General News

Blaze Entertainment and HyperMegaTech! have delayed THEC64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld by six months. Both devices were due on 15 October 2026 — they now launch 22 April 2027.

What’s changed

Both handhelds — and both the Standard and Collector’s Editions of each — move from 15 October 2026 to 22 April 2027. Retailers, including Funstock, have started emailing existing pre-order customers to confirm the new date. No pricing changes have been announced alongside the delay.

Why the delay?

Blaze cited production quality as the reason: areas of the build weren’t meeting their standards, and they’ve opted to take the extra time rather than ship a compromised product. It’s a six-month slip rather than a cancellation — the hardware itself, specs, and included game libraries (25 built-in titles on each device) aren’t affected.

What it means for existing pre-orders

If you’ve already pre-ordered either handheld, your order updates automatically to the new release date — no action needed. If your order includes other items alongside a handheld, expect the full order to ship together on the new date rather than being split. Contact your retailer’s support team directly if you want to amend or cancel. For international retailers and other stockists, see our Where to Buy page.

PRE-ORDER

THEC64 Handheld

The Spectrum Handheld

The rest of the Evercade lineup isn’t affected

This delay is specific to the two clamshell handhelds built by HyperMegaTech! — it’s separate from the core Evercade cartridge-based hardware. Blaze explicitly confirmed the Evercade Nexus is unaffected and remains on track for its 30 October 2026 release. It also lands just a day after two other launches went ahead on schedule: the Evercade Wireless Controller and the Super Pocket Activision Edition both released as planned on 28 September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do THEC64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld release now?

22 April 2027 — both devices, both Standard and Collector’s Editions. They were originally due 15 October 2026.

Has the price changed?

No price changes have been announced. See the THEC64 Handheld and Spectrum Handheld pages for current pricing.

Do I need to do anything with my existing pre-order?

No — orders are automatically updated to the new release date. Contact your retailer if you want to change or cancel.

Is this a cancellation?

No. Blaze and HyperMegaTech! have confirmed both handhelds are still coming — just six months later than planned, to address production quality issues.

Is the Evercade Nexus affected by this delay?

No — Blaze has explicitly confirmed the Evercade Nexus is unaffected and remains on track for its 30 October 2026 release.

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For full specs and pricing, see our THEC64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld pages, or our head-to-head comparison if you’re deciding between the two. See the full range on our hardware comparison guide.

Blaze has now confirmed dates for the next wave of Evercade cartridges. The DOOM Collection and the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack arrive on 30 October 2026, in the same month as the Evercade Nexus, and The Last Ninja and IK Collection and the James Pond Collection follow on 4 December 2026. Here’s what’s coming, plus the cartridges that have already come out this year.

Coming on 30 October 2026

The DOOM Collection is cartridge 11 in the Evercade Home Computer Collection. It has nine officially licensed native ports: DOOM, DOOM II, six official mission packs and a set of Deathmatch levels, with up to four players. It costs £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99, and the cartridge has a red shell rather than the usual blue. The game list and the original manuals are on the DOOM Collection page, and there is also a limited Evercade Nexus DOOM Edition.

  

The Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack is cartridge 53 in the Evercade Home Console Collection. Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie come as brand-new enhanced Evercade ports rather than N64 emulation. It is the launch cartridge bundled with the Nexus, and it is also sold separately, with the same 30 October release. See the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack page for details.

  

Coming on 4 December 2026

The Last Ninja and IK Collection is cartridge 12 in the Evercade Home Computer Collection. It has 14 game versions across the Commodore 64, Atari ST and ZX Spectrum, covering The Last Ninja, Last Ninja 2 and 3, Ninja Remix, International Karate and IK+. It costs £24.99 / €29.99 / $29.99, and pre-orders opened on 24 September. The Last Ninja and IK Collection page has the full list and the original manuals.

  

The James Pond Collection is cartridge 54 in the Evercade Home Console Collection, with four Mega Drive / Genesis games: James Pond: Underwater Agent, James Pond 2: Codename: RoboCod, James Pond 3: Operation StarFI5H and The Aquatic Games. It has the same price and pre-order date. See the James Pond Collection page for the list and the manuals we’ve found so far.

  

Blaze says both December cartridges work across the Evercade ecosystem, including the Nexus, home consoles, handhelds, the Evercade Alpha and HyperMegaTech! Super Pocket devices.

Already released in 2026

If you missed them, these cartridges have already come out this year:

• NEOGEO Arcade 4 (cartridge 22 in the Evercade Arcade Collection) – released 26 June 2026 at £19.99 / €24.99 / $29.99
• Activision Collection 3 (cartridge 52 in the Evercade Home Console Collection) – 13 Atari 2600 games, released 26 June 2026
• Visco Arcade 1 and Visco Arcade 2 (cartridges 23 and 24 in the Evercade Arcade Collection) – eight games each, released 28 August 2026

Which hardware will play them?

Check each cartridge’s page for compatibility. The devices to look at are the compact Super Pocket, the EXP-R handheld, the TV-connected VS-R, the Alpha bartop arcade machine and the new Nexus handheld. Not sure which is right for you? The hardware comparison page breaks it all down.

