Features
Check out our thoughts on the latest retro handhelds, and retrospectives on ones we still can’t put down.
The Latest
The Quest for the Perfect Vertical Handheld
Join me as I explore the best vertical handhelds, from the Anbernic RG351V to the AYANEO Pocket DMG!
What’s the Deal with Screen PWM?
Learn how Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) impacts screen flicker, brightness, and eyestrain. Understand its role in handheld consoles, and pretty much anything with a screen.
1 Million and Counting: Your Guide to RetroAcheivements
RetroAchievements brings the thrill of achievement hunting to your favorite classic games! Learn how to unlock achievements, track your progress, and join a community of 1 million retro gamers.
Ditch the RG Launcher! How to Remap Your Anbernic R Button
Learn how to remap the R button on your Anbernic RG405V or RG406V to launch your favorite frontend like Daijisho or Emulation Station.
The Mecha Comet Was the Coolest Thing I Saw at CES 2025
Discover the Mecha Comet, a modular handheld running Debian Linux. With swappable modules, a customizable backplate, and an M.2 slot, this device is a tinkerer’s paradise.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: It’s All About CES 2025
Stay up-to-date on the latest retro handheld gaming news! Discover new devices from CES 2025, explore software updates, community projects, and more!
Hands-on With the Anbernic RG34XX in Glacier
Relive your childhood with the Anbernic RG34XX Glacier! This nostalgic handheld console boasts a stunning transparent blue shell and classic GBA vibes.
Lenovo Legion Go S Hands-on: Time to Get Excited
Hands-on with the Lenovo Legion Go S! It has a lightweight design, powerful performance, and affordable price. Is this the x86 handheld you’ve been waiting for?
The Handhelds I’m Taking to CES 2025
Heading to CES 2025? Check out the awesome handhelds I’m packing, including some surprise contenders! Get ready for gaming on the go.
Is The PlayStation Portal Worth it in 2025?
An honest, in-depth review of the PlayStation Portal. Is Sony’s handheld worth the $200 price tag? Probably not, but read on to find out why.
GotX: Learning Old Lessons for January 2025
Relive the golden age of gaming with Retro Handhelds’ Games of the Month! January’s theme is ‘Learning Old Lessons.’ Play classics, earn points, and connect with fellow gamers.
Beitong Asura 2 Pro+ Review: Twice as Nice at Twice the Price?
If $40 is all you have to spend, you can get some really solid controllers. In fact, I covered that exact topic across 9 different controllers from 9 different brands. But most of those companies don’t just make one option under $40. One of those companies was...
The RG34XX Unlocked a Forgotten Level in my Brain
We talk a great deal in this hobby about nostalgia and recapturing memories. As a child of the '80s and '90s, I feel like marketing has had its bullseye pointed at my generation for a minute now, and if it isn't aimed at me, it's selling the idea and dare I say,...
Retro Handhelds Weekly: Miyoo Flip, AYANEO 3, OneXSugar, and Much More!
Welcome to the latest edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly. This week saw a bunch of news in both the world of hardware and software, our writing team continues to be on an absolute tear, and there’s even a surprise or two sprinkled in! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee,...
RH Picks: Best Retro and Modern Games of the Year
I have enjoyed putting together our What We're Playing series this year. The year is finally wrapping up and it has been a solid one not just for handhelds, but for games as well. I compiled a list of some of us at RH's favorite games we played this year. Some had a...
A Year Without Buying Handhelds: How I Beat The Sickness
In 2023 I admitted I had “a problem” with purchasing too many retro handhelds. In response, I decided to spend a year going “cold turkey” and not spending any money on devices. This is an account of how my year went and what I learned. The Sickness...
Fantech Maxfit Air 83 Review: Retro Meets Modern
When it comes to keyboards, there’s a lot of personal preference. What size do you want? What about the switches? Do you need wireless or just something to plug in and go? As someone who has fallen down the keyboard rabbit hole a few times, I know that the endless...
Top 5 Cozy ROM Hacks to Play Over The Holidays
Let’s set the scene. It’s Christmas morning, you’ve opened your gifts and one of them is a new handheld. You’re beyond excited to play some games you remember from your childhood, but you also want something new. You want something that's familiar, but maybe with...
R36H Hands-On: New Horizontal Budget King or Half-Baked Clone?
What can I really say that I haven't written about the Game Console R36S several times before? It's my practical budget fave, with enough kitschy personality that I'm willing to overlook any of its shortcomings. The benchmark that all other possible e-waste clone...
Retro Handhelds Weekly: Miyoo 321, OnionOS, Star Fox 64 PC Port, and More!
Welcome to the latest edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly. This week saw a bunch of news in both the world of hardware and software, our writing team continues to be on an absolute tear, and there’s even a surprise or two sprinkled in! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee,...
5 More Current Games with N64 Graphics
The N64 didn't have many games, but people loved it still. I have so much nostalgia for it and have been playing a ton of games from it lately. I have stumbled upon a lot of current games that are heavily inspired by the console. I wanted to let the world know to...
5 Retro Christmas Games to Play This Year
Christmas time is here. The hot chocolate is flowing, the crazy shoppers are raging, and Hallmark is playing an impressive array of movies that are all basically the same. It is also time to get your handheld and check out these five Christmas games! Elf Bowling Are...
Retro Handhelds Holiday Gift Guide 2024
With about two weeks left before Christmas, you might be scrambling trying to figure out what to get to put under the tree or in a stocking. Especially if you know that they're into the world of retro handhelds and gaming, but you don't exactly know where to start....
The Redemption Arc: Giving a Second Chance to the RG-Arc
At the time of writing Anbernic have just announced a flash sale, where one of the most visible price reductions is on the RG-Arc. A device which was recently rumoured to be the basis for the next H700 device. I felt this was a good time to revisit this unloved child...
Ayaneo Pocket DMG Review: How Much Game Boy do you Need?
When you’re spending a lot of money on a handheld, I really recommend trying to get something that fits your needs and does most, if not everything, you’re looking for in that category. You wouldn’t want to buy more than one $500 handheld, right? Uh, right? So when...
Furious X SU-10: Gone too Far
Usually, when I talk about handhelds here, I have at least something good to say. And I’m going to try that here too. But if you’re looking for true e-waste you can usually find those articles from Nick, like his cheap controller roundups. But when I saw this big...
Retroid Pocket 5 (and Mini) Tips and Tricks!
This is for you, Retroid enjoyers by Joe Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! This device took our writing team by storm and has been a part of my daily use since it was delivered to me a month ago. Spoiler alert: It's easily my handheld of the year (you can check...
Why Did I Buy an Atari VCS in 2024?
Releasing in 2021 as a community-funded project, the Atari VCS promised a modern take on the nostalgia you held for the 2600. The problem is, I'm not sure who is holding on to that nostalgia. As someone in my early 40s, I was around Atari consoles as a kid and played...
Retro Handhelds Weekly: Switch 2, Legion Go 2, RG34XX, and Much More
Welcome to the latest edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly. This week saw a bunch of news in both the world of hardware and software, our writing team continues to be on an absolute tear, and there’s even a surprise or two sprinkled in! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee,...
The Handhelds I Actually Used in 2024
2024 was a big year in handhelds. I played with and used more than I ever have in my life thanks to RH and my position to review them. I thought it would be good to look back and see which ones I actually used to play games on when I had some spare time. I sold most...