There’s no scarcity of the way to play Sport Boy video games in 2025. You’ve bought a number of titles on Nintendo Change On-line, quite a few emulation gadgets in all sizes and shapes, and you’ll even play them in your cellphone. Then there’s the opposite finish of the market—the premium expertise—which goals to copy the unique really feel as intently as potential, however with some added aptitude and a contemporary, high-tech twist. Effectively, as high-tech as modernising the Sport Boy expertise can get.
One of many extra standard gadgets doing that is the Analogue Pocket—a premium piece of {hardware} when it comes to design, expertise, and expense, that includes an absurdly high-quality display screen. Then there’s this: the Mod Retro Chromatic. A high-end “Sport Boy Coloration” with an equally ridiculous display screen and distinctive construct high quality, however on the identical time, it’s making an attempt to be one thing else.
The Mod Retro Chromatic is a Sport Boy Coloration—rebuilt with fashionable tech, but designed to stay so simple as it was again within the day. There’s nothing difficult to obtain, no setups to mess with—you simply take your Sport Boy or Sport Boy Coloration cartridges, pop them in, and also you’re good to go. There’s one thing satisfying about having the ability to simply play a sport the old school manner, with none fuss. Positive, this gadget doesn’t do emulation (at the very least not in the way in which you’re in all probability pondering). It performs actual Sport Boy and Sport Boy Coloration cartridges, together with new video games constructed for this platform that comply with the identical ideas—they’re mainly Sport Boy video games, they usually may even run on unique {hardware}.
So why would you spend all this cash on one in all these and never simply play on an unique Sport Boy?
The very first thing you’ll discover is the display screen — and it’s simply silly good. On paper, it has the actual identical decision as the unique Sport Boy: a mere 160 by 144 pixels. However what you get is an extremely correct recreation of the unique show. No filters, no blurring — simply the pixels, precisely as they had been meant to be seen. The display screen can also be the identical bodily dimension, so that you’ve bought true pixel accuracy. To convey it as much as fashionable requirements, it’s an IPS panel and absolutely backlit — one thing the unique Sport Boy by no means had. However the staff didn’t cease there: this panel can also be colour-accurate. Quite a lot of different emulation gadgets mess with the distinctive tones of the Sport Boy Coloration, introducing variations in color temperature. This, although, is the crispest, most correct Sport Boy display screen you’ll ever see. And it’s all protected by a literal, crystal-clear sapphire lens.
Subsequent up, the construct high quality of this factor is impeccable. Visually, it seems like a Sport Boy that had a child with a Sport Boy Coloration. You’ve bought the scale, form, and type issue of the unique DMG Sport Boy, however with the visible aptitude and theming of the Coloration. The whole shell is constructed from magnesium alloy — choose it up, and it’s cool to the contact. It’s not overly heavy, however there’s a satisfying density to it. The AA batteries within the again assist overwhelm the underside half of the console, making it sit comfortably in your palms when you play. Even the battery cowl is steel.
The buttons really feel like refined variations of the unique Sport Boy’s, with a satisfying high-gloss end on the A and B buttons — they bounce and click on good. The Begin and Choose buttons are clicky as a substitute of rubbery, which is a pleasant improve. The D-Pad is great too: it strikes easily in any route while you want it to, and it’s exact sufficient to make sure you hit the suitable one while you don’t. Once you’re taking part in Tetris, you may belief the blocks will land precisely the place you need them. Our assessment unit did have a slight squeak within the D-Pad out of the field, however that disappeared with use.
Like the remainder of the gadget, it completely replicates the late Twentieth-century expertise. The buttons are tactile and satisfying, with an awesome clack that feels similar to the unique consoles. The facility change, and even the cartridge slot, really feel genuine. Simply slide the cartridge in, flick the change, and also you’re off — it boots straight into the sport, similar to the nice previous days.
All the pieces I threw on the system performed easily — properly, after I cleaned the contacts on a few of my video games. The traditional “blow on the cartridge” trick even labored just a few occasions. It dealt with common Sport Boy video games, Sport Boy Coloration titles, Rumble Pack video games, and even the Sport Boy Digicam — no issues in any respect. There’s a small menu accessible through a button on the aspect of the gadget. There’s not a lot in there — simply brightness controls, a silent mode toggle, and a few fundamental graphical settings. Quantity is adjusted with a wheel on the aspect, which is simple to succeed in and has a pleasant, stable really feel to it.
