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Subscribe from just £3 Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£9.99Subscribe now Gamescom 2025 schedule Battlefield 6 Horror Special New Games for 2025 Recommended reading I miss when handhelds and phones had flip screens, so I'm eyeing up this Game Boy Advance SP dupe at its lowest price The Super Pocket is still keeping the heart of physical gaming alive, and the latest retro handheld flavors are distracting me from the Switch 2 A whole year later, the Anbernic RG Cube is still the retro handheld that lives on my bedside table, and it's nothing to do with its square screen After 30 years as a Zelda fanatic, I can't believe I've found a new way to revisit the series on N64 After a weekend fixing a crusty Game Boy clone, I'm hyped that the Modretro Chromatic is permanently back in stock Look, I'm loving Mario Kart World, but it won't keep me from playing my favorite PS1 racer on this $40 retro handheld The number of retro handhelds out there is frankly terrifying, but here are three I'd hit first over Prime Day Five years later, I can't believe Nintendo's Game & Watch tribute handhelds are available to buy new, and I still use one to spontaneously play Link's Awakening Phil Hayton 15 August 2025 The closest thing we'll get to a Game Boy Classic Edition When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Phil Hayton) At this point, I've made peace with the fact that if Nintendo brings out something remotely cool, it'll eventually become a coveted collector's item. That's largely because Ninty seems to get bored with selling anything that isn't its main console line, including its NES and SNES Classic Edition Mini consoles. Yet, for whatever reason, its handheld homage to the Game & Watch is still available new for a reasonable price. Serving as one of Nintendo's last mini retro console recreations, the Game & Watch comes in two flavors that celebrate the 40th and 35th anniversaries of Mario and Zelda. They're also designed to pay tribute to Ninty's Game Boy predecessor with the same name, which just so happened to be the company's first-ever gaming handheld to feature its iconic D-pad. Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros | $45.90 at Amazon Remarkably, the Mario version of Nintendo's revamped handheld is cheaper than at launch, as it originally came in at $49.99. Bear in mind that it only has Super Mario Bros, Mario Bros 2, and an appropriately themed version of the Game & Watch classic Ball. That said, it's still an excellent collectible that boasts authentic controls and animated clock features. UK: £38.16 at Amazon Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda | $57.95 at Amazon The Zelda Game & Watch is slightly more expensive than the Mario version at Amazon, and that's likely because it's got a better selection of games. But, it is still new stock that isn't dramatically over MSRP, which is impressive given the price of the NES and SNES Classic Edition mini consoles. UK: £44.99 at Nintendo Store Rather than rocking an old 2-bit LCD display, though, the modern Game & Watch handhelds use a 2.36-inch LCD display that's remarkably bright and vibrant. In truth, it feels like the tech within these incredibly small portables should have been used for a Game Boy: Classic Edition, but instead, we got two consoles with a couple of Mario and Zelda games pre-loaded. You may like I miss when handhelds and phones had flip screens, so I'm eyeing up this Game Boy Advance SP dupe at its lowest price The Super Pocket is still keeping the heart of physical gaming alive, and the latest retro handheld flavors are distracting me from the Switch 2 A whole year later, the Anbernic RG Cube is still the retro handheld that lives on my bedside table, and it's nothing to do with its square screen Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) If I'm being real with you, I think that's the real reason the Game & Watch handhelds are still available to buy. It's safe to say I was pretty disappointed back in 2020 when, instead of bringing out a Game Boy mini, Nintendo released a novelty gadget with only three games. I'm pretty sure even the smallest, cheapest flash storage chips could hold more than Super Mario Bros for the NES and its sequel, and I'd even take Super Mario Land as a bonus. But alas, the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros edition largely exists to serve as a small novelty alarm clock with a few classics included. However, Nintendo did redeem itself somewhat with the Zelda version a year later, as while it's still only got three games and the exact same two-button handheld design, it feels more like a proper tribute. For starters, the Legend of Zelda and Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link feel like grander outings than Mario's first escapade, which helps the handheld feel like it's got more to offer. But, it'll also hook you up with Zelda: Link's Awakening, which is undoubtedly one of the best Game Boy games of all time. (Image credit: Phil Hayton) Yes, I do have a zillion ways to play Link's Awakening, including on my original Game Boy Color with an AMOLED screen and FPGA consoles like the Modretro Chromatic and Analogue Pocket. Even cheap emulators like the Anbernic RG28XX will handle the adventure with ease, but the Game & Watch stands out as a ridiculously small and lightweight way to revisit the classic. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. If for nothing else, I honestly end up playing Link's Awakening on the tiny handheld simply due to its impressive battery. The Zelda Game & Watch can last up to 8 hours on a single charge via USB-C, but I'm not joking when I say I last charged mine months ago and it's still sitting at 75%. In my eyes, that makes this a great console for keeping in your backpack, on your bedside for when you can't sleep, or just on your person in case you get stranded on a desert island. Ultimately, I'm just pretty stoked that you can still buy both the Mario and Zelda Game & Watch handhelds new for not much more than their original MSRP. Even if you've got better ways to play old games, they're going to look sweet on your shelf next to the rest of your collection, and they make for a nice way to experience Ninty's '80s hardware without splashing out on a half-working piece of 40-year-old tech. More retro handhelds at Amazon $99.99 $59.84 at Amazon Using Valve's handheld for retro gaming? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck docks for excellent add-ons. Phil Hayton Social Links Navigation Hardware Editor Phil is the Hardware Editor at GamesRadar and joined the team in 2023. In the past, they've also contributed to the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, the BBC, and PCGamesN, but these days, they specialize in testing the latest gaming handhelds, monitors, TVs, and PC components. They're also extremely nerdy about retro consoles and playing the classics on both new and old systems. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. I miss when handhelds and phones had flip screens, so I'm eyeing up this Game Boy Advance SP dupe at its lowest price The Super Pocket is still keeping the heart of physical gaming alive, and the latest retro handheld flavors are distracting me from the Switch 2 A whole year later, the Anbernic RG Cube is still the retro handheld that lives on my bedside table, and it's nothing to do with its square screen After 30 years as a Zelda fanatic, I can't believe I've found a new way to revisit the series on N64 After a weekend fixing a crusty Game Boy clone, I'm hyped that the Modretro Chromatic is permanently back in stock Look, I'm loving Mario Kart World, but it won't keep me from playing my favorite PS1 racer on this $40 retro handheld Latest in Retro The minds behind the Nintendo DS emulation handheld I'm testing are working on a portable N64, but I'm not sure how I feel about the timing "The very best produced in recent years" - I can't believe I've got a reason to buy another C64 Mini, and it's not just because it's "back in black" I've been playing Need for Speed Underground 2 and Midnight Club 3 – 20 years later, they're still awesome A whole year later, the Anbernic RG Cube is still the retro handheld that lives on my bedside table, and it's nothing to do with its square screen The Analogue 3D might be delayed, but I can confirm its 8Bitdo N64 controller is worth the hype The Analogue 3D's controller launches today, but the new N64 gamepad failed to show up on my doorstep Latest in News Cal Kestis is finally appearing outside of the Star Wars Jedi games in an unexpected way Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date reportedly leaks, and it looks like the FPS is the latest to escape Microsoft's $80 price hike It's no Dune sandworm, but Demon Slayer is getting in on the popcorn fun with this Infinity Castle bucket "We will for sure lose money": League of Legends developer is finally cracking down on account boosting after 15 years, even at the cost of the game's revenue Blizzard pumps the breaks on eating Marvel Rivals' lunch with attractive Overwatch 2 heroes, says the team still "loves oddballs" like Bastion and Winston The Duffer Brothers might be leaving Netflix for Paramount Plus, and we're worried about what that means for the Stranger Things spin-offs GAME REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS This D&D board game could be the magic item needed to refresh your game nights, but it won't be a critical hit for everyone OFF review: "Undertale fans need to play this RPG that inspired it – I can't believe it took this stellar remake to get me to step up to the plate" Drag x Drive review: "I'm left craving Arms' sauce from Nintendo's twitchy yet shallow basketballer, which feels like a tech demo" Madden 26 review: "The finest entry in a decade by some margin" I'm convinced that this is still one of the best team board games around, and it deserves to be on your shelf Weapons review: "A twisted fairytale that bests Barbarian" The Fantastic Four: First Steps review: "An occasionally thrilling heroic adventure that sits safely within a B-tier MCU range" Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU" Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber" M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion" Wednesday season 2 part 1 review: "Complex and exciting but weighed down by too many subplots" Alien: Earth review: "Arguably the franchise's strongest outing since James Cameron's Aliens" King of the Hill season 14 review: "Hank Hill himself has evolved into a much more open and accepting person" Eyes of Wakanda review: "A creative premise shortchanged by the runtime and Marvel bloat" Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever" GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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