Evercade: The Handheld Console More People Should Own

If there’s one certainty in the realm of video games, it’s that nostalgia sells. This sentimental force can influence our buying habits and player preferences, but it can also leave us feeling disillusioned. The thing is, gaming is a complicated hobby. Whether you want to fire up a new-gen console or delve into the past, there are various hurdles to jump before you can sit down and play. From software updates and digital-only consoles to emulation devices that require setting up, each corner of the video gaming hobby has its caveats. 

So, what if you can’t be bothered with all that? What if you just want to pick up a device, shove a cartridge in and play? Well, you probably need to get yourself an Evercade.

Simplicity At Its Core

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Credit: Evercade.com

The Evercade wields a fundamental concept at its core – simplicity. It’s a device that plays games. The games? They come on cartridges. That’s literally all you need to know when it comes to playing games on an Evercade. Despite such simplicity, the Evercade is actually one of the best gaming experiences on the market today. With its reliable and robust retro gaming experience, it’s not just a console for nostalgia chasers, but for those who just want to play a game.

Under the hood, The Evercade uses a Linux based operating system and 1.2GHz Cortex-A7 processor. These are modest specs by today’s standards. After all, most of us carry around supercomputers with immense pocket power. Thing is, the Evercade doesn’t rely on specs to achieve its goal. Everything the Evercade achieves is based on an accumulated knowledge of emulation, paired with a desire to keep its inner workings behind the stage curtain.

To the unsuspecting player, the Evercade works the exact same way as any cartridge-based console. You pop the cartridge in, turn it on and voila, video games! This is precisely what makes the Evercade so unique. It takes the complicated process of emulation and places it out of sight. No tweaking, no adjusting, no manual intervention from the player whatsoever, as well as no need for the player to ever want to do so.

Unlike other subpar plug-and-play consoles (naming no names), the Evercade can achieve simplicity while still providing accurate emulation. This is because each of the 120 titles available for the Evercade has its own specific emulator included on the cart. Having already been optimised and adjusted, this allows the console’s creator, Blaze, to ensure that every release is just as reliable as it was back in the day. In a word, it’s perfection.

The Games

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Credit: Evercade.com

But what about the games? Well, Blaze has done an excellent job procuring a collection of games that are a little different from the usual retro line-up. While the console might lack fast hedgehogs and adventurous plumbers, it does have a whole library of old classics that you probably played back in the day. How many modern consoles have a physical release of games like Dizzy Egg? Practically none, despite the fact the game was a staple of 1980s gaming.

Most of the Evercade’s library is bundled into collections. This means if you spot a game you recall from back in the day, you can also explore other titles from that same publisher. This is an excellent way of honouring video game history, while not consigning the games’ fate to the original hardware they came on. We’ve had countless SEGA and Nintendo collections in the past that have neglected most of these games. So why tie their comeback to those companies?

As well as familiar favourites, the Evercade also features some new retro-inspired indie titles. In a way, this makes the Evercade not just a retro console, but a platform that could welcome in various indie developers and publishers. Sure, some of these games are available on other consoles, like Coffee Crisis from Mega Cat Studios. However, others like Tanglewood and Deadeus were previously only available on the Game Boy and Mega Drive respectively, or PC. 

In a sense, Blaze has developed what could be a creative hub. More developers than ever create new games for old systems, meaning that the Evercade could act as a reliable access point for those who don’t wish to faff around with antiquated tech. The Evercade has the potential to ascend past providing novelty or a quick blast of nostalgia. Technically, it’s already doing so.

Affordability

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Credit: Evercade.com

This all might sound like something that would be set an enthusiast-level price point, yet the Evercade is exceptionally affordable. Coming in at around £60 for the console, it’s one of the cheaper gaming solutions on the market. Combined with the fact that each Evercade cartridge only costs an average of £15, the experience is something of a steal. Considering that next-gen games are starting to come in at around £70 each, buying an Evercade is justifiable, even if it’s just for one game. 

That being said, the Evercade is undeniably aimed at collectors. Each Evercade release begs to be bought and displayed on a shelf. Especially with having the number on each spine.

Housed in a clamshell case and complete with a full-colour manual, the experience of buying an Evercade game feels distant from that of an Xbox or PS5. Blaze has managed to capture that sense of ownership, the same feeling you’d get when reading through a game’s manual as a kid on the car journey home. It’s a magical thing.

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Credit: Evercade.com

The point I’m trying to make is that the Evercade caters to almost everyone. From collectors and retro enthusiasts to those who just want to play some fun games. Blaze’s target audience is anything but niche. Even if you’re not into handhelds, the Evercade can be plugged into the TV using an HDMI cable. It’s as versatile as it is accommodating.

The Evercade could be a platform in its own right. It’s armed with the potential to bring long lost gamers back into the fold. If you want simplicity, style and a solid gaming experience, the Evercade is a console you need to own. Life’s complicated enough, so why does gaming have to be? Whether you’re a gamer or collector, an Evercade is well worth your time.

Do you own an Evercade and is it a must-have console for you? Let us know across our social media channels!

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Featured Image Credit: Evercade.com