Don’t forget the original manuals

One of the things I enjoy most about this site is the collection of original game manual scans. The DOOM Collection page hosts the original manuals for DOOM, DOOM II and Final DOOM, and the Last Ninja and James Pond pages link the original manuals I’ve been able to find.

Popular ones include the Tomb Raider Manual, the Duke Nukem 3D Manual and the Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain Manual. There are also scans for Worms Armageddon, Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars, Another World and more. Browse them all on the Evercade Manual Scans page, and if you have a manual that’s missing, please let me know.

Keep track of the whole library

The Carts & Manuals page lists every cartridge in collection order, the A-Z of Evercade Games lets you look a game up by name, and Find Your Cart lets you browse by genre, era and system. Looking for somewhere to start? See our picks for the best Evercade cartridges. Some older cartridges are no longer in production, and the Legacy Cartridges page shows what’s discontinued and where to find it second-hand.

Got a game name in your head but no idea which cartridge it’s on? The new A-Z of Evercade Games solves that instantly — every officially licensed Evercade game, alphabetised and cross-referenced to the cartridge it ships on.

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What is the A-Z of Evercade Games?

It’s a single-page alphabetical index of all 767 games across 91 cartridges. Every entry tells you the game name and the exact cartridge it appears on — so you can jump straight to the cartridge page for box art, full game listings, and more.

The index is colour-coded by cartridge type: Console, Arcade, Home Computer, and Built-In. There’s also a quick-jump bar so you can skip straight to any letter — no endless scrolling required.

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Why is it useful?

The Evercade Games Database is brilliant when you want to filter by genre, number of players, release date, or era. But sometimes you just want a quick answer: which cart is Battletoads on? The A-Z gets you there in seconds.

Think of the two pages as complementary tools. Use the A-Z when you already know the game name. Use the Games Database when you’re browsing or comparing. Together they cover every way you’d want to dig into the Evercade library.

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Who is it for?

Pretty much everyone — but it’s especially handy for:

• New Evercade owners who have a wishlist of specific games and want to know which carts to buy first.
• Collectors tracking down titles they’re missing.
• Retro gamers who remember a game from childhood and want to know if Evercade has it.
• Gift buyers trying to figure out which cartridge to pick up for someone.

If you’re completely new to the platform, the Introduction to Evercade is a great place to start before diving into the library.

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Original game manuals — a hidden gem

One of the standout features tucked into the A-Z is the growing collection of original game manual scans. Where a manual is available, it’s flagged right alongside the game entry.

These aren’t just reference PDFs — they’re a genuine nostalgia hit. Titles with scanned manuals include classics like Battletoads, Tomb Raider, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Another World, Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars, Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror, Cannon Fodder, Duke Nukem 3D, Worms Armageddon, Sensible Soccer: International Edition, and many more.

There are also some real deep-cut treats in there — original manuals for Bee 52, Big Nose Freaks Out, Bases Loaded, Brawl Brothers, California Games, Impossible Mission, Mega Lo Mania, R.C. Pro-Am, Cobra Triangle, Conker’s Pocket Tales, Earthworm Jim 2, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Aero the Acro-Bat, Astyanax, Gateway to Apshai, MiG-29 Soviet Fighter, Side Pocket, Quattro Adventure, Super Skidmarks, Utopia: The Creation of a Nation, Winter Games, Xump: Final Run, Z, The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy, and Dizzy the Adventurer.

The full list of cartridges with manual scans keeps growing — browse the complete Carts & Manuals library to see everything available.

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How to use the A-Z alongside the Games Database

Here’s the quickest workflow:

1. Know a game name? Go straight to the A-Z of Evercade Games, hit the letter jump link, find your game, and click through to the cartridge.
2. Browsing for something new? Head to the Evercade Games Database and filter by genre, era, or player count.
3. Want to pick a whole cartridge? The Carts & Manuals page gives you the full picture — game lists, box art, and manuals all in one place.

Not sure which Evercade hardware to play all these games on? Our hardware comparison page breaks down every option — from the pocket-sized Super Pocket to the TV-connected VS-R.

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Ready to find your next favourite? Browse the full A-Z of Evercade Games — and if a cartridge catches your eye, check out our picks for the best Evercade cartridges to help narrow things down.

Evercade’s library is much darker than its friendly, colourful image suggests. Between the DOOM Collection, gothic vampire epics, alien-blasting shooters and a lot of retro monster mayhem, there’s plenty here for anyone who likes their gaming on the creepy or cosmic side. We went through the cartridge library game by game to pull out the picks below, grouped by flavour. Short on time? Start with the DOOM Collection, Team17 Collection 1 (Alien Breed) and the Legacy of Kain Collection.

A note on cartridge status: anything marked legacy is out of print and only available second-hand — those entries have an eBay link. Carts without that tag aren’t on our legacy list.

