Is the Retro Handheld Game Console worth it?
Worth it. Extraordinary fun per dollar. The gift that gets opened at the table and not put down.
A budget retro handheld is worth it for anyone nostalgic for 8-bit and 16-bit games and for kids who've never seen them; the R36 family plays everything up to the PS1 era well, and anything newer than that is where budget units struggle.
Buy it if you…
- Dads and millennials who grew up with a Game Boy
- Kids as a first screen-time device with no internet
Skip it if you…
- Anyone expecting modern 3D games to run smoothly
- People who want a polished app store experience
Questions people ask
Does it come with games?
Most ship with a memory card of classic titles. Legality of those varies; you can load your own backups.
R36S vs R36 Max?
The Max has a bigger 4.5-inch screen and better sticks; the original R36S is smaller and cheaper. Both play the same library.
Verdict last reviewed November 8, 2026 by The TrendGadgets Team.