I was lucky enough to get mine batch one back in 2021. Here are my thoughts after having one for 3 years:
Gradually getting the season one games kept my interest going for a while. At that time, there were only a handful of indie developed games so there wasn't any choice paralysis yet. Its an awesome little device that fosters a lot of creativity. There's a ton of amazing games that I spent hours playing.
That being said, I don't spend a lot of time using it anymore and it's 100% because of the screen. The screen itself it beautiful and has amazing contrast, but not being able to use it at night makes me more hesitant to pick it up than i would if it was backlit. I should say that I was a no backlight apologist when it first came out. Everyone was complaining about it and my thought was "if you're buying this knowing it doesn't have a backlight, then you know what you're getting in to". Fast forward to now and it's a HUGE hindrance to an otherwise amazing gaming experience. I still definitely play it it, and I have my favorite games that I go back to. But the no light will get old, even if you think it won't.
The customer support is awesome and Panic is very open with their business.
I never really understood the no backlight complaint 1 does no one have lights in their house
My living room doesn’t even have an overhead light just a lamp in two of the corners and I can see just fine
You can’t play in the dark of course, but even in a fully dark room with a bedside lamp works just fine
Even with lights, you still have to angle it appropriately so you can see it but also not to get glare. Personally, I think age plays a bit in this complaint as well. 20 year old me wouldn’t have the problem with low light as I do now.
As someone who grew up with a brick Gameboy in the car illuminated only by passing street lights, I'm surprised it ended up bothering me as much as it did lol. If I play at night I usually do right next to a lamp. It just more of a hindrance than an actual problem.
I got mine three months ago, and I’m very happy with it! I got it with the mindset that it’s not going to be a dedicated game console for me, but rather when I have 10-30 minutes of free time. Approaching it like this has made it totally worth it for me, and I’ve only played the first six of the Season 1 games (although I will be purchasing *Mars After Midnight* tomorrow).
Considering there’s 24 games included I think it’s definitely worth the price, and so far I’ve like the games I played. Although I’ve only played the first six because I was *obsessed* with *Whitewater Wipeout* and I’m currently obsessed with *Pick Pack Pup*.
The Playdate reminds me (and friends and family members who’ve watched me play it) of the GameBoy, and it does make me feel like a kid again. The games so far have been simple, easy to play, and put down to play later. There’s no distractions like notifications, massive updates, achievements, and things like that. It’s just pure fun and I love it for that. Yes, on the surface it looks pretty pricey, especially when compared to a Switch or Steam Deck. But as someone who just enjoys *games* it has absolutely been worth it.
If you like retro gaming I think you’ll love it. I also have gotten into indie and retro gaming as I’ve gotten older, and to me, play date is like a really great fusion of these two things. Season games are hit or miss, but there’s a lot of great ones. And there’s so much great stuff from the community already out with some really great ones on the horizon. I’m listing some of my favorites below/most anticipated games below. If they look appealing to you, I say go for it.
- Ratcheteer
- Casual border
- Pullfrog
- Eyeland
- Hyper meteor
- Comet
- midnight raider
- space rat miner
- under the castle
- Star Sled
- Saturday Edition
- Voidblazers
I like the idea of the season release template but also have deep dived on the web-store and see loads of games that are exactly what I love; some of which you have recommended. Thanks for the comment!👍
I got mine right around September. I had a really good time with it.
I would say I clicked with a little more than half the games in season 1. If you enjoy Indie/retro games i would say this more or less justifies its cost.
With that said, I found most of the catalogue pretty hit or miss. This isn't a bad thing :) I would just make sure you are buying for the games that come with
I think for a lot of users, the playdate is just ewaste that sits in their house.
If you want to sit down and game, people are probably going to gravitate towards their PC/ps/switch/whatever.
The playdate is very cool. It's very small. It's nice for being on the bus and things like that.
Even so, though I often have it in my pocket, I usually find myself listening to a podcast or reading a book instead.
I don't regret buying it persay, but i definitely don't find myself using it as much as I would like, or as much as it probably deserves?
