If you're someone who still dreams in 8-bit sprites, treasures cartridges, and hears your heartbeat in the hum of a CRT monitor… then Blaze Entertainment is a name bound to make you grin. Based in the UK, this “retro gaming company” isn’t just playing at nostalgia — they’re building a passionate bridge between the golden age of gaming and today’s retro-loving audience. Their official site is your portal to a world where physical cartridges, curated collections, and retro craftsmanship are alive and kicking.
Where Blaze Comes From — And Where They’re Going
Blaze Entertainment was founded relatively recently (in the late 2010s), but their mission is timeless: to bring real, tangible retro gaming experiences back into the hands of collectors and players.
At their core is the Evercade, a cartridge-based handheld console that celebrates the tactile joy of retro gaming. Rather than downloading games ad-hoc, Blaze has leaned into physical cartridges — each one packaged with a full-colour manual, numbered casing, and carefully curated game collections spanning decades of gaming history.
But Blaze doesn’t stop at just one device. They’ve stretched into multiple formats:
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Evercade VS – a home console version for playing those cartridges on your TV.
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Evercade Alpha – a bartop arcade machine designed to run both built-in titles and the full Evercade cartridge library.
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HyperMegaTech! – a brand spun out by Blaze to tap into broader retro-nostalgia products.
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Super Pocket – from HyperMegaTech!, this is a smaller, budget-friendly handheld (about the size of a Game Boy) that’s compatible with Evercade cartridges.
Why Retro Gamers Absolutely Dig Blaze
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Physical Media Love
For many of us, real cartridges and boxes are the holy grail. Blaze gets that. Their Evercade cartridges come with proper packaging and instructions — a throwback to how games used to feel. -
Licensed, Curated Collections
Blaze isn’t just emulating anything they can get their hands on. They partner with big IP owners like Atari, Capcom, Team17, and many more. These games aren’t random: they’re carefully grouped into collections that make sense, whether by console, genre, or publisher. -
Hardware Options for Different Tastes
Whether you want something handheld, a cockpit-style arcade machine, or a budget pocket device — Blaze has you covered. That versatility is gold for retro collectors who don’t all want the same experience. -
Respect for the Retro Community
Blaze has forged a real connection with fans. Their product roadmap listens to retro enthusiasts, and they’ve grown in a way that feels genuinely inspired by classic gaming rather than just cashing in. For example, their recent partnership with SNK (creators of the NEOGEO) means NeoGeo games are coming to their platforms. -
Global Reach
Retro gaming isn’t just a niche — Blaze is expanding. Their distribution deal with PLAION means their products will be more widely available across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and more.
Exciting Moves: What’s Coming Next
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NeoGeo Goodies: As part of their SNK deal, Blaze is planning to release NeoGeo-based cartridges for Evercade. In fact, their first NeoGeo cartridge was shown in a recent showcase.
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HyperMegaTech Growth: Under this brand, they’re experimenting with new retro hardware (like the Super Pocket) and products that aren’t strictly “classic console reboots” — more like modern-retro hybrids.
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More Distribution Power: Thanks to their expanded PLAION deal, they’re better placed than ever to get into more hands around the world.
Challenges & Community Buzz
It’s not all pixel-perfect perfection: some in the Evercade community have raised criticisms. Reddit threads talk about quality issues — like carts not being read properly or hardware firmware problems. But even with those bumps, the sentiment often circles back to: “Blaze cares, and they’re listening.” As one retro gamer put it:
They have gained full respect from the retrogaming community … it’s not just about the products … they have been realistic … when mistakes were made, they apologized and corrected.
Final Word: Why Blaze Entertainment Matters to Retro Lovers
Blaze Entertainment is more than a company rehashing old games — they’re curators, builders, and champions of retro authenticity. Their commitment to physical cartridges, licensed content, and hardware variety makes them a standout in today’s retro scene. Whether you’re a collector, a casual retro player, or someone who just misses the satisfying click of inserting a real cartridge — Blizzard (sorry, Blaze!) is doing something special.
So plug in your nostalgia, dust off your retro headset, and keep an eye on Blaze’s next move. With NeoGeo on the horizon and more hardware in the mix, the retro renaissance is very much alive — thanks to them.
Evercade VSR
Product information
$129.99
Product Review Score
4.33 out of 5 stars
151 reviewsProduct links
Find out more at their website - https://www.blazeretro.com/