The Most Played Retro Handheld Games of October 2026
Apotris beat two Mario classics, Castlevania took over the long sessions, and we logged 1,176 hours on our handhelds. Here is what retroshelf members played in October.
By imaginarytargetNov 3, 2026 · 4 min read
October is over, so here's what we played on our handhelds last month: 1,760 sessions from 65 of us, across 720 different games.
It was spooky season, too. Sixteen of us played thirteen different Castlevania games between us, and Resident Evil, Parasite Eve and Splatterhouse all got their October runs in as well.
The top ten games
Ranked by how many of us played them, with the handhelds each was played on.
2Super Mario Bros.Super Mario Bros.
8 players · 1h 47m · 6 handhelds
Forty-one years old and still the warm-up. Eight of us booted it, usually for about six minutes at a time, and three of those were on a Retroid Pocket Nova.
3Super Mario WorldSuper Mario World
8 players · 2h 11m · 5 handhelds
The other Mario in the top three, played on five different handhelds. It's also the only one of the three with RetroAchievements unlocked this month: five of them.
The longest sessions in the top five, and fitting for October. Seven of us put in 29 sessions at around half an hour each, unlocked 26 achievements along the way, and one of us saw the credits. Game page
The shortest game in the top five got the shortest sessions: about two minutes, typically. Six players, seven achievements. Game page
Five players, but one RG34XXSP did most of the work: 22 of its 24 hours. Game page
Spooky season on the big screen: almost 19 of its 23 hours were played on a Thor. Game page
Eighteen achievements, second only to Symphony of the Night in the top ten, and three of its five players on a Retroid Pocket Nova. Game page
Twelve hours, split mostly between a Retroid Pocket 6 and a TrimUI Brick. Game page
Almost all of its ten hours came from two of us on Retroid Pocket 6s. Game page
Most played devices
Our five most played handhelds, by hours played. Pick one to see its top games.
Retroid Pocket Classic5 players
Retroid Pocket Nova8 players
Thor10 players
RG35XX SP9 players
Miyoo Mini Plus7 players
Retroid Pocket Classic216h 32m · 5 players
Only five players, but the most hours of any handheld here: 217 of them, in sessions of about 11 minutes. Pokémon Heart & Soul alone took 19.
What we talked about
Every session lands in the feed with its handheld, how long it lasted and any achievements, and people talk about them.
Chris is complete! Took me long enough :D
7 achievements unlocked · 82 pts
Liked by nesticle8bit and
time to jill it up :)
the main difference is inventory space and your partner (Barry vs Rebecca). it does not have the zap system that 2 has.
Kyle009 ·
Inventory space was a pain with Chris to be fair. He feels like the "hard" character
He is! That’s “hard mode” at least in the original game it was.
First beat em' up game!
Definitely abused save states and cheesed a few boss fights but had a blast.
Took me a minute to find out about the right-right-attack move which made everything a million times easier.
8 achievements unlocked · 100 pts
Liked by DaiKaiser93 and
Kyle009 ·
Can remember playing this on the mega drive back in the day. Me and my friend could never clear the final boss, always got battered in the lift on the way up!
man you have to. idk how else you beat a beat 'em up without cheating lol they're so hard! grats on the completion.
BigJ ·
I cannot remember the last time I beat an old beat them up without cheesing it. Thry were so hard!
The bus is not the place tp play that as one game takes too long.
Liked by imaginarytarget
watched a dude flood his house with toilet water, brought back memories
2 achievements unlocked · 20 pts
Liked by imaginarytarget and
The warioware games are always a good time!
This game seems really popular this month haha
Grinding to beat Red in Mt. Moon
Liked by imaginarytarget
How is this romhack? FireRed is my all-time favorite Pokemon
Ooh that sounds like a nice concept. I've been meaning to get into a Pokemon romhack, but wanted to start with one of the classics, maybe Unbound?
Kyle009 ·
Unbound is a great romhack!
I haven’t played that one but I’ve heard nothing but good things. Truth be told I’m new to the Pokemon hack scene so I couldn’t tell you the best ones but Unbound and Crystal Clear I’ve heard a lot about. Oh and Emerald Seaglass and Lazarus