New · Retro handheld firmware

Paper screen.Real games.

Papercade turns a small e-ink device into a five-system game console. Game Boy to SNES, touch or Bluetooth, games added from your phone.

See what it plays ↓ Find a device →
Game Boy
  • Five classic systemsGame Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Gear, NES and SNES.
    →
  • Touch or a Bluetooth padTap the screen, or pair an 8BitDo Micro.
    →
  • Easy on the eyesA paper-like screen with no backlight.
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5Classic systemsGame Boy, Color, Game Gear, NES, SNES.
60fpsSNES at full speedFighting games run like the real console.
10/sScreen updatesFast for e-ink, with a tuned refresh.
0Cables to add gamesSend them from your phone over Wi-Fi.
Stage 1 · Choose your system

Five systems.One paper screen.

The consoles you grew up with, played on one paper screen. Put your own cartridge backups on the memory card and Papercade knows which system each game is for.

Original Game Boy
1989

Game Boy

The classic library, as sharp as print.

Original Game Boy Color
1998

Game Boy Color

Colour games in soft shades of grey.

Original Game Gear
1990

Game Gear

Sega's handheld, right beside its rival.

Original NES
1985

NES

Full-width picture for the 8-bit greats.

Original SNES
1990

SNES

Fighting games at a full 60 frames a second.

Play only games you own.

Stage 2 · Controls

Tap the screen.Or bring a pad.

Use the buttons drawn on the screen, a small Bluetooth controller, or both at the same time.

Touch buttons

A D-pad, A, B, Start and Select sit under the picture, sized for thumbs. SNES games add X, Y, L and R.

8BitDo Micro

Pair it once in Settings. After that it reconnects by itself when you switch on, and its Home button opens the pause menu.

Stage 3 · Power-ups

Built for long play.Easy to pick up.

E-ink shows a picture the way printed paper does. It stays put, it stays readable, and it never lights up your room.

  • Quick to resumeContinue your last game straight from Home.
    →
  • Checkpoints anywhereSave from the pause menu and continue later.
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  • Saves on the memory cardYour games and progress, all in one place.
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  • ScreenshotsKeep a picture of that high score.
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Stage 4 · Load games

From your phone.No cable.

Papercade makes its own little Wi-Fi network. Join it, open the page, and drop a game in.

  1. Choose ADD GAMES on the device.
  2. Join its Wi-Fi on your phone and open the page it shows.
  3. Pick a game file. It goes straight to the memory card.
Stage 5 · Select your device

Pick a screen.Press start.

Papercade runs on these e-ink devices today. More are on the way.

Supported

reTerminal Sticky

Pocket e-ink note with touch, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

3.97″ e-inkTouchESP32-S366 g
Get Sticky at Seeed ↗
Coming later

More e-ink devices

Support arrives once games run well on them.

Help

Questions,answered.

The short answers to what people ask first.

Does it come with games?

No. Papercade plays backups of cartridges you own, which you add from your phone.

Which systems does it play?

Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Gear, NES and SNES.

Do I need a controller?

No. Touch buttons are built in. An 8BitDo Micro over Bluetooth is optional.

Is e-ink fast enough for games?

Papercade's tuned refresh reaches about 10 screen updates a second, while the game itself runs at full speed.

Where are my saves kept?

On the memory card, next to your games, so they are easy to back up.

Which devices are supported?

reTerminal Sticky today. Other small e-ink devices are being explored.

Insert paper.Press start.

Classic games on a paper-like screen, ready when you are.

See what it plays ↑Get Sticky at Seeed ↗