Gaming · Head-to-head
Analogue 3D vs Blaze Entertainment Evercade VS-R
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full Retro Game Consoles: Which to Buy and Which to Skip comparison.
The Analogue 3D plays original N64 cartridges on 4K-capable HDMI hardware with nothing to configure. The Evercade VS-R is the easier and cheaper way into licensed retro games if you have no cartridge collection yet.
Analogue 3D
Buy itA cartridge-based N64 console built on an FPGA chip rather than software emulation, with 4K HDMI output and four original-style controller ports.
- It plays original N64 cartridges through an original-style cartridge slot and works with original controllers and accessories, and Analogue lists it as region free for NTSC and PAL.
- Video goes out over HDMI at up to 4K, and the unit has a built-in Expansion Pak and Controller Pak, so those do not need to be hunted down separately.
- The box includes a pre-installed 16GB SD card, an HDMI cable, a USB cable and a USB-C power supply, so you can plug it in the day it arrives.
- No controller is included. The 8BitDo 64 Controller is sold separately, so budget for at least one pad unless you own originals.
- Analogue says it is not compatible with CRT televisions, and its dual-band WiFi over-the-air updates are listed as coming soon.
- It only plays N64 cartridges, so it solves one console and nothing else on your shelf.
Blaze Entertainment Evercade VS-R
Buy itA two-slot cartridge console that plays officially licensed Evercade cartridges over 1080p HDMI, with a controller and four USB ports.
- Blaze says the platform has 600+ games across more than 60 officially licensed physical cartridges, so everything you add is licensed software.
- It has two cartridge slots, four USB ports for multiplayer, 1080p HDMI output and a controller with a 3m cable in the box.
- The listed hardware is a 1.5GHz processor with 4GB of built-in memory, built-in WiFi and a new user interface.
- The HDMI cable and the USB power supply are not included; the box has a microUSB cable rated for 5V and 2A.
- It plays Evercade cartridges, not original Nintendo, Sega or Atari cartridges, so your old collection stays in the cupboard.
- The library is the licensed Evercade catalogue, so check the cartridge list for the specific games you want before buying.
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Analogue 3D Our pick | Blaze Entertainment Evercade VS-R | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | N64 owners who want original cartridges on a modern TV with no fiddling. | Anyone starting a retro library from nothing who wants licensed games and an easy setup. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| What it plays | Original N64 cartridges | Evercade cartridges |
| Video output | HDMI up to 4K | HDMI 1080p |
| Controller in the box | No (sold separately) | Yes, 3m cable |
| Standalone or needs a PC | Standalone | Standalone |
| Works with original controllers | Yes, 4 ports | No |
| Save states | Not stated | Not stated |
| Power supply included | Yes, USB-C 30W | Cable only |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Analogue 3D if
n64 owners who want original cartridges on a modern TV with no fiddling.
Know before buying: no controller is included. The 8BitDo 64 Controller is sold separately, so budget for at least one pad unless you own originals.
Pick the Blaze Entertainment Evercade VS-R if
anyone starting a retro library from nothing who wants licensed games and an easy setup.
Know before buying: the HDMI cable and the USB power supply are not included; the box has a microUSB cable rated for 5V and 2A.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Analogue 3D - A cartridge-based N64 console built on an FPGA chip rather than software emulation, with 4K HDMI output and four original-style controller ports. Choose the Blaze Entertainment Evercade VS-R instead if anyone starting a retro library from nothing who wants licensed games and an easy setup.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete Retro Game Consoles: Which to Buy and Which to Skip.