This week, Nintendo quietly launched the first batch of new color options for the Switch 2’s Joy-Con 2 controllers, giving players more alternatives. A Light Purple left Joy-Con paired with a Light Green right one creates a wonderful contrast to the conventional light blue and light red combo that comes with the console.
Super Mario 64 has jumped into 2026, but in a microtransaction kind of way. A developer named PrintAndPanic adapted the famous 1996 N64 game and managed to insert real money into every move. Now, the trusty coin slot is used to determine how far Mario can sprint or jump dependent on the amount of cash inserted.
ACEMAGIC has just teased the Retro X5, a mini PC that flawlessly matches the nostalgic look of the original Nintendo Entertainment System from the 1980s. The first thing you notice is the grey plastic casing and front-loading cartridge door, which are similar to the original; even the controller ports have been reduced down to fit on your desk.
Carlos from Carlos 3D Worlds wondered what happens inside a Pokeball, and his response came in the form of a 2 meter tall spherical that took weeks of experimentation to perfect. Big enough for some unfortunate soul to squeeze in, play some games, and become utterly disconnected from the outer world.
Nintendo released the New 3DS LL Hyrule Edition as a GameStop North America exclusive in 2015 for $199.99. Japan received its own version of the larger-screened handheld a little later, complete with the same eye-catching gold finish. In early 2016, Europe joined in as well. When Nintendo discontinued the whole 3DS series in 2020, production of these special edition consoles also came to an end.
Crementif spent five years turning The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild into a completely immersive VR experience. His project, BetterVR, is now available for free download on GitHub, and you can get it right now if you have a legal Wii U copy of the game. All you need to run it is a computer and the Cemu emulator. According to early testers, the experience is silky smooth on high-end setups, as if you’re playing the game for the first time.
Nintendo introduced the Virtual Boy in 1995, with big promises for 3D gaming at home. Players looked through a binocular-style viewer mounted on a tabletop stand, which combined two distinct red LED screens with shaky vibrating mirrors to generate depth. However, the console sold fewer than 800,000 units worldwide before Nintendo discontinued it less than a year later.
Nintendo’s officially licensed LEGO Game Boy kit looks exactly like the original handheld, with grey bricks and a lenticular “screen” that shows various viewpoints of game scenes. Many builders admired the design but wished it was something you could play with. LCLDIY from China decided to go big or go home, taking the idea and expanding it up well beyond the original while also cramming it with real electronics.
The AYANEO Pocket Vert may have debuted a bit too late in 2025, but it adds a new spin to the vertical form factor that retro gamers love. This device has a studry feel in the hands thanks to its metal body, which was CNC’d from a single block of aluminum. The edges are elegantly softened, and the diamond-cut shoulder buttons provide a touch of comfort while maintaining the clean lines. It comes in black, white, or red finishes, and measures 86mm wide, 143mm tall, and 20.5mm thick.
Around 26 years ago, HotGen, a small British company, took on one of the industry’s most difficult challenges: porting the original Resident Evil to the Game Boy Color. Capcom assigned them the task in 1999, with the goal of creating a 2MB cartridge that could somehow fit the full-fledged 3D survival horror of the PlayStation classic onto Nintendo’s portable and release it in time for Christmas that year.