The big one: the DOOM Collection

The DOOM Collection (Home Computer Cartridge 11) arrives on 30 October 2026 — the day before Halloween — for £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99. It packs nine pieces of officially licensed content into a single cartridge with a distinctive red shell, and they’re new native ports built for Evercade hardware rather than emulated console releases.

  

You get DOOM, DOOM II, Master Levels for DOOM II, TNT: Evilution, The Plutonia Experiment, No Rest for the Living, SIGIL, SIGIL II and a Deathmatch level set, plus gameplay modifiers (Turbo Monsters, Vampire Mode and more), adjustable violence settings and multiplayer modes including Chaosmatch, Instagib and Tag. It works on all current Evercade hardware. The original manuals for DOOM, DOOM II and Final DOOM (which covers TNT: Evilution and The Plutonia Experiment) are linked from the DOOM Collection page, along with the full game list.

The limited-edition Nexus DOOM Edition bundle has already sold out — all 3,000 units went shortly after pre-orders opened. Our Nexus DOOM Edition sold-out post explains what that means; the standard DOOM Collection cartridge is not limited.

Gothic horror, ghosts and monsters

Legacy of Kain Collection (Cartridge 41) is the essential gothic pick: Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, two PlayStation-era vampire epics with dark fantasy, time travel and plenty of atmosphere. Both have original manuals linked from their pages.

Namco Museum Collection 2 (Cartridge 6, legacy cartridge, out of print — see our Legacy Cartridges page) is the one for gore fans: it includes Splatterhouse 2 and Splatterhouse 3, the Mega Drive horror beat-’em-ups.

Find it on eBay →

Atari Collection 2 (Cartridge 5, legacy cartridge, out of print — see our Legacy Cartridges page) has an early taste of survival horror in Haunted House: creep around a dark mansion with only a match for light, dodging ghosts and bats.

Find it on eBay →

Atari Lynx Collection 1 (Cartridge 13, legacy cartridge, out of print — see our Legacy Cartridges page) adds Dracula the Undead, a Dracula-themed adventure on Atari’s handheld.

Find it on eBay →

Indie Heroes Collection 1 (Cartridge 17, legacy cartridge, out of print — see our Legacy Cartridges page) has Deadeus, a Game Boy horror game.

Find it on eBay →

The Bitmap Brothers Collection 2 (Home Computer Cartridge 8) includes Cadaver and Cadaver: The Payoff, grim isometric dungeon crawls.

Thalamus Collection 1 (Home Computer Cartridge 7) has Creatures II: Torture Trouble, which sends you into a demon-run torture chamber.

Jaleco Arcade Collection 1 (Arcade Cartridge 5) has Avenging Spirit, where you play a ghost who possesses your enemies.

Data East Arcade 1 (Arcade Cartridge 2) has the dark-fantasy action RPG Dark Seal.

Demons of Asteborg/Astebros (Cartridge 36) is a 16-bit platformer with a demon-hunting, dark fantasy theme.

Indie Heroes Collection 4 (Cartridge 43) has Nyghtmare: The Ninth King, a dark-fantasy action platformer in the Castlevania mould, and Curse of Illmoore Bay, a Halloween-themed Mega Drive platformer that is more Saturday-morning cartoon than scary.

One more, and it isn’t a cartridge: the Evercade EXP-R has 16 Capcom games built in, including Ghouls ’n Ghosts. See our Built-In Games page for the full list.

Alien invasions and sci-fi shooters

Team17 Collection 1 (Home Computer Cartridge 3) is the top sci-fi pick after DOOM: Alien Breed, Alien Breed 2 and Alien Breed: Tower Assault, the Aliens-inspired top-down shooters, plus Project X.

Duke Nukem Collection 1 (Cartridge 33) has Duke Nukem 3D: Total Meltdown — the alien-invasion FPS to play alongside DOOM — and Duke Nukem II: Remastered.

Duke Nukem Collection 2 (Cartridge 34) has the PlayStation and Game Boy Advance spin-offs.

Xeno Crisis & Tanglewood (Cartridge 11) brings Xeno Crisis, a modern Mega Drive-style arena shooter with a strong Aliens flavour.

Piko Interactive Collection 3 (Cartridge 29) has Zero Tolerance, a first-person shooter on the Mega Drive.

Piko Interactive Collection 4 (Cartridge 39) adds Zero Tolerance Underground.

The Turrican Collection (Cartridge 49) collects ten sci-fi run-and-gun games from the series, including Turrican, Turrican II and Mega Turrican.

Metal Dragon / Life on Mars (Cartridge 42) has two 16-bit titles; in Life on Mars you investigate a seemingly abandoned space colony.

Indie Heroes Collection 2 (Cartridge 28) has Nix: The Paradox Relic, a sci-fi action-adventure in which a bounty hunter infiltrates an abandoned research facility on an asteroid.

Indie Heroes Collection 4 (Cartridge 43) also has Starseed, a Game Boy Color shooter against alien waves and space dreadnoughts.

Bitmap Brothers Collection 1 (Cartridge 22) has Xenon 2: Megablast and The Chaos Engine.

Bitmap Brothers Collection 2 (Home Computer Cartridge 8) also has Z, the robot-war strategy game.

