Reliving My Childhood with the Miyoo Mini v2
Image: Taki Udon (YouTube)
Some of my favorite gaming memories can be traced back to my childhood- unlimited free time, no responsibilities, and a case full of Game Boy games to take on the go. While I love my experience with consoles like Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2, and Xbox 360, the mobility of handheld games has always held a special place in my heart. The Nintendo Switch definitely takes the top spot in regards to all-time mobile/handheld games, but it doesn't quite have the catalog of Game Boy games I loved as a child.
The Hidden Gem of Handheld Gaming
Enter the Miyoo Mini v2: a handheld emulator powered by RetroArch featuring over 5,000 games from consoles like NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, PlayStation, Game Boy, and more. Here's the best part…this powerful little handheld device is $60-70 on Amazon and is worth every penny. I still own my original Game Boy and Game Boy Color but finding and keeping 5,000 games is definitely not a journey I want to embark on, especially financially. If you don't mind playing emulated games and want to relive your childhood gaming experience, this handheld device is for you! Be sure to check out Taki Udon's video review for a great in-depth look at the Miyoo Mini v2.
All your favorite Nintendo and Sega games make an appearance and because this handheld device uses RetroArch, a free emulator available via Steam, you can easily find additional games to add to your collection. Yes, we're definitely talking about some gray areas in gaming when it comes to the legality of ROMs, but take it from someone who grew up in the Napster and LimeWire era and take advantage of this type of gaming while you can. It's more about the preservation of games and experiencing a diverse catalog of games that the average gamer might never experience due to the limitation of physical copies, limited and faulty hardware, and licensing and copyright hoops that inevitably come with traditional bureaucratic approaches to gaming. We're talking about 5,000+ games from nearly every console ever released.
The Best Collection of Retro Games
All your favorite Nintendo and Sega games make an appearance and because this handheld device uses RetroArch, a free emulator available via Steam, you can easily find additional games to add to your collection. Yes, we're definitely talking about some gray areas in gaming when it comes to the legality of ROMs, but take it from someone who grew up in the Napster and LimeWire era and take advantage of this type of gaming while you can. It's more about the preservation of games and experiencing a diverse catalog of games that the average gamer might never experience due to the limitation of physical copies, limited and faulty hardware, and licensing and copyright hoops that inevitably come with traditional bureaucratic approaches to gaming. We're talking about 5,000+ games from nearly every console ever released.
5,000+ games from nearly every console...
Sure, some of these games are available on Nintendo Switch through their classic game library or some might be available on current-gen consoles like Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5. The experience has been modernized and optimized for the current generation of gamers making it a much better experience than that of a small handheld. The Miyoo Mini v2 is the perfect substitute and will definitely scratch that nostalgic itch as you peruse the vast catalog of games and excitedly fire up your favorite childhood game. No need to find your clip-on light to see in the dark, the bright and crisp back-lit LED screen is bright enough to showcase these classics in vibrant modern detail.
Image: RetroResolve
Customization & Community
The best thing about the Miyoo Mini v2 is that you can customize it with a better OS and UI to help you better navigate the full library of games and even add additional consoles like Nintendo 64 to the mix. You can even upgrade the memory from its standard 32GB card to your microSD card of choice. Shaped like the original Game Boy but only the size of a deck of cards, the Miyoo features 4 additional buttons on the back, the right and left bumpers, and triggers to take the full capability of consoles like PlayStation. Even if you don't feel like taking the time to customize the Miyoo, the out-of-the-box experience is more than sufficient to keep any gamer entertained for hours on end. Talk about the perfect holiday gift idea! Not to mention, the community of creators on Etsy creates a plethora of customization options like handheld grips, button sets, and more. You can really make this already unique device truly one of a kind.
