20 Handheld Games TRAPPED on Retro Hardware

20 Handheld Games Trapped on Retro Hardware

Welcome to MojoPlays, and with Nintendo’s Switches and Steam’s Deck, it’s all too easy to forget there were entire generations of handheld devices with glorious games that we might never get to play again without shelling out hundreds of dollars to relive our childhoods.

“Astro Boy: Omega Factor” (2003)

Man, we miss the good old days of a solid 2D shooter. “Omega Factor” is the epitome of what the handheld genre was created for: simple pick up and play fun. The gorgeous visuals pop off the screen, the controls are simple to master, and the gameplay is easy to understand but has a surprising amount of depth for those who go looking for it. Overall, “Omega Factor” is one of those rare games where every element comes together perfectly for a once-in-a-generation experience. Not only does it manage to perfectly capture the magic of “Astro Boy” in every pixel, but the game feels like a labor of love for the IP and one that anyone who still happens to have a Game Boy Advance lying around needs to find a way to experience sooner than later.

“Kid Icarus: Uprising” (2012)

Most gamers today have no idea who Kid Icarus is beyond his appearances in the “Super Smash Bros.” games. To their credit, that’s fair. Kid Icarus had only two games under his belt by the time “Uprising” released. Keeping his only other game locked to the 3DS isn’t doing anything to help maintain his credibility. Ditching the platforming gameplay of his OG adventures, the new Kid Icarus was a wisecracker in this 3rd person shooter full of challenging bosses, expansive environments, and intense on-rails shooting galleries. Really, the only thing holding the game back was the convoluted control scheme, relying on the stylus on the bottom touch screen for aiming. However, this is something that could be easily remedied with a port and some adjustments, It’s just up to Nintendo if they want to make the effort to give Kid another chance on their shiny new hardware.

“Sonic Rush” (2005) & “Sonic Rush Adventure” (2007)

Falling smack on both sides of the abysmal Sonic ‘06 release, DS players got some of the best Sonic games since the Genesis era. Combining elements of Sonic’s 2D glory days with 3D graphics and 2.5D and 3D sections, gameplay takes place across both screens with either Sonic or Blaze the Cat zipping around levels at top speed, jumping between the top and bottom screens with ease. Gameplay itself is quintessential Sonic, but that’s what made it so much fun. The goal of the game was, as it always has been within the series, gotta go fast. The only downside was that the speed of the games, they were relatively short, but a grading system gave players a reason to replay levels. The use of the dual screen would make porting the game difficult, so without a DS, these adventures are likely to zip by you in a blue blur.

“Wario Land II” (1998)

Believe it or not, there was a time when Wario was more than just a greedy, selfish, gold-obsessed rival for Mario. Before he went completely insane with his series of mini games, he had his own platforming adventures in which he was a greedy, selfish… gold-obsessed… ahem… However, these weren’t simple clones of the Mario formula. “Wario Land II” focused on exploration and puzzle solving rather than perfect platforming precision. Wario is invincible, allowing him to be resistant to damage, but he can gain new abilities when he takes damage, which in turn can unlock hidden areas, which can also lead to one of five different endings. Wario might be a joke character in many Mario fans’ eyes, but his solo adventures remain some of the best the Game Boy had to offer. Too bad these days, that’s the only way you’ll get to play them.

“Super Mario 3D Land” (2011)

While we did get the Wii U “Super Mario 3D World” on Switch, unfortunately, the 3DS-only “3D Land” is still trapped on the increasingly retro handheld. However, there are several fans who prefer “3D Land” over “3D World.” Despite being on the handheld, “3D Land” somehow feels bigger, with more variety to its level design and mechanics, whereas “3D World’s” levels are designed to be more approachable, given it’s focus on multiplayer. Many gameplay innovations in “3D Land” have made their way into modern 3D Mario games, in particular “Super Mario Odyssey.” Given “3D Land’s” use of the stereoscopic 3D as one of its core gameplay features, porting the game could prove to be tricky, but getting a “3D Land” and “3D World” re-release combo would introduce players who missed the 3DS generation to one of Mario’s best 3D adventures.

