The Anbernic RG Nano was a device I'd noticed on many websites and in many reviews, and regardless of the feedback I'd seen, both for and against this tiny device, I felt drawn to it. Something about the idea of being able to carry around so many of my favorite games and only needing that tiny little pocket that nobody really knows what to do with seemed so appealing. So, after flip flopping on if I really needed one for weeks, I finally made the commitment. For the last 2 weeks, I've been enjoying getting to know my tiny new friend. Now, I'll be honest, there wasn't much there to get to know. I immediately cleared the micro SD card out and loaded it with my own curated set of games. Next, I looked at my two options for operating systems....it took me less than a minute to swap to the RetroFE Launcher and I've never looked back.
Now, let's get into the gaming experience and address the elephant in the room. This thing is small. Like, tiny small. The end of my thumbs cover the entire D-Pad and ABXY buttons. And the 1.54 inch screen, though it's a pretty sharp display, is a little tough on the 30-something year old eyes. It's almost too small for me to be able to hold comfortably and not feel like it's going to just squirt between my fingers and be lost in the same void that my guitar picks and tiny screws always end up in. I find it helpful to loop the attached keychain around my pinky as a safety against gravity. I was a little nervous that the keychain might scratch up the screen, but I'm happy to report that Thingiverse has multiple 3D printable cases for the Nano. I printed 2 just because they were quick and easy prints...(I'll be making a post about my adventures in 3D printing someday soon). The buttons are responsive and, with a little acclimation time, pretty easy to use. The D-Pad on the other hand..or thumb.. is a little too small for the opening in the case. I can twist the button pretty far left and right in the case hole. This excess play has led to more than a few accidental diagonals and given me some rough moments in a few games. But, again, I've gotten pretty much used to it and have adapted well. I mean, I can't expect DualSense precision controls on a $60 handheld that's the size of a box of Tic Tac's.
I spent nearly 20 minutes scrolling menus of games trying to decide on the perfect choice for my micro-gameboy. Super Mario World? No, too vanilla...Final Fantasy? No, too much text for the tiny screen...maybe Link's Awakening? No, I just played that on the Zelda Game and Watch. I finally scrolled over one of the first games I remember beating as a kid. An NES classic that had me up on my tiptoes, wide eyed as I got closer and closer to it's climactic end....Kirby's Adventure. It was the perfect fit! No text, no precise controls, just Kirby, swallowing enemies and searching for King Dedede and the Star Rod. With my sights set fondly on rejoining my old, pink friend, I set off into Vegetable Valley. The first level was a bit harder than I remembered it being, but I had to take into account the miniscule machine I was playing on. After Level 2, I had to give my eyes a break. And that was how I spent the rest of the day. 10 minutes here, 15 minutes there, waiting on the microwave, and sitting in the restroom. Any time I could find a few minutes, I was
right back into Dreamland, pushing forward in my adventure. Finally, defeating King Dedede, returning the Star Rod to the Fountain of Dreams, accidentally releasing Nightmare and then promptly destroying it. The quest was complete, the game done, and my first adventure on the RG Nano was over. I thought back on how I'd played all day and realized the true genius of the Nano. It's not a binge gaming platform, or long playing console. It's the perfect device for those odd little moments that sneak into our days. Sitting at a bus stop, sitting at the doctor's office, or waiting on your food to warm up. The tiny little 5 and 10 minute breaks when you can't get anything started before time's up. That is when the Nano can jump out of your pocket and give you just enough time to knock out a level, hit a save state, and then throw it back in your pocket. It's a tiny device meant to fill those tiny moments, and it's darn good at it. I never realized how much fun it could be to knock out a race in F-Zero while I wait on my drink at Sonic, or to beat a level in Super Mario Bros while I wait for my wife to pick out the shirt she wants at Wal-Mart.
The RG Nano may have been purchased as a novelty and an experiment, but now I keep it by my keys and wallet and don't leave home without it. It's part of my gear now, and I'm happy to have it. If you're like me, and have those moments where you have enough time to wish you could play a game, but not enough time to even boot up a system, give the RG Nano a look. It's inexpensive, easy to use, and can hold all the nostalgic memories you could ever want to keep you smiling throughout your day. Get your fix whenever you want it and, as always, game on.
The Good
Battery life will last way longer than your eyes will.
1 full charge kept me gaming throught the day for over a week before needing to plug it back in.
It handles NES to PS1 really well.
Ergonomics are remarkably comfortable for short burst of gaming.
The size! This is so easy to take with you, literally everywhere you might go.
The price! I've seen these as low as $50 on Amazon.
The Bad
The D-Pad is rough. It wiggles around and doesn't always feel solid.
The size..again.. If your vision isn't up to the challenge, this can be a headache maker.
It's toasty. The heat dissipation on higher end games can get it a little warm in the hands. Overall, I'd give the RG Nano a 7 out of 10 Not good for as your only system, but a perfect secondary system
Amazon Link- https://amzn.to/4bE3wss As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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