General News

Blaze Entertainment has published an update on the Evercade Nexus screen problems some owners have reported since launch. In a post dated 11 November 2026, Blaze CEO Andrew Byatt says the company has identified a manufacturing fault in the protective glass fitting, that corrective action has been taken at the factory, and that replacement consoles are available now.

What Blaze says it found

Byatt wrote from Shenzhen, where he was visiting manufacturing partners with members of the Blaze team following the launch of the Evercade Nexus. The investigation focused on the Nexus screen glass and how it fits within the console. Blaze says:

• it found a manufacturing fault in the protective glass fitting, and corrective action has been taken at the factory;
• the number of potentially affected units is “significantly lower” than online discussions have assumed;
• it is reviewing manufacturing and quality control procedures with its partners to help prevent a repeat.

Byatt apologised to anyone who received a console with a problem, and said the smaller number of affected units means the majority of Nexus owners should not be worried.

Blaze has not published a unit count, serial number range or description of the symptoms, so there is no way yet to tell from the outside whether a particular console is affected.

What to do if your Nexus has a problem

• Email Blaze support at [email protected]. Include photos or a short video of the issue if you can. The team will review it and advise next steps.
• Replacements: Blaze says replacement stock of the standard Nexus is available now for customers with hardware issues, and that it has secured like-for-like replacements for the limited edition consoles.
• Your retailer rights are unchanged. Blaze says the process does not affect your statutory rights with the retailer where you bought the console.

For official support links for each device, see our Evercade Help & Support page.

Support delays

Blaze acknowledges there is a backlog. If you have already contacted support, it asks you not to open another ticket about the same issue, because your original stays in the queue and duplicates can lengthen response times. The normal reply time is within 48 hours of an email, though some replies may take longer.

Is the work finished?

Not according to Blaze. It says its focus is helping affected customers, improving its processes and making sure the Nexus delivers the experience it was designed for.

Read the full statement from Blaze: Evercade Nexus: An Update from Shenzhen. For specs, games and pricing, see our Evercade Nexus page and the Nexus launch post.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is wrong with the Evercade Nexus screen?

Blaze says it found a manufacturing fault in the protective glass fitting. It has not described the symptoms in detail.

Is every Nexus affected?

No. Blaze says the number of potentially affected units is significantly lower than online discussions assumed, but has not said how many.

How do I get a replacement?

Email Blaze support with photos or a short video. Blaze says replacement stock of the standard Nexus is available now, with like-for-like replacements secured for the limited edition consoles.

Does this affect my rights with the retailer?

Blaze says it does not affect your statutory rights with the retailer where you bought the console.

Black Friday (Friday 27 November 2026) is a popular time to pick up Evercade hardware and cartridges — whether you’re buying for yourself or as a gift for a retro gaming fan. Deals vary by retailer and region, so this guide walks you through what to watch for and how to shop smart.

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WHICH HARDWARE IS WORTH WATCHING?

The Evercade lineup covers a range of different play styles, so it’s worth knowing what you’re looking at before you buy. Here’s a quick rundown of the current hardware family:

The Super Pocket is a compact handheld that comes pre-loaded with games and plays all Evercade cartridges. It’s one of the most affordable entry points into the ecosystem, which makes it a popular Black Friday pick for newcomers.

The EXP-R is the full-sized handheld, featuring a 4.3-inch IPS screen, built-in WiFi, and TATE mode for vertical arcade games. The Tomb Raider Edition bundle includes Tomb Raider Collection 1, while other bundles and a no-game Solo are also sold, so check exactly what’s in the box when you’re comparing bundle prices against buying hardware and carts separately.

The VS-R is Blaze’s home console, designed to plug into your TV and support up to four players. If you’re shopping for a household of retro gaming fans, this is the one to watch, and the Evercade Wireless Controller (£34.99) is a handy add-on.

  

The Alpha is a bartop arcade cabinet — a more premium purchase, but a spectacular one. Keep an eye on specialist and official retailers if you’re after one.

