Playdate review: An alternate-history boutique handheld

When I unboxed the Playdate handheld on TikTok, a number of people asked if they could play old Pokémon games on the device. That makes sense because we’ve seen so many portables out of China that only exist to play old ROMs. The $179 Playdate, however, is something new. It combines low component costs (relative to the past) with modern indie-gaming sensibilities to produce a unique experience. That has led to a quirky-yet-cute portable console. And one that deliberately upends your expectations for how game distribution should work.