There’s additionally a headphone jack and an LED indicator — fortunately, it doesn’t face you, because it’s fairly shiny, however at the very least at night time it’s angled downward. A USB-C port is included too, primarily for connecting the gadget to a pc to document footage. You possibly can’t cost through USB-C (at the very least not but — a battery pack is coming later). The built-in audio system, like every little thing else, faithfully recreate the sound of the unique methods, simply a lot louder. They’re downward-facing, which generally is a bit annoying should you’re holding the system shut, but it surely’s not a dealbreaker. Lastly, there’s a hyperlink port on the aspect, and even an IR blaster on the highest.
I’ve talked about it a few occasions already, however sure — this runs on AA batteries. At first, I believed that was a bit odd. Doesn’t every little thing as of late use a lithium-ion battery and cost through USB-C? However ModRetro’s reasoning is stable. AA batteries have been round without end, they usually’re not going anyplace. It is a retro-inspired gadget designed to final, and whereas a built-in battery pack may swell or die over time, AA batteries are without end — and there’s nothing stopping you from utilizing rechargeable ones.
Our assessment unit got here with three video games, one in all which is bundled with the console — and that sport is, in fact, Tetris. See? It actually is a Sport Boy.
This full-colour model of Tetris isn’t the identical as the unique Sport Boy launch, although. It consists of fashionable mechanics like laborious drop and maintain, and there are a number of modes to play by way of. There’s even hyperlink cable assist for two-player matches. It seems vibrant and vibrant on the superb display screen, too.
We had been additionally despatched Toki Tori — the final word replace to the Sport Boy Coloration unique. Two Tribes had been in a position to return to their sport practically 25 years later and provides it a correct refresh. When you’ve performed Toki Tori on some other platform, there’s not a lot new right here, but it surely’s positively one of many higher picks from the small library of “unique” video games for this gadget.
Patchy Matchy is a traditional tile-matching puzzle sport that feels prefer it may have come straight out of the Sport Boy period. It completely nails the vibe of a modern-day retro title. It feels new, but additionally very acquainted — like many matching video games we’ve performed earlier than. It’s strictly a “Sport Boy” sport, although, with no color — genuine? Positive. However I hoped to see that lovely display screen pop a bit extra. It’s the type of sport you may choose up and play for a brief burst, which fits this gadget completely. But additionally… it’s not Tetris.
So, then there’s the matter of price — should you may even discover one. These aren’t but bought in Australia, they usually may by no means be. When you handle to snag one from the US, it’ll nonetheless set you again $199 USD, and with present change charges, that’s over $300 AUD earlier than you even think about transport.
Plus, the nice colors that had been out there at launch are all gone — all that’s left now’s a boring gray. You could find the colorful first-edition ones on eBay, however good luck parting with something lower than half a grand for a type of. When you actually love your Sport Boy and Sport Boy Coloration video games, there’s no higher gadget for an genuine expertise. However there are many different, less expensive choices which may not be as premium, this factor is simply that little bit further.
From the minute you choose up the field of the ModRetro Chromatic, you’re bathed in high quality. The field it is available in is well-designed, with some nice ’90s-inspired art work. Then, while you open it and choose up the gadget, it’s stable, well-made, and appears like a high-end piece of package — and it actually is. Regardless of simply being a “Sport Boy,” it’s full of a contemporary display screen, completely crafted buttons, and nice assist.
You do pay for it, nonetheless. This isn’t an inexpensive gadget, however not like loads of costly merchandise, it’s price it — if it’s price it to you. When you simply need to play some Sport Boy video games, there are many methods to do it. However if you wish to play them as they had been, within the crispest, most genuine, but fashionable manner potential, that is for you.
ModRetro was based by Palmer Luckey — the creator of Oculus VR and, extra controversially, Anduril Industries, a defence contractor. , somebody who makes weapons too. That may make the choice to purchase a Chromatic a simple one for you… or it may not — however we thought it was price mentioning.