
Ban
Despite what you may think, Ban does not kick people off the server or out of live stream chat, but he does help to make the funny little posts you see on the RH Social Media! Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter (No not X. Twitter) are all his domain to spew information, sales and goofy controller imagery. He also writes articles, reviews, helps with YouTube timestamps, guests on the RH Podcast, runs the Handheld of the Month channel in the RH discord. Additionally he collects handhelds, sets up handhelds, looks at handhelds and does a lot of music!
Favorite Game: BurnOut 3 Takedown
Rapid
Rapid99 runs our Games of the Month (GotX) club and is a proven bad ass in all regards. He is confirmed to be very good at video games, and you may find him streaming Game of the Week content on our Twitch. Not only that, but he has a YouTube channel called ‘Cyberphile’ that has a bit of everything. From an excellent Retroid Pocket 2 getting started guide, to a love letter to Jet Set Radio, you never know what you’ll get when you tune in, beyond high quality gaming videos! Be sure to check out Rapid’s KoFi as well to support his hard work for RH’s GotX!
Favorite Game: Phantasy Star Online
Partners & pals
Russ (Retro Game Corps)
Smack dab in the middle of The Great Boredom of 2020, Russ picked up his first retro handheld, and immediately hated the stock experience. Shortly thereafter he launched Retro Game Corps, a YouTube channel and companion website dedicated to helping others unlock the full potential of their handhelds. Since then, he’s branched into reviews and guides for a variety of different devices and platforms, all with his trademark attention to detail (mostly thanks to his former career in the US military).
Favorite Game: Super Mario Bros 2
Rob (Retro Tech Dad)
The Retro Tech Dad is known to most as Rob, Dad to a human and some dogs, and Daddy to Stubbs. He has a passion for technology both old and new. He loves to tinker with devices of all kinds — especially the electronic ones. Check out his channel for retro and modern gaming, device retrospectives, very in-depth review videos, teardowns, and lots of emulation testing. He is always ready to help on Discord, YouTube, and anywhere else you might find him! He is also the co-host for the Retro Handhelds podcast featuring Stubbs and the rest of the Retro Handhelds crew.
Favorite Game: PepsiMan
Shem (Retro Breeze)
Hi there! How’s this: At RetroBreeze, Shem talks technology, gaming and of course, all things retro. Reviews, impressions, opinions and easy-to-follow tutorials, you’ll certainly find enjoyable content with RetroBreeze!
Favorite Game: Sonic R
Mikhailov (Team Retrogue)
Ahoyhoy! Team Retrogue is run by Mikhailov, and is a channel about games and the devices that bring them to us. Mikhailov reviews retro handhelds and gives tutorials on emulation setup as well as optimization, and writes for the RH website. Mikhailov also educates the youth of Connecticut for his day job.
Favorite Game: Chrono Trigger
The Gamma Squeeze (GammaOS)
GammaOS is a LineageOS based firmware for the Anbernic RG405M & RG505, with more support on the way. Developed by The Gamma Squeeze (not confirmed to not be DJ Khaled)
Favorite Game: Metal Gear Solid 2
Black Seraph (GarlicOS / LineageOS)
Black-Seraph is a leading developer in the handheld scene who specializes in creating custom firmware. He is the creator of GarlicOS, a multi-device custome firmware (including the Anbernic RG35XX), Clean Rom for the GPD XD+, and LineageOS for various devices.
Favorite Game: Tetris
dragoon Dorise (EmuDeck / Pegasus Installer)
dragoonDorise develops one of the most hottest pieces of software in the retro emulation scene. EmuDeck takes care of everything. Emulator installation & configuration, bezels, hotkeys, performance fixes and more!
Favorite Game: A Link to the Past
adixal (muOS)
muOS is a heavily modified RetroArch only CFW for the Anbernic RG35XX handheld. Meant for the minimalist crowd, muOS improves the RG35XX experience through easy flash install, built-in configuration system, and more. Developed by adixal (a man of many mysteries).
Favorite Game: Shining Force 2
Cebion (AmberElec / 351Elec)
AmberElec is an easy-to-use Linux operating system for a range of Anbernic handhelds (RG351P/M | RG351V | RG351MP | RG552) developed by the tireless Cebion and AmberElec team.
Favorite Game: Monkey Island
Christian Haitian (ArkOS)
Christian develops ArkOS, a feature rich Linux operating system with a focus on RetroArch for a range of devices.
Favorite Game: Paper Mario 64
Turtle (Retroid LineageOS / 351Droid / GarlicOS)
Turtle is a staple in the Android OS dev scene, and has created LineageOS builds for a range of devices, including the Retroid Pocket 2. He is also the lead developer for 351Droid, and co-developer of GarlicOS.
Favorite Game: Pokémon Yellow
notime2d8 (Odroid LineageOS / PickleOS)
notime2d8 is a veteran Android OS developer and has created LineageOS builds for a range of devices, including the RGB10 Max, he is also the lead developer of PickleOS, a custom Android firmware based on Lineage19.1 for the RGB10 Max 3 Pro!
Favorite Game: Mass Effect
Javier Arboleda (RESET Collection)
RESET Collection is an easy-to-use emulation frontend developed by Javier Arboleda. Available for $5 on Google Play (or free when you join our Patreon/Discord Premium – $5 tier and above!). Born in the year 1981, Javier is a child of the late 80’s and 90’s, which explains his furious fondness for far-out retro games. He’s a software developer by day, and by night he’s a devoted parent and husband, happily obliged to carry out his fatherly duty of utmost importance; telling dad jokes to his kids.
Favorite Game: Super Metroid
TapiocaFox (Daijishō)
Daijishō is a fully featured Android Frontend and Launcher focused on ease of use, with a wide range of functionality, including Retro Achievements integration. Best of all, this app is free! TapiocaFox stays on top of updates and keeps development active, taking user feedback seriously and is deeply supportive of the retro community. Fun fact: Daijishō is the main Home Launcher for GammaOS!
Favorite Game: Kirby’s Pinball Land
Kyle Eichlin (Console Launcher)
Console Launcher is an easy-to-use Android Launcher and Frontend developed by Kyle Eichlin, our sources have described him as a pleasant fellow who lives in Hawaii (not far from our friend Retro Games Corps!)
Favorite Game: Cave Story
Jim Gray (Our Ghosts / OnionOS)
Jim Gray is a Dad and Musician, creating many iconic tracks for the retro handheld scene, including the theme music for Retro Game Corps, RH, and more! He doesn’t readily admit to it, but he’s also a developer, and helped create OnionOS (among others). You can find Jim dancing if you type in Steely Dan into your GIF search!
Favorite Game: Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4
spmfox (Spartan Project)
SpartanProject is a full featured web hosting service, providing all our web hosting needs, run by spmfox. We highly recommend Spartan Project if you want to have a stable, budget friendly & customer service focused web host, who goes above and beyond in all regards.
Favorite Game: Tetris on Game Boy