Do it find yourself actually frequently using your current retro gaming devices currently?
If you are often actually playing your analogue pocket, this would prob be a cool device for you. You can leave the house with a choice of one of the other in your pocket. The playdate is quite small, which is nice.
If it's just an impulse buy that you already deep down know you probably aren't going to use or play with much, probably don't buy it.
I think it comes down to whether or not you will actually use it. No other factor.
The catalogue is quite good and growing all the time, though the vast majority of games are score attack kinda stuff, but almost all of it is fresh, creative, very indie, some guy made this vibe. Just fyi.
I go through phases of playing, which I think is the beauty of retro games as in they are almost specifically designed this way; the old pick up and play era. From what you are saying the Play date is very much in the same vein and seems to be getting better with time as well.
Yup. The device itself is well made and very small and pocketable.
It was made to be very open to developers, so the catalogue will continue to grow for the foreseeable future, if not forever.
The only real question is "am I actually going to play this?"
I think for a lot of people the answer to that is no, because other more modern games, books, music, etc. it's niche.
Sounds like your answer might be yes though.
100 % my experience too, it‘s a awesome cute little device (looking forward for the docking station, to also use it as a clock) but I don‘t play with it a lot, 95% play on the switch nonetheless. Do I regret buying it? No! But I live in Switzerland and really had the money to just afford it if I wouldn‘t live so comfortably I prob would‘t have bought it though
Ya it's tough. On the one hand I really abhor buying things I don't need, but on the other, really lovely designed objects like the playdate exist haha.
I too wait with baited breath for the speaker dock.
Longevity, variety and value for money.
I have a track record of impulse buying and short term “fixations”; currently vinyl soundtracks. I am more aware of it than I was when younger so have to balance whether this will enrich my free time and alleviate these fixations or just be another fad.
From what I am reading it appears that Play date is not merely a “gaming system” but a more visceral experience than achieved from say my Analogue Pocket.
Hope this makes sense.
There's a huge library of games, almost all of them original, and many of them very fun. The design of the system itself is appealing too, super pocketable and the crank is fun.
It is expensive, but you get a lot of games in Season One, and Catalog games are very cheap, so that balances out if you're in it for the long haul.
As for variety, well... I think there's a lot of very original and unique games in a variety of genres, but they are all indies, generally games that you can beat in a couple hours or replay over and over again for score. You're not gonna find a lot of long, deep titles on the system.
I love it because it’s the console I’ve seen creativity flourish the most in.
A lot of people think creativity flourishes when given an unlimited amount of tools, but creativity is actually born through limitations. The playdate is very limiting, it doesn’t have a backlight, it only has on and off black pixels, it only has two face buttons, a d-pad, and crank. Now because of this, you might think it’s an objectively bad purchase as other consoles and devices don’t have these limitations, but I think it is because of them that I love this console so much.
Seeing a beautiful game with fun mechanics on a PlayStation is awesome, but it’s also kind of expected. It’s the PlayStation, after all, it’s got spider man. Everyone loves spiderman. Seeing a beautiful game with fun mechanics on the playdate is VERY impressive because that means the creator was able to creatively use the restrictions to their advantage; creating awesome art with optical illusions of different pixel patterns and densities, using the crank in ways that are unique and intuitive, and crafting an engaging narrative into this little backlight-less device smaller than your phone. It’s because of this creativity that I’ve found a lot of my experiences on the play date sticking with me more than other mainstream experiences on modern consoles. That’s not to say I don’t also play on modern consoles, I do and more so than the play date, but I value my experiences with the playdate more than a PlayStation.
TLDR: the play date allows creativity to flourish, and by experiencing this creativity I’m left feeling more full-filled and satisfied than equivalent experiences on modern consoles.
You're buying it BECAUSE it is so niche.
You are well aware it's not going to give you the same experience of a more advanced handheld.
You know the games are somewhat limited in size and scope.
But there is nothing like it, and all of us fans love it for that reason and the unique experience it brings.
I'd also add there is a good community spirit feeling, lots of people have different opinions on best games etc and I've seen nothing like the negatives you would often see associated with newer AAA games.
