Super Pocket Rare Edition: Banjo-Kazooie Goes Handheld

Rare made some of the most beloved games of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, and many of them have been hard to play officially for years. The Super Pocket Rare Edition changes that. It is a new version of Hyper Mega Tech's $60 cartridge handheld, loaded with Rare classics built right in, with Banjo-Kazooie headlining the set. This is a big deal for fans of the studio.

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What It Is

The Super Pocket Rare Edition is the same well-liked Super Pocket hardware in a new color scheme, with a different set of built-in games. Where the Capcom or NEOGEO editions ship with arcade libraries, this one is all Rare. It launched in 2026 and slots into the wider Evercade family, so it also plays every Evercade cartridge.

If you are new to the platform, read our what is Evercade and Super Pocket buying guide first.

The Built-In Games

The headline is Banjo-Kazooie, finally playable on an official handheld. The edition includes a stack of Rare classics alongside it, spanning the studio's earlier history.

The set leans on Rare's catalog of platformers, beat em ups, and arcade-style titles. For many fans, having these in one official, legal, pick-up-and-play package is the entire appeal.

Why This Matters

Rare's library has been awkward to access legally for a long time. Licensing is complicated, and many titles never got modern re-releases. A licensed handheld that simply includes them, with no setup and no files to source, is a clean answer. It is also a strong gift for anyone who grew up with these games.

The Hardware, Briefly

This is the standard Super Pocket, so you get a light Game Boy style body, a sharp small IPS screen, a D-pad, four face buttons, shoulder buttons, USB-C charging, and a headphone jack. It plays the full Evercade cartridge library on top of the built-in Rare games. There are no analog sticks, which suits the 2D and arcade focus.

Is It Worth It?

• Buy it if you love Rare's classics, want them legally with zero setup, or are shopping for a nostalgic gift.
• Consider another edition if you care more about arcade libraries like Capcom or NEOGEO, since all editions play the same cartridges anyway.
• Look at a custom firmware handheld if you want a device that plays every system from your own files. See Evercade vs an emulation handheld.

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The Bottom Line

The Super Pocket Rare Edition is a love letter to Rare fans at a friendly price. Banjo-Kazooie and friends in one official handheld, no setup required, plus access to the whole Evercade library. For the bigger picture, read our Super Pocket buying guide and best Evercade cartridges.