ModRetro M64 Review: An Open Source FPGA N64 That Undercuts Analogue

2026-08-20 · Reviewed by the Held Games team

Affiliate disclosure: This review contains affiliate links to accessories. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The M64 itself is sold direct by ModRetro and is not an affiliate link. Learn more.

ModRetro made its name with the Chromatic, a Game Boy so faithful it felt like handling a preserved artifact. The M64 is the follow up, and it is a much bigger swing. This is a full FPGA recreation of the Nintendo 64 that takes your original cartridges, runs them on reconfigured hardware rather than software, and sends the result out over HDMI at up to 4K.

It launched on 28 July 2026 at $229.99, with an early bird price of $199. That puts it directly underneath the Analogue 3D, which has owned this category on its own since November 2025. For the first time, FPGA N64 buyers have a choice.

This review is based on ModRetro's published specifications, the company's public firmware release notes, and hands off reporting from the first weeks of shipping units. For background on why any of this matters, read our FPGA vs emulation explainer.

What FPGA Means for the N64

A quick primer. An FPGA is a chip you configure to behave like other hardware at the circuit level. It is not running an emulator. It is behaving like the machine.

That distinction matters more on N64 than on almost any other console. N64 software emulation has been famously awkward for decades, with plugin based graphics, per game hacks, and audio timing that never quite settles. An FPGA sidesteps all of it by recreating the hardware itself. The M64 uses a 16nm AMD Artix UltraScale+ FPGA, which is a genuinely large part for a consumer product.

The practical result is that games behave the way they did on the original console, and your input arrives when you expect it to.

Specs

The M64 is sold through ModRetro, not Amazon. That link is a plain reference, not an affiliate link.

Cartridge Support and Region Freedom

The M64 takes original Nintendo 64 cartridges and it is region free. North American, European, and Japanese carts all work in the same slot with no adapter and no switch. If you have imported anything over the years, or you want to play a PAL exclusive without hunting for a converter, this removes the whole problem.

Expansion Pak and Controller Pak functionality are built in. That is a bigger deal than it reads. On original hardware you need the physical Expansion Pak for games like Donkey Kong 64 and Perfect Dark, and a Controller Pak for saves on many titles. The M64 handles both internally, so a full library works without you sourcing thirty year old accessories.

To be clear about the rules here. FPGA hardware plays cartridges you already own. We only cover playing games you own and game preservation, and we do not link to or discuss ROM download sites.

Video Output

HDMI carries up to 4K at 60fps, and the M64 also does 720p, 1080p, and 1440p for people on older panels. Software CRT filters and scanline effects are included if you want to soften the look back toward a tube.

If you want real analog output, that is a separate purchase. The CRT adapter accessory adds composite, component, S-Video, and RGB. Some buyers will consider that essential and will be annoyed it is not bundled. Others will never touch it.

Controllers Are the Catch

Here is the part that changes the math. The M64 does not include a controller. It does not include an HDMI cable either. The box holds the console, a 16GB SD card, a power adapter, and a power cable.

The good news is that the four ports are generous about what they accept. Original Nintendo 64 controllers work. So do Hyperkin Premium "Captain" pads, Retro Fighters controllers, 8BitDo 64 controllers, and Switch NSO pads with an accessory. If you already own any of those, you are fine.

If you do not, the ModRetro M64 Pro Controller is $89.99. That is a real cost. A first time buyer starting from nothing is looking at roughly $320 rather than $229.99. Price the system honestly before you decide it undercuts the competition.

Open Source Firmware and the Update Cadence

ModRetro publishes the M64's firmware and describes the hardware as mod friendly. In a category dominated by sealed products, that is worth something. It means the community can study it, and it means the device has a longer plausible life than a closed box whose maker eventually moves on.

The update pipeline is already doing real work. ModRetro pushed firmware 1.24.3 and 0.12.0 by 14 August, roughly two weeks after launch. There are also overclock modes intended to smooth out the frame rate drops that were baked into a lot of N64 software.

Two firmware drops in two weeks reads two ways. It shows the company is actively improving compatibility. It also confirms the M64 shipped with rough edges. Both things are true, and ModRetro's roadmap already names HDMI passthrough and a Transfer Pak for Chromatic owners as things that are not there yet.

Build and Noise

The M64 is fanless, so it is silent. LED cartridge illumination lights the slot, and the brightness is adjustable if you find that sort of thing distracting rather than charming.

How It Compares to the Analogue 3D

The Analogue 3D arrived first, in November 2025, at $249.99. It is built on an Intel Cyclone 10 GX FPGA, does HDMI 2.1 with HDR and variable refresh rate, and its Original Display Modes are the best CRT and PVM recreations anyone has shipped. It reviewed very well.

The M64 answers with a lower price, open source firmware, and an active update cadence. Neither console supports openFPGA, so neither one gives you a community core scene.

We break the whole matchup down in ModRetro M64 vs Analogue 3D.

Who Should Buy the ModRetro M64

Buy the M64 if you own N64 cartridges and want them on modern hardware without emulator fiddling; you value open source firmware and a maker who is still shipping updates; you already own a compatible controller, which materially improves the value; you want region free play across NTSC and PAL.

Skip the M64 if you want the most polished, most proven FPGA N64 today, where the Analogue 3D still leads; you do not own N64 cartridges, in which case software emulation on a good N64 handheld costs far less; you want everything in one box, because the controller and HDMI cable are both extra.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ModRetro M64 an emulator?

No. It uses an AMD Artix UltraScale+ FPGA, which is hardware configured to behave like Nintendo 64 hardware. It plays your original cartridges.

Does the M64 come with a controller?

No. The box has the console, a 16GB SD card, a power adapter, and a power cable. The M64 Pro Controller is $89.99, though original N64 pads and several modern replicas also work.

Is the M64 region free?

Yes. It plays NTSC and PAL cartridges from North America, Europe, and Japan with no adapter.

Do I need an Expansion Pak for games like Donkey Kong 64?

No. Expansion Pak and Controller Pak functionality are built into the M64.

Does the M64 support openFPGA?

No. Neither the M64 nor the Analogue 3D supports openFPGA, so there is no community core scene on either console.

M64 or Analogue 3D?

The M64 is cheaper, open source, and updating quickly. The Analogue 3D is more polished with better display modes. See the full comparison.

Related Reading

• Analogue 3D Review
• ModRetro M64 vs Analogue 3D
• ModRetro Chromatic Review
• Best FPGA Handhelds 2026
• FPGA vs Emulation Explained
• Best N64 Games
• Best Handhelds for N64 Emulation