Didn’t get a 30th anniversary PS5? Buy one of these consoles or handheld devices

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The PS1-inspired PS5 console is absolutely stunning, but Sony’s quantities are limited – and let’s be honest, a lot of that limited stock has been lost to bots. In Japan only, Sony required 30 hours of PS5 or PS4 gameplay on the player’s account to complete the transaction, but no other countries got this benefit in the second round.

If you weren’t one of the lucky few to snag a PS1-inspired PS5 console before stock ran out, you’re not entirely out of luck. We found three consoles and portable devices that can help bridge the gap a bit.

1. Sony PlayStation Classic Console

Retailing for just $99, the PlayStation Classic console sold directly by Sony is a great alternative if you miss PS1 games as much as the look of your PS1 console. This compact reissue is almost 50% smaller than the original PS1 and comes with 20 pre-installed classics and two wired controllers.

This is an official PS1 retro reissue sold by Sony. It’s a miniaturized version of the original PlayStation console that will come with two wired controllers, an HDMI cable and 20 classic PlayStation games pre-installed, including Final Fantasy VII, Grand Theft Auto, Resident Evil: Director’s Cut and more.

Price Check: Amazon $121View offer

2. LITNXT M18 Gaming Laptop

The next cool gadget will allow you to play not only PS1 games but also PSP and N64 games. Retro handhelds are all the rage right now, and the LITNXT M18 has something the PS1-inspired PS5 doesn’t: portability.

The M18 laptop can run PS1, PSP, and N64 games smoothly with a quad-core RK3566 CPU, a 4.3-inch LCD screen with 60Hz refresh rate, and a large 4,000mAh battery that can last up to 4 hours. It’s perfect for long trips or road trips and will definitely scratch that retro itch. Use coupon code M18 to get 8% off. View Deal

3. Evercade EXP-R Handheld

With an EXP-R handheld and over 500 games to choose from over “50 officially published licensed physical cartridges,” the Evercade brand is an easy choice for playing all your PS1 favorites.

When a Redditor asked what made Evercade better than other emulation solutions, the answers were plentiful.

Some said that the ability to simply pick up their handheld and play instantly with a physical cartridge was superior to having to purchase their own emulated games and do all the setup themselves. One Redditor notes “(appreciating) that titles are licensed and collections are curated,” while another says they’ve found cool indie games they wouldn’t otherwise know about.

The EXP-R handheld isn’t the only Evercade system you can use, but it’s definitely one of the best. You can purchase Evercade systems and cartridges available on Amazon, or pre-order the upcoming EXP-R with Tomb Raider 1, 2, and 3, scheduled for release on November 29, 2024.