Delphine Software Collection 1 (Home Computer Cartridge 4) has Another World and Flashback, two cinematic sci-fi classics.

Retro computer sci-fi

The Home Computer carts are full of space shooters.

The Llamasoft Collection (Home Computer Cartridge 10) has Jeff Minter’s surreal blasters, including Attack of the Mutant Camels and Metagalactic Llamas.

Thalamus Collection 1 (Home Computer Cartridge 7) also has Armalyte.

The C64 Collection 2 (Home Computer Cartridge 2) has Cybernoid and Uridium.

The C64 Collection 3 (Home Computer Cartridge 6) has Cybernoid II and Exolon.

Home Computer Heroes Collection 1 (Home Computer Cartridge 5) has Attack of the PETSCII Robots.

Arcade sci-fi and monsters

NEOGEO Arcade 4 (Arcade Cartridge 22) is the best of the NEOGEO carts for this list: Blazing Star is a sci-fi shooter, Robo Army is a cyborg beat-’em-up and King of the Monsters is giant-monster wrestling. Our NEOGEO Arcade 4 post has more.

NEOGEO Arcade 1 (Arcade Cartridge 16) has the dark-fantasy platformer Magician Lord.

NEOGEO Arcade 2 (Arcade Cartridge 19) has Metal Slug 2, which brings in alien invaders.

NEOGEO Arcade 3 (Arcade Cartridge 20) has Metal Slug 3, with more alien invaders.

Irem Arcade 1 (Arcade Cartridge 7, legacy cartridge, out of print — see our Legacy Cartridges page) is home to R-Type, the shooter with the biomechanical Bydo enemies.

Find it on eBay →

For more scrolling shooters, our shoot-em-up guide goes deeper. The sci-fi picks from those carts:

Toaplan Arcade 1 (Arcade Cartridge 8) has Zero Wing and Truxton.

Toaplan Arcade 2 (Arcade Cartridge 9) has Hellfire.

Toaplan Arcade 3 (Arcade Cartridge 11) has Batsugun.

Toaplan Arcade 4 (Arcade Cartridge 13) has Dogyuun and Grind Stormer.

Data East Arcade 1 (Arcade Cartridge 2) also has Darwin 4078.

Visco Arcade 1 (Arcade Cartridge 23) has Andro Dunos and Earth Joker.

Windjammers, Karnov & Friends (Arcade Cartridge 15) has Atomic Runner Chelnov and Rohga: Armor Force.

TAITO Arcade 1 (Arcade Cartridge 17) has Space Invaders and Colony 7.

Atari Arcade 2 (Arcade Cartridge 14) has Berzerk’s robot mazes.

Classic space arcade (legacy carts)

Atari Collection 1 (Cartridge 1, legacy cartridge, out of print — see our Legacy Cartridges page) has Asteroids, Tempest and Gravitar.

Find it on eBay →

Namco Museum Collection 1 (Cartridge 2, legacy cartridge, out of print — see our Legacy Cartridges page) has Galaxian and Xevious.

Find it on eBay →

Which Evercade for the atmosphere?

The VS-R plays on your TV and supports up to four players, which suits the DOOM multiplayer modes. The Alpha is a bartop arcade machine, a natural home for the arcade carts above. Still deciding? Our hardware comparison breaks it down.

Browse everything in the Games Database or the A–Z of Evercade Games, or see what the community recommends in Best Evercade Cartridges.

Two very different Evercade devices. One question: which one is right for you — or do you actually need both? The Evercade Nexus is a full-sized handheld built for 32 and 64-bit retro gaming on the go. The Evercade VS-R is a home console that plugs into your TV and supports up to four players. They’re not really competing — they’re solving different problems. But if you’re trying to decide where to spend your money, this guide will help.

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THE CORE DIFFERENCE

This isn’t a spec shootout. The Nexus and VS-R exist in fundamentally different spaces. The Nexus is a handheld — you pick it up, take it wherever, and play. The VS-R is a home console — it lives next to your TV and is built around the living room experience.

Both play the full Evercade cartridge library. Both are part of the same ecosystem. But how and where you play looks completely different depending on which one you own.

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CHOOSE THE NEXUS IF…

  

You want portable retro gaming without compromise. The Nexus has a 5.89-inch IPS screen, dual analogue sticks, rear bumpers and triggers, WiFi 6, and a 5,000mAh battery rated for 5+ hours of play. It’s the most capable handheld Evercade has ever made.

Those dual analogue sticks matter more than they might sound. The Nexus is designed around 32 and 64-bit titles — games that simply couldn’t be played properly on earlier Evercade handhelds. If you want to get the most out of that era of gaming, the control layout is essential.

The Nexus also includes EverSync — an exclusive local wireless multiplayer feature that lets two Nexus units play together without a router or internet connection. Crucially, only one player needs to own the cartridge. That’s a genuinely exciting feature for co-op and versus play on the go.

TATE mode returns too, rotating the screen to vertical for arcade games originally designed for portrait cabinets. Button mapping rotates with it, so vertical shooters play exactly as intended.

