50 Best Games to Play on Your R36S

The R36S comes pre-loaded with over 40,000 games from more than 20 systems. That is a ridiculous amount of choice. So where do you actually start?

We have put together this list of the 50 best games you can play on the R36S, organised by system. Whether you are revisiting childhood favourites or discovering classics for the first time, these are the titles that make this little £44.89 handheld worth every penny.

Every game on this list runs brilliantly on the R36S and comes pre-loaded on the 128GB microSD card — no setup or downloading needed. If you want to browse the full library, head over to our games page for the complete list.

PlayStation 1

The PS1 library is where the R36S really shines. These games look fantastic on the 3.5-inch IPS screen, and the dual analogue sticks mean you get proper control for titles that need them.

• Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped — The best entry in the original trilogy, with tight platforming and loads of variety across its time-travelling levels.
• Spyro: Year of the Dragon — A gorgeous, colourful platformer that is pure joy to explore, with some of the best level design on the PS1.
• Metal Gear Solid — The game that proved stealth action could be cinematic, gripping and genuinely unforgettable.
• Final Fantasy VII — One of the greatest RPGs ever made, with a story and soundtrack that still hold up decades later.
• Tekken 3 — Arguably the best fighting game on the PS1, with a massive roster and silky smooth gameplay.
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night — A masterclass in exploration and atmosphere that basically invented the "Metroidvania" genre.
• Gran Turismo 2 — An absurdly deep racing sim with hundreds of cars, and it runs beautifully on the R36S.
• Resident Evil 2 — Survival horror at its finest, with genuinely tense gameplay and two full campaigns to work through.
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 — Endlessly replayable arcade skating with an iconic soundtrack and that perfect "just one more run" feeling.
• MediEvil — A charming action-adventure starring a bumbling skeleton knight, dripping with personality and dark humour.

Super Nintendo (SNES)

The SNES is widely regarded as one of the greatest consoles ever made, and its games run flawlessly on the R36S. These are titles that have genuinely stood the test of time.

• Super Mario World — The quintessential platformer, with perfectly designed levels, hidden secrets everywhere and endlessly satisfying controls.
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past — A top-down adventure that set the template for every Zelda game that followed, and it is still one of the best.
• Chrono Trigger — Often called the greatest JRPG of all time, with time travel, multiple endings and a fantastic combat system.
• Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest — A stunning platformer with incredible music and some of the most creative level design on the system.
• Super Metroid — Atmospheric, non-linear exploration at its absolute peak, and a game that rewards curiosity at every turn.
• Street Fighter II Turbo — The definitive 16-bit fighting game, still brilliant for quick pick-up-and-play sessions.
• EarthBound — A quirky, funny and surprisingly emotional RPG set in a modern-day world that is unlike anything else on the system.

Game Boy Advance (GBA)

The GBA library is a goldmine, and these games feel right at home on a handheld. The R36S screen makes GBA titles look better than they ever did on the original hardware.

• Pokemon Emerald — The definitive Hoenn experience, with the Battle Frontier giving you hundreds of hours of post-game content.
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap — A beautifully crafted Zelda adventure with a clever shrinking mechanic and gorgeous pixel art.
• Metroid Fusion — A tense, story-driven Metroid game that constantly keeps you on edge with its terrifying SA-X encounters.
• Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones — An excellent entry point into the Fire Emblem series, with deep tactical combat and a compelling story.
• Advance Wars — Addictive turn-based strategy with colourful visuals and a deceptively deep set of mechanics.
• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga — A hilarious and inventive RPG that makes brilliant use of its two-character system.
• Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow — The best portable Castlevania, with a brilliant soul-collecting system and tight action-platforming.

Sega Mega Drive / Genesis

Sega's 16-bit powerhouse delivered some of the fastest, most exciting games of the early 90s. Every one of these is an absolute classic.

• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — The best classic Sonic game, with blistering speed, iconic zones and the introduction of Tails.
• Streets of Rage 2 — The greatest side-scrolling beat-em-up ever made, with an unbelievable soundtrack and satisfying combat.
• Gunstar Heroes — A frantic, explosive run-and-gun game from Treasure that never lets up for a single second.
• Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master — Fluid, fast ninja action with brilliant level variety and razor-sharp controls.
• Comix Zone — A visually inventive beat-em-up set inside a comic book, with a unique art style that still looks fresh today.

