Cheap microcontrollers and bitmap screens have led to a new class of game console. Which I nickname "Hobby Handhelds" or "Indie Handhelds". Unlike traditional handheld game consoles these systems are meant to run games made by hobbyists and easily programmed by the user. I decided to compile a list of them.
| Name | Processor | RAM | Screen | Sound | Language Support * | Flash Size | Storage | Price | Schematic Available | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32blit | STM32H750 (480 MHz Cortex M7) | 1 MiB | 320x240 RGB (ST7272A) | 12-bit DAC (internal) | C/C++, Lua, Javascript (MicoJS) | 32 MiB | Micro SD | 118.80 GBP | Yes | https://32blit.github.io/32blit-website/ |
| Arduboy | ATMega 32u4 (16 MHz AVR) | 2.5 KiB | 128x64 1-bit (SSD1306) | 2x1-bit Buzzer | C/C++ (Arduino) | 32 KiB | 128 MiB Flash (FX Model Only) | 54 USD (Clones at Various Prices) | Yes | https://arduboy.com |
| Attiny Arcade | ATtiny85 (20 MHz AVR) | 512 B | 128x64 1-bit (SSD1306) | 1-bit Buzzer | C/C++ (Arduino) | 8 KiB | N/A | 29.98 USD (Clones at Various Prices) | Yes | https://webboggles.com/attiny85-game-kit-assembly-instructions/ |
| Brainpad Arcade | STM32F401 (84 MHz Cortex M4) | 96 KiB | 160x128 RGB | 1-bit Buzzer | VPL (MakeCode Arcade) | 512KiB | N/A | 34.95 USD | No | https://www.brainpad.com/brainpad-family/arcade/ |
| Brainpad Pulse | SC13048Q (80 MHz Cortex M4) | 128 KiB | 128x64 1-bit (SSD1306) | 1-bit Buzzer | VPL (MakeCode), C#, MicroPython | 220 KiB | N/A | Quote | Yes | https://www.brainpad.com/brainpad-family/pulse/ |
| ByteBoi | ESP32-WROOM (2x240 Mhz Xtensa) | 8 MiB | 320x240 RGB | Speaker | C++, VPL (CircuitBlocks) | 4 MiB | SD Card | 119 USD | Yes | https://circuitmess.com/products/byteboi-8-bit-game-console |
| Dodo | 65C02 (1 MHz) | 32KiB | 128x64 1-bit (SSD1305) | 1xBuzzer | C (CC65), 65C02 Assembly | N/A | 8 KiB FRAM | 199 USD | Yes | http://www.dodolabs.io/ |
| Elecfreaks | STM32F41x (100 MHz Cortex M4) | 256 KiB | 320x200 RGB | 1-bit Buzzer | VPL (Makecode Arcade) | 1 MiB | N/A | 59.90 USD | No | https://www.elecfreaks.com/retro-arcade-for-education.html |
| ESPboy | ESP8266 (160 MHz Xtensa) | 80 KiB | 128x128 RGB (ST7735) | 1-bit Speaker | C/C++ (Little Game Engine, Arduino, Arduboy, Gamebuino META), Lua, BASIC, MicroPython, VPL (Scratch), Javascript (MicoJS), Z80 Assembly (Gameboy, ZX Spectrum), SChip-8 | 4 MiB | App Store | 75/95 USD | Yes | https://www.espboy.com/ |
| ESPlay Micro V2 | ESP32 WROVER (2x240 MHz Xtensa) | 4MiB-8MiB | 320x240 RGB (ILI9341) | UDA1334A (16-bit DAC) | MicroPython, C/C++ (Arduino), Z80 Assembly (Gameboy (Color), Master System, Game Gear, Colecovision), 6502 Assembly (NES) | 4MiB | Micro SD | 32.90 USD | Yes | https://hackaday.io/project/166707-esplay-micro |
| Gamebuino/MAKERbuino | ATMega 328 (16 MHz AVR) | 2 KiB | 84x48 1-bit (PCD8544) | 4x1-bit Speaker | C/C++ (Arduino) | 32KiB | Micro SD | ~70 USD (Clones at Various Prices) | Yes | http://legacy.gamebuino.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page |
| Gamebuino META | ATSAMD21 (48 MHz Cortex M0+) | 32 KiB | 160x128 RGB (ST7735) | 10-bit DAC | CircuitPython, C/C++ (Arduino), Javascript (MicoJS) | 256KiB | Micro SD | 70 EUR | No | https://gamebuino.com/ |
| GameGo | STM32F401 (84 MHz Cortex M4) | 96 KiB | 160x128 RGB | 1-bit Speaker | VPL (MakeCode Arcade) | 512 KiB | N/A | 41.90 USD | No | https://www.seeedstudio.com/GameGo-p-4847.html https://www.tinkergen.com/gamego |
| Kitronik ARCADE | ATSAMD51J19 (120MHz Cortex M4F) | 192 KiB | 160 x 128 RGB | 1-bit Piezo | MicroPython, VPL (MakeCode Arcade) | 512KiB | N/A | 36.00 GBP | No | https://kitronik.co.uk/products/5311-arcade-for-makecode-arcade |
