With retro sport consoles getting larger, sooner, extra highly effective, dearer… typically it’s good to take a step again and simply take pleasure in a basic sport on the most effective mini retro handhelds.
It might be overwhelming eager about stuff like working programs or the duffle bag you will have to journey with one thing like a Steam Deck or AYANEO Air (each superior, however not probably the most sensible for transportable retro gaming).
Plus, you wanna threat $1000 simply to play Sonic at Starbucks? Me both!
Luckily for us, there are some way more inexpensive, sensible, transportable and pocketable choices on the market for carefree retro gaming.
Whether you’re into these mini consoles for novelty otherwise you truly hope to play on them, we now have all kinds of choices for ya.
So let’s bounce proper in! Here is our record of one of the best mini retro handhelds of 2022 (in no specific order):
FunkeyS
The Funkey S is the smallest Game Boy Advance SP clone you can find. And we are saying that as a optimistic.
The unimaginable workforce behind this mini retro handheld is extraordinarily obsessed with their product, and have put in lots of time to ship one thing that appears, feels and play nice.
The FunkeyS options unimaginable construct high quality, particularly for a tiny handheld, and it’s far more snug to play than it appears to be like.
And with its customized working system and optimized sport play all the way in which as much as Playstation 1 (sure, actually!), this factor is a heck of lots of enjoyable in a small bundle.
With a pricetag of solely $70, that is gonna be the most effective mini retro handheld units you should buy in right this moment’s gaming market.
Thumby
The makers of the Thumby name it a “itty-bitty game system”, and that just about sums it up. This factor is tiiiiiiny. It actually is a keychain that may play retro video games.
The Thumby appears to be like like an authentic Game Boy, colours and all, and it has a Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 Processor inside with a 72×40 Monochrome OLED Display.
Obviously, it’s not very highly effective and it received’t be capable to play Dreamcast on the 0.4 inch display screen.
But it might play a handful of quite simple video games that come preloaded on the system. And you may also make your personal video games to load on to the console, when you’ve got some Arduino C/C++ coding expertise.
It’s the smallest retro handheld on this record, and clearly is meant for novelty collectors who simply love cool retro consoles. And it’s undoubtedly a dialog starter.
So for those who like teeny tiny sport consoles and have about $29 to spend… the Thumby is right here.
Arduboy
If you thought the Thumby was cool with its Arduino C/C++ primarily based video games however need one thing a little bit extra playable, allow us to current the Arduboy.
Much just like the Thumby, the Arduboy is an open supply system primarily based on Arduino, and permits customers to create and share easy video games.
And there’s an Arduino group on-line, so there’s truly a wide selection of video games to play.. each authentic creations and remakes of some basic favorites.
This is a fairly cool console, not just for it’s miniature measurement (in regards to the measurement of a bank card), but in addition to get right into a enjoyable area of interest group of Arduino coders.
You may uncover some actually distinctive sport experiences that aren’t out there on different units on this record.
You can choose up an Arduboy for round $30 or the upgraded Arduboy FX that comes preloaded with over 200 video games for about $60.
Playdate
In a pure development from the teenie tiny Thumby to the Arduboy, let’s go forward and current the extremely premium console in that evolution chart… the Playdate.
Playdate goals to be a novel retro type sport console that gives a gaming expertise not like another. And we’d say they completely hit that mark.
It additionally options its personal proprietary working system that has consumer created gaming experiences, and you may even create your personal.
The monochrome show will remind you of taking part in an authentic Game Boy with it’s sharp pixelated graphics and no backlighting.
The Playdate is extremely transportable at round 3×3 inches… and its distinctive hand crank even tucks away.
This is without doubt one of the most premium (aka costly) consoles on this record, but in addition one of the vital distinctive.
Absolutely geared toward retro fanatics who like to gather cool retro type toys and those that take pleasure in distinctive sport experiences that aren’t out there wherever else.
Anbernic RG280V
In 2021, the Chinese console maker Anbernic had been of their heyday.
They had been the makers of a number of the hottest retro handhelds and had a status for very good construct high quality and superior sport efficiency.
And one among their strongest choices to return in that golden period was the RG280V; a pocket pleasant sport console that might simply deal with retro emulation all the way in which as much as the 64 bit period.
With a button configuration designed for early retro consoles (no analogue sticks), this factor is geared toward issues like Game Boy Advance, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis.. that type of stuff. Which is my primary todo record for retro gaming, actually.
So followers of the sooner 8 bit, 16 bit, 32 bit will love this mini retro handheld, and it matches within the palm of your hand. So it’s gonna make a terrific slot in most pockets as nicely, making it a very useful and transportable console.
With a traditional value of round $80 (I’ve seen them as little as $40), you can’t go incorrect with the RG280V.
We additionally needed to incorporate the GKD Mini, which is analogous in measurement and look. But it’s lesser OS offers us hesitation to suggest it subsequent to the RG280V, which has a number of choices now for actually superior firmware.
Don’t fear, we’ll hear from GKD on the finish of this record, so not all is misplaced.
Nintendo Game & Watch
We included the Game & Watch in our record of the 10 Best Handhelds Under $100, and we nonetheless assume that these are completely excellent transportable gaming units for individuals who don’t want a large library of video games to select from.
