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Check out our thoughts on the latest retro handhelds, and retrospectives on ones we still can’t put down.
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How to Emulate the N64 Transfer Pak
Greetings friends and fellow enthusiasts! This is Mikhailov from Team Retrogue, where we like retro games and the devices that bring them to us. In my younger days, I was in awe of the N64 Transfer Pak. Utilizing this controller attachment, one could plug in their...
Powkiddy V10 vs RGB20: Come Here Often?
Picture This: It’s the end of 2020, and the Rockchip RK3326 is all the rage. Hardkernel released their Odroid Go Advance back in June, Anbernic released the RG351P in September, and Retroid put out their Pocket 2 back in January. So what does Powkiddy do? They release...
6 Back to School Games You’ll Love
The season of family getaways, swimming, and sunshine is once again wrapping up. August was always bittersweet as a kid, as it represented the end of summer vacation and a return to another long year of school. As soon as those back-to-school sale commercials started...
Retro Handhelds Weekly: 4 Years of RH, RG40XXV, Clones of Clones, 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,...
ROG Ally X Thoughts from an ROG Ally Hater
I was so excited about the original ROG Ally. Heck, I sold so much of my collection to be able to afford it and I preordered it. Luckily, I even got it a few days early before release (unlike a lot of these handhelds)! My excitement was unmatched until I finished...
The SJGAM M21 Is Another Clone of a Clone
Are you the type that likes to throw your money at any e-waste handheld that lands on AliExpress? Well, get your wallet ready as the SJGAM M21 is expected to arrive any day now. In true SJGAM fashion, the M21 is another clone hitting the market. But instead of cloning...
3 Ways to Pause Elden Ring
This is a ‘Git Gud’ Safe Zone Prepared by Joe We’ve all been there when you are untethered by Radahn area attacks in phase II and you are completely telegraphed into his move set, torch in hand, ready to pounce once your 1-2 second attack window is achieved and...
MagicX Testing Designs for Mini 2, Touch One, and Touch Two
Exclusively on the Retro Handhelds Discord, MagicX has shared a video showing that testing stages for the MagicX XU Mini 2, Touch One, and Touch Two devices have officially begun. Testing stages for devices often come in quick succession. Most of this is due to how...
Anbernic RG40XXV Confirmed in ‘First Look’ Video
It's been a little while since the last Anbernic device was released, but it seems that the wait for something new is almost over. After a leak gave us a look at a new Anbernic handheld, the company published a "First Look" video on its YouTube channel. This...
‘Timeless’ Retro Games You Should Play
Greetings friends and fellow enthusiasts! This is Mikhailov from Team Retrogue, where we like retro games and the devices that bring them to us. What is a "timeless" game? According to Merriam-Webster, the word "timeless" is an adjective defined as "not restricted to...
Abathor: A Solid Classic Experience
I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, I have a handheld problem. I also have a controller problem. But one thing I haven’t mentioned is my steadily growing game problem. In Steam alone I’ve managed to pick up 540 or so games and still counting. While I may have...
Emulated Games in Armoury Crate!
Gary's Note: This article is intended as a companion piece to the video tutorial located here. One of the best parts of a Linux handheld, be it a Steam Deck or something like the RG351P, is the unified front-end experience. It's one of the things people comment the...
WiiMote Light Gun Tutorial
If you were fortunate enough to be around to experience arcades back in their 80s and 90s glory days, you'll know that light gun games were an essential part of any respectable arcade's collection. The zapper was part of what Nintendo said elevated the NES beyond that...
Retro Handhelds Weekly: MagicX Renders, Ban’s First Video, and More!
Welcome to the seventh 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...
5 Unique RPGs for You to Try Out!
I am always playing a different RPG. It is my favorite genre of game. I thought, "If I am playing all these games, why not share with the world and maybe another person on the internet can find something fun?". This is my first attempt at that, so hopefully you find...
In Defense of the Nintendo 64 Controller
Nintendo for Nintendo, 64 for the bits. “It had more bits than the PS1, therefore betterer” – Lance Barr, probably. The N64 was Nintendo’s first two-feet-in foray into a fully 3D capable machine, and quickly became the go-to for parents to buy for their children to distract them from their impending divorce with hits like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, Donkey Kong 64, and South Park 64. My parents are still together, so I never had an N64 growing up, but I was always captivated by the uniqueness of it’s the design: the old aspect of using cartridges while playing fully 3D games, the gargantuan amount of money needed to buy games and accessories, and most iconic of all: The N64 Controller.
