The Evercade is a handheld game console created and made by a British company called Blaze Entertainment. It is designed for playing old games, using special cartridges that hold many emulated games. The Evercade was released on May 22, 2020, and when it first came out, it included 10 game cartridges with a total of 122 games.
Companies such as Arc System Works, Atari, Bandai Namco Entertainment, G-Mode, Interplay Entertainment, and Piko Interactive have made versions of their games for the Evercade. Existing homebrew games have also been released again on the system by Mega Cat Studios. The Evercade can play games originally made for systems like the Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari Lynx, Intellivision, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and PlayStation. It can also play arcade games and home computer games for systems like the Commodore 64, Amiga, and ZX Spectrum.
In December 2021, a home console version called the Evercade VS was released. The original handheld console was no longer sold and was replaced by an improved version called the Evercade EXP, which came out at the end of 2022.
History
The Evercade was created by Blaze Entertainment Limited of Great Britain, a company that had previously made Atari-related products and the Game Gadget. Blaze started working on the Evercade in 2018, aiming to build a console better than plug-and-play devices. The Evercade was introduced in April 2019 as a portable console for playing old video games. It could connect to a television and played games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras using emulation technology.
The Evercade was first planned to release in the fourth quarter of 2019 but was delayed until March 20, 2020. The release date was later moved to May 22, 2020. However, some areas might experience delays of up to two more weeks due to shipping problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The console sold for £60 or $80 with one game cartridge included. A premium version sold for £80 or $100 and came with three game cartridges. The console had a white and red design, similar to the Nintendo Famicom. A black version was also available in the United Kingdom. Andrew Byatt, the Evercade’s development director, aimed to sell hundreds of thousands of units in the first year.
On May 31, 2022, Blaze announced it would stop selling the Evercade and instead release an upgraded version called the Evercade EXP.
Hardware
The Evercade has a 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 processor and runs on a Linux-based system. It measures just over seven inches in length, has 256 megabytes of RAM, and features a horizontal 4.3-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 480×272 pixels. The screen uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, as some games originally released for systems like the Atari Lynx use a wider screen ratio than 4:3. Players can switch between the 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios.
The Evercade connects to a television using a mini-HDMI cable instead of a standard HDMI output. It provides a 720p television output and enhances all games to high-definition quality when connected. The console has a rechargeable 2,000-mAh battery that lasts four to five hours. A 3.5 mm headphone jack and two volume controls are located on the bottom of the device. The cartridge slot, power button, and mini-HDMI port are on the top. A MicroUSB port is used for charging. Unlike modern handheld consoles, the Evercade does not include a touchscreen or Wi-Fi connectivity.
Blaze Entertainment tested 20 versions of the Evercade D-pad before selecting the final design. The D-pad is modeled after those on the Genesis and Saturn controllers. In addition to the D-pad, the console has four action buttons on the front, two trigger buttons on top, and "menu," "select," and "start" buttons. The layout of the four action buttons was chosen after an online poll showed 68% of users preferred a layout similar to modern game controllers. However, this caused confusion because in-game instructions sometimes did not match the button labels. Blaze released a firmware update to address this issue, requiring users to connect the console to a computer and access the Evercade website.
Two-player games adapted for the Evercade retain their multiplayer function, with plans for future hardware to support two-player gameplay. Bluetooth was considered for multiplayer but was not used due to cost and complexity, which conflicted with the console's design goals. By the end of 2019, before the Evercade's release, Blaze was already working on a second version that would include multiplayer support and a simpler way to connect to a television.
Games
Evercade games are sold on multi-game ROM cartridges. Each cartridge usually contains between 5 and 20 games, though some have fewer than five. Evercade cartridges allow players to save their progress, a feature not common in older games. The use of physical cartridges was unique for the Evercade, as most retro handheld consoles used built-in or downloaded games. The Evercade aimed to let retrogamers collect physical games, offering cartridges, clamshell packaging, and paper instruction manuals to appeal to fans of physical media. Cartridges and their packaging are numbered to encourage collecting. Evercade cartridges are white and similar in size to Game Boy and Game Gear cartridges. In 2024, Blaze Entertainment announced new cartridges called Giga Carts, which look the same but have more storage space for modern games.
