The Arduboy FX is no quirky Playdate, but it’s still adorably dope
This credit card-sized 8-bit handheld comes with 200 games inspired by classics like Metroid, Zelda, and Pokémon. Or if you prefer, you can code your own.
A gaming handheld that fits inside a wallet has no business being any good. Yet, the 8-bit Arduboy FX has surprised me at every turn, delivering bite-sized games that, though limited, are surprisingly fun with more depth than you might expect.
The Arduboy FX is the follow-up to the original credit card-sized Arduboy that launched in 2015 as part of a Kickstarter campaign. The new model looks nearly identical, except it can now store over 200 games instead of just one. The FX stands for “Flash eXpansion,” which is a reference to its flash storage. The first Arduboy could only store one game at a time, a shortcoming that was a major turnoff.
The first batch of Arduboy FX handhelds are currently sold out and pre-orders for the second batch don’t ship until September. But don’t be surprised if they’re delayed like the first batch. (You can find a list of third-party sellers on the Arduboy site.)