| KOKO | ATtiny85 (20 MHz AVR) | 512 B | 120x64 1-bit (SSD1306) | 1-bit Buzzer | C/C++ (Arduino) | 8 KiB | N/A | 37.50 USD | Yes | https://www.tindie.com/products/el9000/koko-a-retro-game-console-kit-diy-and-hackable/ |
| MeowBit | STM32F401 (84 MHz Cortex M4) | 96 KiB | 160x128 RGB (ST7735) | 1-bit Buzzer | CircuitPython, VPL (MakeCode Arcade, Kittencode) | 512KiB | 2 MiB Flash, SD | 39.95 USD | No | https://meowbit.kittenbot.cc |
| MicroByte | ESP32 WROVER E (2x240 MHz Xtensa) | 8 MiB | 240x240 RGB (ST7789) | 1-bit Buzzer | MicroPython, C/C++ (Arduino), Z80 Assembly (Gameboy (Color), Sega Master System, Game Gear), 6502 Assembly (NES) | 16 MiB | N/A | TBD | Yes | https://www.crowdsupply.com/byte-mix-labs/microbyte |
| Nibble | ESP8266 (160 MHz Xtensa) | 80 KiB | 128x128 RGB (ST7735) | 1-bit Buzzer | C/C++ (Arduino), CircuitPython, VPL (CircuitBlocks) | 4MiB | N/A | 75.99 USD | Yes | https://circuitmess.com/nibble/ |
| Xtron Pro | STM32F41x (100 MHz Cortex M4) | 256 KiB | 160x128 RGB | 1-bit Speaker | VPL (MakeCode Arcade, Xmaker), 6502 Assembly (NES) | 1 MiB | 16 MiB Flash | 85 USD | No | https://store.ovobot.cc/products/xtron-pro |
| Picopad | RP2040 (2x133 MHz Cortex M0+) | 264 KiB | 160x128 RGB | 1-bit Speaker | C/C++, Micropython, Circuitpython | 2 MiB | Micro SD Card | 849 CZK | Yes | https://pajenicko.cz/picopad/picopad-open-source-herni-konzole |
| PewPew M4 | ATSAMD51G19A | 192 KiB | 160x128 RGB (ST7735) | 1-bit Buzzer | CircuitPython | 512 KiB | N/A | 25 USD | Yes | https://pewpew.readthedocs.io/en/latest/pewpew-m4/overview.html https://makerfabs.com/circuitpython-pewpew-m4.html |
| PicoSystem | RP2040 (2x133 MHz Cortex M0+) | 264 KiB | 240x240 RGB (ST7789) | 1-bit Buzzer | C++, MicroPython, CircuitPython, Javascript (MicoJS) | 16 MiB | N/A | 58.50 GBP | Yes | https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/picosystem |
| Playdate | STM32F746IGK (180MHz Cortex M7) | 16 MiB | 400x240 1-bit (Sharp LS027B7DH01) | 2x1-bit Speaker | Lua, C | 1 MiB | 4GB Flash, Weekly Digital Download | 179 USD | No | https://play.date/ |
| Pokitto | LPC11U6x (72 MHz Cortex M0+) | 36 KiB | 220x176 RGB (ST7775R) | 8-bit Speaker | MicroPython, C/C++ (Native, Arduboy, Gamebuino), Java, Javascript (MicoJS) | 256kiB | Micro SD | 49.90 EUR | Yes | https://www.pokitto.com/ |
| PyBadge | ATSAMD51J19 (120MHz Cortex M4F) | 192 KiB | 160x128 RGB (ST7735R) | 1-bit Speaker | CircuitPython, VPL (MakeCode Arcade), C++ (Arduino) | 512KiB | 2 MiB Flash | 24.95 USD - 39.95 USD | Yes | https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pybadge |
| PyGamer | ATSAMD51J19 (120MHz Cortex M4F) | 192 KiB | 160x128 RGB (ST7735R) | 1-bit Speaker | CircuitPython, VPL (MakeCode Arcade), C++ (Arduino) | 512KiB | 8 MiB Flash, Micro SD | 44.95 USD - 59.95 USD | Yes | https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pygamer |
| PYXA | ATMega 328 (16 MHz AVR) | 2 KiB | 160x128 RGB (ST7735) | 1-bit Buzzer | C/C++ (Arduino) | 32KiB | Micro SD | 99 GBP | No | https://www.creoqode.com/pyxa |
| Retro Game Tiny | ATtiny85 (20 MHz AVR) | 512 B | 120x64 1-bit (SSD1306) | 1-bit Buzzer | C/C++ (Arduino) | 8 KiB | N/A | 19.99 USD | Yes | https://www.tindie.com/products/jasonkits/retro-game-tiny-oled-arcade-console/ |
| Thinkbox | STM32F41x (100 MHz Cortex M4) | 256 KiB | 320x240 RGB | 1-bit Speaker | VPL (Makecode Arcade) | 512 KiB | N/A | 50 USD | No | https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004511119421.html |
| Thumby | RP2040 (2x133 MHz Cortex M0+) | 264 KiB | 72x40 1-bit (SSD1306) | 1-bit Buzzer | MicroPython, C/C++ (Arduino), VPL (Blockly) | N/A | 2 MiB Flash | 29.95 USD | Yes | https://tinycircuits.com/products/thumby |
| TinyArcade/PocketArcade | ATMega 328P (16 MHz AVR) | 2 KiB | 96x64 RGB (SSD1331) | 1-bit Speaker | C/C++ (Arduino) | 32 KiB | Micro SD | 59.95 USD | Yes | https://tinycircuits.com/collections/all/products/tinyarcade |
