iGC Beginner Guide · R36S Setup · August 2026
R36S Setup Guide for Beginners 2026: First 30 Minutes — iGC
Just got your R36S? This guide walks you through everything in your first 30 minutes — unboxing, charging, navigating the menu, finding games, saving progress, and adjusting settings. Written by iGC for first-time retro handheld owners.
⚡ Quick Start
Step 1
Charge 2 hours first
Step 2
Power on (hold Power)
Step 3
Select system in menu
Step 4
Pick a game & play
Save State
Press L2+R2 anytime
Fast Forward
Hold R2
Jump To Section
Unboxing Charging Power On Navigation Finding Games Saving Button Guide Settings FAQ30
Minutes to Setup
15,000+
Games Ready
0
Downloads Needed
$79.99
R36S Price
✅ Good News: Your iGC R36S comes with 15,000+ games pre-loaded and all emulators pre-configured. You do NOT need to download anything, install anything, or configure anything. Just charge, power on, and play.
📦 Step 1 — Unboxing Your R36S
1
What’s in the Box
Your iGC R36S box includes: R36S console · USB-C charging cable · Quick start guide · Screen protector (pre-applied). The microSD card with 15,000+ games is already installed inside the console. You do not need to insert anything.
2
Inspect the Console
Check the 3.5" IPS screen for any damage. Test all buttons — D-pad (left side), face buttons A/B/X/Y (right side), L1/L2/R1/R2 shoulder buttons, Start/Select, and both analog sticks. The power button is on the top-right edge.
🔋 Step 2 — Charge Before First Use
3
Charge for 2 Hours First
Connect the USB-C cable to the R36S charging port (bottom of the console) and plug into any USB charger or computer. The LED indicator turns red while charging and turns off (or green) when fully charged. Charge for at least 2 hours before first use for best battery performance.
⚠️ Important: Use a 5V/2A USB-C charger for fastest charging. Do NOT use a fast charger (20W+) — it may damage the battery. A standard phone charger or computer USB port works perfectly.
⚡ Step 3 — Power On
4
Hold Power Button for 3 Seconds
Press and hold the power button (top-right edge) for 3 seconds until the screen lights up. You will see the iGC boot screen, then the main menu loads in about 10-15 seconds. Do NOT press the power button briefly — hold it for a full 3 seconds.
5
The Main Menu
The main menu shows all available game systems as icons: NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, N64, Genesis, Arcade, NDS, PSP, and more. Use the D-pad or left analog stick to navigate between systems. Press A to select a system and see its game library.
6
Select a Game System
Use the D-pad to highlight a system (e.g., GBA for Game Boy Advance). Press A to enter. You will see a list of all games for that system. Use D-pad Up/Down to scroll through games. Press A to launch a game.
7
Return to Menu
While playing a game, press the Menu button (center of console, between the analog sticks) to open the emulator menu. Select “Quit” or “Exit” to return to the main menu. You can also save your game state here before quitting.
🔍 Step 5 — Finding Your Favorite Games
8
Browse by System
Games are organized by system. Go to GBA for Pokemon Emerald, FireRed, and all Game Boy Advance games. Go to PS1 for Final Fantasy VII, Tekken 3, and Crash Bandicoot. Go to SNES for Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger, and Donkey Kong Country. Go to Arcade for Street Fighter, KOF, and classic arcade games.
9
iGC Recommended First Games
🔵 GBA: Pokemon Emerald — the best game to start with
🔵 SNES: Super Mario World — perfect introduction
🔵 PS1: Crash Bandicoot — runs perfectly, great fun
🔵 Arcade: Street Fighter II — instant classic
🔵 N64: Super Mario 64 — iconic 3D platformer
🔵 SNES: Super Mario World — perfect introduction
🔵 PS1: Crash Bandicoot — runs perfectly, great fun
🔵 Arcade: Street Fighter II — instant classic
🔵 N64: Super Mario 64 — iconic 3D platformer
💾 Step 6 — Saving Your Game
10
Save State — L2+R2 (Most Important Tip)
Press L2 and R2 simultaneously at any time during gameplay to save your exact game state. This saves everything — your position, health, items, everything. You can save mid-level, mid-boss, anywhere. This is the most powerful feature of the R36S. Use it constantly.
11
Load Save State — L1+R1
Press L1 and R1 simultaneously to load your last save state. If you die, get stuck, or want to retry a section, press L1+R1 to instantly return to your last save point. This works in all emulators on R36S.
12
In-Game Save (Traditional)
You can also use the game’s built-in save system as normal — save at Pokemon Centers, save points in Final Fantasy, etc. Both save methods work independently. Use both for maximum safety.
🎮 Button Reference Guide
| Button Combo | Action | Works In |
|---|---|---|
| L2 + R2 | Save State (save anywhere) | All emulators |
| L1 + R1 | Load State (reload last save) | All emulators |
| Hold R2 | Fast Forward (2x-4x speed) | GBA, SNES, PS1, NDS |
| Menu Button | Open emulator menu | All emulators |
| Hold Power 3s | Power on / Power off | System |
| Volume Up/Down | Adjust volume | System |
| Brightness | Adjust screen brightness | System (hold Menu + D-pad) |
⚙️ Step 7 — Recommended First Settings
13
Set Brightness to 60-70%
Hold the Menu button and press D-pad Up/Down to adjust brightness. Set to 60-70% for the best balance of visibility and battery life. Full brightness drains battery 30% faster. For dark rooms, 50% is comfortable.
14
Volume at 50-60%
Use the volume buttons (top edge of console) to set volume. 50-60% is comfortable for most environments. The R36S speaker is on the back — for better audio, use headphones via the 3.5mm jack on the top edge.
15
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
In the emulator menu (press Menu button during gameplay), go to Video Settings and set Aspect Ratio to 4:3. This is the correct ratio for all retro games and fills the R36S screen perfectly. Do NOT use “Stretch” — it distorts the image.
✅ First 30 Minutes Checklist
- Charged for 2+ hours before first use
- Powered on successfully (held power 3 seconds)
- Navigated to GBA system and launched Pokemon Emerald
- Tested Save State (L2+R2) and Load State (L1+R1)
- Tested Fast Forward (hold R2)
- Set brightness to 60-70%
- Set volume to comfortable level
- Set aspect ratio to 4:3
- Explored at least 3 different game systems
❓ R36S Beginner FAQ
How do I turn on the R36S?
Hold the power button (top-right edge of the console) for 3 full seconds until the screen lights up. Do not just tap it — you must hold it for 3 seconds. The boot screen appears, then the main menu loads in 10-15 seconds. To turn off, hold the power button for 3 seconds again and select “Shutdown” from the menu.
How do I save my game on R36S?
There are two ways to save on R36S. Save State: press L2+R2 simultaneously at any time to save your exact position anywhere in the game. Load State: press L1+R1 to reload. In-game save: use the game’s built-in save system (Pokemon Centers, save points, etc.) as normal. Both methods work independently. Always use Save States for extra safety.
How many games does the R36S come with?
The iGC R36S comes with 15,000+ games pre-loaded across 8 systems: NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, N64, Genesis, Arcade, and NDS. All games are ready to play immediately — no downloads, no setup, no configuration needed. Just power on and play.
🎮 Get Your R36S — Plug & Play in 30 Minutes · $79.99
15,000+ games pre-loaded · All emulators pre-configured · 4.70★ from 2,837 buyers · Free shipping
→ Shop R36S — $79.99 Advanced Settings Guide📖 See also: Emulator Settings Guide · Best Pokemon on R36S · ArkOS vs OnionOS
