Contra. Super Contra. Contra III: The Alien Wars. The hardest and greatest NES/SNES run-and-gun games ever made — all on the R36S. We tested the complete classic Contra library. And yes — the Konami Code works. Here's the definitive verdict in 2026.
Lab-Tested · Gamer-Verified · Expert-Curated by the iGC Team — www.handheldgameconsoles.games
NES · SNES
6,860 Verified Reviews
↑↑↓↓←→←→ BA Works!
Risk-Free Purchase
Ships 3-7 Days
⚡ 30-Second Answer
R36S — $79.99
Contra 1/2/3 preloaded
Contra NES: 100%
Super Contra: 100% · Contra III: 100%
↑↑↓↓←→←→ BA
30 lives confirmed ✅
$79.99 all-in
6,860 reviews · ⭐4.69
🎮 Classic Contra on R36S — Full Test Results
| Game | System | R36S | Konami Code | iGC Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contra 🏆 | NES | ✅ 100% | ✅ 30 Lives | 10/10 |
| Super Contra | NES | ✅ 100% | ✅ Works | 9.5/10 |
| Contra III: The Alien Wars 🏆 | SNES | ✅ 100% | ✅ Works | 10/10 |
🎮 The Konami Code on R36S — Confirmed Working
- Start Contra NES on R36S
- Wait for title screen
- Press: Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right
- Press B then A on R36S buttons
- Press Start → 30 lives!
Contra is brutally hard — even with 30 lives. Save states mid-stage on the R36S mean you never lose all your lives to a cheap death. Combine the Konami Code's 30 lives with save states and Contra becomes an enjoyable challenge rather than a frustrating grind.
⚡ Why R36S is Perfect for Contra
Contra demands precise D-pad control — 8-directional shooting, precise jumps, split-second dodges. The R36S D-pad handles all Contra inputs correctly. Every shot direction, every jump, every dodge — all responsive and accurate.
Contra is one of the hardest NES games ever made. Save states before every difficult section — the waterfall stage, the base stages, the alien lair. Even with the Konami Code's 30 lives, save states make Contra completable for every player.
Contra III: The Alien Wars is the greatest Contra game. It runs at 100% on the R36S via SNES emulation. All 6 stages, all bosses, both difficulty levels (Normal and Hard), and the overhead stages all work correctly. The IPS screen makes the SNES graphics look incredible.
Contra (NES), Super Contra (NES), and Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES) — all preloaded. The complete classic Contra trilogy from 1987-1992 in your pocket for $79.99. The greatest run-and-gun games ever made ready to play out of the box.
Rated 4.69/5 stars · Most reviewed retro handheld under $100 · Ships in 3-7 days
⭐ What Contra Fans Say About R36S
“Contra NES at 100% on this tiny device. Konami Code works perfectly — ↑↑↓↓←→←→ BA gives 30 lives. Save states before the waterfall stage. Finally beat Contra for the first time in 30 years.”
“Contra III at 100% via SNES. All 6 stages, both difficulty levels, overhead stages work. The IPS screen makes the SNES graphics look incredible. Best portable Contra III ever made.”
“The complete Contra trilogy preloaded for $79.99. Contra 1, Super Contra, Contra III — all at 100%. Konami Code works in all three. No other handheld under $100 runs Contra this well.”
“Save states + Konami Code = finally beat Contra. The R36S D-pad is precise for Contra's 8-directional shooting. The greatest run-and-gun game ever made in my pocket. Worth every penny.”
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The R36S at $79.99 is the best retro handheld for Contra in 2026. Contra NES, Super Contra, and Contra III all run at 100%. The Konami Code works in all games. Save states make Contra completable for every player. The complete Contra trilogy comes preloaded.
Yes. The Konami Code (↑↑↓↓←→←→ BA) works in Contra NES on the R36S. Enter it on the title screen and press Start for 30 lives. The R36S D-pad registers all directional inputs correctly for the Konami Code.
Yes, perfectly. Contra NES runs at 100% on the R36S via NES emulation. All 8 stages, all bosses, all weapons, and the Konami Code all work correctly. Contra comes preloaded on the iGC R36S.
Yes, perfectly. Contra III runs at 100% on the R36S via SNES emulation. All 6 stages, both difficulty levels, the overhead stages, and all bosses work correctly. Contra III comes preloaded on the iGC R36S.
On the Contra NES title screen, press Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right on the R36S D-pad, then press B, then A, then Start. You'll start with 30 lives instead of 3. The R36S D-pad registers all inputs correctly for the Konami Code.
