New to retro gaming? Confused by terms like "save states", "emulation", "ROM", "IPS screen", or "RK3326"? This complete A-Z glossary defines every term you need to know before buying a retro handheld in 2026. Bookmark this page — it's the only retro gaming dictionary you'll ever need.
Lab-Tested · Gamer-Verified · Expert-Curated by the iGC Team — www.handheldgameconsoles.games
A
The width-to-height ratio of a game's display. Classic retro games use 4:3 (four units wide, three units tall). Modern screens are 16:9. Most retro handhelds including the R36S let you toggle between 4:3 (authentic) and full-screen (stretched). Always use 4:3 for retro games to avoid distortion.
Custom Linux-based operating systems designed for retro handheld gaming devices. The R36S runs ArkOS or similar firmware. These OS versions are optimized for emulation performance, battery life, and ease of use. They come pre-installed — no setup required on iGC devices.
B
Decorative borders displayed around a game when playing in 4:3 aspect ratio on a widescreen device. Bezels can replicate the look of original hardware (Game Boy frame, arcade cabinet art). The R36S supports custom bezels via emulator settings.
Basic Input/Output System files required by some emulators to accurately replicate original hardware. PS1 emulation requires a PS1 BIOS file. The iGC R36S comes with all necessary BIOS files pre-installed — no additional setup required.
C
The percentage of games for a given platform that run correctly on a handheld device. The R36S achieves 100% compatibility for NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, and Genesis. iGC lab-tests compatibility for every platform before listing devices.
A visual filter that replicates the look of old CRT television screens, including horizontal scanlines and slight blur. Many retro gamers prefer CRT filters for authenticity. The R36S supports CRT filters and scanline overlays via emulator shader settings.
D
The cross-shaped directional control on the left side of a handheld. Critical for retro games — especially fighting games (Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat) and platformers (Mario, Sonic). The R36S D-pad scores 9/10 for fighting game inputs including Hadouken and Shoryuken motions.
Two thumbstick controls (left and right) for 3D game navigation. Essential for N64, PS1 3D games, and modern emulation. The R36S has dual analog sticks — a feature the original Game Boy and GBA lacked. Enables comfortable play of 3D classics like Mario 64 and Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
E
Software that replicates the hardware of a classic gaming system on a different device. An NES emulator on the R36S mimics the original NES hardware, allowing NES games to run perfectly. The R36S uses RetroArch and standalone emulators for each platform. Emulation is the technology that makes 6,000+ games possible on one device.
Popular front-end interfaces for retro gaming handhelds. EmulationStation provides the visual game library browser — the menu you see when you turn on the R36S. It organizes games by platform with cover art and metadata. EmuELEC is a complete OS built around EmulationStation.
F
A feature that accelerates game speed 2-4x. Essential for JRPG players who want to skip grinding, cutscenes, or repetitive sections. On the R36S, hold Menu + R2 to activate fast forward. A 60-hour JRPG can be completed in 30 hours with strategic use of fast forward.
The operating system software installed on a retro handheld. The R36S runs custom Linux firmware (ArkOS or similar) optimized for emulation. iGC pre-installs and configures firmware on all devices — no technical knowledge required. Firmware updates can add new features and improve compatibility.
G
Nintendo's 32-bit handheld released in 2001. Home to Pokemon FireRed/Emerald, Fire Emblem, Metroid Fusion, Zelda: Minish Cap, Golden Sun, and 2,000+ titles. The R36S includes 2,000+ GBA games preloaded with IPS backlit display — better than the original GBA which had no backlight.
The chip responsible for rendering graphics. In retro handhelds, GPU power determines which platforms can be emulated smoothly. The R36S RK3326 GPU handles NES through PS1 and N64 at 100%. The R36MAX has a more powerful GPU for smoother N64 and Dreamcast emulation.
H
A self-contained gaming device with built-in screen, controls, and battery designed for portable play. The R36S is a retro handheld — a portable device specifically designed to emulate classic gaming systems. Unlike smartphones, retro handhelds have physical buttons optimized for gaming.
The ability to connect a handheld to a TV via HDMI cable for big-screen play. The R36MAX supports HDMI output — play retro games on your TV in up to 1080p. The standard R36S does not include HDMI output. A key upgrade reason for choosing R36MAX over R36S.
I
A premium LCD display technology offering superior color accuracy, brightness, and viewing angles compared to standard TN panels. The R36S features an IPS screen — making retro games look better than on original hardware. IPS screens are backlit, solving the original GBA's notorious dark screen problem.
