ComeHereOrIHookYou

Linux always had software that has anti-cheat. First one I can think off that is both a native Linux application and has anti-cheat is Tibia. Aside from that are Valve games. I am sure there are plenty of others too aside from those that opened up through Proton/Wine.

What we don't have is kernel level anti-cheat and honestly I would rather stay away from games that deploy it than allow such software running in my computer.

I don't think your friend installing VirtualBox is too much. Just help him install VirtualBox and then give him a copy of the Windows 98 virtual machine you have already setup.

Welp, might as well just use w3m 🤣

This is good news since Vivaldi is my goto chromium browser (when I need to really use it)

This is hilarious! It even works on Edge, Vivaldi and even Brave 🤣. Good thing I use Firefox in almost everything or general day to day use

Risk of Rain 2 and Robo Quest are probably up your ally because you like Ultra kill

But if you want to diversify genre, here are some that I would recommend

• Card Games - Slay the Spire (Its like a card game and rogue like combined)
• Rogue Like - Hades is currently one of the top tiers in rogue like dungeon crawler
• RPG - Baldurs Gate 3, even if you end up finishing the game, how you ended up finishing it is what makes it so replayable. Each character has their own stories for you to uncover. Larian's other gem is Divinity Original Sin 2 too
• Sandbox Games - Minecraft of Terraria
• Arcade - Most arcade games are highly replayable because thats their whole selling point. Currently I am back to playing Temptest 4000
• Hack n Slash - Grimdawn, nuff said

Yeah Shotgun king is nice and is also very moddable too

This is totally cool. Also reminds me of that unreleased Resident Evil 2 GBA tech demo(?)

Most modern AAA games sucks. Mainly because majority of them have started to go with the online only bullcrap when it is not even necessary. Not to mention that trend too where games are sold half baked with the rest of the game being delivered later as separate to purchase DLC(s).

I have already embraced Indies. Fun fact: Baldurs Gate 3 is an indie game (although the quality is very much an AAA game and also some argueably saying it is not because Larian is a large private company that independently publishes their games)

Alright! Lets go!

There are a lot of options for turning a phone into a gaming device, you can use the controller laying around your home, which is free. Or you can purchase a device that clips to your phone like a switch controller for the cost of one of these handhelds. There is no problem carrying a controller and clip in your bag, none. Just because you are worried you might look like a loser is your problem, it's like you are trying to turn your personal fears into a selling point.

Strawman. Carrying an external controller and clip might be feasible for some, but it adds extra steps and hassle compared to simply using a dedicated retro handheld that is always ready to use. The ease of quickly starting a game on a dedicated device cannot be matched by the multi-step setup required for phone gaming with external controllers.

Just because the iPhone from 14 years ago has better specs!? Are you seriously arguing that people should purchase one of these handhelds because it can compete with an iPhone 4. I think you are looking at the wrong aspect of my argument, you were selling this device as a cheap alternative to an expensive modern phone. But I am pointing out that plenty of older phones sell used for cheaper and can compete with (and in many cases out perform) handheld consoles... You get that right?

Well so far you are failing with your point because I just did the math for you. Additionally, you are assuming everyone has a controller at home, which is a major flaw in your conclusion.

Even if older phones have better specs on paper, they still require additional accessories, setup, and often don't provide the same seamless, optimized experience that retro handhelds do.

These devices are designed specifically for gaming, offering convenience, ease of use, and a superior, uninterrupted experience that older phones can't match without extra hassle.

Also doubt you tested a N64 emulator on an iPhone 4 decades ago since the device isn't that old. I think you just pulled that out of your ass to try and make a point lol.

Well so far you have yet to prove that an iPhone 4 can play N64 with no frameskips. Aside from your iPhone 4 is x times more powerful trust me bro statement 🤡🤣

N64 On iPhone 4, iPad & Ipod Touch - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAjciWQ3pOQ

What did a video from a decade ago just appeared on youtube showing a laggy gameplay? I'd be damned!

Again you missed my point and assumed I am arguing someone should use an iPhone 4 over one of these things. When an iPhone 4 can compete with your handheld a cheap/used modern phone can easily exceed it. Way to cherry pick a sentence from a paragraph and ignore context.

Look, you're missing the point entirely and deflecting with straw man arguments. My argument isn't about specifically using an iPhone 4, but rather about the overall practicality and user experience.

Retro handhelds are designed for gaming with physical controls, optimized performance, and better battery life, making them far superior for gaming compared to juggling a phone, controller, and potential interruptions.

