The ODROID-GO by Hardkernel is a DIY handheld built around an ESP32 microcontroller. It has a 2.4-inch 320x240 TFT display, a speaker, D-pad, face buttons, shoulder buttons, a Micro SD card slot, and a built-in rechargeable battery. It runs the stock firmware, which loads games from the SD card. The ESP32 is a dual-core chip running at 240 MHz with 4 MB of PSRAM, which is enough for 8-bit systems but starts to struggle with anything heavier.
What it plays well: NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear.
-What it does not play well: SNES is slow and often unplayable. Game Boy Advance is out of reach.
+What it does not play well: Anything beyond 8-bit is not on there, and would not run well anyway.
Game packs: Full game packs for all supported systems are on the SD card. No need to pick and choose.
Why use it: The killer feature is instant-on. The ESP32 boots in literally no time, you switch it on and the game is right there. A stopped game can be picked up again straight away. No other device in the collection comes close to this. It is the smallest and cheapest of the three, and for pure 8-bit gaming it is surprisingly capable. It is the grab-and-go option when you just want to play some NES or Game Boy games on the couch.
