Admittedly, I didn’t own an N64 as a kid — I had a Super Nintendo first, then a Sega Dreamcast, so I skipped the N64 — but many of my friends did. And we certainly played it a ton.
I remember group sleepovers where we’d play tournaments of GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64 and Super Smash Bros into the wee hours of the morning. Then there was Star Fox 64, which I played the hell out of during group ski trips. Because one of my buddies always brought an N64 on vacation, of course.
But that’s the thing with the N64. It’s such an iconic video game console today, not only for its huge catalog of awesome games, but also for being the first console to make multiplayer popular. It was a console that brought people together, before the age of online gaming.
Naturally, there are numerous ways to play N64 games today. You can do it the old way with a working console — which, being 30-ish years old, is a rarity — or the new way using an emulator or playing on your Nintendo Switch; with a premium Nintendo One subscription, you have access to most (not all) games.
But now there’s another option that’s a blend of the old and new ways. Enter the Analogue 3D.
Analogue 3D
The N64, reimagined
If you’re into retro gaming, you’re undoubtedly familiar with Analogue. The company specializes in a new-age versions of retro consoles — they have premium builds, work with today’s TVs (even upscaling the graphics and sound), and are a compatible with the original cartridges and controllers.
In recent years, Analogue has released modern versions of several retro consoles, including the NES (Analogue Nt Mini), Super Nintendo (Analogue Super Nt), Sega Genesis (Analogue Mega Sg) and Game Boy (Analogue Pocket), of which I’ve tested several.
And now it’s the N64’s turn with the Analogue 3D.
For those tuned into the space, the Analogue 3D has been a long time coming. It was first announced back in October 2023 and had an expected release date sometime in 2024, but it’s been delayed several times.
Fast forward to the present, and it’s finally shipping to those who preordered it first.
I’ve had the console for almost a week, and I can say that it lives up to the billing — it’s awesome. It hooks up to your TV just like a modern console (via HDMI) and upscales and outputs old games in 4K. Basically, it works just like the original N64, but better.
Premium hardware, fast software
The secret sauce of the Analogue 3D is its FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) chip, which allows the console to replicate the original N64 hardware’s circuitry. This means games run as they were originally intended (smooth with no lag), making them play even better than with emulation.
When comparing the 3D to the original N64, there are a few other differences. The main one is that the 3D runs Analogue’s custom operating system, called 3DOS, which prompts you to play the game when you turn it on.
If you want to get real nerdy about it, the operating system also lets you choose between different “Display Modes.” Basically, you can make the games look more like you’re playing on an older TV (either a CRT or a PVM). But that feels a step too far, for me.
The other big difference is that the 3D supports wireless controllers. In fact, Analogue partnered with 8BitDo to make a special wireless controller for the console, called the 8BitDo 64 Controller. It has a similar button and trigger layout to the N64’s original controllers, with a few additions and a restructured design.
If you have original wired controllers, you can plug them in and use them with the 3D. However, it’s quite rare for these original controllers to still be in pristine condition — they’re old, and joysticks and buttons get worn out — so you’ll likely want to buy 8BitDo 64 Controllers with the new console.
A nostalgic niche
In the past week, I’ve spent most of my time with the 3D playing Super Mario 64 and Perfect Dark, as those are the two games I’m most familiar with. But I plan to dip more time with Zelda: Ocarina of Time in the coming weeks. Also, I’ve ordered GoldenEye 007 — it’s expected to arrive in the coming days — so that’s exciting, too.
This past weekend, I was explaining the Analogue 3D to one of my friends, and he asked, in not-so-exact words, “That sounds cool, but who’s going to buy it?” After all, the games still look old (because they are) and it’s expensive. And it’s a valid question.
The Analogue 3D costs $250 but doesn’t include any controllers. You’ll probably want to buy two 8BitDo 64 Controllers, which go for $40 a pop. Plus, the console doesn’t have any built-in games, meaning if you don’t have any old cartridges, you’ll have to invest in those, too, which can range from $20 to $70, depending on the game.
But the answer is pretty simple. Like all Analogue consoles, the 3D is a niche product designed for super fans who love playing older games. They want to relive the nostalgia in the best possible way. And they aren’t afraid to dish out a premium for that experience.
For me, I fall somewhere in the middle. On one hand, yes, it’s a big investment. But then again, few things get guys in their mid-30s as excited as the promise of a night filled with beer, pizza and trash-talking while playing GoldenEye multiplayer on the same TV.
And yes, that’s exactly what’s on the cards for this coming weekend.
The Analogue 3D, available in both white and black, is currently sold out. If you weren’t able to preorder one, sign up for notifications so you can snag one when they’re restocked.
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