From 2e349c2023a1682fbd47a88e18ccc68e385ce661 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Stefan Koelle Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2026 23:53:03 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Add ODROID-GO, PocketGo, RG35XX to handheld page, remove open-items note --- retro/mini-arcade-handheld-roundup/index.njk | 45 ++++++++++++++------ retro/retro-corner-snapshot/index.njk | 2 +- 2 files changed, 34 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-) diff --git a/retro/mini-arcade-handheld-roundup/index.njk b/retro/mini-arcade-handheld-roundup/index.njk index 14d76d6..9b392a9 100644 --- a/retro/mini-arcade-handheld-roundup/index.njk +++ b/retro/mini-arcade-handheld-roundup/index.njk @@ -1,23 +1,44 @@ --- -title: "Mini Arcades and Handhelds: Sorting the Real Deal from the Bootlegs" +title: "Handheld Emulation Devices: ODROID-GO, PocketGo and RG35XX" section: "retro" tags: "retro" -description: "A buyer's guide to compact retro gaming devices, and why the cheapest option is almost never the right one." +description: "Three handheld emulation devices for retro gaming on the move, from an ESP32-based ODROID-GO to a pocketable PocketGo and a powerful RG35XX." layout: base.njk parent: "/retro/" --- -

Mini Arcades and Handhelds: Sorting the Real Deal from the Bootlegs

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Handheld Emulation Devices: ODROID-GO, PocketGo and RG35XX

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The market for tiny plug-and-play arcade cabinets is full of traps. Some devices ship with genuinely licensed classics; others are dressed-up bootleg NES clones with unfamiliar Chinese ROM hacks pretending to be arcade games.

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For retro gaming away from a screen, I use three handheld emulation devices. Each one covers a different sweet spot in the trade-off between size, power and convenience. The key difference is what systems each one can actually emulate well, and how much effort it takes to get there.

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What to Watch For

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ODROID-GO

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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. The whole thing runs on Retro-Go firmware, which loads everything 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.

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What it plays well: NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, PC Engine, ColecoVision, Atari Lynx, Game and Watch. DOOM also runs on it, including mods.

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What it does not play well: SNES is slow and often unplayable. Game Boy Advance is out of reach. No 16-bit console emulation beyond what the SNES situation shows.

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Game packs: Full game packs for all supported systems are on the SD card. No need to pick and choose.

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Why use it: It is the smallest and cheapest of the three, and for pure 8-bit gaming it is surprisingly capable. The Retro-Go firmware is clean, boots fast, and the battery lasts a long time. It is the grab-and-go option when you just want to play some NES or Game Boy games on the couch.

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If a mini-arcade's game list reads like a string of titles you've genuinely never heard of, that's the tell. Real arcade classics have instantly recognisable names, bootlegs hide behind vague, generic-sounding ones.

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PocketGo

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The original PocketGo by BittBoy is a handheld in a Game-Boy-Advance-style landscape form factor with a 2.4-inch IPS display at 320x240. It runs on an Allwinner F1C100S chip at 533 to 798 MHz with 32 MB of RAM. The community CFW 1.3 firmware replaces the stock software and adds better emulator support, a cleaner menu system, and more configurable options. It has D-pad, four face buttons, shoulder buttons, and runs off a 1000 mAh battery.

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What it plays well: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, NES, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System. The GBA emulation is the real draw here, something the ODROID-GO cannot do.

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What it does not play well: SNES is playable but not perfect, with occasional slowdowns. PlayStation is not an option.

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Game packs: Full game packs for all supported systems are on the SD card.

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Why use it: It is still pocketable, the IPS screen looks great, and it fills the gap between the ODROID-GO and the RG35XX. If you want Game Boy Advance on the go without carrying something bigger, this is the one. The CFW 1.3 firmware makes a real difference over the stock software.

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RG35XX

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The RG35XX by Anbernic is the serious handheld of the three. It has a 3.5-inch IPS display at 640x480, an Allwinner H313 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 chip, and significantly more power than the other two. It runs a Linux-based operating system and can handle systems up to and including PlayStation 1. The build quality is noticeably better, with a sturdier feel and a screen that is both larger and sharper.

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What it plays well: Everything the ODROID-GO and PocketGo do, plus PlayStation 1, CPS1/CPS2 arcade, Neo Geo, and more demanding SNES titles. It also supports HDMI output to a TV.

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What it does not play well: Nintendo 64 and PSP are hit-or-miss. Dreamcast is mostly too much for it.

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Game packs: Only the major platforms have game packs installed. The smaller systems are not pre-loaded.

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Why use it: When you want the full experience, including PlayStation and arcade games, or when you want to hook the handheld up to a TV. It is the heaviest and least pocketable of the three, but it covers the widest range of systems.

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Which One for What

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DeviceBest forGames loadedScreen
ODROID-GONES, Game Boy, 8-bit on the couchAll systems2.4" TFT
PocketGoGame Boy Advance, 16-bit on the goAll systems2.4" IPS
RG35XXPlayStation, arcade, everything at homeMajor platforms only3.5" IPS
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The market for tiny retro gaming handhelds is full of traps. If a device's game list reads like a string of titles you have never heard of, that is the tell. Real arcade classics have instantly recognisable names, bootlegs hide behind vague, generic-sounding ones. All three devices above run proper emulation firmware with real ROMs, not bootleg NES clones dressed up as something else.

diff --git a/retro/retro-corner-snapshot/index.njk b/retro/retro-corner-snapshot/index.njk index cd7ee7f..231568c 100644 --- a/retro/retro-corner-snapshot/index.njk +++ b/retro/retro-corner-snapshot/index.njk @@ -49,5 +49,5 @@ parent: "/retro/"

How it all connects

All machines share the same network infrastructure, with FTP access to the NAS for file transfers. Disk images and software archives are stored centrally and served to individual machines as needed. The MiSTer and MiST both use SD cards for storage, while the original hardware uses CompactFlash adapters or SCSI-to-IDE bridges depending on the machine. The Raspberry Pi 400 accesses the same NFS shares as the other Pis in the flat.

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The honest status update: several open items remain, documenting the exact handheld models, and the full-size A1200 is on pre-order ahead of its 4 December 2026 launch. Retro computing, it turns out, is never really "done."

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The A1200 console is on pre-order ahead of its 4 December 2026 launch. Retro computing, it turns out, is never really "done."