| Tiny Joypad | ATtiny85 (in cartridge) (20 MHz AVR) | 512 B | 128X64 1-bit (SSD1306) | 1-bit Speaker | C/C++ (Arduino) | N/A | 8 KiB | 25 USD | Yes | https://www.tinyjoypad.com/tinyjoypad_attiny85 |
| TomatoCube* | STM32F41x (100 Mhz Cortex M4) | 256 KiB | 160x128 RGB | 1-bit Buzzer | VPL (Makecode Arcade) | 512 KiB | N/A | 159 RM | No | https://tomatocube.com/product/makecode-arcade-console/ |
| µgame | ATSAMD21 (48 MHz Cortex M0+) | 32 KiB | 128×128 RGB (ST7735R) | 1-bit Speaker | MicroPython , CircuitPython | 256KiB | 2 MiB Flash | 24.99 USD | Yes | https://github.com/python-ugame https://www.tindie.com/products/deshipu/game-10-python-game-console-kit/ |
* Any programming language that supports the MCU can be used, but libraries may require workarounds or be rewritten entirely.
These have a Rectangular Matrix of LEDs as opposed to an LCD, TFT or OLED screen and therefore usually have <200 dots. You could still make crude games on them but not much more than snake.
| Name | Processor | RAM | Resolution & Color | Sound | Languages | Flash Size | Storage | Price | Schematic Available | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2048 | ATMega2560 (16 MHz AVR) | 8 KiB | RGB 64x32 (HUB75) | N/A | C/C++ (Arduino) | 256KiB | N/A | 189 GBP | No | https://www.creoqode.com/2048 |
| Meggy Jr. RGB | ATmega168 (16MHz AVR) | 1 KiB | RGB 8x8 (2xSTP16DP05B1R) | 1-bit Buzzer | C/C++ (Arduino) | 16 MiB | N/A | 75 USD | Yes | https://shop.evilmadscientist.com/productsmenu/tinykitlist/760 |
| PewPew | ATSAMD21 (48 MHz Cortex M0+) | 32 KiB | 2-bit 8x8 (HT16K33) | N/A | CircuitPython | 256KiB | N/A | 9.99 USD + Feather M0 Express (19.95 USD) | Yes | https://makerfabs.com/pewpew-standalone.html |
Finally we have shields and Add Ons. To Qualify for this list you need to add buttons and a display.
| Name | Interface | Display | Sound | Price | Schematic Available | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigiPixel | Arduino | 3-bit 8x8 LED Array (Glue Logic) | N/A | 19.95 USD | Yes | http://digistump.com/products/108 https://bradsprojects.com/the-digipixel/ |
| Gamby | Arduino | 96x64 1-bit Screen (S6B0755) | 1-bit Buzzer | 25 USD | Yes | http://logicalzero.com/gamby/ |
| GAME ZIP 64 | micro:bit | 24-bit 8x8 LED Array (NeoPixel) | 1-bit Buzzer | 36.60 GBP | Yes | https://kitronik.co.uk/products/5626-game-zip-64-for-the-bbc-microbit |
| Newbit Arcade Shield | micro:bit V2 | RGB 160x128 Screen | N/A | 26.90 USD | No | https://www.kittenbot.cc/products/newbit-arcade-shield |
| TomatoCube* | micro:bit V2 | 160x128 RGB Screen | 1-bit Buzzer | 130 RM | No | https://tomatocube.com/product/makecode-arcade-shield-for-microbit/ |
| UI Shield | D1 Mini | 128x64 1-bit Screen (SSD1306) | 1-bit Buzzer | 16 USD | No | https://www.tindie.com/products/deshipu/ui-shield-for-d1-mini/ |
If I missed a console leave a Pull Request or an Issue. The criteria to be included is.
- Be a handheld device (not a console ala Hackivision or computer ala Commander X16)
- Purchasable in either kit form or as a product (No one off hobby projects and DIY instructions)
- Must be programmable by the end user (No LCD Games, Or Clone Consoles and Emulation Boxes that aren't for Homebrew)
- Mustn't run Linux or BSD (No Raspberry Pi based handhelds)
- Have buttons and a Pixel Grid Screen (No character LCDs or Touchscreen Only Devices)
https://github.com/paladin-t/fantasy (For Fantasy Computers, game engines intended to look or act like a Retro Computer).
https://aced.io/oshw-gaming/ (A similar list that includes consoles)
https://www.rghandhelds.com/microhandhelds-specs (A similar list that includes emulation boxes)