Game Release News

Is the Evercade Nexus the Best Retro Handheld of 2026?

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The retro handheld market in 2026 is busier than ever. Anbernic, Miyoo, and Retroid Pocket are all putting out impressive hardware, and if raw emulation power is your thing, there’s genuinely never been a better time to be a fan. But the Evercade Nexus isn’t trying to win that race — and that’s exactly why it stands out.

THE EMULATION GREY AREA (AND WHY IT MATTERS)

Let’s be honest about something the retro handheld community often glosses over: most emulation handhelds operate in a legal grey area. The hardware is legitimate. The software you load onto it — ROMs downloaded from the internet — almost certainly isn’t.

That’s not a moral lecture. It’s just context. For a lot of players, that doesn’t matter. But for retro fans who want a clean conscience alongside their collection, it absolutely does.

Every single game on the Evercade Nexus is officially licensed. Blaze Entertainment has done the legal legwork with publishers and rights holders so you don’t have to think about it. And every cartridge ships with a full-colour numbered manual — the kind of tactile, collectible experience that a microSD card stuffed with ROMs simply cannot replicate.

With 80+ collections and 700+ games already available in our Evercade cart library, there’s no shortage of content to get stuck into.

DUAL ANALOGUE STICKS — A BIGGER DEAL THAN IT SOUNDS

Older Evercade hardware leaned hard into the 8 and 16-bit era, which suits a D-pad just fine. The Nexus changes that conversation entirely. Dual analogue sticks, rear bumpers, and triggers mean the Nexus is properly equipped for N64 and PS1-era titles — the kind of 3D games where previous Evercade handhelds had to make compromises.

If you’ve ever tried to play a tank-control survival horror or a 3D platformer on a device without analogue inputs, you already know why this matters. The Nexus doesn’t ask you to settle.

THAT SCREEN

The Nexus packs a 5.89″ IPS display running at 840×512 resolution with brightness rated at over 500 nits. For pixel-art games, that resolution is a thoughtful choice — it scales cleanly for retro content without the softness you get when forcing a 1080p panel to display low-res sprites.

At 500+ nits, outdoor gaming in daylight is actually viable. Not “squint and hope” viable — genuinely usable. That’s a quality-of-life detail that makes a real difference day to day.

EVERSYNC MULTIPLAYER IS QUIETLY BRILLIANT

EverSync is one of those features that sounds modest until you think about it properly. Using WiFi 6, two Nexus units can share a game wirelessly — and only one player needs the cartridge. Your friend doesn’t need to own the game. You both just need a Nexus.

For a platform built around physical media, that’s a genuinely clever solution to the classic problem of local multiplayer collecting. No doubling up on carts, no awkward lending. Just play.

THE BANJO-KAZOOIE LAUNCH BUNDLE

The Nexus launches in October 2026 with something special in the box: the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack, featuring both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie on a single physical cartridge. Two of the most beloved N64 platformers ever made, officially licensed, on day one.

It’s a statement launch. Rare’s bear-and-bird duo are the kind of titles that justify those dual analogue sticks all by themselves, and having them as a physical collectible cart — complete with manual — is exactly the kind of thing Evercade fans will appreciate.

HOW IT STACKS UP AGAINST THE COMPETITION

Devices like the Anbernic RG and Miyoo line offer tremendous value if you want a wide-open emulation box. The Retroid Pocket range pushes further still, with Android under the hood and access to higher-end emulation targets. These are good devices. Genuinely.

But they’re asking a different question. They’re asking: how much can we emulate?

The Nexus asks: how good can a curated, legal, physical retro experience actually be?

With a 5,000mAh battery delivering 5+ hours of gameplay, USB-C charging, dual front-facing stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, wireless headphone support, and a quad-core 1.5GHz processor with 4GB eMMC RAM, the Nexus isn’t making compromises on the hardware side. It’s a premium device that happens to have a principled approach to game licensing baked into its DNA.

At £169.99 / $199.99 / €199.99, it sits at a higher price point than entry-level emulation handhelds — but factoring in the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack in the box and what you’re getting in terms of build quality and legal peace of mind, it’s a fair ask.

THE VERDICT

The best retro handheld of 2026 depends on what you’re looking for. If you want maximum emulation flexibility, the Anbernic and Retroid options are worth your attention. No shame in that.

But if you want a beautiful screen, proper analogue controls, clever local multiplayer, a growing library of officially licensed physical games, and a Banjo-Kazooie cart waiting in the box on day one — the Evercade Nexus is in a category of its own. It’s the retro handheld for people who actually care about the games, not just the ROMs.

Check out the full specs and everything you need to know on our Evercade Nexus hub page.