Can You Retro Game in VR?
Greetings friends and fellow enthusiasts! This is Mikhailov from Team Retrogue, where we like retro games and the devices that bring them to us. Let's take a look at an unusual device for retro gaming: the Meta Quest 3. That's right: a virtual reality headset is more...
GotX: Take Aim August Games Announced!
Hey, guess what? Somehow it is already August. I don't know how we got here already, but the best part is that we have new games for GotX. Take Aim August was the theme voted for by our Champions Lounge. The games that were nominated had to require the main character...
Ayaneo Pocket DMG and Pocket Micro Pre-orders Now Live
On the 35th anniversary of the original GameBoy’s American release, Ayaneo has finally launched their Indiegogo for their Pocket DMG and Pocket Micro. The specs for the Pocket DMG originally shared here on Retro Handhelds are now official. However, there are some...
March of the Minis: Purpose of Puny Handhelds
A wise man once said, “The Best Handheld is the one that you have on you.” And while there are a bunch of people standing on the rooftops and yelling “I CARRY MY STEAM DECK WITH ME EVERYWHERE.” there are just as many, if not more, that don’t. This means for many, the...
Retro Gamer’s Bane: Choice Paralysis
There is nothing quite like being greeted at the mailbox with a package you've been waiting on for a few weeks. The latest addition to the handheld hype train has arrived and is yours to do all the retro gaming your heart desires. You load it up with the best and...
Retro Handhelds Weekly: RGB10 Max 4, Humble Games Saga, 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, while our writing team has been on an absolute tear! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and catch up on what’s happened this week in the...
EA Sports College Football 25 Review: TD or Fumble?
I loved the NCAA games so much as a kid. My friends and I used to play them to death. I talk about that here. Picking a bad team (Let’s Go Hoosiers!) and making them a powerhouse while competing for recruits. With the news of college football video games coming back,...
Opinion: Pre-Ordering Handhelds Sucks!
I think it is time for me to get on my soapbox and vent a little bit. Pre-ordering these retro handhelds can really suck and can be extremely frustrating. I have been in the hobby for the last few years and yeah, the excitement of checking your tracking is exciting....
NEW Powkiddy RGB10 Max 4 Specs Revealed! (UPDATE!)
After what feels like an eternity, we have finally gotten a peek at the successor to the infamous RGB10 Max 3 Pro (triple heart). Trusted Powkiddy contact J. Dewitz (@retrohandheldcollection on Instagram) has provided us with piping-hot info about the upcoming RGB10...
Is The Original…Better? GBA SP vs. RG35XXSP
This is a “Flipping” or “Hinge” joke safe zone. Prepared by Joe Howdy neighbor, I'm just sitting on the can in my morning meeting pondering retro handhelds and their OEM brand counterparts, the real stuff ya know? We've been lost in the pocketable/hand feel/button...
NetPass for the 3DS: StreetPass is Alive!
I never had a 3DS (or even a DS) during the peak of their release. Really, I never even had one until Walmart had that $99 N2DSXL with Mario Kart 7 deal. Something else though, I also love a weird Nintendo gimmick, so I was sad to never experience StreetPass. With...
The Cost of Rising Prices: Android Devices
What’s the most you’ll spend on a handheld? $60? $100? $350? As Much as it takes? Maybe I can get specific. Is the amount you’ll spend on a Linux handheld different than what you’ll spend on an Android handheld or even a Windows handheld? Maybe at a certain point, you...
How to Install Balatro on Android and iOS
Balatro has already become one of this year’s most cherished indie games within the short span of time that it's been released. Originally released in February 2024, it has seen releases for PC, Mac, PS4 and 5, Xbox One and Series, and the Nintendo Switch. The...
Controller Showdown 3: JoyClones
It was unavoidable to write this article series and not touch on what is probably the hottest thing in the bootleg controller game; fake Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. Last time round, we concentrated on the off-brand recreations of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers and...