Okay, so like, retro games are suddenly a thing again, and guess what? Super cool gadgets are popping up everywhere, making all those old-school games super easy to play. Seriously, it’s like stepping back in time, but with better tech. Speaking of which, there’s this new device by Grant Sinclair—yeah, the dude related to THE Sir Clive Sinclair, the ZX Spectrum legend. Seems like inventiveness runs in the family, huh? This gadget? It’s the size of a gift card. Yep, you heard me right.
Grant’s latest creation, aptly named the GamerCard® (how original, right?), is a tiny, retro gaming handheld powered by a Raspberry Pi. It packs a pretty screen too, 4 inches of IPS goodness with 254 PPI. As for controls? Two round pads underneath the screen, all tactile buttons snapping away. Oh, and you don’t even have to tinker with it—some classic arcade games are already loaded up.
But wait, there’s more! This little wonder comes with a humming launcher with clear icons for games, emulators, and stuff. Recalbox? RetroPie? Lakka? Yeah, they’re all in there. Surprisingly, GamerCard also supports coding. Not that I’m gonna code anything anytime soon, but it’s a neat feature… for nerds, I guess?
Here’s where it gets interesting—or weird. They’ve even ported over two Switch games, Bloo Kid 2 and AstroBlaze DX, with pixel-art vibes that will scratch that nostalgic itch. It’s thin, like 6.5 mm—I can barely wrap my head around that—just 100 grams, so light you might forget it’s in your pocket. It’s so minimal, you might think it’s just a piece of tech horror that escaped its housing.
This isn’t just for games, though. It’s a full-blown PC with a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W inside, complete with a Qwiic connector for all the sensor and LCD geeks out there. Pair that with USB-C and HDMI ports, and voila, you’re entering PC territory. Honestly, at this point, it’s becoming as Swiss-army as a Raspberry Pi can get—yet probably at a pricey rate, so no thanks.
And, drum roll… it sells for £125—which translates to about $170. You could get the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro for less or other Anbernic gizmos that do the job just fine for under $100. That’s saying something. Actually, newer, cooler types like flip handhelds are starting to trend. Seen the Miyoo Flip or RG34XXSP? Way cheaper.
Anyway, there’s a charm to the GamerCard, I’ll give it that. It’s quirky and nostalgic but also kind of pricey for what’s essentially a tiny game machine. Grant’s creativity is bold, big time. But unless retro gaming fuels your soul—or you have a thing for gift cards—it’s maybe too quirky to be practical. Doesn’t mean it’s not cool, though. Creativity? A+. Value? Let’s just say, not for everyone.