The Turrican Collection — A Legendary Series Comes to Evercade

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The Turrican Collection has arrived on Evercade, and it’s a big deal. Packing ten games across three classic platforms, this cartridge brings one of the most beloved run-and-gun series in gaming history to your handheld or home console in style.

A SERIES BUILT ON BLASTING AND EXPLORATION

Turrican was born in 1990, the brainchild of developer Manfred Trenz. Published by Rainbow Arts, the original Turrican hit the Amiga and immediately turned heads. It blended the frenetic shooting of Contra with vast, sprawling levels that rewarded exploration — a combination that felt genuinely fresh at the time.

The series was powered by Chris Hülsbeck’s legendary soundtracks, which are still celebrated to this day. If you’ve never heard the Turrican II music, you’re in for a treat. It’s the kind of score that gets stuck in your head for decades.

Turrican II: The Final Fight landed in 1991 and is widely regarded as the peak of the Amiga originals — bigger, bolder, and even more musically spectacular. Turrican 3 rounded out the Amiga trilogy, pushing the hardware further and wrapping up the story.

CONSOLE GLORY — SNES AND MEGA DRIVE

As the series moved to consoles, it evolved. The SNES entries — Super Turrican and Super Turrican 2 — were developed by Factor 5 and showed off the hardware’s capabilities beautifully. Both are fantastic games in their own right, with tight controls and that signature sense of scale.

This cartridge also includes Super Turrican Director’s Cut, a version that restores content that was cut from the original release. It’s a genuine piece of gaming history — and one that many fans will be playing for the first time here.

On the Mega Drive side, Mega Turrican is another Factor 5 gem — arguably the best-looking entry in the whole series and a showcase for what the Genesis could do. The Mega Turrican Director’s Cut similarly restores elements from the original vision of the game.

SCORE ATTACK MODES — SOMETHING EXTRA

Alongside the main games, the cartridge includes dedicated Score Attack modes for three of the titles: Super Turrican Score Attack, Mega Turrican Score Attack, and Super Turrican Score Attack (Director’s Cut variant). These stripped-back modes put the focus purely on racking up points, adding excellent replay value and a competitive edge for those who want to chase high scores.

TEN GAMES, ONE CARTRIDGE

To be crystal clear about what you’re getting, here’s the full lineup:

  • Turrican (Amiga)
  • Turrican II: The Final Fight (Amiga)
  • Turrican 3 (Amiga)
  • Super Turrican (SNES)
  • Super Turrican Director’s Cut (SNES)
  • Super Turrican 2 (SNES)
  • Super Turrican Score Attack (SNES)
  • Mega Turrican (Megadrive/Genesis)
  • Mega Turrican Director’s Cut (Megadrive/Genesis)
  • Mega Turrican Score Attack (Megadrive/Genesis)

That’s three Amiga classics, four SNES entries including score attack and the Director’s Cut, and three Mega Drive titles. Tremendous value for fans of the series or anyone who missed it the first time around.

ORIGINAL MANUALS — A NICE TOUCH

One of the great things about the Evercade community is the attention paid to preserving the history around these games — not just the games themselves. We’ve got original manual scans available for several titles in this collection, and they’re well worth a look for context, nostalgia, and just the sheer retro charm of old gaming documentation.

You can check out the original Turrican Amiga manual, the Super Turrican 2 SNES manual, and the Mega Turrican Mega Drive manual. Great for reading before you dive in — or just for a trip down memory lane.

WORTH YOUR TIME?

If you have any love for classic action games, absolutely yes. The Turrican series represents some of the finest 16-bit era gaming there is. Having it all in one place on Evercade — with Director’s Cut versions, score attack modes, and original manuals to browse — makes this one of the most compelling collections the platform has offered.

Whether you grew up with an Amiga, a SNES, or a Mega Drive, there’s something here for you. And if Turrican is completely new to you? You’re about to discover something special.

Head over to our Turrican Collection page for more details, screenshots, and everything you need to know about this release.

Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 — Indie Retro at Its Best

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Mega Cat Studios has built a serious reputation in the homebrew scene — crafting brand-new games that look, feel, and play like they were pulled straight from the golden age of retro gaming. Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 brings another batch of their finest work to the Evercade, and it’s a genuine treat for anyone who loves pixel art, chiptune soundtracks, and tight, satisfying gameplay.

WHO ARE MEGA CAT STUDIOS?

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mega Cat Studios is one of the most celebrated homebrew game developers in the world. They don’t just make ROMs — they produce physical cartridges with proper labels, manuals, and boxes, designed to sit proudly on your shelf alongside original releases.