Your claim that a cheap used phone is automatically better ignores these crucial advantages and the hassle of setting up and configuring emulators. So let's stop cherry-picking details and face the facts: dedicated devices offer a streamlined, superior gaming experience.

It can be done by a phone for free... A point you fail to acknowledge over and over again. Everyone has a phone and they can all run emulators, so why would someone spend money on a device that can't even compete with their phones? An answer you have failed to provide.

Not everyone wants to juggle a phone and extra peripherals for a subpar experience. The reason people spend money on these devices is for convenience, ease of use, and a superior, uninterrupted gaming experience that their phones can't match. It's about quality, not just capability.

Something you fail to recognize from my answers and other people here's answers.

If you are using a device to run multiple emulators, arguing the form factor is better than a phone in a single instance (Gameboy SP) is backwards. It's like you're conceding that a phone is better in every other way; which it absolutely is.

Lmao what? You're interpreting this way differently than what I said. I mean sure, phones today are far more powerful than the Anbernic SP, but let’s see here.

If I put the two in my pocket (because the Anbernic SP is small enough to fit in a pocket just like a phone). If I want to game with my phone using some retro game, I have to get my phone, get that external controller from a bag (because there is no way in hell a controller can fit in a pocket, and even if you can, you look like a loser doing so), then finally attach that controller. You don't see the problem here?

An iPhone 4 from 2010 has 4 times the memory and twice the processing power required by an N64 emulator. It's more than sufficient. Keeping in mind your original point was the cost of a smartphone capable of running said emulators was beyond the cost of these handhelds... Which is just not true; especially when a device from 14 years ago can do it.

False equivalency fallacy. You are basically telling me that just because the iPhone theoretically has better specs means it can emulate N64 well, ignoring the emulation overhead. Not to mention I actually tried playing an N64 game on a jailbroken iPhone 4 decades ago only to find out the games are laggy.

Also, what I said is still true. Let's say that on average you can get a discounted deal for a retro handheld for 50 bucks (and some are even cheaper than that). Then let's add to that argument that it already has everything set up for you vs. a second-hand phone (assuming the iPhone 4 doesn't have a problem with N64 emulation). The average price on eBay right now is 30 bucks. Then let's pair that with an iPega controller for that phone, which is around 27 USD on Amazon. That's already 57 bucks, plus the effort of setting up and jailbreaking the goddamn thing.

So $50 vs. $57 + effort. Yep, you are clearly right here.

For the same money you can get a used smartphone from the last 10 years that runs all the games your rg35xxsp can and is also a phone. A person who has limited funds (your strawman) would be better off with a phone instead of these things.

An iPhone 6 on eBay costs 60 bucks on average. Already way above the 50 bucks. But hey, at least this one can play N64 fine now.

And you're seemingly forgetting phones have the internet. I can just download any game I want wherever I am, rather than storing all of them all the time just in case you might want them.

Yes, because the internet is accessible everywhere.

How many games do you need at one time anyways? You clearly don't want all of them because a large enough SD card to fit them is just overkill. But you aren't satisfied with 100GB or so? So, what arbitrary amount have you decided you need to justify the addition of an SD card?

Begging the Question. But let's entertain that. Why would I be satisfied with 100GB when I already consumed a lot with offline videos and music? Not counting that I also use it for my personal photos and videos?

I bought my gaming phone for playing mobile games. You know, where you play the games that were actually designed to be played on the phone. Some of these games even eat up 35GB so storage is gonna be an issue.

And also since I mostly play mobile games that are designed to be played in a mobile phone, I don't need to bring a controller just to play properly.

And for the same cost, I can get a used phone bundled with a camera, internet, console, SMS, email, and a shitload more features. But you get an SD card, what a deal!

No, it's not a deal based on the math I did earlier. And good luck browsing the internet with that iPhone 4 of yours, lmfao.

Pretty much everyone has a phone already that can do what this can, and your best argument for buying one of these things is the lack of an SD card. But in the same comment, you also argue that a large SD card is overkill.

And so far, you aren’t bringing any aside from pulling the hasty generalization card by saying everything can be done by a phone.

It's pretty clear here that you are not asking what you're missing with these retro handhelds' popularity.

It appears that you just came in here, already decided that retro handhelds are shit, and everything must be done via a phone. You started antagonizing everyone here and questioning their preferences (which is why you are ratioed so badly in this whole thread).

I will just say what others have said: you are not the intended audience of these devices.