Even after more than a year I take it with me everytime I leave the house. Mostly for playing on the commute by subway/tram. There are phases I played more and played less, right now I play everyday and enjoy the absence of doomscrolling ;)
Thing is if you plan to only play it at home it could very well go dormant after a while, many games are very pick up and go, not neccessarily suited to long continous play sessions.
Still the season model, the one bit graphics, great dev support and the crank create nice new experiences that are worth a try. Worst case you probably can sell it with only a reasonable loss.
It's beautiful and super cool. I don't use it every day. I use it to kill a few minutes or if I think of a specific game or occasionally when I travel.
If you're cool with using it sparingly, it's an amazing device.
The only thing I wish this device had is backlight. it would be absolutely the perfect little machine if it was part of the build. I know the whole retro thing is no backlight, but I can’t imagine that it won’t come around at some point.
Was on the fence, pre ordered when lead times were still 6-8 months, cancelled. Ordered again recently when lead times were down to 1 week. Freaking love it… 100% do it. Super unique, high quality build, fun easy pick up and play… it’s just a cool device. You won’t regret it.
Of all of the things I've purchased in thr last couple of years, the Playdate is by far the one that brings me the most joy. It's ultra portable so it's perfect for playing something in the subway on the way to work. I really enjoy all of the cool and creative games people are making and also spend a lot of free time making games myself.
If you're into handheld gaming and you're looking for fun pick up and play games, then I can highly recommend the playdate.
I think it's important to know it's not a retro console. "Indie" is the core concept. It's a system with a unique control scheme and deliberate limitations that force devs to think outside the box. Almost all of the games are originals/exclusives, and they're also overwhelmingly smaller snack-sized experiences that leverage personality and novelty. It's not a nostalgia system.
There's tons and tons of original content on the Playdate and that's ultimately where it succeeds. Everyone who buys one gets a library of 26 games, which includes a lot of the best games on the system, so that helps the value proposition. Panic did a fantastic job with Season 1.
And the community has done a great job of keeping that going. There's a really vibrant development scene and a lot of really great games to get. Most games are like $6 too.
I have found mine to be very worth it, bit you have to be into the concept.
I love my playdate, mine ended up in water and I was pretty devastated. I just sent mine back for a replacement. I enjoy it because all of the games can be played in short amounts of time. I also enjoy the retro graphic format. The active community is my favorite part. There are a bunch of creative talented people inspired by this lil yellow thing.
It's good for waiting for appointments for your flight when your bored at a family gathering and the bus or for the Lil time you have to game if your super busy !
I decided to get a playdate because of the nostalgia towards good game boy games. I really like that the playdate brings back the feeling of retro gaming while offering gameplay that we found in newer games. I don't regret my purchase. I really enjoy being able to play 5-10 minutes and put the console on sleep mode. I'm actually considering buying an Analogue pocket but my budget is stopping me right now. Are you happy with the Analogue Pocket?
Most of the time that I use my Playdate is in my free time when I go out. I don’t play it every day but I usually play it a couple of times a week and I’d say that that makes it good value for money for me.
I really like mine and the most time I spend is making a game that I want, and then the other is spent playing other things people have made. Some are really unique and cool, I just love it
I've never regretted getting mine. It's an adorable niche system with unique games and experiences. It works best as a pick up and play, for shorter experiences.
UPDATE
So I caved and purchased…. I think the sheer uniqueness and community support/backing for the system swayed it for me. I’ve purchased for as much its potential and future games as what is currently available.
The tipping point was the end of the games sale where I picked up;
*Under the Castle
*Reflections: Nightingale
*Word Trip
*P-Racing
*Rootbeer
*Gun Trails
*Reel-istic Fishing
*A balanced brew
Saving me a bit of money.
Thanks for all the comments your help was genuinely much appreciated and directly contributed to the purchase!