Yeah, having hundreds of video games is a blessing in 2022. Our childhood selves wouldn’t consider that may ever be doable. But our grownup selves typically miss the simplicity of getting only a couple video games at our disposal.
Having one or two nice video games takes away that Netflix impact, the place you spend extra time searching your library than truly selecting one thing.
So followers of early Nintendo classics will likely be completely fulfilled with both of the 2020 and 2021 Game & Watch releases: Super Mario Bros. thirty fifth Anniversary Edition and The Legend of Zelda thirty fifth Anniversary Edition.
Both mini retro handhelds characteristic a pair basic video games that may preserve you occupied for hours and simply slot in your entrance pocket.
Sounds form of excellent to me!
Pocket Sprite
At the time of its launch, the Pocket Sprite was the world’s smallest gaming system.
Since that point, the Thumby has truly taken that (tremendous tiny) crown. But let’s not overlook the unique teenie tiny sport console. And this one is definitely form of playable!
With its 1 inch display screen (yeah dude), the Pocket Sprite is definitely a totally useful emulator and might play stuff like Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear fairly nicely!
It even comes with inbuilt wifi to can help you switch video games to it.
The Pocket Sprite is available in a couple of completely different colours, they usually even launched a pair restricted version steel shell variants which have change into onerous to search out.
This is one other novelty reward for gaming followers who love distinctive collectibles, however for those who truly intend to play video games on this one… it’s doable. If you have got very superb imaginative and prescient.
Miyoo Mini
If you’re part of the retro handheld scene, you’ve heard fairly a bit in regards to the Miyoo Mini prior to now yr.
The Miyoo Mini has shortly change into the preferred retro console throughout the Game Boy group, as a consequence of its authentic Game Boy impressed aesthetics.
And the scale is perfect for gaming fanatics who need one thing actually pocketable, however sufficiently big to truly play recurrently.
The Miyoo Mini has appeared to excellent the system and for those who can handle to get your palms on one (they’re offered out very often), you’ll certainly be very pleased along with your buy.
Any complaints that customers initially had about firmware or screens had been completely corrected over time, and now the Miyoo Mini stands as one of many absolute favourite gaming consoles for every thing from 8 bit to 32 bit.
It can deal with extra, however the button configuration is made for these consoles that don’t want analogue sticks.
We completely love the Miyoo Mini, we had been so pleased to see a fast v2 launched with small enhancements and two new coloration choices. And we are able to solely see issues going up from right here for Miyoo.
And for that motive, we contemplate the Miyoo Mini the primary for mini retro handhelds.
Upcoming Competition
The retro handheld scene is rising at an exponential price. It looks like it’s actually each single day, we get a brand new leak of one thing.
New console this, new teaser that, preorder out there now until you wanna anticipate the upgraded mannequin which was already introduced yesterday. It’s getting wild out right here.
If you’ve been maintaining, there are a couple of thrilling mini consoles on the horizon that may seemingly earn some spots on future “best” lists right here on RetroDodo.
Anbernic Mini
The first upcoming system comes from the corporate that we like to hate. ANBERNIC’s upcoming “Mini Handheld” has been having all types of leaks on Discord and Twitter currently.
It all began with a brief video of a prototype, then we finally acquired official photographs and blueprints from the fellows over at Anbernic.
The unnamed Anbernic mini system appears to be aimed on the present Miyoo Mini fanbase.
But it truly isn’t not like Anbernic’s RG300 console which got here out a couple of years in the past, simply with some massive {hardware} upgrades and construct high quality enhancements.
Anbernic has been on the prime of the charts relating to construct high quality within the final 2-3 years, however we now have seen enterprise and design selections fall quick currently. Which is why we’re extra hesitant to assist their upcoming consoles till we see the proof within the pudding.
It’s too early to say, however this new vertical mini console does look promising, and it certainly will make lots of followers of pocketable sport consoles very pleased.
I simply hate these darn triggers. *shruggy shoulders emote* *facepalm emote*
GKD Mini Plus
Perhaps one of the vital thrilling upcoming sport consoles is the brand new GKD Mini Plus, which was introduced simply final week.
This new mini retro handheld makes some massive enhancements to its efficiency with the RK3566 chipset, options new coloration choices, and even comes with a removable analogue stick peripheral.
So this factor is a convertible!
We talked about earlier on this record that the unique GKD Mini has a poor working system. It appears that GKD has been engaged on making massive enhancements to that OS and it’s seemingly we may even see some third-party ones supplied sooner or later.
With it’s stunning design, highly effective chipset, and aggressive value (round $75)… we see the GKD Mini Plus making an enormous assertion this vacation season within the gaming market. And we can’t wait to get our palms on one!
Anthony has been a online game lover ever since he can keep in mind. He grew to become a fulltime nomad in 2018, residing all through most of Asia. He targeted his ardour in retro gaming and started making a sport for the Game Boy Color whereas residing in Nara, Japan in the course of the 2020 pandemic. He is now in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the place he spends most of his time gaming, occurring lengthy walks and assembly as many stray canine as doable.
