Features
Check out our thoughts on the latest retro handhelds, and retrospectives on ones we still can’t put down.
The Latest
Racing Retrospectives: Forza Horizon
From its unforgettable soundtrack to its smooth driving physics, Forza Horizon’s debut still shines. Rediscover the festival racer that defined a genre.
XU Retro XU20 V32 Review: Boring but Functional
Looking for a cheap Android handheld? Ban gives us his take on the XU20 V32, which offers sharp visuals, solid controls, and surprising power for under $50.
Anbernic RG DS First Impressions
Anbernic’s RG DS looks great but fails at DS emulation. Sharp screens, weak D-pad, glitches everywhere. A nostalgic mess of promise and compromise.
Black Friday 2025 Starts Early: Best Deals on Handhelds, Controllers, and Gaming Accessories
Find the best retro handheld, Android, and x86 Black Friday deals for 2025 with huge savings from Amazon, AliExpress, Anbernic, AYANEO, and more.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: AYN Thor, RG DS, Analogue 3D, and Much More!
Catch up on the biggest retro handheld news of the week with new hardware drama, software updates, reviews, mods, and deals in Retro Handhelds Weekly.
AYN Thor Review: Lightning in a Bottle?
AYN Thor brings dual OLED screens, Android 13, and big power to a clamshell form factor. Is it the ultimate 3DS handheld or held back by bad ergonomics?
Game Over: The History Of Barcode Gaming
From Battler to Skannerz, many devices chased the barcode-gaming fad, experimenting with scanning toys, cards, and everyday items bridging real and digital play.
Game Console R40XX Review: The Clone Wars Continue
Nick reviews the new Game Console 40XX. Does this latest clone console stack up against its budget and mid-tiered competitors?
Aiffro K100 Review: Pricey, Pocketable, Performant?
Want a quiet SSD NAS for ROMs or media storage? Our Aiffro K100 review covers setup, transfer speeds, and whether the $299 price makes sense.
EasySMX X05 Pro Review: A Quiet Champion?
The EasySMX X05 is one of my top picks for budget controllers of 2024. Just like a lot of controllers on that list, EasySMX joins the list of “improving the old for the new year” with the X05 Pro. The Pro model changes up a few, adds a few new features, and makes for...
Game Over: No Supervision
The Watara Supervision was a cheap 1992 Game Boy clone with poor screens, forgettable games, and inconsistent branding—an ambitious flop in handheld history.
PortMaster Roundup: November 1st-15th
PortMaster drops a packed November schedule with new ready-to-run games, titles needing extra files, and premium ports for handheld fans.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: Steam Hardware, TrimUI Smart Pro S, Pokemon Lazarus, and Much More!
Catch up on the biggest handheld news of the week, from new Valve hardware to fresh firmware, new games, reviews, and deals you will not want to miss.
Mangmi Air X First Impressions: The New Budget War Has Begun
The new Mangmi Air X lays down the hammer when it comes to price to performance. At only $90, Nick gives his first impressions on what could be the new budget king for under 100 bucks.
The Deal With the AYN Thor’s Ergonomics
The AYN Thor feels like a modern 3DS with stronger specs, smoother controls, and some baffling ergonomic choices that can shift from comfy to painful fast.
Retro Pixel Pocket V2: Better than Before?
The Retro Pixel Pocket 2025 aims to be the ultimate Pico-8 machine with a crisp 720×720 screen, AmberElec, Wi-Fi, and plenty of charm for $50.
INNOCN GA27T1M: MiniLED Mouthful of a Name
A brighter MiniLED screen, 320Hz refresh rate, and sleek white design make the INNOCN GA27T1M tempting. Find out if it earns its higher price tag.
Retroid Pocket G2 First Impressions: Serious Firepower
Nick gets his hands on the brand new Retroid Pocket G2 and shares his initial thoughts after 24 hours with the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2-chipped device.
Game Over: The Mega Duck (aka Cougar Boy)
Mega Duck: a 1990s handheld with endless aliases—Cougar Boy, Super Junior, Game Duck—each more ridiculous than the last. Pure 8-bit identity crisis.
Radical Retrospective: John Doe’s Pro Sporting
Activision turned the Tony Hawk engine into a playground for every sport imaginable. From BMX to surfing, these spin-offs deserve another look.
Installing ArkOS4Clones on the XF35H and XF40H
Bring your XF35H or XF40H to life with ArkOS4Clones. This step-by-step guide walks you through setup, fixes, and tweaks for perfect retro gaming.
Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week
Tired of scrolling through pages and pages of websites trying to find the best deals on retro handhelds and accessories? We’ve got you covered with a few picks.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: AYANEO, OneXFly Apex, ES-DE Update, and Much More!
Catch up on the biggest handheld news of the week, including two new AYANEO handhelds, OneXFly Apex, ES-DE, a new emulation frontend, and much more.
A Fistful Of Sequels: Three Brawlers Time Forgot
From arcades to 8-bit dojos to early PlayStation duels, these sequels evolved their legends only to be lost in gaming’s changing landscape.
Satisfye ZenGrip 2 For Switch 2 Review
The long-awaited Satisfye ZenGrip 2 has arrived! Is this the one to get? Does it stack up against its cheaper competition? Will it make the Switch 2 TOO big?
Super Pocket Re-Review: Still Worth it?
The Super Pocket Technos Edition brings back the charm with better visuals, sweet controls, and a knockout lineup of classic games. But should you pick one up?
Miyoo Mini Flip Setup Guide
Get the most out of your Miyoo Mini Flip! Follow our complete guide for firmware updates, CFW installs, and the best accessories for your new handheld.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: Anbernic RG DS, Retroid Pocket 6, Keyloggers, and Much More!
Catch up on the biggest handheld news of the week, including Anbernic’s RG DS pre-orders, Retroid’s Pocket 6 redesign, MagicX’s new clamshell, and more.
Radical Retrospective: Skate or Die!
EA’s first game, Skate or Die!, morphed from a multi-event comp into a weird side-scroller. Konami then took over, proving the viability of home skating games.
Miyoo Mini Flip: A Mini Successor?
The Miyoo Mini Flip brings back the charm of the original Mini with a sturdier hinge, better firmware support, and true pocketable fun.