Review of the playdate: 50 hues of play

Our Verdict

The Playdate is the bright yellow embodiment of the joy of playing and indie gaming spirit. It’s stacked with creative games both simple and much deeper, and anyone who enjoys the more niche and obscure side of video games will be hooked. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Playdate.

Reasons to buy

• Original, exclusive games
• Inventive design

Reasons to avoid

• Limited games library
• Pricey for size

It feels great to sit down and write a Playdate review after years of waiting, teasing, and obsessing over pictures, as well as now weeks of gaming. Playdate came from panic.That name may seem familiar to you as the studio behind Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game, which they built with assistance from Teenage Engineering (hey, if you're reading this, Teenage Engineering, I love you, let's be friends).

A device that every enthusiast would want to have on their shelf, the Playdate is definitely eye-catching with its little yellow form factor, sharp monochrome screen, and unique crank on the side. Undoubtedly, it's among the top portable gaming consoles . However, it must provide much more than just a pretty look for the price. Do the Playdate's features and software impress you sufficiently, then? To discover out, let's get started with our Playdate review.Writing a review for a new system is challenging. The Playdate, more than others, puts the pleasure of playing front and center in both name and form factor, providing an intriguing glimpse into what's possible. The developers of this obviously simply want people to enjoy themselves while playing and creating these games, and the Playdate is such a vibrant bundle of pleasure that it's easy to get carried away with that.You may be aware that you gradually unlock 24 games over the course of twelve weeks, with a few games every twelve days, if you're waiting for your Playdate. A significantly shortened version of this was provided to the media by the kind folks at Panic, which allowed players to unlock all 24 games and add two new ones every two days. I'm going to speak about my highlights and a few chosen games instead of reviewing every game to save time and space, and then I'll talk about the console itself.The Playdate's size and screen are what catch the eye the most when you turn it on. With a thickness about equivalent to an iPhone 12, and a height and breadth somewhat less than the typical wallet, this really fits in the palm of your hand. Because of its weight and the durable materials it is made of, it feels like a high-end product even if it still appears like a toy. It's a fantastic compromise that aligns with the business philosophy.The games lack color, yet the monochrome graphics nevertheless stands out and is displayed in exquisite detail on the big, robust-looking screen. While not many games have very intricate pixel graphics, those that do look amazing. However, I must continuously wipe away fingerprints from handling the gadget, therefore I will admit that the screen is highly prone to smudges.As previously said, you should refrain from touching the screen despite the solid yellow of the body having a good matte finish that doesn't catch anything. In addition, the screen is not illuminated, in case you were unaware. This is a really retro experience that makes me think of the first Game Boy. However, it's quite simple to play in dim light, and it's clearly ideal for outdoor settings. I'm not sure why that would be a problem unless you're dead set on playing it in a dark room, but it's difficult to judge whether it would be a problem for folks.The gadget has a connector on the bottom for a 3.5mm headphone jack in addition to a yellow USB C cable for charging. Additionally, Panic has said that Bluetooth functionality would be added to the Playdate in the future; however, we're yet unsure of exactly what that entails.The crank is another important aspect. I mistakenly believed that the console's crank was meant to charge it, much like a radio, when I first saw it. Rather, it is a completely analog control that can be used to rotate spacecraft, ride elevators, and twist characters, among other things. It is enjoyable to use, seems responsive, and is intuitive. Although it may be tucked away within the console's body, using the small lever to draw it out is a happy little moment.Whitewater Wipeout is one of the first games you may launch. It's a simple but addicting little surfing game where you can control your surfer's direction of travel with a crank. Even though it's such a little, basic device, turning the crank to move your surfer is instantly entertaining. That's the first game I played and it remains with me, even if many other games make greater use of it.For those that adopt early, there's also Casual Birder, a birdwatching game in which you wander a city while focusing your camera using the Playdate's crank. Though there's a lot more to it, including witty banter and charming smalltown vibes that make movies like Earthbound come to mind, I really enjoyed simply exploring the area and going on walks in search of interesting birds. The crank seems quite natural in this situation, and using it is effortless. You can start learning about the Playdate and the notorious crank straight out of the box with these two games.Regarding the buttons themselves, Panic states that "we worked hard to make sure buttons feel perfectly clicky and that the crank action is silky smooth" on the Playdate website. The item seems well-made and fits your hands comfortably, demonstrating the attention to detail that has gone into it. Although the buttons protrude beautifully from the console and have a pleasing click to them, some adults may find it a little too tiny. Games with a smooth and precise feel include those like Pick Pack Pup, a match-three puzzle game