Arcade

Arcade games are perfect for handheld play — short sessions, instant action and no need to remember where you left off. The R36S handles arcade emulation with ease.

• Metal Slug 3 — The pinnacle of run-and-gun action, with insane set pieces, gorgeous sprite work and relentless gameplay.
• The King of Fighters '98 — Widely considered the best KOF game, with a massive roster and incredibly deep fighting mechanics.
• Pac-Man — The original arcade classic that needs no introduction, and still just as addictive as it was in 1980.
• Cadillacs and Dinosaurs — A brilliantly fun co-op beat-em-up based on the comic series, and a hidden gem of the arcade era.
• 1944: The Loop Master — One of Capcom's best vertical shooters, with satisfying power-ups and screen-filling boss battles.

PSP

The R36S can handle a solid selection of PSP titles. These are more demanding to emulate, so not every PSP game runs perfectly, but the ones below play well and are absolutely worth your time.

• God of War: Chains of Olympus — A stunning action game that felt impossible on a handheld at the time, and it still plays brilliantly today.
• Persona 3 Portable — A deep, story-rich JRPG with one of the best casts in gaming, perfect for long handheld sessions.
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories — A full open-world GTA experience in your pocket, with that unmistakable 80s Miami atmosphere.
• Tekken 6 — A feature-packed fighting game with a huge character roster and plenty of single-player content.
• Ridge Racer — Fast, flashy arcade racing that looks and feels great, with drift-heavy gameplay that is pure fun.

Nintendo 64

N64 emulation on the R36S works well for many titles, especially the less demanding ones. The dual analogue sticks are a real bonus here.

• Super Mario 64 — The game that defined 3D platforming, and still a joy to run around in thanks to its brilliant movement mechanics.
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — One of the most acclaimed games in history, with dungeons, combat and exploration that remain unmatched.
• Mario Kart 64 — Iconic tracks, satisfying drifting and endless replayability make this a must-play on any platform.
• Paper Mario — A charming RPG with a unique visual style, witty writing and a surprisingly deep turn-based battle system.
• Star Fox 64 — An on-rails shooter with branching paths and memorable boss fights that begs to be replayed.

NES

Where it all began. These 8-bit classics are simple, challenging and endlessly satisfying. They are also ideal for quick sessions on the go.

• Super Mario Bros. 3 — Many consider this the greatest NES game ever made, and with good reason — every world is packed with surprises.
• Mega Man 2 — Tight, demanding platforming with incredible boss design and one of the best soundtracks in gaming history.
• Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse — A challenging and atmospheric action-platformer with multiple playable characters and branching paths.

Game Boy / Game Boy Color

The original Game Boy library has a special charm, and these games are absolutely perfect for handheld play on the R36S.

• Pokemon Crystal — The definitive Gen 2 experience, with two full regions to explore and the first animated Pokemon sprites.
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX — A wonderfully inventive Zelda adventure packed into a tiny cartridge, with a story that genuinely surprises.
• Tetris — The ultimate pick-up-and-play game, and there is no better version than the one that came with the original Game Boy.

How to Find These Games on Your R36S

All 50 games on this list come pre-loaded on the R36S. When you turn on the device, games are organised by system, so simply scroll to the console you want (PlayStation, SNES, GBA, etc.) and browse alphabetically. There is no setup, no downloading, and no faffing about.

If you want to see the full list of every game included across all 20+ systems, check out our complete games library.

The Verdict

The R36S is not just a device with 40,000 games on it — it is a device with genuinely brilliant games on it. The 50 titles on this list barely scratch the surface of what is available, and that is exactly what makes the R36S such incredible value.

For £44.89, you get a handheld console with decades of gaming history at your fingertips. From the best PlayStation 1 RPGs to SNES platformers, GBA adventures and arcade classics, the R36S covers it all. It comes with free UK delivery and a free protective hardcase — you can see the full breakdown on our What's Included page.

If you are still deciding whether the R36S is right for you, have a read of our full R36S review for an in-depth look at the hardware. Or if you want to compare it against other options, our Top 3 Retro Handhelds Compared guide breaks down how it stacks up against the R36S Max and R36S Ultra.

Ready to start playing? Pick up your R36S here and work your way through this list. You will not be short of things to play.