It launches in October 2026 at £169.99 / $199.99 / €199.99, and it comes bundled with the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack — two classic 64-bit Rare titles on a single cartridge.

The Nexus is the one to get if: you commute, travel, play in bed, or simply prefer handheld gaming. It’s also the right call if 32 and 64-bit games are your priority.

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CHOOSE THE VS-R IF…

  

You want Evercade on the big screen, with friends and family around you. The VS-R plugs into your TV and supports up to four players — that’s the experience it’s built for.

If your retro gaming is a social activity — couch co-op, competitive head-to-head, or introducing younger family members to classic games — the VS-R is the obvious answer. A handheld, however capable, just can’t replicate that shared-screen living room atmosphere.

It’s also worth noting that the Nexus has no HDMI output or TV streaming capability. If you want Evercade on your television, the VS-R is the device for that job. Full stop.

The VS-R is the one to get if: your gaming happens in the living room, you play with others regularly, or you simply prefer a traditional home console setup.

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WHY BOTH MAKES SENSE

Here’s the thing — these two devices complement each other really naturally. The VS-R handles your TV-based sessions and multiplayer evenings. The Nexus covers everything else: the commute, the holiday, the late-night gaming in bed when you don’t want to disturb anyone.

And because both play the same cartridge library, you’re not splitting your collection. Buy a cartridge once, and it works in both devices. That’s one of the smartest things about the Evercade ecosystem — your physical library travels between devices without any friction.

A household with both a Nexus and a VS-R has genuinely full coverage: portable solo play, big-screen multiplayer, and a single shared cartridge collection tying it all together.

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QUICK DECISION GUIDE

Pick the Nexus if: you want portable play, you love 32/64-bit games, dual analogue sticks matter to you, or you want EverSync wireless multiplayer between two handhelds.

Pick the VS-R if: you want Evercade on your TV, you play with multiple people regularly, or the living room is your primary gaming space.

Get both if: you want the full Evercade experience — solo handheld gaming and social TV-based multiplayer — sharing a single cartridge library across both.

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Not sure where to start with Evercade hardware in general? Our hardware comparison page covers every current device side by side, including the Super Pocket and EXP-R. And if you’re building out your cartridge library, check out our picks for the best Evercade cartridges to get started. Once you’ve decided, our Where to Buy guide rounds up the best retailers and deals in every region.

The Evercade Nexus DOOM Edition was announced, went on sale, and sold out — all in the space of a single afternoon. If you missed it, here’s what happened and what you can do about it.

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WHAT WAS THE NEXUS DOOM EDITION?

The Nexus DOOM Edition was a limited bundle pairing a DOOM-themed Evercade Nexus with The DOOM Collection cartridge and a set of exclusive physical extras. It was limited to just 3,000 units worldwide, sold exclusively through Funstock, and priced at £199.99 / €239.99 / $249.99.

Here’s everything that was packed in the box:

• Evercade Nexus handheld with a DOOM-inspired design
• The DOOM Collection cartridge
• Exclusive DOOM EVA hard case
• Numbered certificate of authenticity
• DOOM keyring
• Poster
• Comic
• Screen protector
• Charging cable

That’s a genuinely strong package for DOOM fans — and it’s worth noting that The DOOM Collection features new native ports built specifically for Evercade hardware, not emulated versions of existing console releases.

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HOW FAST DID IT SELL OUT?

Pre-orders opened on 7 August 2026 at 3pm UK / 10am ET / 7am PT, exclusively via Funstock. All 3,000 units were gone shortly after. There is no restock planned before the 30 October 2026 release date — and given this was a one-off limited run, a restock seems unlikely full stop.

The speed of the sell-out says something meaningful: demand for the Evercade Nexus is clearly strong even before the handheld has launched. When a limited £199.99 bundle disappears in hours, that’s not luck — that’s a fanbase paying attention.

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MISSED IT? HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS

You don’t need the limited edition to play the games. The DOOM Collection cartridge is not limited — it’s a standard release available separately, launching on the same day, 30 October 2026. Pick up a standard Evercade Nexus and grab The DOOM Collection alongside it, and you’re playing exactly the same games.

What you won’t get is the DOOM-themed hardware design, the EVA hard case, the numbered certificate, the comic, the keyring, or the poster. Those extras are gone. But the actual gaming experience is identical.

If you’re new to the Evercade ecosystem and wondering where to start, our introduction to Evercade is a good first stop, and the hardware comparison page will help you figure out which device suits you best.

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WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT EVERCADE?

Selling 3,000 units of a premium limited bundle — one that hadn’t even shipped yet for a handheld not yet released — in a matter of hours is a strong signal. The Nexus launches in October 2026 with some serious momentum behind it. Bundled with the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack in its standard form and sporting a 5.89-inch screen, dual analogue sticks, and WiFi 6, it’s shaping up to be the most capable Evercade handheld yet — and the market is clearly taking notice.

If you’re building out a wider Evercade collection alongside the Nexus, the official Evercade Wireless Controller (£34.99) is worth a look too — it adds dual-stick play to the VS, VS-R, and Alpha.

