Buying Guides

Find the right handheld console faster with expert buying guides for retro gaming, portable play, and beginner-friendly picks.

Explore buying guides for handheld game consoles, retro handhelds, and portable gaming devices designed for different needs, budgets, and play styles.

Whether you're shopping for your first handheld console, comparing retro gaming devices, or looking for the best portable system for travel, our guides help you choose with confidence.

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  • Purple 8BitDo Pro 3 controller and dock, an optional accessory for a supported host

    DuckTales: Choose Your Pogo Version Before Buyi...

    Original DuckTales, Remastered and The Disney Afternoon Collection offer different buying decisions. Choose the release and pogo controls first; consider Pro 3 only for a wanted physical setup.

    DuckTales: Choose Your Pogo Version Before Buyi...

    Original DuckTales, Remastered and The Disney Afternoon Collection offer different buying decisions. Choose the release and pogo controls first; consider Pro 3 only for a wanted physical setup.

  • Purple 8BitDo Pro 3 controller and dock on a desk, editorial product illustration

    Gimmick! Special Edition: Learn the Star Before...

    Yumetaro’s bouncing star makes practice part of the appeal. Choose the exact Special Edition, use its learning aids and decide whether a Pro 3 actually improves your playing arrangement.

    Gimmick! Special Edition: Learn the Star Before...

    Yumetaro’s bouncing star makes practice part of the appeal. Choose the exact Special Edition, use its learning aids and decide whether a Pro 3 actually improves your playing arrangement.

  • Black RGB30 editorial illustration with a composited DKC2 ship scene

    DKC2 on a Square Screen: Diddy, Dixie and the R...

    Diddy and Dixie turn a nostalgic platformer into a practical control-and-display question. Compare square-screen presentation, an existing official route and exact RGB30 offers without mistaking storage for performance.

    DKC2 on a Square Screen: Diddy, Dixie and the R...

    Diddy and Dixie turn a nostalgic platformer into a practical control-and-display question. Compare square-screen presentation, an existing official route and exact RGB30 offers without mistaking storage for performance.

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Buying Guides

Best GBA games on R36S 2026 Pokemon Emerald Zelda Minish Cap Metroid Fusion Castlevania top 30 iGameConsole

Best GBA Games on R36S 2026: Top 30 Game Boy Ad...

Best GBA games on R36S 2026 — Pokemon Emerald, Zelda Minish Cap, Metroid Fusion, Castlevania Aria of Sorrow all at 100%. Top 30 GBA games ranked. 6.5h battery. $79.99.

Best GBA Games on R36S 2026: Top 30 Game Boy Ad...

Best GBA games on R36S 2026 — Pokemon Emerald, Zelda Minish Cap, Metroid Fusion, Castlevania Aria of Sorrow all at 100%. Top 30 GBA games ranked. 6.5h battery. $79.99.

Best PS1 games on R36S 2026 FF VII Tekken 3 Crash Bandicoot Spyro Metal Gear Solid top 30 iGameConsole

Best PS1 Games on R36S 2026: Top 30 PlayStation...

Best PS1 games on R36S 2026 — FF VII, Tekken 3, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Metal Gear Solid all at 100%. Top 30 PlayStation 1 games ranked. Complete PS1 compatibility guide....

Best PS1 Games on R36S 2026: Top 30 PlayStation...

Best PS1 games on R36S 2026 — FF VII, Tekken 3, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Metal Gear Solid all at 100%. Top 30 PlayStation 1 games ranked. Complete PS1 compatibility guide....

Best Final Fantasy games on R36S 2026 FF VII FF VI FF IX FF Tactics complete series iGameConsole

Best Final Fantasy Games on R36S 2026: FF VII, ...

Best Final Fantasy games on R36S 2026 — FF VII, FF VI, FF IX, FF Tactics all at 100%. Complete series ranked across PS1, SNES, GBA. iGC guide. $79.99.

Best Final Fantasy Games on R36S 2026: FF VII, ...

Best Final Fantasy games on R36S 2026 — FF VII, FF VI, FF IX, FF Tactics all at 100%. Complete series ranked across PS1, SNES, GBA. iGC guide. $79.99.

Best Pokemon games on R36S 2026 FireRed Emerald HeartGold every generation ranked iGameConsole

Best Pokemon Games on R36S 2026: Every Generati...

Best Pokemon games on R36S 2026 — FireRed, Emerald, HeartGold, Black 2 all at 100%. Every Pokemon generation ranked across GBA, DS, GBC. iGC complete guide. $79.99.

Best Pokemon Games on R36S 2026: Every Generati...

Best Pokemon games on R36S 2026 — FireRed, Emerald, HeartGold, Black 2 all at 100%. Every Pokemon generation ranked across GBA, DS, GBC. iGC complete guide. $79.99.

Best Zelda games on R36S 2026 Ocarina of Time Link to the Past Majoras Mask complete series iGameConsole

Best Zelda Games on the R36S 2026: Ocarina, Lin...

Best Zelda games on R36S 2026 — Ocarina of Time (97%), Link to the Past (100%), Majora's Mask (96%), Link's Awakening DX GBA (100%). Complete Zelda series ranked by iGC....

Best Zelda Games on the R36S 2026: Ocarina, Lin...

Best Zelda games on R36S 2026 — Ocarina of Time (97%), Link to the Past (100%), Majora's Mask (96%), Link's Awakening DX GBA (100%). Complete Zelda series ranked by iGC....

Best Mario games on R36S 2026 Super Mario 64 Mario World Mario Kart 64 complete series iGameConsole

Best Mario Games on the R36S 2026: Every Mario ...

Best Mario games on R36S 2026 — Super Mario 64 (97%), Mario World (100%), Mario Kart 64 (97%), Super Mario RPG (100%). Complete Mario series ranked. iGC guide. $79.99.

Best Mario Games on the R36S 2026: Every Mario ...

Best Mario games on R36S 2026 — Super Mario 64 (97%), Mario World (100%), Mario Kart 64 (97%), Super Mario RPG (100%). Complete Mario series ranked. iGC guide. $79.99.

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Purchase Considerations

  • R36S — Explore the Offer


    R36S
    Check current prices, available configurations and suitability for your classic-game needs.

  • R36PRO — Compare Your Options


    R36PRO
    Compare the selected configuration, current price and game requirements before choosing.

  • R36MAX — Compare Your Preferences


    R36MAX
    Compare the exact configuration with your screen preferences, game needs and budget.

  • R36ULTRA — Evaluate Your Requirements


    R36ULTRA
    Check the specific offer against your game needs and budget rather than assuming a model name proves higher performance.

What to Do Next

Not sure which handheld console is right for you? Continue exploring our buying guides, compare popular models, or browse our handheld gaming collections.

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Buying Guides FAQ

What can I find in these buying guides?

Our buying guides cover handheld consoles, retro gaming devices, and portable gaming systems for different needs and budgets.

Are these guides suitable for beginners?

Yes, many guides are designed to help beginners choose their first handheld console.

Can I shop products from these guides?

Yes, our guides link directly to handheld console collections and product pages.