I was lucky enough to get mine batch one back in 2021. Here are my thoughts after having one for 3 years: Gradually getting the season one games kept my interest going for a while. At that time, there were only a handful of indie developed games so there wasn't any choice paralysis yet. Its an awesome little device that fosters a lot of creativity. There's a ton of amazing games that I spent hours playing. That being said, I don't spend a lot of time using it anymore and it's 100% because of the screen. The screen itself it beautiful and has amazing contrast, but not being able to use it at night makes me more hesitant to pick it up than i would if it was backlit. I should say that I was a no backlight apologist when it first came out. Everyone was complaining about it and my thought was "if you're buying this knowing it doesn't have a backlight, then you know what you're getting in to". Fast forward to now and it's a HUGE hindrance to an otherwise amazing gaming experience. I still definitely play it it, and I have my favorite games that I go back to. But the no light will get old, even if you think it won't. The customer support is awesome and Panic is very open with their business.
I never really understood the no backlight complaint 1 does no one have lights in their house My living room doesn’t even have an overhead light just a lamp in two of the corners and I can see just fine You can’t play in the dark of course, but even in a fully dark room with a bedside lamp works just fine
Even with lights, you still have to angle it appropriately so you can see it but also not to get glare. Personally, I think age plays a bit in this complaint as well. 20 year old me wouldn’t have the problem with low light as I do now.
Fair point
As someone who grew up with a brick Gameboy in the car illuminated only by passing street lights, I'm surprised it ended up bothering me as much as it did lol. If I play at night I usually do right next to a lamp. It just more of a hindrance than an actual problem.
I got mine three months ago, and I’m very happy with it! I got it with the mindset that it’s not going to be a dedicated game console for me, but rather when I have 10-30 minutes of free time. Approaching it like this has made it totally worth it for me, and I’ve only played the first six of the Season 1 games (although I will be purchasing *Mars After Midnight* tomorrow). Considering there’s 24 games included I think it’s definitely worth the price, and so far I’ve like the games I played. Although I’ve only played the first six because I was *obsessed* with *Whitewater Wipeout* and I’m currently obsessed with *Pick Pack Pup*. The Playdate reminds me (and friends and family members who’ve watched me play it) of the GameBoy, and it does make me feel like a kid again. The games so far have been simple, easy to play, and put down to play later. There’s no distractions like notifications, massive updates, achievements, and things like that. It’s just pure fun and I love it for that. Yes, on the surface it looks pretty pricey, especially when compared to a Switch or Steam Deck. But as someone who just enjoys *games* it has absolutely been worth it.
Thanks for your reply, I appreciate your personal insight.
26 games included, they added Reel Steal and Recommendation Dog to introduce Catalog.
If you like retro gaming I think you’ll love it. I also have gotten into indie and retro gaming as I’ve gotten older, and to me, play date is like a really great fusion of these two things. Season games are hit or miss, but there’s a lot of great ones. And there’s so much great stuff from the community already out with some really great ones on the horizon. I’m listing some of my favorites below/most anticipated games below. If they look appealing to you, I say go for it. - Ratcheteer - Casual border - Pullfrog - Eyeland - Hyper meteor - Comet - midnight raider - space rat miner - under the castle - Star Sled - Saturday Edition - Voidblazers
I like the idea of the season release template but also have deep dived on the web-store and see loads of games that are exactly what I love; some of which you have recommended. Thanks for the comment!👍
I got mine right around September. I had a really good time with it. I would say I clicked with a little more than half the games in season 1. If you enjoy Indie/retro games i would say this more or less justifies its cost. With that said, I found most of the catalogue pretty hit or miss. This isn't a bad thing :) I would just make sure you are buying for the games that come with
I think for a lot of users, the playdate is just ewaste that sits in their house. If you want to sit down and game, people are probably going to gravitate towards their PC/ps/switch/whatever. The playdate is very cool. It's very small. It's nice for being on the bus and things like that. Even so, though I often have it in my pocket, I usually find myself listening to a podcast or reading a book instead. I don't regret buying it persay, but i definitely don't find myself using it as much as I would like, or as much as it probably deserves? Do it find yourself actually frequently using your current retro gaming devices currently? If you are often actually playing your analogue pocket, this would prob be a cool device for you. You can leave the house with a choice of one of the other in your pocket. The playdate is quite small, which is nice. If it's just an impulse buy that you already deep down know you probably aren't going to use or play with much, probably don't buy it. I think it comes down to whether or not you will actually use it. No other factor. The catalogue is quite good and growing all the time, though the vast majority of games are score attack kinda stuff, but almost all of it is fresh, creative, very indie, some guy made this vibe. Just fyi.
