Retro gaming fans who still have a stack of Game Boy cartridges tucked away may have a new handheld to watch. FunnyPlaying, the Chinese company best known for Game Boy and Game Boy Advance modding parts, has announced the FPGB Mini, a compact Game Boy-style portable that can play original Nintendo cartridges as well as ROMs.
The pitch is simple: it is smaller, cheaper, and more pocket-friendly than the Analogue Pocket. It does not match the Pocket feature-for-feature, but for players who mainly care about Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, the FPGB Mini could be a seriously tempting option.
FunnyPlaying FPGB Mini supports Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges
The FPGB Mini is designed around real cartridge support, which is still a major selling point in the retro handheld market. According to FunnyPlaying’s product listing, the device supports original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges.
That also means there are limits. Unlike the Analogue Pocket, the FPGB Mini does not support Game Boy Advance cartridges. The Pocket can also expand its compatibility through adapters, including support for systems such as Sega Game Gear. If you want the broadest cartridge-based retro handheld, Analogue still has the advantage.
But not every retro player needs that much range. For anyone focused on classics like Pokémon Red and Blue, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Super Mario Land 2, or Pokémon Crystal, the FPGB Mini appears to cover the essentials.
A smaller Analogue Pocket alternative for retro gaming fans
The biggest appeal of the FunnyPlaying FPGB Mini may be its size. The handheld is only slightly wider than a Game Boy cartridge, giving it a much more pocketable design than many modern retro gaming handhelds.
That compact footprint could make it especially appealing to players who want something they can actually carry around, rather than a device that mostly lives on a desk or shelf. The original Game Boy family was built around portable play, and the FPGB Mini seems to lean hard into that spirit.
FunnyPlaying is already well known among hardware modders for replacement shells, screens, buttons, and upgrade kits. That background gives the company some credibility with the audience most likely to care about display quality, controls, and authentic cartridge play.
FPGB Mini price makes it stand out against Analogue Pocket
Price is another major reason the FPGB Mini is getting attention. The Analogue Pocket recently became more expensive following price increases, while FunnyPlaying’s new handheld is launching at a noticeably lower cost.
That difference matters. The Analogue Pocket remains one of the most polished premium options for cartridge-based retro gaming, but its higher price pushes it closer to enthusiast hardware. The FPGB Mini, by comparison, looks positioned as a more accessible device for Game Boy and Game Boy Color fans who do not need every extra platform.
It is worth noting that a lower price can come with trade-offs. Build quality, screen performance, battery life, firmware polish, and long-term support will all matter once units are in players’ hands. Still, on paper, FunnyPlaying has created one of the more interesting budget-friendly alternatives in the retro handheld space.
Should you buy the FunnyPlaying FPGB Mini?
If you want one premium handheld that supports multiple cartridge libraries, the Analogue Pocket is still the more capable device. It offers broader compatibility and a reputation as a high-end FPGA handheld.
If your main goal is to play original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges on a tiny modern handheld, the FunnyPlaying FPGB Mini could be the smarter buy. Its compact size and lower cost make it easy to understand the appeal, especially for collectors who already own the cartridges.
The retro handheld market has become crowded with emulation devices, but cartridge support still gives products like this a different kind of charm. The FPGB Mini is not trying to be everything. It is trying to be a small, affordable way to keep Game Boy and Game Boy Color games alive — and for many players, that may be enough.
Tags: #FunnyPlayingFPGBMini #GameBoyColor #RetroGaming #AnaloguePocket #FPGAHandheld
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