It also shows that physical extras still matter to this community. The EVA case, the comic, the numbered certificate — these aren’t throwaway additions. Evercade fans care about owning something tangible, and Blaze clearly knows it.

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THE DOOM COLLECTION CARTRIDGE

The DOOM Collection is available as a standalone cartridge for anyone picking up any Evercade device. As mentioned, these are new native ports built for Evercade hardware — not ports of ports. That’s worth getting excited about regardless of which version of the Nexus you end up with.

And if you love the physical side of Evercade cartridges — the manuals, the packaging — don’t forget that original game manual scans are available on the site, letting you browse the included documentation for cartridges across the entire library.

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Missed the DOOM Edition? Don’t write off the Nexus. Head over to the Evercade Nexus page for full specs and details — and check where to buy to secure your standard Nexus before launch.

Building a complete Evercade cartridge library is one of the most satisfying projects in retro gaming collecting. The range is big enough to feel like a proper challenge, but manageable enough that a full collection is genuinely achievable. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.

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How Evercade Cartridges Are Organised

Every Evercade cartridge has a number printed on the spine of the case. That number tells you exactly where it sits in the full collection — and it’s the clearest way to track your progress as a collector.

The library is split into three distinct series, each with its own colour-coded case:

• Console Games — Red Cases. The main series, covering licensed compilations of classic console games from publishers like Atari, Namco, Interplay, Rare, and many more.
• Arcade Games — Purple Cases. Dedicated arcade compilations, pulling together coin-op classics from Technos, Data East, Toaplan, TAITO, NEOGEO, and others.
• Home Computer Games — Blue Cases. A fantastic series focused on the C64, Amiga, and home computer era, featuring collections from Team17, Delphine Software, Llamasoft, and more.

Keeping track of all three series at once is much easier with the full Evercade cartridge library on Carts & Manuals — every cart, every number, all in one place.

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The Console Games Series (Red Cases)

This is the biggest and most varied series. It includes heavy-hitters like Atari Collection 1 (Legacy), Namco Museum Collection 1 (Legacy), Rare Collection 1, and Tomb Raider Collection 1, alongside indie-focused releases like the Indie Heroes Collection 1 (Legacy) through Indie Heroes Collection 4.

Publisher series — Activision, Sunsoft, Gremlin, Piko, Interplay, Duke Nukem — each span multiple volumes, so if you love a particular publisher’s back catalogue, chances are there’s more than one cart to hunt down.

There are also some standout individual releases worth highlighting: Xenocrisis / Tanglewood, Full Void, Broken Sword Collection, and the upcoming Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack (bundled with the Evercade Nexus) are all must-haves for any serious collection.

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The Arcade Games Series (Purple Cases)

If you’re an arcade fan, the purple cases are essential. The series covers coin-op legends from Technos Arcade 1 (Legacy) right through to multiple volumes of TAITO Arcade, NEOGEO Arcade, and Toaplan Arcade.

Highlights include Data East Arcade 1 and Data East Arcade 2, Irem Arcade 1 (Legacy), Windjammers, Karnov & Friends, and the Jaleco Arcade Collection 1. There’s genuine depth here — and more volumes keep arriving.

For recommendations on where to start, check out our guide to the best Evercade cartridges for arcade fans.

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The Home Computer Series (Blue Cases)

The blue cases often fly under the radar, but they’re brilliant. The C64 Collection 1, The C64 Collection 2, and The C64 Collection 3 bring dozens of Commodore 64 classics to Evercade. Team17 Collection 1, Delphine Software Collection 1, Thalamus Collection 1, The Bitmap Brothers Collection 2, and Llamasoft Collection round out an excellent series for home computer fans.

Roguecraft DX also sits in this series — a newer indie release that fits the home computer aesthetic perfectly.

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Legacy Cartridges — The Out-of-Print Ones

Some Evercade cartridges are no longer in production. When the licence to manufacture a cart expires and isn’t renewed, that cart becomes a Legacy cartridge — no new stock will ever be made. The only way to get one is second-hand.

This is one of the trickier parts of building a complete library, but it’s also part of what makes Evercade collecting genuinely interesting. The Evercade Legacy Cartridges page has the full list of discontinued carts, along with eBay links to help you track them down.

If you’re serious about completing the set, check the legacy list early. Some of these carts are harder to find than others, and prices on the second-hand market can vary significantly.

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Tips for Finding Second-Hand Carts

Whether you’re hunting legacy carts or just filling gaps in your collection, here’s what works:

• eBay is the most reliable source for second-hand Evercade carts. Search by cartridge name and check sold listings to get a sense of fair prices before you bid.
• Facebook Marketplace and retro gaming groups can turn up bargains, especially from sellers who don’t know what they have.
• Retro gaming fairs and car boot sales are long shots, but Evercade carts do turn up — particularly the earlier releases.
• Retro gaming forums and Discord communities often have buy/sell/trade sections where fellow collectors offload duplicates at reasonable prices.
• Always check the cart number on the spine matches what you expect — it’s the quickest way to confirm you’ve got the right one.