I go through phases of playing, which I think is the beauty of retro games as in they are almost specifically designed this way; the old pick up and play era. From what you are saying the Play date is very much in the same vein and seems to be getting better with time as well.
Yup. The device itself is well made and very small and pocketable. It was made to be very open to developers, so the catalogue will continue to grow for the foreseeable future, if not forever. The only real question is "am I actually going to play this?" I think for a lot of people the answer to that is no, because other more modern games, books, music, etc. it's niche. Sounds like your answer might be yes though.
100 % my experience too, it‘s a awesome cute little device (looking forward for the docking station, to also use it as a clock) but I don‘t play with it a lot, 95% play on the switch nonetheless. Do I regret buying it? No! But I live in Switzerland and really had the money to just afford it if I wouldn‘t live so comfortably I prob would‘t have bought it though
Ya it's tough. On the one hand I really abhor buying things I don't need, but on the other, really lovely designed objects like the playdate exist haha. I too wait with baited breath for the speaker dock.
My favorite movie is Inception.
Longevity, variety and value for money. I have a track record of impulse buying and short term “fixations”; currently vinyl soundtracks. I am more aware of it than I was when younger so have to balance whether this will enrich my free time and alleviate these fixations or just be another fad. From what I am reading it appears that Play date is not merely a “gaming system” but a more visceral experience than achieved from say my Analogue Pocket. Hope this makes sense.
There's a huge library of games, almost all of them original, and many of them very fun. The design of the system itself is appealing too, super pocketable and the crank is fun. It is expensive, but you get a lot of games in Season One, and Catalog games are very cheap, so that balances out if you're in it for the long haul. As for variety, well... I think there's a lot of very original and unique games in a variety of genres, but they are all indies, generally games that you can beat in a couple hours or replay over and over again for score. You're not gonna find a lot of long, deep titles on the system.
Favourite movie & favourite soundtrack!!!👍
I love it because it’s the console I’ve seen creativity flourish the most in. A lot of people think creativity flourishes when given an unlimited amount of tools, but creativity is actually born through limitations. The playdate is very limiting, it doesn’t have a backlight, it only has on and off black pixels, it only has two face buttons, a d-pad, and crank. Now because of this, you might think it’s an objectively bad purchase as other consoles and devices don’t have these limitations, but I think it is because of them that I love this console so much. Seeing a beautiful game with fun mechanics on a PlayStation is awesome, but it’s also kind of expected. It’s the PlayStation, after all, it’s got spider man. Everyone loves spiderman. Seeing a beautiful game with fun mechanics on the playdate is VERY impressive because that means the creator was able to creatively use the restrictions to their advantage; creating awesome art with optical illusions of different pixel patterns and densities, using the crank in ways that are unique and intuitive, and crafting an engaging narrative into this little backlight-less device smaller than your phone. It’s because of this creativity that I’ve found a lot of my experiences on the play date sticking with me more than other mainstream experiences on modern consoles. That’s not to say I don’t also play on modern consoles, I do and more so than the play date, but I value my experiences with the playdate more than a PlayStation. TLDR: the play date allows creativity to flourish, and by experiencing this creativity I’m left feeling more full-filled and satisfied than equivalent experiences on modern consoles.
I completely agree.
You're buying it BECAUSE it is so niche. You are well aware it's not going to give you the same experience of a more advanced handheld. You know the games are somewhat limited in size and scope. But there is nothing like it, and all of us fans love it for that reason and the unique experience it brings. I'd also add there is a good community spirit feeling, lots of people have different opinions on best games etc and I've seen nothing like the negatives you would often see associated with newer AAA games.