The Nexus launched on 30 October 2026 at £169.99, featuring a 5.89-inch screen, dual analogue sticks, and WiFi 6. The Standard Edition includes the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack; the limited 64 Edition and DOOM Edition have sold out, so don’t expect them in any deals. Our Nexus launch guide has the full rundown.

  

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COMPARING BUNDLES

Retailers sometimes offer hardware bundles that include cartridges, cases, or other accessories. When comparing bundle prices, always check which cartridges are included and what their individual retail value would be. A bundle that looks more expensive than a solo device might actually save you money once you account for the carts.

It’s also worth checking whether a deal applies to the hardware alone or includes a specific edition. The hardware comparison page is a handy reference if you’re trying to decide which device suits you — before you go deal-hunting. Buying for someone else? Our Christmas gift guide explains which device suits which person.

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WHICH CARTRIDGES TO WATCH FOR

The Evercade cartridge library is large, so knowing what you want before Black Friday hits makes a big difference. A few standout collections to look out for:

Arcade fans should keep an eye on carts like Toaplan Arcade 1, Toaplan Arcade 2, TAITO Arcade 1, NEOGEO Arcade 1, and Data East Arcade Collection 1 — all excellent picks if you love classic arcade action. For more recommendations, check the best arcade cartridges guide.

For broader recommendations across the whole library, the best Evercade cartridges guide is a great starting point. And if you want to browse everything that’s available, the full cartridge library has the complete list.

One thing to note: some cartridges have entered Legacy status, meaning licences have expired and no new stock will be produced. These won’t appear in standard retail Black Friday deals — the only way to get them is second-hand, usually via eBay. See the Legacy Cartridges page for the full list.

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WHY THE RETAILER LIST MATTERS

Evercade is stocked by a wide range of retailers across the UK, US, Europe, Canada, and Australia — and deals vary significantly between them. Funstock is the main official retailer in the UK and usually has the widest range of hardware and cartridges, with Funstock EU and Funstock USA covering Europe and the US. But Amazon, specialist retro retailers, and high-street chains can all have competitive offers at different times.

Shopping around genuinely pays off. A cart that’s full price on one platform might be discounted on another, and some retailers run their own exclusive bundles.

Rather than listing every retailer here, the most useful thing we can point you to is the Where to Buy page — it covers all the main options by region, including second-hand sources for legacy carts.

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NEW TO EVERCADE?

If Black Friday 2026 is your entry point into the Evercade world, it’s worth taking five minutes to read the introduction to Evercade first. It explains how the cartridge system works, what makes Evercade different, and how the hardware family fits together — so you can shop with confidence.

Ready to start browsing? Head to the Where to Buy page to find the right retailer for your region.

Christmas 2026 is shaping up to be a brilliant time to buy into the Evercade ecosystem. With a wider range of hardware than ever, there’s something for every budget and every type of retro gamer — whether you’re buying for yourself or wrapping something up for someone else. Here’s how to pick the right one.

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THE QUICK ANSWER

Not sure where to start? Here’s the shortcut version:

• Tightest budget: Super Pocket
• Best all-rounder handheld: EXP-R
• Premium handheld: Nexus
• Family / TV play: VS-R
• Statement piece: Alpha

Need more detail? Read on.

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SUPER POCKET — THE LOW-COST GIFT

The Super Pocket is the entry point to the Evercade world and the most affordable device in the range, from £59.99. It’s compact, pocketable, and each edition comes with 12–50 built-in games from a specific publisher — Taito, Capcom, Atari, Technōs, Neo Geo, Data East, Rare, and Activision editions are all available.

It takes the full range of Evercade cartridges, so there’s plenty of room to expand. If you want to introduce someone to Evercade without a big financial commitment, the Super Pocket is the ideal starting point.

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EXP-R — THE MAINSTREAM HANDHELD

The Evercade EXP-R is the sweet spot for most handheld Evercade players. It features a 4.3-inch IPS screen — a meaningful step up from the Super Pocket — plus TATE mode for vertical arcade games and access to the full Evercade cartridge library. The Tomb Raider Edition bundle comes with Tomb Raider Collection 1; other bundles and a no-game Solo are also sold, so check what’s in the box before you buy.