L
A retro gaming handheld running a Linux-based operating system. The R36S is a Linux handheld — it runs custom Linux firmware optimized for emulation. Linux handhelds are generally more stable and battery-efficient than Android handhelds for retro gaming. No Google account, no app store, no bloatware.
The action of restoring a previously saved game state. Paired with Save State, Load State lets you retry any section of a game from exactly where you saved. On the R36S, press Menu + L1 to load a state. Essential for difficult boss fights and special stages.
M
The most comprehensive arcade game emulator, supporting thousands of arcade cabinet games. The R36S includes 1,000+ MAME arcade games — Street Fighter II, Pac-Man, Galaga, Mortal Kombat, King of Fighters, and more. MAME provides arcade-perfect versions of classic games.
The removable storage card used in retro handhelds to store games, firmware, and save files. The iGC R36S comes with a 64GB microSD card pre-loaded with 6,000+ games. The 128GB version includes more games. microSD cards can be upgraded for additional storage.
N
Nintendo's 64-bit console from 1996. Home to Super Mario 64, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart 64, GoldenEye 007, and Banjo-Kazooie. N64 emulation requires more processing power than 2D systems. The R36S runs most N64 games at 97%+ compatibility. The R36MAX achieves 100% N64 compatibility.
Nintendo's iconic 8-bit console from 1983. Home to Super Mario Bros, Contra, Mega Man, Castlevania, Metroid, and 800+ titles. NES emulation is the simplest and most compatible — every retro handheld including the R36S runs NES games at 100%. The foundation of modern gaming.
O
A USB adapter that allows the R36S to connect to external devices — USB controllers, keyboards, or another R36S for 2-player gaming. OTG enables 2-player Street Fighter or Mario Kart without a TV. The R36S USB-C port supports OTG connections.
R
The most popular multi-system emulator frontend, supporting 100+ gaming platforms through "cores" (individual emulators). The R36S uses RetroArch as its primary emulation engine. RetroArch provides save states, fast forward, rewind, shaders, and netplay across all supported platforms.
The Rockchip RK3326 is the processor used in the R36S. A quad-core ARM Cortex-A35 chip running at 1.3-1.5GHz. Optimized for retro gaming emulation — handles NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, Genesis, and most N64 games at 100%. The sweet spot for retro gaming under $100.
A feature that lets you rewind gameplay in real-time — like rewinding a video. Made a mistake? Rewind 5-10 seconds and try again. Available in RetroArch on the R36S. Particularly useful for platformers (Mario, Sonic) and fighting games where one mistake can end a run.
S
The most important feature in retro gaming. A save state captures your exact game position — health, items, location, progress — and saves it instantly. Unlike in-game saves, save states work anywhere, anytime. On the R36S, press Menu + R1 to save. Use before every boss, every hard section, every special stage. Save states make classic games accessible for all skill levels.
Nintendo's 16-bit console from 1990. Home to Chrono Trigger, Super Mario World, Zelda: A Link to the Past, Street Fighter II Turbo, Donkey Kong Country, and 700+ titles. Widely considered the greatest gaming library ever assembled. The R36S includes 700+ SNES games at 100% compatibility.
A visual filter applied to game graphics to change their appearance. Common shaders include CRT (replicates old TV look), LCD (replicates Game Boy screen), and various upscaling filters. The R36S supports RetroArch shaders for all platforms. Shaders are optional — games look great without them.
T
Two types of LCD screens. TN (Twisted Nematic) panels are cheaper with faster response times but poor viewing angles and color accuracy. IPS (In-Plane Switching) panels have superior colors, brightness, and viewing angles. The R36S uses an IPS panel — a premium choice that makes retro games look their best.
A feature that rapidly repeats a button press automatically. Useful for games requiring rapid button mashing (shoot-em-ups, some RPG battles). Available in RetroArch on the R36S. Assign turbo to any button via the RetroArch input settings menu.
U
The modern universal charging and data transfer standard. The R36S charges via USB-C — the same cable as modern smartphones. Use any USB-C phone charger or power bank. USB-C also enables OTG connections for external controllers and data transfer to computers.
The process of increasing a game's resolution for display on higher-resolution screens. A NES game runs at 256x240 pixels natively. The R36S upscales it to fill the 640x480 IPS screen. Various upscaling algorithms (nearest neighbor, bilinear, HQ2x) affect how sharp or smooth the upscaled image appears.
