The Playdate is the size of a Post-it note, and it is loved. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
In a time when video game consoles are becoming more powerful and more connected than ever and AAA games are massive, bloated endeavors, Untitled Goose Game publisher Panic decided to go back to basics with the now $199 Playdate: a minuscule yellow handheld about the size of a Post-it note with a non-backlit black-and-white screen and a fishing pole-style crank on one side in addition to a D-pad and three face buttons.
Its design looks like it could’ve easily fit into Nintendo’s or Sega’s hardware stable in the early aughts, with games that similarly reflect some of the most fun, experimental games of the day.
That’s fitting: early developers for the system are responsible for some of the most unique and indelible gaming experiences from that time, like Katamari Damacy and the ever-maddening QWOP. Its games are delivered in seasons (the first one’s free), but users can also sideload community-made games if they want to.
The Playdate is about to get a price increase
Don’t Panic, the Playdate now has a matching power adapter.
Pinball’s coming to the Playdate.
Playdate is getting a second season of games in 2025
The Playdate Stereo Dock has been shelved
Zero Zero: Perfect Stop turns the Playdate into a train simulator.
You can now camouflage your Playdate as a tiny pizza box.
The Playdate makes a surprisingly good e-reader
Flapping the bird with a Playdate.
Playdate has sold 150,000 games in the last year
The case of the missing $400,000 worth of cute hand-cranked game consoles.
You can finally buy a Playdate without waiting for months
Make a date with your Playdate.
Spice up your Playdate with a new cover.
Back to the future of handheld gaming.
Playdate now has an MP3 player.
Make your Playdate more productive.
A light-gun shooter on your crank-powered handheld.
Panic says it’s sold more than 50,000 Playdate handhelds
Playdate is adding five new games to its Catalog.
You can now play Celeste on Playdate.
Today is the last day to order a Playdate before its $20 price increase
Playdate is bumping its price to $199 in April
Playdate’s new store launches today — here are some great games to check out
Playdate’s next showcase will focus on new games and its upcoming storefront
Playdate’s failure to launch in Malaysia
Time to dust off your PlayDate.
Even the Playdate Simulator can run on Steam Deck
The Playdate’s launch was a unique opportunity for small game developers
The playful Playdate gets serious as a personal organizer
Here are some great games to sideload onto your Playdate
Panic isn’t sure if people will like the Playdate’s seasonal model
You can now make a Playdate game right in your browser
Panic’s Playdate handheld delayed to early 2022
See how the Playdate’s crank cranks in new teardown
Playdate hands-on: a Game Boy from a different dimension
Here’s when and how you can preorder the Playdate handheld
Playdate preorders begin next month, and here are the first games
The tiny Playdate handheld gets a price bump but double the games
Panic’s Playdate handheld will be ready for streamers when it launches sometime this year
Playdate, the tiny handheld with a crank, is delayed to early 2021
Check out some wonderful Playdate game demos, including a low-fi Doom
Our first look at Playdate, the world’s cutest game console
Playdate is an adorable handheld with games from the creators of Qwop, Katamari, and more