It’s built for cartridge gaming, and it does that job very well. No analogue sticks, but it includes built-in WiFi — making it a solid, well-rounded handheld for 8-bit and 16-bit retro gaming on the go.

It’s available now, making it a safe choice for anyone shopping ahead of the holidays.

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NEXUS — THE PREMIUM PICK (OUT NOW)

The Evercade Nexus is the flagship handheld, and it launched on 30 October 2026, in time for Christmas. At £169.99, it’s the most expensive handheld in the range, but it earns it.

  

You get the largest screen in the handheld lineup at 5.89 inches, dual analogue sticks for 3D titles, WiFi 6, and EverSync — a local wireless multiplayer mode that lets two Nexus owners play together with only one person needing the cartridge.

The Standard Edition includes the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack (Banjo-Kazooie + Banjo-Tooie), which is a seriously exciting inclusion. If you’re buying for someone who wants the best Evercade experience — or treating yourself — this is the one to go for. The limited 64 Edition and Nexus DOOM Edition have both sold out, so the Standard Edition is the one to look for. Our Nexus launch guide has the full rundown.

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VS-R — BEST FOR TV AND FAMILY PLAY

The Evercade VS-R is a home console, not a handheld. It plugs into your TV via HDMI at 1080p, supports up to four players, has dual cartridge slots, and includes built-in WiFi.

If you want to play Evercade on the big screen, or you’re buying for a household where multiplayer matters, the VS-R is your only option in the current lineup. It’s available now and ready to go under the tree. Prices vary by bundle and retailer, so see the Where to Buy guide.

Planning to pick up a second (or third, or fourth) controller? Check out the controller compatibility database to see what works with it. The official Evercade Wireless Controller (£34.99) also works with the VS-R and the Alpha.

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ALPHA — THE STATEMENT PIECE

The Evercade Alpha is something different entirely. It’s a pre-assembled bartop arcade cabinet with an 8-inch IPS screen, competition-grade arcade controls, dual cartridge slots, and USB ports on the front for plugging in a second controller.

Available in Street Fighter, Mega Man, and Taito editions, each comes with 6–10 built-in games. It sits on a desk or counter and is as much a display piece as a gaming device — starting from £229.99, it’s the most distinctive gift in the range.

If you know someone who’s been dreaming of a proper arcade setup at home, the Alpha is going to make their year.

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WHAT ABOUT THEC64 AND SPECTRUM HANDHELDS?

Worth a mention — both the THEC64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld have been delayed to April 2027, so neither will be available for Christmas 2026. Keep them on your radar for next year, but don’t factor them into your holiday shopping plans.

Note that both of these use MicroSD for game expansion rather than Evercade cartridges, so they sit slightly outside the main Evercade ecosystem.

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STILL NOT SURE?

The full hardware comparison page has a detailed spec table covering every device side by side — screen size, battery life, analogue sticks, WiFi, and more. It’s the best place to make a final call if you’re still weighing things up.

Once you’ve decided, head to the Where to Buy guide for UK, US, EU, and worldwide retailers.

Blaze discontinued the original Evercade VS and original Evercade EXP in 2024. Both were sold while stocks lasted and are now second-hand only. If you missed out — or you’re coming to Evercade fresh — here’s exactly what to buy instead.

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THE ORIGINAL VS AND EXP: WHAT HAPPENED?

The original Evercade VS was Blaze’s first TV-connected home console, and the original Evercade EXP was the full-sized handheld that followed it. Both were discontinued in 2024 and replaced by updated hardware. You might still find them on eBay or through second-hand sellers, but they’re no longer available new.

The good news? Their replacements are better in essentially every way — and the full Evercade cartridge library works across all of them.

