As soon as I caught wind of the Evercade Alpha, I was pretty convinced I was going to adore the mini arcade machine. That’s not just because it takes one of my favorite gaming handhelds from last year and scales it up into an all-in-one retro console battle station. In fact, it’s not even down to the pure love that’s gone into the bartop unit’s design. Ultimately, it’s the fact that this cabinet doesn’t force me to invest in something with just a few games installed, allowing me to treat it like a full blown platform.
Of course, if you’re savvy with other Evercade devices like the Super Pocket, you’ll know that it is just as much of a platform as the PS5 or Xbox Series X. Coming in at $249.99 / £229.99, it’s safe to say the Evercade Alpha is almost as much of an investment too. But, unlike Sony’s expensive adventure box, this arcade machine makes me feel like I’m standing on the sticky carpet of my local amusement park, clutching a bundle of prize tickets, waiting for a go on Street Fighter 2.
