I Was Right To Keep My Small Gaming Handhelds

I love handhelds ever since I first saw someone with a Game Boy at school, but it would take until I was an adult before I could finally have my own handheld console in the form of the original PSP—just in time for college!

The original Nintendo Switch was an instant-buy for me as a result, and since then I’ve also bought its successors, as well as a handheld PC, but I also decided to hang on to my previous handhelds. This turned out to be the right move, because as would become apparent, modern handhelds aren’t really a replacement for their smaller ancestors.

The Problem With Modern Handhelds

I love my Switch 2 and my handheld Lenovo Legion Go and spend plenty of time playing on them, but I don’t use them the way I used to use my 3DS or PlayStation Vita. While I would grab my old handhelds and throw them in a pocket whenever I went somewhere, it’s just not practical with a console with an 8-inch or larger screen. That’s before you take into account that modern handhelds need a good carry case. I’ve happily stuffed my Vita and especialy the clamshell-style 3DS into my jacket pockets without much worry.

The original Nintendo Switch was already an issue from the pocketability point of view, but I had a messenger bag with me anyway that went to work with me, so it was never truly an issue. Even then, though, my 3DS and Vita kept being used in parallel with the Switch.

Why the 3DS XL and Vita Still Shine

The reason for it is pretty simple, of course—they’re actual pocketable consoles. It’s not just about taking them with me when I leave the house. The smaller size makes them more comfortable to play at home too. To play my larger modern handhelds comfortably, I usually need to sit in a place with good elbow support, or the big handhelds become uncomfortable pretty quickly.

The Vita and 3DS, even the New 3DS XL consoles I have, are so light that this basically never happens. You’d also think that being so small would make them less comfortable to hold, but honestly I think my Switch 2 with the stock Joy Cons is less comfortable to grip and play than my Vita is. At least that can be rectified with some sort of ergnomic grip case, but that just makes it bigger and bulkier!

Games That Make Them Worth Keeping

The main reason I didn’t get rid of my older handhelds had more to do with the software than the hardware. My collection of Fire Emblem games on 3DS alone means I’ll keep it until it literally won’t work anymore. Likewise, my Vita is the best solution to playing my favorite PSP games and it’s still possibly the best handheld solution for playing PS1 games on the go, though I’ve hopped back on the original hardware train after decades of emulation.

However, what I’ve also realized is that the latest games for modern handhelds are exactly the same as console games. That was after all what made the orginal Switch amazing. Just the idea that I could play one of my favorite games—Skyrim—on the go was enough to sell me. That was the dream with handhelds: to bring them to parity with home consoles.

Which is fine, but it does make me feel like the games that were specifically designed just for handheld play aren’t really a thing anymore, and that’s one area where my old small handhelds shine. They have a selection of games better suited to handheld play, that offer a different experience than traditional home console games.

What the Future Might Hold

I don’t think the big console makers—Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft—will ever give us a true non-hybrid handheld again. That doesn’t mean we can’t have it, however. For example, my Anbernic 353VS has become one of my absolute favorite handhelds ever. It’s a cheap little device that uses emulation, but does a great job of it. It’s eminently pocketable, and because they don’t cost much, I’m really not bothered about throwing it in my pocket.

The truth is there’s a thriving handheld console market out there, it’s just that these aren’t consoles with their own software. They need to emulate, or use FPGA technology and won’t have anyone developing software specifically for them. However, eventually my Vita and 3DS will die, and I hope that there will always be a modern, powerful emulation handheld that can take their place when the time comes.

Who knows? Nintendo might even surprise us with another Switch Lite, giving those who want a non-hybrid solution some options, but I wouldn’t hold my breath!