Your options for playing original handheld cartridges today: original consoles and mods, FPGA handhelds with adapters, new cartridge-based hardware, cartridge care, saves and buying games safely.
If you have a box of old cartridges, or prefer owning physical games, you'll want a handheld that plays the real thing. Playing original cartridges is also the clearest legal route to classic games you own. Here are the main options, with their pros and cons.
Option 1: original consoles
The obvious choice, and still a good one.
- Game Boy Advance SP: plays Game Boy, Game Boy Colour and GBA cartridges, with a front-lit or (on the later AGS-101 model) backlit screen, and a rechargeable battery.
- Original Game Boy Advance: plays all three, but its original screen is unlit; many owners fit modern IPS screens.
- Nintendo DS and DS Lite: play GBA cartridges in the lower slot (but not original Game Boy or Colour games), plus DS games.
- Game Boy Colour and original Game Boy: authentic, durable, and often modded with backlit screens.
- Game Gear: plays Game Gear cartridges, and Master System games with an adapter, but usually needs recapping.
Pros: authentic, often affordable. Cons: ageing parts, older screens, and prices rising for good examples.
Option 2: modded originals
Many sellers and repairers offer original consoles with new shells, IPS or OLED-style screens, rechargeable batteries with USB-C, and improved audio. They combine authentic hardware with modern comfort. Check who did the work, what parts were used, and whether there is a warranty.
Option 3: FPGA handhelds
FPGA devices, such as the Analogue Pocket, use reprogrammable chips configured to behave like the original hardware. They play original Game Boy, Game Boy Colour and Game Boy Advance cartridges natively, with adapters available for some other handheld systems. Screens are typically high-resolution, with display modes imitating original screens.
Pros: excellent accuracy, modern screen and battery, plays real cartridges. Cons: higher price, and stock can be limited.
Option 4: new cartridge-based hardware
Several companies now sell new handhelds designed for original cartridges, such as Game Boy-compatible devices, and licensed systems like Evercade, which use their own cartridges of officially licensed games. Check compatibility lists and independent reviews.
Cartridge care
- Clean contacts gently with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton bud; let them dry before use.
- Store cartridges in cases, away from heat and damp.
- Don't blow into cartridges: moisture can corrode contacts.
Saves and save batteries
Many older cartridges store saves using a small internal battery. After decades, these batteries run flat and saves are lost. Replacement requires opening the cartridge and, usually, soldering. Some devices and accessories let you back up saves from your own cartridges first.
Buying cartridges safely
- Watch for reproduction and counterfeit cartridges, especially for valuable games. Check labels, shells and boards.
- Prices for popular games vary widely; check recent sold listings.
- Buy from sellers with good feedback and use payment methods with buyer protection.
Which should you choose?
- Budget and authenticity: an original GBA SP (AGS-101) is hard to beat.
- Best screen and accuracy: an FPGA handheld.
- Nostalgia with comfort: a modded original.
- Curated legal collections: a licensed cartridge system.
Link play and accessories
Original consoles support link cables for multiplayer and trading, which remains part of the fun for games such as early Pokémon titles. Check whether newer cartridge-based devices support link play, and which cables or adapters they need.
Homebrew and new releases
Independent developers still make new games for classic handhelds and sell them on real cartridges. Buying them supports the community and adds fresh games to old hardware.
Frequently asked questions
Will Game Boy Colour games work on an original Game Boy?
Some ("dual-mode" black cartridges) work in monochrome; Colour-only (clear) cartridges don't.
Can a DS play Game Boy games?
The DS and DS Lite play GBA games only, not original Game Boy or Colour games.
Sources and further reading
Facts checked on 20 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.