What sets them apart is their commitment to authenticity. Their games are built using the same tools and techniques as classic developers, targeting real hardware constraints. The result? Games that feel genuinely of the era rather than just inspired by it.

Their partnership with Blaze Entertainment and the Evercade platform has been a brilliant one, giving their work a new audience of retro fans who might never have encountered the homebrew scene before.

WHAT’S ON THE CARTRIDGE?

Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 packs in 11 homebrew titles spanning Game Boy, Game Boy Color, NES, Mega Drive, and SNES.

On the NES you get GunTneR (run and gun), Machine Cave, The Meating and Flap Happy (platformers and action), plus Plyuk (shooter). The portable entries are Kudzu on Game Boy — an adventure — and Gumball In Trick-or-treat Land on Game Boy Color. On 16-bit hardware: Gravibots and Super Fanger bring puzzle gameplay to the Mega Drive and SNES respectively, while Rocket Panda is a Mega Drive platformer.

These are not tech demos or curiosities — they are fully realised games with real replay value, each built to the technical standards of the original hardware they target.

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR EVERCADE

One of the Evercade’s most exciting qualities is its willingness to celebrate games that exist outside the mainstream. The platform isn’t just a nostalgia machine — it’s a living archive of gaming culture, and homebrew collections like this one are a huge part of that story.

For many Evercade owners, Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 will be their first proper introduction to the homebrew world. That’s a genuinely exciting thing. These are games made out of pure passion, with no publisher pressure and no microtransactions — just developers who love retro gaming and want to push it forward.

Having them on a proper cartridge, playable on your VS, EXP, or handheld, feels exactly right. It’s the format these games deserve.

THE HOMEBREW DIFFERENCE

It’s worth taking a moment to appreciate what Mega Cat Studios actually does. Making a game that runs correctly on a real NES or Mega Drive — respecting the original hardware’s limitations, palette restrictions, and processing constraints — is genuinely difficult. It requires deep technical knowledge and a love of the craft.

The games on this collection aren’t just stylistically retro. Many of them were designed to run on original hardware. That means when you’re playing them on your Evercade, you’re experiencing something that has been held to an incredibly high technical standard.

That attention to detail shows. The sprite work is crisp, the music hits those satisfying chiptune notes, and the controls have that snappy, immediate feel that classic games are remembered for.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

If you have any interest in where retro gaming is heading — not just where it’s been — then yes, absolutely. Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 is the kind of cartridge that reminds you why the Evercade ecosystem is so special.

It’s new games that feel old, made by people who genuinely care. There’s nothing quite like it in the mainstream gaming space, and having a physical collection of this work is something worth appreciating.

Whether you love platformers, shooters, puzzlers, or adventures — and whether your heart belongs to the NES, Mega Drive, or Game Boy — there is something here for you.

Want the full game-by-game breakdown? Head over to our dedicated page for Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 for the complete details, tracklist, and more.

Rare Collection 1 — Rare’s Greatest Hits on Evercade

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The Rare Collection 1 cartridge is one of those releases that makes you stop and think about just how good Evercade has become at preserving gaming history. Rare — the studio behind some of the most beloved games of the 8-bit and 16-bit era — has a back catalogue that deserves to be celebrated, and this cart does exactly that.

WHY RARE’S BACK CATALOGUE MATTERS

Before Rare became synonymous with Donkey Kong Country and GoldenEye, the studio spent years crafting some genuinely excellent games for the NES. Working under the name Ultimate Play the Game before that, and then pushing the NES further than most thought possible, Rare built a reputation for quality and technical ambition that few studios could match.

These are games that shaped a generation of players — many of whom may never have had the chance to experience them on original hardware. Getting them onto a single Evercade cartridge is a big deal.

WHAT’S ON THE CART

Rare Collection 1 brings together a selection of NES classics that showcase the breadth of what the studio could do. You’re getting action, adventure, and arcade-style gameplay all in one place.

Battletoads is the obvious headline act. Notoriously tough, endlessly entertaining, and still looking sharp today — it’s a must-play for anyone who hasn’t tackled it before. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you about the Turbo Tunnel.

R.C. Pro-Am is a genuine classic. The isometric racing was ahead of its time on the NES, and it holds up remarkably well. Collecting letters, upgrading your vehicle, and battling rival racers still feels satisfying decades later.

Cobra Triangle doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. This overhead water-based shooter asks a lot of you — defending bases, fighting bosses, managing multiple threats at once — and the payoff is hugely satisfying when it clicks.

Slalom takes things in a very different direction with its skiing gameplay, while Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll offers a quirky isometric platformer that showed just how creative Rare’s design teams could be.