“Pokémon Pinball” (1999)

Pokémon has had no shortage of spin-off titles during its explosive takeover of gaming in the late 90s. Seriously, try to name 150 real-world animals. Now name all 150 first-generation Pokémon. Exactly. However, none of these spin-off concepts were as odd as “Pokémon Pinball.” Maybe the “Pokémon Trading Card” Game Boy game, which was just Pokémon but with cards, but “Pinball” was a surprisingly good time. While the base game is still just basically pinball, occasionally, wild Pokémon will appear that you must capture by either hitting them directly or hitting specific areas on the playfield. Not only was it an interesting new way to “Catch ‘Em All,” but it was also a solid pinball experience for those with no interest in Pokémon. Sadly, both the Game Boy Color original and the Advance version “Ruby & Sapphire” have managed to evade trainers on modern hardware for over two decades now.

“Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty’s Revenge” (2003)

The collectathons “Banjo-Kazooie” and “Banjo-Tooie” are still widely regarded as some of the best platformers on the N64 besides “Mario.” While the bear and bird’s N64 adventure continues to receive heaps of praise and accolades, their often-forgotten Game Boy Advance adventure is left completely out of their history. Taking place between the events of those two acclaimed titles, “Grunty’s Revenge” manages to shrink down the traditionally enormous adventures of the duo to only five levels. This works in the game’s on-the-go design, as does the lower difficulty of gameplay. However, all the elements fans love about the game’s console counterpart are here: the collecting, platforming, and traditionally funny writing are all present here, just on a smaller scale. Given its obscurity on the handheld, most fans don’t even know this title exists. Due to Microsoft’s acquisition of Rare, we’ll likely never see it playable anywhere but the GBA.

“Soul Sacrifice” (2013)

With some notable exceptions, Sony has done a decent job of porting their PS Vita titles to modern hardware, but that doesn’t mean some interesting titles don’t slip through the cracks. On the surface, “Soul Sacrifice” appears as a typical action RPG, but it's the “sacrifice” part of the game’s title that makes the gameplay so intriguing. During combat, if players take too much damage, they can “sacrifice” parts of their body to unleash devastating magic attacks. However, the tradeoff is depending on which body part you choose to sacrifice can also affect players with debilitating status effects, such as blurred vision for sacrificing your eyes. The concept is ridiculously cool and offers a wealth of buffs and debuffs depending on your choices, giving players quite a bit of customization during combat. However, whether it was the focus on multiplayer or the game’s obscurity, Sony has yet to port the game to the PS4 or PS5.

“Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand” (2003)

Ever the innovator, there really is nothing else like “Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand” on the Game Boy Advance. Combining elements of stealth with traditional RPG mechanics, that’s not what makes this vampire-hunting adventure so unique. Instead, it’s the solar sensor on the game cartridge. Depending on how much direct sunlight the game cartridge takes in can affect the power of your solar gun in-game, as well as how quickly it charges. Combined with incredible level and enemy design, this element is also utilized in some of the game’s puzzles as well to get you out of your comfort zone and into the real world. However, it’s this untraditional approach to its gameplay that would likely make it difficult to port to anything without the solar sensor. However, given its rarity and price these days, good luck finding a copy that doesn’t break the bank.

“Nintendogs + Cats” (2011)

This one is bizarre simply for the potential revenue the return of the series could bring with re-releases on modern hardware. “Nintendogs and Cats,” a concept that theoretically should have only appealed to a small demographic of players, ended up being one of the highest-selling franchises on both the DS and 3DS. The idea of caring for a virtual pet was nothing new, but the idea of players not only caring for their little pups and kittens but being able to directly interact with them via the touch screen and stylus added an entirely new level of depth to the pet sim genre. With numerous breeds of both cats and dogs for players to adopt, care for, and even train, the appeal for this series has never dissipated. It’s just Nintendo has abandoned all our pets to increasingly obscure hardware. The Switch’s on-the-go nature is perfectly suited for a new generation of pet owners.

“Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story” (2009)

We’re putting “Bowser’s Inside Story” on this list just because it’s a personal favorite, but anyone of the Mario and Luigi games could have taken this spot except “Superstar Saga,” which has made its way to Switch Online. Despite getting a new entry in the series with Brothership, it felt like some of that old-school magic of the classic series was missing. Unlike other Mario games, “Mario and Luigi” had the brothers teaming up for some turn-based RPG goodness and, most of all, genuine comedy. The scripts for these titles are sharply written, and the turn-based combat with quick time events keeps you consistently engaged to nail attack patterns for additional damage. The “Mario and Luigi” series gives the brothers, and all the major characters of the Mushroom Kingdom, a chance to develop their personalities much further than the usual platformers, and the series is all the better for it.

“Professor Layton” Series (2007-)

Another case of an entire franchise being completely absent from modern consoles, the “Professor Layton” series has some of the best modern puzzle games of the last two decades. Without ports of any entry, including the crossover with “Ace Attorney,” entire generations will go without knowing of the Professor’s brilliance. The series defined modern puzzle games with brilliantly written characters and mysteries. Their inventive and brain-teasing puzzles make you feel like a true detective for uncovering the clues and solving the mystery. With a handful of games, each improving on the last, it wouldn’t be too difficult to imagine a bundle compiling all these games into one collection, but until then, this is one mystery the Professor won’t be able to solve.

“Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops” (2006)

With the recent release of the “Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection” Volume 1, we can only hope that along with “Portable Ops,” “Acid” and the often forgotten Game Boy entry “Metal Gear: Ghost Babel” will find their way to modern consoles. For the time being, you’re going to need to gather at least two different handhelds to play some of the best “Metal Gear Solid” games on the go. “Peace Walker” was later ported to the Xbox 360 and PS3 and is still playable digitally via Xbox, but the rest, in particular “Portable Ops,” are still trapped on the PSP. Despite being a handheld version of “Metal Gear,” “Portable Ops” introduced several game mechanics that would later be integral in the series, including squad recruitment. While not as integral to the overall “Metal Gear” timeline as other entries, to get the complete “Metal Gear” experience, these titles are integral for die-hard fans.

“Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories” (2005) & “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories” (2006)

“GTA3,” “Vice City,” and “San Andreas” are widely regarded as not only some of the best games on the PS2, but the progenitors of the deluge of open-world sandbox games we’re still suffering through today. Those games are and always will be classics because Rockstar knows their craft. The PSP entries “Liberty City Stories” and “Vice City Stories” might not be as grand in scale as their big console brothers, but are still solid enough entries that expand on the world and characters of each entry. Both were later ported to the PS2, but that collection is also locked to the PS2, while the titles proper still need a PSP to do your crime shenanigans on the go. Given the fact that both entries are almost always overlooked during conversations about the “GTA” series, we don’t really see these games getting a “Definitive Edition” treatment anytime soon.

“Fire Emblem Awakening” (2012)

The “Fire Emblem: series is experiencing a renaissance in popularity after years of obscurity. That’s mostly thanks to entries like “Fire Emblem Awakening,” which was the entry point for a number of its now passionate fanbase. Everything about this entry came together harmoniously. From the combat, the music, the characters, and the tightly constructed narrative, everything about the title worked and connected with players in a way the series had previously struggled with. With the most recent Switch entries becoming overnight hits, selling millions of copies and achieving resounding critical acclaim, many players now familiar with the series will never get to experience the title that made “Fire Emblem” a household name alongside the rest of Nintendo’s library because Nintendo seems complacent to leave their best entry stuck on their now dead and increasingly expensive handheld.