Evercade cartridges use emulation to recreate existing games. Developers worked with original software creators to ensure accurate game copies. Atari was the first publisher to partner with Evercade in April 2019. Later, partnerships were formed with Interplay Entertainment, Data East, and Bandai Namco Entertainment. Each cartridge includes games exclusive to its publisher.
Blaze Entertainment discussed game licenses with companies, requesting well-known or rare games for the Evercade. Japanese studio games were also sought. Licensees sometimes suggested games for release. Byatt stated, "We focus on quality over quantity. We don’t want 3,000 games." Some games couldn’t be licensed due to missing paperwork proving ownership. Discussions also included indie developers for original, retro-style games. Mega Cat Studios later released a cartridge with 10 homebrew games from the NES and Mega Drive.
The Evercade uses licensed or custom-built emulators to play games from systems like the Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Mega Drive, and others. At launch, the Evercade had 10 cartridges with 122 games. Blaze planned to expand the collection to over 50 cartridges in the future. Piko Interactive and Mega Cat cartridges were available at launch. Evercade games typically cost $20. Arc System Works released a cartridge with beat 'em up games from Technōs. The Namco Museum Collection cartridge includes the first English translation of Mappy Kids. Iron Commando, previously limited, was also released. Other cartridges include Tanglewood and Atari Lynx games.
Home versions of arcade games like Asteroids and Pac-Man were released. Original arcade ROMs weren’t used initially due to screen size differences. A collection of games by the Oliver Twins was released in 2020, including Wonderland Dizzy. A Jaleco games cartridge and a Worms series cartridge were released in 2021. Other cartridges included indie games and Intellivision titles. In 2021, Blaze began releasing cartridges with arcade ROMs, starting with games from Technōs, Data East, Gaelco, and Atari. In 2022, a Commodore 64 games cartridge was released, the first from a home computer system. Cartridge cases are colored differently: red for console, purple for arcade, and blue for home computer. Each type is numbered separately.
Hidden games can be unlocked using menu codes, button combinations, or specific cartridge setups on the Evercade VS. On November 14, 2023, Full Void by OutOfTheBit became the first single-game Evercade cartridge. It had a standard edition and a limited special edition, which sold out quickly. The special edition included a blue cartridge, stickers, a poster, a comic, an art book, and an exclusive inlay in a cardboard sleeve. Full Void runs directly on Evercade hardware without emulation.
Blaze agreed with SNK to release new products starting in 2025, including a cartridge with six Neo Geo games.
Reception
Reviewers praised the console's ability to play classic games. Andrew Liszewski of Gizmodo said the games worked perfectly: "There is no lag, no missing frames, no screen problems, and no sound issues. They all work and let you start playing right away." Brendan Griffith of GamesRadar+ gave the Evercade three and a half stars out of five and called it "perfect for older gamers who want to play classic games again," while noting that "new players might also enjoy it." Damien McFerran of Nintendo Life said the system "is appealing enough to sell enough units to build a good audience." John Linneman of Digital Foundry praised the console's size compared to smaller handhelds, writing that it "feels sturdy and not cheap." Adam Patrick Murray of PC World gave the console four and a half stars out of five and also praised its size. Liszewski praised the Evercade for being simple to use. Simon Hill of Wired rated it 8 out of 10 and praised the save feature.
Andrew Webster of The Verge said the Evercade "combines modern and retro features in a satisfying way," while noting that the game cartridges "include both well-known games and less-known titles." Nick Thorpe of Retro Gamer praised the inclusion of Atari 7800 games, which are harder to find and less well-known. Adam Ismail of Tom's Guide gave the console four stars out of five but criticized the lack of games from Nintendo, Sega, and Konami. Marcus Estrada of Hardcore Gamer praised the variety of games but said some arcade games, like Centipede, were home conversions rather than original releases. He concluded the console is "a tribute to retro games that fans and collectors will enjoy." Will Greenwald of PC Magazine rated the Evercade 3.5 out of 5 but also criticized the home-conversion arcade games. McFerran praised the cartridges for including popular games but wrote "you need to buy all 10 cartridges to get the best games, and some collections include less interesting games." Other reviewers noted that many games might not appeal to everyone. Some reviewers, overwhelmed by the wide selection of downloadable ROMs, praised the Evercade for its limited selection.