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BEST TV REPLACEMENT: EVERCADE VS-R

If you were looking at the original VS for your living room, the Evercade VS-R is the direct successor and the only current Evercade device that connects to your TV. It outputs at 1080p over HDMI, has dual cartridge slots, built-in WiFi, and four USB controller ports for up to four players.

  

For controller options, check the VS controller compatibility database. Bear in mind Blaze said at launch that Namco Museum Collection 1 and 2 are not supported on the VS-R, so check before buying those two.

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BEST HANDHELD REPLACEMENT: EVERCADE EXP-R

The Evercade EXP-R is the natural successor to the original EXP. It’s a full-sized handheld with a 4.3-inch IPS screen, TATE mode for vertical arcade games, and access to the full Evercade cartridge library. It’s available bundled with Tomb Raider Collection 1, and in the UK also as an EXP-R Solo with no game.

  

Note that the original EXP came with Capcom built-in games — the EXP-R does not include built-in games. However, if Capcom games are what drew you to the original, the Super Pocket Capcom Edition has 12 Capcom games built in. You can see the original 18 on our EXP Capcom built-in games page, and every other device’s are on the built-in games page.

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PREMIUM HANDHELD: EVERCADE NEXUS

If you want to go a step further, the Evercade Nexus is the flagship handheld, launching on 30 October 2026. It has a 5.89-inch screen, dual analogue sticks, WiFi 6, and EverSync for local wireless multiplayer — with only one player needing the cartridge. It launches bundled with the Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack.

  

If you want the best handheld Evercade has ever made, the Nexus is the one to look at.

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BUDGET OPTION: SUPER POCKET

On a tighter budget? The Super Pocket starts from £59.99 and is the most affordable way into the Evercade ecosystem. Each edition comes pre-loaded with 12–50 built-in games from a specific publisher — Taito, Capcom, Atari, Technōs, Neo Geo, Data East, Rare, and Activision editions are all available — plus a full Evercade cartridge slot.

It’s compact, it genuinely fits in a shirt pocket, and it plays every Evercade cartridge. A brilliant starting point.

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QUICK SUMMARY

Was buying the original VS? → Get the VS-R
Was buying the original EXP? → Get the EXP-R, or wait for the Nexus
Want the cheapest entry point? → Get the Super Pocket
Not sure yet? → Read the full Evercade hardware comparison

The current lineup is stronger than ever, and every device plays the same growing cartridge library. Whichever you pick, you’re in good hands.

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Ready to decide? The Evercade hardware comparison page puts every current device side by side with full specs to help you make the call, and our where to buy guide lists retailers worldwide.

The Evercade Nexus launched on 30 October 2026, and it’s the most capable Evercade handheld ever made. If you’re wondering whether it’s right for you — or whether the EXP-R or VS-R is a better fit — here’s everything you need to know.

  

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THE HEADLINE SPECS

The Nexus is built around 32 and 64-bit retro gaming, and the hardware reflects that ambition. Here’s the quick-glance summary:

• Price: £169.99 / $199.99 / €199.99
• Screen: 5.89″ IPS, 840×512 resolution, 500+ nits
• Controls: Dual analogue sticks, D-pad, face buttons, rear bumpers and triggers
• Processor: Quad-core 1.5GHz
• Memory: 512MB DDR RAM
• Battery: 5,000mAh — 5+ hours gameplay
• Wireless: WiFi 6 (2.4GHz/5GHz) with EverSync local multiplayer
• Audio: Dual front-facing stereo speakers, 3.5mm jack, wireless headphone support
• Weight: 410g | Dimensions: 215mm × 111mm × 34mm
• Colour: Black

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THE SCREEN

The Nexus has the largest display ever fitted to an Evercade handheld. That 5.89″ IPS panel running at 840×512 with over 500 nits of brightness is a genuine step up.

To put it in context: the EXP-R runs a 4.3″ screen at 800×480. The Super Pocket runs a 2.8″ display at 320×240. The extra screen real estate makes a real difference for 3D titles and arcade games.

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DUAL ANALOGUE STICKS — A FIRST FOR EVERCADE

This is the big one. The Nexus is the first Evercade handheld to feature dual analogue sticks, alongside the traditional D-pad, face buttons, and rear bumpers and triggers.

