Hey retro-gaming heroes! If you’ve ever wished for a modern-day hardware company that seriously understands your love for cartridge clicking, pixel-perfect visuals, and the warm hum of old CRTs, then Analogue deserves a standing ovation. This isn’t your average nostalgia brand — Analogue is like the master craftsman of classic game consoles, building elegant, high-fidelity hardware that bridges the past and the present. Let’s dive into what makes them so magical, especially for retro enthusiasts.
🎮 Who are Analogue, Anyway?
Analogue, Inc. was founded in 2011 by Christopher Taber. Their mission? To recreate the golden age of gaming — not by emulating it, but by faithfully replicating old-school hardware using FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) technology. This means they rebuild the very logic of retro consoles in modern chips, giving you that authentic hardware feel, but in a sleek, modern package.
They’re not just a niche boutique — their products are globally loved, especially by retro fans who care deeply about authenticity.
🔥 Analogue’s Retro Arsenal: What They Make
Analogue’s lineup is seriously impressive. Here are some of their standout systems:
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Analogue Pocket: This is their flagship handheld — ultra-sharp 3.5″ 1600×1440 LCD screen, designed to play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges out of the box. But wait, there’s more: with adapters (sold separately), it can also play Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket, Atari Lynx, PC Engine, and more.
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Analogue Nt Mini: A refined home console for NES and Famicom games, using FPGA to recreate the exact behavior of the original NES hardware — outputs to HDMI, supports modern and retro controllers.
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Analogue Nt: The first-gen revival of the NES / Famicom, with a classy, minimalist design.
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Super Nt & Mega Sg: (Not listed in detail here, but part of their well-known console family.) These consoles faithfully recreate the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive experiences via FPGA.
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Analogue 3D: Their eagerly anticipated reimagining of the Nintendo 64 — it promises 4K output, native cartridge support, Bluetooth, and true hardware-level accuracy.
💡 Why Retro Fans Go “Wow” for Analogue
Here’s what makes Analogue such a beloved name among retro gaming aficionados:
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No Emulation FUDS
Because they use FPGA, games run like they ran back then — no sloppy emulation. That means real cartridges, real feel, and rock-solid authenticity. -
Gorgeous Screens
The Pocket’s high-density LCD is a game-changer: you get a modern, crisp display, but you can also toggle “original display modes” that replicate the quirks of classic handheld screens. -
Modular & Expandable
Thanks to system adapters, retro fans can use their existing cartridge collections. Want to play your Game Gear or TurboGrafx-16 games on the same device? With Analogue, you just need the right adapter. -
Stylish & Premium Build
These are more than gaming devices — they feel like collector pieces. Quality materials, minimalist design, and a “retro luxe” aesthetic that makes you genuinely appreciate holding them. -
Open to Tinkering
Analogue supports an “OpenFPGA” program, which lets developers and hobbyists experiment, hack, and build custom cores. For the community that loves preservation and innovation, that’s huge.
⚠️ A Few Real Talk Things
No company is perfect, and Analogue does have its quirks (especially from a retro-community standpoint):
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Pre-order Delays: Their new products — like the 3D — have faced delays. Some customers have expressed frustration over shipping timelines.
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Customer Service Gripes: On Trustpilot, there are several reviews pointing to slow responses and limited transparency.
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Limited Runs: Because their hardware runs in limited batches, devices can be hard to snag. Retro fans on Reddit have wondered why certain models are so difficult to keep in stock.
Still, a lot of fans say the quality and authenticity make it totally worth the wait. As one retro gamer put it:
There’s nothing like putting a cart in and playing. It’s almost like you can feel the purity of it.
🕹️ Why Analogue Is a Big Win for Retro Enthusiasts
Analogue isn’t just preserving gaming history — they’re lovingly rebuilding it. For folks who grew up blowing into cartridges, swapping them at sleepovers, or just hoarding game boxes, Analogue’s consoles deliver the soul of classic gaming with modern polish.
Whether you want to:
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Revisit your old Game Boy days on a drool-worthy handheld
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Play NES games on a sleek HDMI-out device
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Build your own FPGA core with the community
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Or even relive N64 nights in 4K (fingers crossed for that 3D console!)
…Analogue gives you the tools, the craftsmanship, and the respect for retro gaming’s legacy.
✅ Final Thought
If you’re a retro gamer at heart, Analogue feels like a loving gift to your childhood self. Their hardware isn’t just a nostalgia flex — it’s a serious, high-end tribute to the systems we grew up on. From the Pocket to the Nt Mini and beyond, Analogue is building a bridge between two worlds: the golden age of cartridges and the sleek possibilities of modern design.
So dust off your old game carts, plug them into something beautiful, and let Analogue transport you back — but in style.
Analogue Pocket Console Black
Product information
$444.99
Product Review Score
4.21 out of 5 stars
177 reviewsProduct links