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Don’t Forget — There Are Announced Carts Too

Blaze Entertainment occasionally teases cartridges before full details are confirmed. One to watch right now: DOOM x Evercade, officially teased in February 2026 to mark id Software’s 35th anniversary. No games list, price, or release date yet — but it’s one to keep an eye on.

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Original Manuals — A Collector’s Bonus

One of the things that makes Evercade collecting extra rewarding is the physical packaging — each cart comes with a manual. But did you know you can also browse original game manuals for many of the games in the Evercade library?

The Evercade manual scans section has a growing collection of original PDFs. Some of the most popular include the Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain manual, the Tomb Raider manual, the Duke Nukem 3D manual, and the Worms Armageddon manual.

There are also great scans for games like Another World, Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars, Earthworm Jim 2, California Games, R.C. Pro-Am, and The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy — perfect for diving deeper into the history of games in your collection.

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Start With the Full Library List

The best first step for any Evercade collector is getting the full picture of what exists. Head to the Carts & Manuals page for the complete numbered library — console, arcade, and home computer — all in one place. From there, you’ll know exactly what you have, what you’re missing, and what to hunt for next.

Happy collecting!

Buying a gift for a retro gaming fan? Evercade is one of the best things in that space right now — physical cartridges, a growing library of classic games, and hardware to suit every budget. Here’s everything you need to know to get it right.

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WHAT IS EVERCADE?

Evercade is a retro gaming ecosystem built around physical cartridges, each packed with multiple classic games. There are handhelds, a home console, and even a bartop arcade cabinet — all playing from the same cartridge library. If you’re new to it, our introduction to Evercade is a great place to start.

The good news for gift buyers: you don’t need to know everything. Pick a device, grab a cartridge or two, and you’ve got a genuinely great present.

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THE HARDWARE — WHAT TO BUY AND WHY

Budget pick: Super Pocket — from £59.99

The Super Pocket is the smallest and most affordable Evercade device. It fits in a shirt pocket, takes all Evercade cartridges, and comes pre-loaded with 12–50 built-in games depending on the edition. Editions include Taito, Capcom, Atari, Technōs, Neo Geo, Data East, Rare, and Activision — so you can match it to whatever the recipient loves.

If you’re not sure whether the person you’re buying for will take to Evercade, this is the lowest-risk entry point. Great value, genuinely pocketable, and a full gateway into the cartridge library.

Mid-range pick: Evercade EXP-R

The EXP-R is the most well-rounded Evercade handheld. It has a 4.3-inch IPS screen, TATE mode for vertical arcade games, and plays every Evercade cartridge. It comes bundled with Tomb Raider Collection 1, so there’s something to play straight out of the box.

No built-in game library like the Super Pocket, but a bigger, brighter screen and a more premium feel. This is the sweet spot for most retro gaming fans who want the full cartridge experience on the go.

Premium pick: Evercade Nexus — £169.99 (launching October 2026)

The Nexus is the flagship handheld — a 5.89-inch screen, dual analogue sticks, WiFi 6, and EverSync for local wireless multiplayer between two Nexus units. It launches in October 2026 and comes bundled with the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack.

If budget isn’t a concern and you want to give the best possible Evercade experience, this is it. Perfect for someone who wants to play 32 and 64-bit titles as well as the classic 8-bit and 16-bit library.

Home console pick: Evercade VS-R

The VS-R is Evercade’s home console — it plugs into the TV via HDMI at 1080p, has dual cartridge slots, and supports up to four players via USB controllers. If the person you’re buying for prefers gaming on a big screen or plays with family and friends, this is the one to go for.

Statement piece: Evercade Alpha — from £229.99

The Alpha is a pre-assembled bartop arcade cabinet with an 8-inch IPS screen, competition-grade arcade controls, and dual cartridge slots. It comes in Street Fighter, Mega Man, and Taito editions, each with 6–10 built-in games.

This isn’t an everyday gaming device — it’s a desk or counter centrepiece for someone who loves arcade culture. A serious gift for a serious retro fan.

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THE BEST STARTER CARTRIDGES

Evercade cartridges are where the library really shines. Here are some strong picks for someone new to the platform — all tried, tested, and well-loved by the community.

For arcade fans: Capcom Collection is packed with instant classics — Street Fighter II, Mega Man, and Final Fight among them. TAITO Arcade 1 and TAITO Arcade 2 are equally essential, and Data East Arcade 1 is also a superb choice. Check our full best arcade cartridges guide for more.

For all-round retro gaming: The Activision Collection 1 is a brilliant starting point with a huge breadth of classic titles — Pitfall! and River Raid among them. Interplay Collection 1 and Team17 Collection 1 (Worms, anyone?) are crowd-pleasers. The Turrican Collection is unmissable for action platformer fans.

For indie and modern retro: Xenocrisis / Tanglewood, Alwa’s Awakening / Cathedral, and the Indie Heroes collections are all great picks if the recipient enjoys contemporary games made in the classic style.

Browse the full library on our Carts & Manuals page, or check out our best Evercade cartridges guide for curated recommendations.