This matters because 32 and 64-bit titles — the games the Nexus is designed around — simply couldn’t be played properly on earlier Evercade hardware. The Nexus fixes that. The body also features a textured grip for comfort during longer sessions.

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EVERSYNC — LOCAL WIRELESS MULTIPLAYER

EverSync is an exclusive Nexus feature (how EverSync works) and a genuine first for the Evercade ecosystem. It enables local wireless multiplayer between two Nexus units — no internet connection, no router required.

The clever part: only one player needs to own the cartridge. EverSync shares the game wirelessly to the second device, opening up co-op and versus play on the go. This is something no other Evercade device can do.

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TATE MODE & AUDIO

TATE mode returns on the Nexus, rotating the screen to a vertical orientation for arcade titles originally designed for vertical cabinets. Button mapping rotates to match, so vertical shooters play exactly as intended.

On the audio side, the Nexus upgrades to dual front-facing stereo speakers — an improvement over the single speaker on previous Evercade handhelds. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack and support for wireless headphones.

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BATTERY & CHARGING

The 5,000mAh battery delivers 5+ hours of gameplay. Charging is via USB-C at 5V/2A — a USB-C to USB-A cable is included, though a mains adapter is not. Worth picking one up separately if you don’t have a spare.

There’s also an RGB logo on the front of the device, with colour and behaviour customisable from within the system menu.

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WHAT’S IN THE BOX

• Evercade Nexus handheld
• Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack cartridge (Banjo-Kazooie + Banjo-Tooie, with full-colour manual)
• USB-C to USB-A charging cable
• Quick start guide

The Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack bundles two classic 64-bit Rare titles on a single physical cartridge. The cartridge is compatible with all Evercade devices, but the Nexus — with its dual analogue sticks and large screen — is clearly the ideal way to play them. The pack is also sold separately and was released on 30 October 2026, the same day as the Nexus.

  

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LIMITED EDITIONS

Two limited editions were announced alongside the standard Nexus: the 64 Edition and the Nexus DOOM Edition. Both are now sold out. The 64 Edition was restricted to 2,000 units worldwide and came with an exclusive PVA hard case, glass screen protector, poster, and a numbered certificate of authenticity. If you missed them, the Standard Edition is still available.

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WHO IS THE NEXUS FOR?

The Nexus is the right choice if you want the best handheld Evercade experience, particularly for 32 and 64-bit games that need analogue sticks. The larger screen, EverSync multiplayer, WiFi 6, and dual stereo speakers make it the most fully-featured option in the lineup.

It’s also worth noting: the Nexus does not have HDMI output or TV streaming. If playing on a television is your priority, the VS-R home console is the one to look at — it supports up to four players on the big screen.

If you want a more compact handheld at a lower price point, the EXP-R remains an excellent option with its 4.3″ screen, TATE mode, and built-in WiFi. And if you want something pocket-sized and pre-loaded, the Super Pocket is worth a look. Compare all models side by side on our Evercade hardware comparison page.

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WHERE TO BUY & PRICING

The Standard Edition is priced at £169.99 / $199.99 / €199.99. It is available now, since the 30 October 2026 launch, through retailers including Amazon, GameStop, Best Buy, Funstock, Game.es, and 30+ international stockists across the UK, US, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Head to the Evercade Nexus page for direct links to retailers.

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THE GAME LIBRARY

The Nexus plays the full Evercade cartridge library — over 80 officially licensed collections containing nearly 800 games (see the Games Database). Cartridges are colour-coded by category (red for console, blue for home computer, purple for arcade) and every one includes a numbered full-colour manual. New releases arrive every 2–3 months.

Cartridges start from £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99. Browse the full library on our Carts & Manuals page.

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Want to see what reviewers are saying? Check out our round-up of every Evercade Nexus review in one place. And if you’re still weighing up which device to buy, our hardware comparison guide breaks it all down for you.

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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.