Reviewers praised the controls but criticized the layout of the action buttons. Linneman wrote, "With NES games, for example, A and B are mapped to buttons I usually use for X and A. Mega Drive/Genesis games also use A, B, and Y, which doesn’t feel natural to me." Ismail praised the company for quickly fixing the layout issue: "The company quickly addressed the problem, showing they listen to feedback." Murray criticized the shoulder buttons for being too sensitive and the action buttons for being too close together.
Reviewers said the games fit too tightly in the cartridge slot, making them hard to remove. This was made worse by the smooth design of the cartridges, which made gripping them difficult. Blaze said these reviewers had early models and that the issue was fixed before the console launched. Kyle Orland of Ars Technica criticized the use of cartridges when downloadable games are common: "Going back to the old days of switching between cartridges isn’t appealing anymore."
The console’s price was praised as affordable. The cartridge packaging also received praise. Some critics were disappointed that the console uses a MicroUSB port instead of USB-C, and others were disappointed by the lack of multiplayer features. Estrada noted that a few games, like Splatterhouse 3, had audio glitches. Other critics also mentioned audio problems, but Blaze worked to fix them.
Reviewers said viewing the screen from an angle reduces its quality and visibility. Liszewski wrote the screen is one of the largest ever seen on a handheld console but "not one of the best," adding "you don’t have to tilt the console too far before the screen loses color." He said the resolution is fine for gameplay but "menus look pixelated unless you accept that as retro charm." Other reviewers criticized the simple menu designs. Some reviewers said shimmering appeared during scrolling. Linneman was critical of the limited aspect ratio options.
Subsequent systems
After the original Evercade, Blaze created and released several updated and new Evercade products.
In April 2021, Blaze announced a home console called Evercade VS. It can play most games from the original handheld Evercade and has a 1080p display. Unlike the handheld, the VS supports multiplayer for up to four players. The handheld Evercade can be connected to the VS and used as a controller. The VS was released in December 2021. A redesigned, cheaper version called the VS-R was released in August 2024.
In May 2022, Blaze introduced the Evercade EXP, an improved version of the original Evercade. It was released on December 15, 2022. The console is held horizontally but can be turned vertically for arcade-style games. It is compatible with all previous Evercade games and includes 18 built-in Capcom games. The standard model is white, while a limited black edition was made with 5,000 units. The standard model costs £130/$150, and the black edition costs £180/$227.
Compared to the original, the EXP has more buttons and a slightly different button layout. The screen size is the same as the original handheld, but it displays games at a higher resolution of 800×480. It has a mini-HDMI port for connecting to a TV, with a 720p output. The EXP uses a 1.5 GHz processor and has 4GB of RAM. It includes Wi-Fi for software and firmware updates. The console has a larger 3,000 mAh battery for up to five hours of use and uses USB-C for charging.
The improved screen and vertical orientation received praise, but some critics were not happy about the lack of Bluetooth.
A redesigned version, the Evercade EXP-R, was released in November 2024 at a lower price. The original EXP was no longer sold, and the EXP-R does not include the mini-HDMI port or the 18 built-in games.
In July 2023, Blaze Entertainment introduced the Super Pocket handhelds under the HyperMegaTech brand. These devices are smaller and cheaper, with built-in games from Capcom and Taito depending on the edition. Although not officially called Evercade, the Super Pocket has a cartridge slot and is compatible with all Evercade games. Preorders began in July 2023, with shipments expected in October 2023.
In May 2024, Blaze announced the Evercade Alpha, a tabletop arcade cabinet that can play Evercade cartridges and includes built-in Capcom games.