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BUNDLE SUGGESTIONS BY BUDGET

Under £80 — Super Pocket starter bundle: Pick the Super Pocket edition that matches their taste (Capcom for fighting games, Taito for arcade, Atari for classics) and add one cartridge. That’s a complete, ready-to-play gift.

Around £100–£120 — EXP-R ready to play: The EXP-R comes with Tomb Raider Collection 1 included, so it’s gift-ready on its own. Add a second cartridge — Capcom Collection or Activision Collection 1 work brilliantly — and you’ve got a fantastic bundle.

£150+ — VS-R with a cartridge or two: The VS-R is a great living room gift. Pair it with a couple of cartridges (Data East Arcade 1 and Team17 Collection 1 are solid choices) and anyone who plays it will be immediately hooked.

£200+ — Nexus pre-order bundle (October 2026): The Nexus at £169.99 comes with the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack. Add an extra cartridge and you’ve got one of the most exciting retro gaming gifts of 2026. Bear in mind the October 2026 launch date if timing matters.

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NOT SURE WHICH TO CHOOSE?

If you’re still weighing up the options, our hardware comparison page breaks down every device side by side with full specs. It’s the quickest way to land on the right decision.

When you’re ready to buy, head to our Where to Buy guide for UK, US, EU and worldwide retailers — including Amazon, Funstock, and second-hand options for anyone on a tighter budget.

Whatever you pick, you’re giving someone a gateway into one of the best retro gaming ecosystems around. They’ll thank you for it.

The Evercade VS-R is the home console at the heart of the Evercade ecosystem — built to bring the cartridge library to your TV with proper multiplayer support. If you’ve been wondering whether it’s the right device for you, this guide covers everything you need to know.

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WHAT IS THE EVERCADE VS-R?

The VS-R is a home console — it plugs into your TV or monitor via HDMI and outputs at 1080p. It’s not a handheld. Think of it as the living room centrepiece of the Evercade family, designed for couch gaming rather than on-the-go play.

It runs the full Evercade cartridge library — 750+ games across 80+ cartridges — and comes with built-in WiFi and a refreshed user interface. It’s the most fully-featured way to play Evercade at home.

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HOW IT DIFFERS FROM THE HANDHELDS

The other Evercade handhelds — the Super Pocket, the EXP-R, and the upcoming Nexus — are all portable devices with built-in screens. The VS-R has none of that. What it has instead is TV output, four controller ports, and dual cartridge slots — features the handhelds simply can’t match.

If your priority is playing Evercade on a big screen with friends, the VS-R is built exactly for that.

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DUAL CARTRIDGE SLOTS

One of the VS-R’s standout features is its two simultaneous cartridge slots. You can load two different cartridges at once and switch between them without pulling either out. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference during game nights — no more swapping carts mid-session.

The retro-inspired cartridge slot lid design also gives the console a satisfying, tactile feel that fits right in with the Evercade aesthetic.

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MULTIPLAYER SUPPORT

The VS-R supports up to four players simultaneously via four USB controller ports. There’s no wireless pairing to fiddle with — you plug controllers straight in and you’re ready to go.

The included controller comes with a generous 3-metre cable, so you’re not stuck right next to the console. Additional controllers can be added for multiplayer without any extra setup. If you’d rather go wireless, Blaze released an official Evercade Wireless Controller in September 2026 with dual analogue sticks and up to 15 hours of battery life.

Want to know which third-party controllers work with the VS-R? Check out the Controller Compatibility Database for a full rundown.

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SPECS AT A GLANCE

Here’s what’s under the hood:

• Video output: HDMI 1080p (cable not included)
• Processor: 1.5GHz
• Storage: 4GB internal
• Cartridge slots: 2 (dual simultaneous)
• Controller ports: 4× USB
• Wireless: Built-in WiFi
• Power: MicroUSB 5V/2A (cable included; power adapter not included)
• Dimensions: 197mm (W) × 126mm (D) × 48mm (H)

Worth noting: an HDMI cable is not included and needs to be purchased separately. A power adapter is also not included, though the MicroUSB cable is in the box.

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WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

The VS-R comes in two colour variants — NEON RETRO and CLASSIC RETRO — each with a matching controller. Here’s what’s included:

• Evercade VS-R console
• One controller with 3-metre cable
• MicroUSB power cable
• NEON RETRO bundle: includes the Tomb Raider Collection 1 cartridge (Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II, and Tomb Raider III with full-colour manual)

The CLASSIC RETRO version is available at participating retailers. Both styles share the same specs and dual cartridge slot design.

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WHO IS THE VS-R FOR?

The VS-R is the right choice if you want to:

• Play Evercade on your TV or monitor
• Game with friends and family — up to four players at once
• Keep two cartridges loaded and switch between them freely
• Build a home retro gaming setup with a proper console feel

If portability is your priority, one of the handhelds might suit you better — take a look at our Evercade hardware comparison to see every device side by side.

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Ready to pick up the VS-R? Head over to our Where to Buy page to find the best place to grab one — and if you’re still building your cartridge collection, the Best Evercade Cartridges guide is a great place to start.