When Analogue, a niche video game console manufacturer, first introduced the Analogue Pocket, their inaugural handheld retro gaming system, I reacted with skepticism and disdain. My rationale was rooted in Analogue’s history of producing limited quantities of their gaming devices, which played Nintendo and Sega games, thus making them rare and highly coveted. Analogue devices were akin to the highly hyped sneakers in the world of retro gaming, whether that was for better or worse.
In my view, the Analogue Pocket appeared destined to follow the same pattern as a limited-edition handheld, boasting remarkable features that would likely be snapped up by collectors and left gathering dust on shelves. Alternatively, it seemed poised to become a new emblem of nerdiness, reserved for the well-off enthusiasts. However, after waiting almost a year for my pre-order to be fulfilled, I can confidently admit that I was mistaken.
This console is real; I possess one now, and contrary to my initial expectations, it has exceeded my anticipations, especially following some recent software updates. If you’re not particularly attached to the nostalgia of using an actual Nintendo Game Boy, the Analogue Pocket could be the ultimate enhancement for your retro gaming collection.
The initial concept behind the Analogue Pocket was relatively straightforward: This modern handheld, equipped with a high-resolution display and a USB-C rechargeable battery, functions just like a Nintendo Game Boy. You insert one of your cherished childhood game cartridges – perhaps it’s Super Mario World from the original Game Boy, Pokémon Crystal from the Game Boy Color, or Metroid Fusion from the Game Boy Advance era – and it springs to life in vibrant, pixel-perfect detail.
Whether you lean towards Sega Game Gear, the Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket, or even the obscure PC Engine Express, you’re in luck! Adapters, which are sold separately, allow you to plug in games from those systems too.
At the core of the Analogue Pocket lies a technology that Analogue has consistently employed in all its products. In contrast to the generic retro gaming handhelds based on Android that “emulate” console hardware through software, the Analogue Pocket incorporates something known as an FPGA (field-programmable gate array). The “field programmable” aspect means that it can adapt on the fly to replicate various classic gaming hardware as soon as you insert a cartridge.
The splendid 3.5-inch, high-resolution display boasts ten times the pixels of the original Game Boy’s square screen and adeptly showcases wider Game Boy Advance titles, albeit with black bars at the top and bottom of the display. Analogue has preconfigured different screen profiles for each system, offering you the option of either razor-sharp, contemporary graphics and colors or a faded appearance that faithfully emulates the original screen, complete with a grid effect that convincingly replicates the appearance of an original Game Boy LCD.
My assortment of original Nintendo Game Boy cartridges includes a few dozen titles, ranging from Japanese imports to quirky hardware add-ons like the Game Boy Camera. Every game I inserted into the Analogue Pocket functioned as expected, though a few triggered a failure mode in the Pocket, prompting a message to clean the cartridge connector. It’s not surprising that decades-old, dusty, and slightly corroded games may not work flawlessly the first time you insert them into a brand-new console. My suggestion is to remove the cartridge, clean the pins on the cartridge with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab, and allow it to fully dry before attempting again.
Apart from the screen, the Pocket’s hardware itself is aesthetically pleasing. It’s evident that Analogue has adopted a design philosophy reminiscent of the Bubble Era, with hints of Dieter Rams’ influence, streamlining every aspect of the Pocket to a nearly irritating level of minimalism. While many buyers opted for the black version, I believe the white model I ordered bears a closer resemblance to the original Game Boy, albeit with most of the color drained out.
Consequently, the mint-green power button on the left side is remarkably flat and more challenging to press than the reassuring power switch on Nintendo’s original hardware. This button also functions as a sleep-wake button when you’re in the midst of a game, making short gaming sessions straightforward and convenient. The adjacent volume buttons are equally petite, although you can instantly mute the Pocket by simultaneously pressing the plus and minus buttons.
The all-important game controls are impeccably designed. The Analogue Pocket boasts a D-pad and four face buttons (A/B/X/Y, all unmarked). Positioned at the bottom edge are the Start and Select buttons, with a button bearing the Analogue logo in between them. Pressing this central button during gameplay allows you to access the settings menus, where you can adjust audio settings or fine-tune the screen profile.
You can also utilize this button to establish impromptu save points within games (by pressing Analogue + Up) or capture high-resolution screenshots (by pressing Analogue + Start), both of which are then stored on an inserted microSD card, located on the right side of the console. (These features are part of the Pocket’s Memories feature, which is still in beta testing.)
If I were to provide some feedback to Analogue in this regard, I might suggest that a version of the Pocket with clicky controls could be intriguing. Later Nintendo consoles like the Game Boy Advance SP and certain Nintendo DS models featured tactile dome switches under the buttons, which offered a highly satisfying experience. In contrast, the Analogue Pocket follows the style of earlier Game Boy models, using a silicone membrane beneath the buttons to provide bounce and tactile feedback.
