The PS1-inspired PS5 console is absolutely stunning, but Sony quantities are limited — and let's be honest, a lot of that limited stock was lost to bots. In Japan only, Sony required 30 hours of PS5 or PS4 playtime on a player's account in order to complete the transaction, but no other country got this second-round perk.
If you weren't one of the lucky few to snatch a PS1-inspired PS5 console before stock sold out, you're not entirely out of luck. We found three consoles and handhelds that might help fill the void a little 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 just as much as the look of the PS1 console. This compact re-issue is almost 50% smaller than the original PS1, and it comes with 20 pre-installed classics and two wired controllers.
2. LITNXT M18 Gaming Handheld
The next nifty little gadget will let you 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.
3. Evercade EXP-R Handheld
With an EXP-R handheld and 500+ games to choose from over "50 published officially licensed physical cartridges," the Evercade brand is an easy pick to play all your PS1 favorites.
When a Redditor asked what made Evercade better than other emulation solutions, the answers were abundant.
Some said the ability to simply pick up the handheld and play a game off a physical cartridge instantly was superior to having to source your own emulated games and carry out all the setup on your own. One Redditor notes “[appreciating] that the titles are licensed and the collections are curated,” while another says they’ve come across neat indie games they wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
The EXP-R handheld isn't the only Evercade system you can use, but it's definitely one of the best. You can shop available Evercade systems and cartridges via Amazon, or pre-order the upcoming EXP-R with Tomb Raider 1, 2, and 3, scheduled to release on November 29, 2024.
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