Evercade Retro Gaming

What is Evercade / Blaze Entertainment

Evercade is a brand and retro gaming platform developed by Blaze Entertainment, based in the UK.
The idea is to offer officially licensed retro games from classic systems (consoles, handhelds, home computers, arcades) collected into themed physical cartridges, combined with hardware that supports playing them in a modern form.

Evercade’s hardware has evolved since the original handheld. Here are the major devices and what they offer.

Device	Type	Key Features / Specs	What’s Improved or Different
Evercade (Original Handheld, 2020)	Portable handheld	4.3-inch LCD screen, 480×272 resolution; 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU; ~2000 mAh battery; plays physical Evercade cartridges from launch with games from various retro platforms.	Entry into the Evercade world. Has basic emulation, physical media appeal. Limitations in battery life, display quality, etc.
Evercade VS	Home console (TV/monitor output)	Outputs at 1080p; supports up to 4 local players; dual cartridge slots so two cartridges can be loaded at once; uses same cartridges as handheld.	More suited for living room play; better for multiplayer and big-screen usage.
Evercade EXP	Upgraded handheld (and hybrid use)	Higher quality screen (IPS panel, 800×480 resolution), better battery life, more powerful internals; includes modern features like TATE mode (screen rotation for vertical games), more built-in storage / memory.	A refined version of the handheld, addressing many of the original’s drawbacks. More comfortable, versatile.
Evercade -R Series (EXP-R, VS-R)	Refreshed / simplified versions of the EXP and VS lines	Lower cost / price-adjusted packaging; one bundled “Giga Cart” (a new format cartridge) in some bundles; updated finish, some incremental improvements in usability and firmware.	Meant to make entry more accessible; simplify offerings; keep the platform fresh.

A major part of what defines Evercade is how games are delivered, and what kinds of games are available.

Physical cartridges: Each cartridge contains multiple games (often from the same publisher or themed around a particular platform or genre). They also come with full-colour manuals, packaging, etc., similar to classic consoles.
Licensed retro content: Evercade works with publishers and owners of retro IPs (e.g. Atari, Bandai Namco, Irem, etc.) to legally provide classics for modern play on their hardware.
Built-in games: Some devices (especially newer ones like the EXP) also include a set of built-in titles. For instance, the EXP has 18 built-in Capcom games in certain editions.
Coverage of many platforms: Evercade cartridges include games from a broad sweep of platforms — 8, 16, 32, and 64-bit consoles, home computers (Commodore 64, Amiga, ZX Spectrum), handhelds, and arcades.
Collection size & growth: As of recent reports, Evercade has released more than 60 cartridges and has over 500 officially licensed games in its library.

Here are some of the things that make Evercade appealing, especially compared to purely digital or emulation-only options:

Physical media & collectibles appeal: The cartridges, packaging, manuals, numbering etc., play into nostalgia and collector culture. Many retro gamers like the ritual of inserting a cartridge, reading a manual, etc.
Legitimacy via licensing: Because Evercade acquires proper licenses, there are fewer legal / moral issues than grey-market or homebrew emulation setups. The quality and authenticity are often higher.
Cross-compatibility: The same cartridges generally work across different Evercade hardware (handhelds, VS, etc.), so one cartridge collection isn’t tied to just one device.
Modern enhancements: Improved screen tech (IPS), better resolution, better battery, newer modes (like TATE), refinements in controls, etc., address some of the issues with older retro devices.
Community & curated collections: Themed collections, bundles by publisher or genre, and inclusion of indie retro-style games add freshness. Also, the number of official carts helps ensure a consistent user experience.

Of course, Evercade isn’t without trade-offs. Some of the challenges or criticisms include:

Licensing constraints / availability: Some cartridges become “legacy” when licensing expires, meaning they can no longer be produced. That can make some carts rare or expensive once out of print.
Hardware limits vs emulation ambition: Although the devices are decent, they have limitations — certain games or detailed graphics might not run as smoothly or faithfully as on original hardware or high-end emulators. Screen resolution and aspect ratios are sometimes compromises.
Cost per cartridge: Buying multiple cartridges adds up; for collectors, the cost of building up a large physical library can be significant.
Stock issues: Some cartridges go out of print and become hard to find. Also shipping / distribution can affect what’s available in specific regions.

Evercade has announced a partnership with SNK to bring Neo Geo-related content (Neo Geo games / history) into their ecosystem for 2025-2026.
They launched the HyperMegaTech! brand, which produces the Super Pocket handhelds (editions themed around specific publishers like Capcom or Taito) that are compatible with Evercade cartridges.
The introduction of the Giga Cart format and the “-R” versions of EXP and VS suggest a strategy to keep hardware fresh and appeal to both new users and collectors.

Evercade is a good match for:

Retro gaming enthusiasts who like collecting physical cartridges and packaging (nostalgia, shelf-appeal).
People who want an officially licensed, simpler, lower-risk way to play classic games without needing to hunt down original machines or use more complex emulation setups.
Gamers who appreciate portable handheld retro gaming but also want the option to play on a TV (via the VS or via HDMI with handhelds).
Collectors or fans of classic game publishers who enjoy themed collections (e.g. publisher retrospectives, arcade vs home console selections).

It might be less ideal for:

Those who want perfect authenticity (exact hardware clones or FPGA-based devices might do better in some cases).
Gamers who want very high resolution/graphical upgrades or ultra-high fidelity emulation.
Budget buyers who are put off by the cumulative cost of multiple cartridges.

Find a range of Evercade products in our store by clicking here.