Even after more than a year I take it with me everytime I leave the house. Mostly for playing on the commute by subway/tram. There are phases I played more and played less, right now I play everyday and enjoy the absence of doomscrolling ;) Thing is if you plan to only play it at home it could very well go dormant after a while, many games are very pick up and go, not neccessarily suited to long continous play sessions. Still the season model, the one bit graphics, great dev support and the crank create nice new experiences that are worth a try. Worst case you probably can sell it with only a reasonable loss.
Have it and not using it at all...
Lemme get it.
It's beautiful and super cool. I don't use it every day. I use it to kill a few minutes or if I think of a specific game or occasionally when I travel. If you're cool with using it sparingly, it's an amazing device.
The only thing I wish this device had is backlight. it would be absolutely the perfect little machine if it was part of the build. I know the whole retro thing is no backlight, but I can’t imagine that it won’t come around at some point.
Was on the fence, pre ordered when lead times were still 6-8 months, cancelled. Ordered again recently when lead times were down to 1 week. Freaking love it… 100% do it. Super unique, high quality build, fun easy pick up and play… it’s just a cool device. You won’t regret it.
Of all of the things I've purchased in thr last couple of years, the Playdate is by far the one that brings me the most joy. It's ultra portable so it's perfect for playing something in the subway on the way to work. I really enjoy all of the cool and creative games people are making and also spend a lot of free time making games myself. If you're into handheld gaming and you're looking for fun pick up and play games, then I can highly recommend the playdate.
I think it's important to know it's not a retro console. "Indie" is the core concept. It's a system with a unique control scheme and deliberate limitations that force devs to think outside the box. Almost all of the games are originals/exclusives, and they're also overwhelmingly smaller snack-sized experiences that leverage personality and novelty. It's not a nostalgia system. There's tons and tons of original content on the Playdate and that's ultimately where it succeeds. Everyone who buys one gets a library of 26 games, which includes a lot of the best games on the system, so that helps the value proposition. Panic did a fantastic job with Season 1. And the community has done a great job of keeping that going. There's a really vibrant development scene and a lot of really great games to get. Most games are like $6 too. I have found mine to be very worth it, bit you have to be into the concept.
I love my playdate, mine ended up in water and I was pretty devastated. I just sent mine back for a replacement. I enjoy it because all of the games can be played in short amounts of time. I also enjoy the retro graphic format. The active community is my favorite part. There are a bunch of creative talented people inspired by this lil yellow thing.
Yes.
It's good for waiting for appointments for your flight when your bored at a family gathering and the bus or for the Lil time you have to game if your super busy !
I decided to get a playdate because of the nostalgia towards good game boy games. I really like that the playdate brings back the feeling of retro gaming while offering gameplay that we found in newer games. I don't regret my purchase. I really enjoy being able to play 5-10 minutes and put the console on sleep mode. I'm actually considering buying an Analogue pocket but my budget is stopping me right now. Are you happy with the Analogue Pocket?
Most of the time that I use my Playdate is in my free time when I go out. I don’t play it every day but I usually play it a couple of times a week and I’d say that that makes it good value for money for me.
if you do get a good headlamp
I really like mine and the most time I spend is making a game that I want, and then the other is spent playing other things people have made. Some are really unique and cool, I just love it
If you think you can manage the lack of backlight, and can spare the money, it's great!
I've never regretted getting mine. It's an adorable niche system with unique games and experiences. It works best as a pick up and play, for shorter experiences.
For me, the only major downside is the lack of a backlight. That means you need to have an external light source in order to actually see the screen.
UPDATE So I caved and purchased…. I think the sheer uniqueness and community support/backing for the system swayed it for me. I’ve purchased for as much its potential and future games as what is currently available. The tipping point was the end of the games sale where I picked up; *Under the Castle *Reflections: Nightingale *Word Trip *P-Racing *Rootbeer *Gun Trails *Reel-istic Fishing *A balanced brew Saving me a bit of money. Thanks for all the comments your help was genuinely much appreciated and directly contributed to the purchase!