The Analogue 3D is the modern N64 fans have been waiting for

That standard has allowed a vibrant community of OpenFPGA developers to create dozens of free “cores” that can recreate everything from classic arcade games to 16-bit consoles with amazing fidelity. However, currently, those cores will only work on the Analogue Pocket, not later hardware like the Analogue 3D or 2023’s Analogue Duo.

This is a shame because the OpenFPGA community would certainly be happy to have newer, larger FPGAs in Analog 3D to create core support for even more classic gaming consoles. And we’re sure Analog 3D owners will be happy to use their purchases to run existing OpenFPGA cores on big screens with 3DOS’s great display options.

“If we wanted to offer Analog 3D with OpenFPGAs (which is not the purpose or focus of the product), it would require not only a second FPGA, but an even more powerful base FPGA, so the price would have to increase to a price that is not consistent with our goals,” Analog founder Christopher Tabor told Ars when the system was first announced in 2023.

It seems likely that hackers and tinkerers will be able to expand the simulation capabilities of Analog 3D in the future. However, as it stands, it’s hard to recommend the hardware when options like Android-based, emulation-focused handhelds, Raspberry Pi-based emulation consoles, and even the (more expensive) MiSTer FPGA box offer capable support for far more than just N64 games.

If you’re looking for a simple, plug-and-play way to use your original N64 cartridges and accessories on a modern display, Analogue 3D offers everything you could hope for. However, if you want a device that can handle more, you should look elsewhere.