ArkOS Starter Guide

ArkOS Starter Guide

Last updated: 11APR2023 (see Changelog for details)

ArkOS is a custom operating system that is available for many retro handheld devices. It features optimized performance, a simple user interface, online updates, and a very stable experience thanks to years of development work.

This guide will help you get set up with ArkOS, to improve your handheld device in just about every way. Don’t worry, it’s pretty easy.

If you would like to support the developer and their work, please consider leaving them a donation for their time and effort over the years.

Continue reading “ArkOS Starter Guide”

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge on Retro Handhelds

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge on Retro Handhelds

Last updated: 12JUL2022

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge has become a massive hit, and for good reason. It’s a perfect mixture of old-school beat-em-up and modern control schemes, and it has plenty of fun stuff to unlock, too. In this guide we’ll get the game running on various handhelds so you can play this game anywhere.

Anbernic RG552 (AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG353P (JELOS, TheRA)
Anbernic RG503 (JELOS, ArkOS, TheRA)
Anbernic RG351P (AmberELEC, JELOS, ArkOS wuMMLe fork)
Anbernic RG351M (AmberELEC, JELOS, ArkOS wuMMLe fork)
Anbernic RG351V (ArkOS, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
Anbernic RG351MP (ArkOS, TheRA, AmberELEC, JELOS)
PowKiddy RGB10 (ArkOS) and tangentially the RGB10S and RGB20S
GameForce Chi (ArkOS, TheRA)
RK2020 (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Advance (ArkOS)
ODROID Go Super (The RetroArena, RetroOZ)
PowKiddy RGB10 Max and Max 2 (The Retro Arena, RetroOZ)

For best results, make sure you are running the most recent version of ArkOS, AmberELEC, or JELOS, and that you have installed the latest version of PortMaster. Here is my PortMaster guide.

Note that the “Final” version of ArkOS for the RG351P and RG351M will not support the game due to an outdated SDL2 library. However, wuMMLe’s fork of ArkOS has been updated to support it, but there are some script changes needed (see the notes below). If you want the latest for those devices, I recommend using JELOS or AmberELEC, since they are in active development.

Setting up this game is similar to other ports such as Celeste, Shovel Knight, Undertale, Timespinner, and Iconoclasts. Big thanks to developer JohnnyOnFlame for getting this port up and running; please consider buying him a coffee for his hard work.

Continue reading “TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge on Retro Handhelds”

PowKiddy RGB20S Review

PowKiddy RGB20S Review

Well, it’s certainly cute. The new PowKiddy RGB20S sports a lovely 3.5″ 480p (4:3) display, a nice compact design, and everybody’s favorite chipset, the RK3326. So does its unique features (and a few hidden surprises) make it worth $80? Let’s find out.

Buy one here

Other devices mentioned in the video:
Anbernic RG351V
Anbernic RG280V
Miyoo Mini
PowKiddy RGB10 Max 2

Continue reading “PowKiddy RGB20S Review”

Still My Favorite $40 Handheld! PowKiddy V90 Black Edition Review

Still My Favorite $40 Handheld!  PowKiddy V90 Black Edition Review

The PowKiddy V90 has a new color, and so let’s take this opportunity to give this device an updated review in the context of 2022 and a more saturated handheld market.

Buy one here (AliExpress)
Find it on Amazon (faster shipping)

Updated V90 guide

Continue reading “Still My Favorite $40 Handheld! PowKiddy V90 Black Edition Review”

Review: PowKiddy RGB10S

Review: PowKiddy RGB10S

PowKiddy’s latest RK3326 handheld is an “upgraded” version of the RGB10 with an excellent new screen, better face buttons and d-pad, and shoulder buttons that make me want to vomit. At $80, does the good outweigh the bad?

Buy one here

Note that if you want to install ArkOS on this device, you will want to follow the instructions here in order to make it so the analog stick is not inverted.

Continue reading “Review: PowKiddy RGB10S”

My current (simple) 351ELEC setup

My current (simple) 351ELEC setup

Sometimes, less is more. In this video I’ll show you how I’ve pared down my retro game collection to just focus on the games that I actually want to play, and how it has given me the opportunity to just focus on games, and not endless browsing.

Devices that support this setup:
Anbernic RG351P
Anbernic RG351M
Anbernic RG351V
Anbernic RG351MP
PowKiddy RGB10 Pro
PowKiddy RGB10 Max
PowKiddy RGB10 Max 2

351ELEC: https://351elec.de/
ArkOS: https://github.com/christianhaitian/arkos/wiki

Note that while I didn’t explicitly mention it, this same setup can be done within RetroOZ for its supported devices as well. Check out the latest version here.

Continue reading “My current (simple) 351ELEC setup”

Review: PowKiddy Q36 Mini

Review: PowKiddy Q36 Mini

Amazingly, the PowKiddy Q36 is one of those rare handheld devices that is just about perfect as soon as you pull it out of the box — no need for hardware mods, custom firmware, or learning a new complicated OS. Much of that has to do with the open-source FunKey firmware that it uses, which has some excellent quality of life features that make this micro handheld a wonderful grab-and-go option. So let’s run this $50 device through its paces and look at why I like it so much.

Buy one here

Continue reading “Review: PowKiddy Q36 Mini”

100K Subscribers! Here’s what’s next.

100K Subscribers!  Here’s what’s next.

Amazingly and unexpectedly, this little project has grown to 100,000 subscribers. Let’s talk about the future of this channel, and I’ll give away a bunch of stuff too.

Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/user/retro-game-corps
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/retrogamecorps

Enter the giveaway here

Continue reading “100K Subscribers! Here’s what’s next.”