THE EVERCADE EXPERIENCE

Playing these games on Evercade — whether on the VS, the EXP, or one of the handheld units — feels completely natural. The cartridge format suits retro collections like this perfectly, and having a physical product to put on your shelf alongside the original era of gaming it represents is something digital storefronts simply can’t replicate.

The games run well, and the convenience of having them all in one place without hunting down original NES carts (or relying on emulation) is genuinely appreciated. This is exactly the kind of preservation work Evercade was built for.

SHOULD YOU PICK IT UP?

If you have any affection for the NES era — or if you’re a retro gaming fan who wants to understand why Rare became such a legendary studio — Rare Collection 1 is an easy recommendation. The quality is consistently high, the variety keeps things interesting, and Battletoads alone is worth the price of admission for newcomers.

For long-time fans, it’s a wonderful piece of nostalgia packaged in exactly the right way.

Want the full game list, more details, and the latest availability information? Head over to our dedicated Rare Collection 1 page for everything you need to know before you add this one to your collection.

Activision Collection 2 — What’s on the Cartridge?

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The second Activision collection for Evercade is packed with Atari 2600 classics, and if you grew up pumping coins into arcade machines or glued to a CRT in the early 80s, there’s a very good chance something on this cart will hit you right in the nostalgia.

Here’s everything you need to know about what’s on the cartridge.

THE FULL GAME LIST

Activision Collection 2 brings together 12 games from Activision’s golden era of Atari 2600 publishing. Here’s the complete lineup:

  • Barnstorming
  • Boxing
  • Chopper Command
  • Dragster
  • Enduro
  • Fishing Derby
  • Freeway
  • Kaboom!
  • Pitfall!
  • River Raid
  • Seaquest
  • Sky Jinks

A solid collection of some of the most recognisable titles from Activision’s early catalogue — and a few gems that don’t always get the attention they deserve.

THE STANDOUT GAMES

River Raid is arguably the crown jewel here. Carol Shaw’s vertically scrolling shooter is still genuinely compelling — managing fuel while weaving through increasingly tight river sections holds up remarkably well. It’s one of the finest games ever made for the Atari 2600, full stop.

Pitfall! needs little introduction. David Crane’s side-scrolling adventure was a landmark title in 1982, and swinging across those crocodile pits still feels satisfying. If you’ve never played it, this is a great excuse.

Kaboom! is the kind of game that starts gentle and becomes utterly frantic within minutes. Catching bombs dropped by the Mad Bomber using your paddles — or in this case the analogue stick — is addictive in that one-more-go way that only the best arcade-style games manage.

Enduro is a surprisingly deep racing game for the hardware. Surviving each day by overtaking the required number of cars while visibility shifts through dawn, dusk, and snow is quietly brilliant. It’s one that rewards repeated play.

Chopper Command draws obvious comparisons to Defender, and that’s no bad thing. Protecting your convoy from waves of enemy aircraft while managing limited lives is tense and fun in equal measure.

THE HIDDEN GEMS

Not every game on the cart is a household name, but that doesn’t mean they’re worth skipping.

Seaquest is an underwater shooter with a clever twist — you need to surface periodically to refuel your oxygen, while also rescuing divers before they drift off screen. It’s more strategic than it first appears.

Barnstorming is a simple but breezy stunt-flying game where you guide a biplane through a series of barns as quickly as possible. It’s not deep, but it’s fun in short bursts and works well for chasing your own best times.

Sky Jinks follows a similar time-trial formula — slalom flying around pylons — and is another one that’s light on complexity but satisfying when you’re going for a clean run.

Dragster is pure reflex gaming. Get your gear changes right, beat the clock. Simple, fast, and surprisingly replayable once you’re chasing a perfect run.

IS IT WORTH PICKING UP?

If you already own Activision Collection 1, you’ll know the format well — faithful ports of Atari 2600 classics presented cleanly on Evercade hardware. Collection 2 continues that trend with a strong lineup that’s heavy on quality.

Even if some of the titles feel short by modern standards, that’s rather the point. These are score-chasing, reflex-testing games built for repeat play. On a handheld like the Evercade EXP or VS, they’re perfect for quick sessions or competitive play with friends.

With River Raid, Pitfall!, Kaboom!, and Enduro alone, this cart more than justifies its place in any Evercade collection.

You can find full details, including where to buy, over on the Activision Collection 2 cartridge page here on evercade.info.

Evercade VS Game of the Month

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Game of the Month will be exclusive to Evercade VS users and will give you a free indie game every month!
The game will be downloaded as part of a regular monthly update and be available for one month only. In the first full week of every month, the game will change up for a new game!


This will go on for the rest of 2022 and will be available to all Evercade customers at the end of the year as a physical collection – Indie Heroes Collection 2!

Get all the details on the Official Evercade Game of the Month page.