Located at the back are two diminutive and tactile left and right trigger buttons, essential for playing Game Boy Advance games. These surround the Game Boy cartridge slot. Unlike a real Game Boy, the cartridge is somewhat exposed and susceptible to jostling. This could pose an issue, especially when placing the Pocket in a bag while it’s in sleep mode—there’s a risk of losing your progress if the cartridge moves around. I understand the compromise Analogue had to make. After all, the inclusion of triggers on Nintendo’s initial Game Boy Advance model necessitated a complete redesign of the system, shifting it from a vertical orientation (buttons at the bottom) to a horizontal one (buttons on either side of the screen). In this case, as Analogue drew inspiration from the original Game Boy, the small triggers had no choice but to be positioned uncomfortably close to the loosely fitting cartridge slot.
This makes Game Boy Advance gameplay slightly less secure than standard Game Boy and Game Boy Color gaming. With genuine Nintendo hardware, I can use the triggers vigorously without fretting over the cartridge getting dislodged. However, here, I’m somewhat less assured. To be fair, it didn’t occur during my extensive testing with trigger-intensive games like Drill Dozer and Metroid Fusion, so the concern might be unfounded. Nevertheless, I did experience a cartridge slipping out while the console rested on the sofa, indicating that it can happen.
The last noteworthy hardware components are situated at the bottom edge: a Game Boy Advance-style link cable port (enabling multiplayer with actual Game Boys and other Pockets), a USB-C port for charging and for use with the optional HDMI dock, a power LED indicator, an IR sensor (for compatibility with Mystery Gift in Pokémon games), and a 3.5-mm headphone jack.
In my testing, the Pocket’s internal battery endured for approximately 7.5 hours while playing a Game Boy Advance cartridge. For comparison, I ran the same cartridge on a GBA SP and an original-style GBA, both modified with IPS backlit screens available online. The GBA SP, equipped with a fresh rechargeable battery, lasted slightly over seven hours, while the GBA, powered by rechargeable AA batteries, extended just beyond eight hours. Credit to Analogue for making the battery somewhat user-accessible; it is concealed beneath the rear panel. After removing the four Torx TR6 screws securing the panel, the battery can be cautiously lifted out, a process that takes about ten minutes.
Most of the advertised functionalities offered by the Analogue Pocket are executed well. If you’re seeking a contemporary handheld that plays your beloved Game Boy cartridges, this is nearly a plug-and-play solution. However, what if you desire a bit more versatility? This is where things become intriguing.
I mentioned that the Pocket employs an FPGA chip, but that was only half the story. The Analogue Pocket is equipped with two FPGA chips, and one of them has become user-hackable through the OpenFPGA program, thanks to a firmware update released over the summer. As a result, the hacker community has developed various “cores” that extend support for an even broader range of gaming systems.
This also implies the possibility of playing games without physical cartridges. While the legality of this approach may raise some questions in certain cases (it goes without saying that piracy should be avoided), if you own a game cartridge and can extract the internal file, you can transfer it to your microSD card and create a playable backup.
This paves the way for playing indie games and other unique titles. For instance, by using the community’s Super Nintendo core, I had the opportunity to play a fan-translated version of an obscure Japanese dating simulation game. While it appears technically challenging to run retro 3D games on the Pocket (don’t expect to see Nintendo 64 or PlayStation cores), everything from the 16-bit era and earlier is within reach. There’s even an Amiga core in development! Moreover, fan-created applications simplify the process of loading content onto a microSD card.
To be fair, it’s still early days for these cores. If your primary attraction to the Pocket is playing Game Boy games, this hacked mode might be less appealing due to its limited features and absence of the excellent default screen modes. There’s a possibility that the state of community-powered software will improve, but presently, playing games directly from cartridges remains the quickest and most straightforward method, even if you need to switch cartridges to change games.
Analogue, on its part, has certain commitments to fulfill as well. Some options in the menu system, such as the one labeled “Library” on the home screen, remain grayed out. Another promised feature was meant to automatically save Game Boy Camera pictures directly to the SD card. Neither of these features has been realized yet. With the completion of the OpenFPGA work, I’m optimistic that the company will deliver on these promises and introduce numerous other feature upgrades in future firmware updates.
Regarding authenticity, perhaps paradoxically, the most significant competition for the Analogue Pocket is the original Game Boy itself. Nintendo designed its hardware to withstand the test of time, and millions of these systems are still in circulation. If you appreciate the original Game Boy designs, there has never been a better time to refurbish an old one and embark on upgrades—high-resolution screens, vibrant new shells, and rechargeable batteries can now be installed with a simple turn of a screwdriver, without the need for cutting or soldering.
However, as appealing as it may be to resurrect a neglected Game Boy with 21st-century technology, not everyone may want to deal with the associated challenges. This is where the Analogue Pocket stands out as the best new Game Boy you can purchase. I would argue that preserving old systems and creating new compatible ones is a form of media preservation. The fact that Nintendo itself has been inconsistent in making its old titles available for download underscores the value of the cartridges still in circulation as precious artifacts. If you have your own collection, the Analogue Pocket represents one of the finest ways to honor the gaming legacy of the Game Boy. Just be prepared to exercise patience while waiting for your order to arrive.
