Why the Switch 2 isn't my most-used handheld

It's no secret that I love handheld gaming. I've got many of the PC gaming handhelds so far, that I've modded, added more storage, and tend to use more than my gaming PC. I've got a Nintendo Switch, a Nintendo Switch 2, the ModRetro Chromatic to play Game Boy cartridges, controllers to turn my phone into a handheld, and docks to turn handhelds into TV consoles, and you know what? One retro handheld has got my attention more than any other, and it's not the newest addition to my collection, the Nintendo Switch 2.

It's the imminently pocketable clamshell Anbernic RG35XXSP, which takes more than a dash of design inspiration from the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP. Maybe that's no surprise because that was my favorite handheld ever made, and the ability to play multiple emulators' worth of retro games is simply amazing.

Sorry, Nintendo, but my princess is in another castle

I love the SP-inspired Anbernic too much to put it down

What's better than a retro-inspired handheld console? Coating it in transparent plastic, like all the best accessories back then. The Anbernic RG35XXSP scratches my retro itch in every way, with the nice-feeling buttons, 640x480 screen, and flip-to-hibernate that makes me feel like I'm playing the best of old cartridge-based consoles.

Except it's not cartridge-based, it has two microSD card slots that can each use up to 512GB, which is a staggering amount of retro ROMs if you think about how little space each one takes up. It's the perfect size for long gaming sessions, revisiting my youth, and it doesn't fatigue like the larger gaming handhelds of recent years.

While it has emulators for several consoles that use analog joysticks, the console doesn't have any, so I've been sticking to anything pre-analog, which runs well. Plus, I've been using it to replay ScummVM classics, and I can stream more powerful games to it from my PC using Moonlight.

I can even play PC games on it if I want

You're not limited to the Anbernic firmware, with multiple custom firmware options available and some ports of well-known options. muOS gives you more features, but adding Batocera for more emulators, including ports of PC games, makes the Anbernic sing. Granted, it's not the most powerful processor in the world, so you're limited on what you can run, but that's okay because I don't expect to play AAA titles on something like this. I need a console I can flip open, play something for a little bit, and put it back away to sleep until the next time I give myself a gaming break.

If I had to grumble, it would be that it only has 1GB of DDR4 RAM, whereas it could be so much more versatile with the four Cortex-A53 cores and Mali G31 GPU. Mobile processors are cheap, as is RAM. It could have been such a better device with another $5 or $10 of components added to the overall cost.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has become my TV console

Ironically, this is one handheld I don't like picking up

I grew up in the 8-bit era, with the NES cementing its way in my soul from an early age. Okay, maybe it was before the 8-bit era because I remember the Commodore 64, ColecoVision, Atari, and a few other computers that were much closer to consoles than PCs, but Nintendo has always been there. I didn't get into SEGA until the Genesis days, and more people I knew had SNES consoles, so there always seemed to be a Nintendo console plugged into the TV whenever I went to a friend's house.

Maybe that's why both my Switch consoles live in their docks at the side of the TV in my office. It's not just a good space for them to fit — it's the natural fit in my mind. Those days of playing Mario Kart or F-Zero, or struggling together through whichever JRPG we'd rented for a few weeks from the local video store were formative for me, teaching so many things about community and friendship through the medium of pixelated gaming.

I don't care that the display isn't native 4K, or that the frame rate isn't as high as my gaming PC. The only thing that matters is sharing those experiences with those close to me, and that's something that is worth holding onto in this disconnected internet age.

But I can't deny how good the games are

The best thing about any Nintendo gaming console is the games, and they haven't disappointed so far on the Switch 2. Donkey Kong Bananza has grabbed my heart, turning the most frustrating side-scrolling platformers into a free-for-all exploratory bonanza that just won't quit. It's full of the weirdness and quirkiness that make the essence of all classic first-party Nintendo games, and I hope it gets a sequel.

Mario Kart World has a lesser hold on me, but since I can play it with my kid, it's got a special place in the household. Especially today, where every game for kids has either barely moderated online modes or age-inappropriate elements, I love that I can fire up any Nintendo game and have a safe place to game together. That's partly why it's always plugged into the TV, because the titles are there for sharing, not for simply playing on a small screen solo.

I wish for a true Game Boy SP successor

I know Nintendo rarely goes back to retread the design of any of its handheld consoles for more than two generations, although the 2DS and 3DS bucked that trend. I'd love to see an all-metal SP from Nintendo, with a proper attempt at game preservation and an extensive back catalog that the game maker has.

It sucks that we have to turn to emulation to play classics that aren't playable today, or that the few games that have been remastered have been locked behind the Nintendo Online subscription, so you have to keep paying to keep playing. Until then, the Anbernic RG35XXSP isn't going to be far from my heart, or my pocket.