“The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds” (2013)

One of the most surprising sequels in the renowned “Legend of Zelda” series, “A Link Between Worlds” brought players back to the realm of Hyrule, as well as “A Link to the Past’s” Link and Zelda. Borrowing elements of some of the best entries in the years between entries, “A Link Between Worlds” is one of the best “Zelda” games fans will likely never get to experience ever again. That’s because, alongside other entries such as “Phantom Hourglass,” Nintendo has yet to port any of the DS or 3DS exclusive titles to their modern Switch. Furthermore, rather than porting the excellent updated versions of “Ocarina of Time 3D” and “Majora’s Mask 3D,” Nintendo instead gave us the base N64 versions. Yes, they still play great, but the 3D editions play SOOOOO much better, and the updated visuals bring their worlds to life in a way the N64 versions simply can’t. A true crime against the fandom.

“Metroid Samus Returns” (2017)

Besides obviously “Metroid Prime 2” and “3,” “Samus Returns” is the only “Metroid” game unplayable on modern hardware. At least out of the entries we actually care about. No one was asking for you, “Federation Force!” A remake of the equally handheld “Metroid II: Return of Samus,” “Samus Returns” is widely regarded as one of the best 2D entries before “Metroid Dread” stole that title, along with many gameplay mechanics innovated by this title. Although the game is exclusive to the 3DS, the bottom screen is primarily used for map navigation and power-up management, meaning translating the game to the Switch should be relatively easy with only a few button prompt changes. However, just like with many of their titles locked on the DS or 3DS, Nintendo doesn’t seem too interested in investing the time and resources to alter the game to their modern machines.

“Final Fantasy Tactics Advance” (2003)

“Final Fantasy Tactics” is generally regarded as a bit more hardcore than the traditional mainline numbered entries, focusing on deep strategic combat and dark, mature, politically laden narratives. However, that being said, “Tactics Advance” is nothing like those other “Tactics” entries. Instead, “Tactics Advance” tells a far more lighthearted tale about a group of children getting isekai’d into a storybook version of the traditional Ivalice. Even the gameplay is simplified to coincide with this lighter tone, still offering the strategic combat the series is known for, but far less punishing. The game’s lighthearted tone has endeared it to players who grew up with the handheld journey, but unfortunately, like everything else we loved as kids, we can’t go back and replay this wonderful game without first unearthing our past and digging up our Game Boy Advance and praying it still works.

“Uncharted: Golden Abyss” (2011)

Given the series is a staple of the PlayStation brand, it’s truly a mystery why Nathan Drake’s only handheld outing isn’t playable anywhere besides the PS Vita. With so many other titles making the jump to digital storefronts, the omission of “Golden Abyss” is a noticeable one. While not critical to the overarching narrative of Nate’s adventures as a prequel to the series, “Golden Abyss” is still a worthy addition to the “Uncharted” catalog and a surprisingly solid adventure given its portability. “Golden Abyss” made use of nearly every gimmick the PS Vita had, but most of these features could be toggled off even on the Vita, so it’s unlikely the game’s mechanics are holding it back. Maybe one day we’ll get a true “Nathan Drake Collection” with EVERY adventure in a single release, but for now, you’ll be stuck searching the depths of your closet for your Vita to take Nate on one more adventure.

“Pokémon” Generations 1-7 (1996-2018)

Out of everything on this list, this one is by far the most demanded and the most baffling, given the property’s enduring popularity. Breaking out in the late 90s, “Pokémon” has endured as one of the most profitable and recognizable brands in the world, with millions of fans catching and training to be the very best from the Game Boy to the 3DS, but Nintendo refuses to let these millions of fans replay the classics that made the franchise the international megahit that it is. Likely Nintendo believes allowing players to replay the older games will affect the sales of the newer titles, and honestly, they’re right. These games were when “Pokémon” was at its best, narratively and gameplay-wise. However, I know that we and the millions of “Pokémon” fans would literally pay almost anything Nintendo asked for the chance to replay these classics again. The money is right there for the taking, Nintendo.

Which handheld game do you still play today or wish you could replay again? Share your favorites in the comments.