News of the Analogue Pocket has had many of us feeling excited since the initial concept was first announced, along with all of the exciting analogue pocket accessories that can be bought with the console. We’ve followed the birth of this handheld very closely, and hopefully, some of you will have been lucky in bagging yourself a console in the official pre-order.
With the Analogue Pocket release delayed till 2021, even those lucky gamers that have managed to put money down for the most exciting Game Boy clone ever made are left wondering what to do in the meantime. There are plenty of the best Gameboy Color games to stock up on while we all wait, but that’s just not enough.
All gamers, including myself, need to fill that very important urge when they’ve just bought a new console. I’m talking, of course, about buying gadgets, gear, and super-suave accessories.
Picking The Best Analogue Pocket Accessories
Because the Analogue Pocket is a Gameboy clone that you can upload all of the best Gameboy games from the DMG, Color, and the Advance, there are multiple gadgets you can buy. You don’t just have to stick with the official Analogue Pocket accessories up on the website; the world is your handheld-gaming-oyster!
How Does This List Work?
I’ve compiled a list of some of the best tech and accessories that you can use to upgrade your new handheld. You might not be able to play on it just yet, but you can make it feel welcome once the delivery driver drops it at your door.
Below are 10 Analogue Pocket accessories to complete your collection. We’ve got links through to buy each one, as well as a brief description to let you know what each bit of kit does.
Get ready to lose your mind (and a large proportion of your bank balance).
1. Boxy Pixel Metal Game Boy Cartridge
If you’re going to be using a brand new handheld device, then you might as well give your games an upgrade as well. First up in our list of Analogue Pocket accessories is this metal Game Boy cartridge from Boxy Pixel. It gives gamers a chance to place their favourite titles in a shiny new shell (just like a Koopa), and it comes in a multitude of different colours.
Each one of these aluminium shells is clear anodised in order to minimise the risk of scratches. The brass cartridges can also be polished up to give any game a brilliant shine. Simple open up your old game cart, stick the game gubbins inside the new casing, and you’re good to go!
2. Analogue Pocket Dock
If you want the full Analogue Pocket experience (and let’s face it, who doesn’t), then you should consider purchasing the official Analogue Pocket dock. Far from being a place that you can charge up your handheld, it actually doubles up as a Nintendo Switch-style dock.
Over 2,700 Game Boy games will work with the Analogue Pocket. That’s over 2,700 titles that you can play on your 4K HD TV via the HDMI port on the back of this dock. It also serves as a connector for Bluetooth and wired controllers for multiplayer action too.
If you haven’t put your name down for one already, then keep your eyes peeled for when they come back into stock.
3. Digital Audio Workstation Cables
Next up on our list of Analogue Pocket accessories is a series of cables that you can use to make some sweet music right from your handheld. Not only content with playing games, this handheld has a built-in Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) called Nanoloop. Think of it as a portable Pro Tools in your pocket.
Analogue have release a series of cables that you can use to connect your pocket music maker up to your Mac or PC to create beats in real time and record your original tracks. You can even hook up a MIDI keyboard or synth to the handheld for extra features.
The best bit is that you could be the first person to use a Game Boy live on stage. Wouldn’t that be something!
4. EZ Flash
If you don’t trust game saves on your carts or want to back up save files to use on multiple devices, then the EZ-Flash should be high up on your wish list. This little piece of kit transfers your save files onto an SD card that you can keep in your pocket or wallet. Neat, right?
The EZ-Flash boasts instant load speed for games, eliminating that annoying wait for your save file to kick in. It even comes with a manual patch engine to support any modified ROMs you might have downloaded to your own game carts.
(Check out our article on how to download ROMs for the legal implications and ‘purely scientific’ how-to guide)
5. Game Genie
The Analogue Pocket can play DMG, GBC, and GBA carts. It can also work with multiple Game Genie devices so that you can get cheats for all of your favourite games.
For those of you that don’t know what a Game Genie is, it’s a device that you plug your game into that can manipulate save files and gameplay to give you certain cheats. This could be from skipping certain problematic levels to unlocking secret weapons and abilities to help you beat difficult bosses.
The Game Genie comes with a little booklet that (theoretically) has codes in it for every game. Scroll through, find your chosen password, and then reap the rewards! It’s one of the most important Analogue Pocket accessories that you can’t live without.
6. Analogue Pocket Hard Case
Speaking of important Analogue Pocket accessories, I’d say that this hard case is a must-have if you’re big on keeping your gadgets in tip-top condition. You can buy tempered screen protectors for the handheld, but if you’re looking to keep it in looking perfect, then this should be on your shopping list.
This case is crystal clear and impact resistant. If you’re clumsy like me and tend to knock stuff over a lot, then this will guarantee safety for your new handheld no matter where you play or where it falls. You can even stand the case upright and show of your Pocket like it’s a statue in a museum.
7. Wireless Messenger
WhatsApp and iMessage are all well and good, but can you use them on your Analogue Pocket to talk to your mates?
No, you can’t. But you can use this wireless messenger system to contact them or speak to a potential gaming love interest. What says nerdy love better than your own personal texting platform!
So how does this thing work? Well, it works up to and within a three-mile-radius, depending on whether mountains are in the way or not. Ok, so it’s not going to work for a long-distance relationship, but it’s perfect to use with the girl next door or the boy four doors down (as long as it’s a small street).
The GBA wireless messenger system can store texts and comes with a rechargeable battery. Now your Analogue Pocket can be a music station, a gaming device, and a phone all in one. It’s like the natural evolution of the Nokia N-Gage!
8. Game Boy Camera
The Game Boy Camera was perhaps one of my favourite peripherals of all time. So it’s not a DSLR, but who cares! This little camera was once considered the best portable snapper on the market, and many users still make incredible arty shots with it today.
You can use the Pocket Camera to snap shots of your friends or take stills of your favourite games. Twin it with a Game Boy printer, and you can actually print out your images to stick in your wallet. They don’t make the correctly-sized paper anymore, but you can make your own strips easily enough.
9. Game Cartridge Converters
If you’ve been suitably impressed with the Analogue Pocket accessories so far, then prepare for your mind to be blown.
This console is great because it plays all Game Boy games. But what about other handheld consoles like the Game Gear, Atari LYNX, and Neo Geo Pocket Color? Well, the three adapters in the picture above allow you to play all of those games on this handheld as well.
It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
Think about this for a moment; you can now play games from six different consoles all on one device. That’s incredible! Now you can pick up cheap games and take them with you everywhere you go without having to carry six different hard cases around with you. Perfect!
10. Gameboy Game Cases
Speaking of cases, this last entry on our list is a winner if you’re looking for a way of keeping your existing DMG and GBC carts safe. Some of you might still have some of these clear cases kicking around from the good old days, but you can pick them up cheaply on eBay if not.
Keeping your games dust-free is the key to quick-play-success. I know they say you’ve never lived if you haven’t blown dust out of a cart, but it’s annoying and wastes both time and breath. And who wants to use up more of those than they have to!
Keep your games neat, tidy, and dust free with these cases. And if you look after your carts, then future generations can experience the joy of retro gaming too!
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