WHEN you think of video game consoles, there are a few that probably spring to mind at first thought.
There are Nintendo consoles like the Switch, Microsoft’s Xbox consoles, and Sony’s PlayStation consoles, all of which have had multiple iterations over the years.
As the games industry moves towards high-powered consoles and realistic graphics, though, some players have been looking for something a little simpler.
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Game publisher Panic Inc., the company that published games like Untitled Goose Game and Firewatch, has answered the call with a boutique lo-fi handheld.
It’s called the Playdate, and it looks a little bit like a small, slim Game Boy, with one strange addition: a crank on the side of the console.
The looks aren’t the only thing in common with the Game Boy, either, as it also has a 1-bit screen with no backlight, meaning it only has black and white and needs a light on to play.
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When you first turn on the Playdate, you get access to just two games, with another game or two unlocking every week that you play it.
This initial batch of games has a very wide range of genres and styles, although most of them are fairly quick and simple.
Whitewater Wipeout, for example, has you using the crank to control a surfer on a board among the waves.
Another, called Spellcorked, has you brewing potions (and coffee) for customers by cranking, pressing buttons, tilting, and more.
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The games included with the console are delightful, although some will definitely keep your attention for longer than others.
If this week’s offerings aren’t for you, you can always log into your Playdate account online and move forward a week, or just unlock them all from the get-go.
And those aren’t the only games you get access to, either, with hundreds of additional games available on the Catalog, and even more on platforms like Itch.
Most of these games are very cheap, too, with very few costing more than $10 USD, and most costing £5 or less.
On Itch, some games are even free, and loading them onto the Playdate is as simple as downloading a file and then uploading it on Playdate’s website.
There’s a very wide range of games on offer across all the different platforms, from puzzle games to platformers and even first-person shooters.
In terms of the device itself, it’s a very neat console that’s easy to use, but it’s not without its admittedly minor problems.
Not being able to play at night without some kind of light is a little bit annoying, as it’s perfect for knocking out a few rounds in a game before bed.
The viewing angles can also be a bit restrictive, and the reflective screen means that finding the perfect way to hold it so you can see everything clearly can be difficult.
The controls also feel a little bit unresponsive, with the d-pad in particular not having much roll to it, making fast platforming difficult.
The crank, to its credit, does feel very sturdy and very precise, but how much enjoyment you get out of it will be dependent on the game itself.
The Playdate is not a cheap device either, coming in at a little over £200 when shipping and taxes are taken into account.
That’s a big ask for the average gamer, but that’s not who the Playdate is aimed at — instead, it’s aimed at enthusiasts, developers, and retro fans looking for something different.
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In that regard, the Playdate is almost priceless, as it delivers what’s essentially a brand new console with its own unique library of games and a robust development toolkit that anyone can use.
It might not be able to compete with the power of the PS5 or the Xbox Series X|S, but it’s still a neat console in its own right.
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