that I like. To earn a good score, you'll need to move each object precisely and swiftly, and the Playdate itself never gets in the way.I would want to draw attention to one particularly noteworthy game, which is the insanely funny platformer Lost Your Marbles, which has a similar vibe to Super Monkey Ball. A marble in a labyrinth is controlled by turning a crank on a two-dimensional surface. The marble bounces off walls and jumps off ramps to fall into different places. The problem is that you're making judgments in this manner. When asked a question, the potential solutions show up as real-world objects that you must precisely toss your marble at—which is very difficult. The hardest response to get right is the best one; letting your marble fall repeatedly leads to poor choices, and your missing dog poster only displays a photo of the adorable dogs' butt. The device's flexibility is well shown by the delightful sensation of controlling the crank.Executive Golf DX is a crazy golf game where you can adjust the angle of your shot by turning a crank. It's a clever take on the classic golf concept and much harder than you may think, with interesting abilities and bizarre obstacles. A puzzle game called Echoic Memory puts the Playdate speakers to the test. By figuring out musical puzzles where a sound is produced and then you have to choose it again from a range of sounds that go through different distortions and filters, you can repair abandoned electronics. I like this cute little game, even if it's mostly because of the amazing sound design.Forrest Byrnes Up In Smoke is a catchy platformer that has you continually escaping flames on the left side of the screen if you're in the mood for one. You have to gather mementos and find missing kids before the approaching fire catches them as you flee. Putting the awful puns aside, this is a pretty cute little game with excellent controls that makes you want to keep playing until you get a new high score.So far, Inventory Hero is the game I return to the most. You play as a hero battling your way through waves of foes, much like a little Loop Hero, but all you have control over is their stuff. You get to choose what to dress, what to equip for weapons, and when to utilize potions. Keeping track of the limited inventory space is exciting and difficult, and as you go, you'll encounter a lot of interesting turns.There are also some unexpectedly complex games here, including Casual Birder and Ratcheteer, which are both very much like the Legend of Zelda, even if other of the titles are obviously meant to be smaller, high-score-chasing experiences. Since anybody may use a free online browser-based programming tool to create games for the Playdate, it will be intriguing to watch what the community comes up with.Users will be pleased to learn that installing more games on the device is a simple process, since there are already plenty of them available and waiting to be played. Just sign in to your Playdate, choose your account, sideload the file, then submit the zip version.By going to the Playdate settings and selecting games, you may access both the uploaded games and the regular season games via wifi. With 4GB of starting storage, there's enough of room on the smartphone, and finding and downloading them is easy. I have loaded many more games on top of the 24 from the first season, and I haven't even reached the halfway point of my storage. It won't be necessary for you to delete games for a time.The dominant sensation derived from the collection of 24 games included in Playdate's first season is simply the independent vibe. These games are packed with so many entertaining concepts, showcasing the crank's inventiveness and some amazing creations that are essentially well-made clones of beloved games like Match-3 Puzzlers or Breakout. I would find it difficult to choose a bad game from this inaugural season, but Panic has clearly found the appropriate individuals for the job. Some stick out more than others.I'm from the generation that played video games outdoors with the first Game Boy and used my Nintendo gadget as a toy as a child. More than anything I've played lately, The Playdate transports me back to that age, and its genuine energy and wild inventiveness brought back some of my favorite crazy childhood memories, like the Game Boy Camera. I firmly believe that the Playdate is an incredible gadget that will captivate any gamer. Even while it's obvious that Panic isn't going for a commercial product either, it's difficult to persuade anybody that this should be one.The pricing point is challenging since, at $179, it's much more than the cost of other entertaining gaming toys like the NES Classic or SNES Classic as well as impulsive purchases. That being said, I can't really hold that against it since it's obvious what the Playdate is—the starting point for something that will develop over the next years. I can't even leave the house without slipping it into my pocket and flaunting it to my pals. I'm already glued to my Playdate.I'm not sure if I could persuade someone who isn't a die-hard fan to give it a go, and I'm curious how this will impact the gadget going forward. I want to see the indie gaming sector grow, the device get upgrades, and many hungry players get their hands on some incredible games created by tiny developers. I thus really hope that folks would give the Playdate a go.The Playdate is a charming gadget with plenty of amazing games and bright future prospects. It's all I could have hoped for and more. Nearly every game in the first season has something entertaining to offer, the screen and interface function well, and it feels great to hold. Though those who appreciate independent gaming, the do-it-yourself mentality, and the pure pleasure of playing will find lots to like, they will need to consider carefully before spending the necessary money on it.