20 Best Handhelds of ALL Time

The Switch and Steam Deck are two of the most popular platforms to play games on these days, but which are the greatest handhelds ever made?
We’ve gone from the very simplistic, even crude Microvision, to a combination of a portable and home console hybrid like the Nintendo Switch, or the extremely impressive Steam Deck. The technology behind handheld gaming has come so staggeringly far between 1979 and the present day, and it’s only going to keep barreling forward. You’ll see just how far this technology has come as we rank the best handheld consoles of all time.
00:00 Intro
02:20 Nokia N-Gage
03:55 Tapwave Zodiac
05:27 MB Microvision
06:41 Atari Lynx
08:04 Watara Supervision
09:21 Playdate
10:44 TurboExpress
12:26 Genesis Nomad
13:57 WonderSwan
15:13 Game Gear
16:35 Neo Geo Pocket Color
18:06 Steam Deck
20:07 Game Boy
21:21 PlayStation Vita
23:01 Nintendo 3DS
24:11 Nintendo DS
25:37 Game Boy Color
26:56 Switch
29:10 Game Boy Advance
30:50 PSP
32:44 Comment of the Week
33:05 Outro
👉Want to see what other consoles have to offer in terms of their best games? Here's our complete playlist: • 20 BEST Game Boy Color...
WEBSITE: culturedvultures.com
FACEBOOK: / culturedvulturesgaming
TWITTER: / cultvultures
Cultured Vultures is a good KZbin channel with very good content and it would even gooder if you would sub. We cover retro games, all things PlayStation and much, much more with our gaming lists and guides
say "psst" in the comments for a surprise
#handhelds #gameboy #nintendo #sony

[@CulturedVultures]

You've seen the best handhelds, now it's time to suffer the worst! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3zLpH9ora-Yba8 💀

[@pharmcat8484]

Joke’s on you, I already watched it 😝

[@AshBates27]

@@pharmcat8484 watch it again 👊

[@thezood]

The sadness of having missed the entire psp and early 2000s nintendo handheld years will forever haunt me :(

[@nicolasromani3523]

The Gameboy Advance is like having a more powerful Snes in your hands, that's wild and that console's games were a blast to play with.

[@jwollheim]

Hey dude just some friendly advice, would’ve been a much better video if you included footage of the handhelds themselves

[@AnimeBrosAMV]

3ds all day every day!

[@deviaan]

PSP was such an amazing machine. It was the first thing I bought with the money from my first job. It's really hard to explain how revolutionary it was, because now days we are all used to having a computer in our pockets, but back then that wasn't the norm. The PSP not only had a great game library, with very impressive games, it also played your MP3s, movies, and allowed you to browse the internet. There really wasn't anything else like it at the time. I would have mine with me everywhere I went for years. If I wasn't playing something or watching something, I'd be listening to something. The battery life was also pretty good--maybe not the best ever, but always long enough. The only other device I can think of that altered my life as much is the smart phone--and honestly the PSP had better games.

[@dumbstruckempire]

Video absolutely kicks ass so far.

[@jampyplays9729]

The gameboy advance and the psp were my favorties ❤

[@CulturedVultures]

you're gonna love the end of this then haha

[@unit0122]

Great video, as always mate. ❤ Your channel is just so full of quality. I know I always tell you this, but it’s just so freaking perfect. Nicely done.

[@CulturedVultures]

Legend! Thanks man, really appreciate it

[@malcolmar]

I have owned a lot of handhelds over my life and the screen tech and battery life were 2 things holding back the experiences. Many modern portables have fixed those issues. My top 3 portable systems right now are the Steam Deck, Switch OLED and the Analogue Pocket. What a time to be a portable gamer! BTW, playing the Sega Genesis Collection on my Steam Deck makes it feel like a modern Sega Nomad :) I do have to say the first time experience glasses free 3D on my 3DS was epic!

[@andrewlima7242]

Great countdown! I can't argue with #1. That thing revolutionized handheld gaming.

[@andrewlima7242]

Also 31k gang 🎉

[@AshBates27]

PSP with a UMD of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy hive arise

[@RafaelWingnux]

Steam deck ❤️❤️❤️.

[@CulturedVultures]

my Balatro machine

[@dumbstruckempire]

This just makes me want one more lol

[@unit0122]

Ps: I’m more of an 11k gang myself! You’ll reach a million in no time with this level of quality.

[@pharmcat8484]

Yes, hit us with that Turbograx goodness

[@CulturedVultures]

OK so that's at least 1 view we would get...

[@exodus11238]

Been using the back buttons of steam deck :D Especially for games that are supposed to be mouse + keyboard like MMOs

[@Higegome13]

I never realized those games on the cell phone were fairly new and exclusive to Nokia. I was always upset no other phone had games built into it.

[@CulturedVultures]

N-Gage even had an exclusive Elder Scrolls game!

[@wrongun43]

No.1 - PS Vita, it can play most of the PSP and a lot of PS1 games in addition to the Vita games ❤

[@wily2875]

But the memory card

[@Laz3rCat95]

While I would've personally put the DS in the top spot, I can respect the choice to give it to the PSP. It was definitely revolutionary for its time.

[@Robodob0]

I may rank the Steam Deck at around #5, but yeah, the GBA and the PSP's #2 and #1 spots are definitely untouchable. My 2 favorite handheld systems of all-time. That said, my current EDC always includes either a Retroid Pocket 3+ or an Anbernic RG35XX H because of how i can play PSP and GBA games with these, along with PS1, SNES, NES, and even the fantastic, fantasy console PICO8.

[@CulturedVultures]

I need to load up my Deck with more retro but man, that 1k strong Steam library has gotta get played eventually! Thanks for stopping by dude!

[@H3M4G]

I would have liked to see more footage of the handhelds then the games since this video is about the consoles

[@stashmerkin9576]

All hail the mighty PSP! My first handheld was the Microvision, I'm very old.

[@CulturedVultures]

my scalp gets "colder" by the month, very old as well!

[@stashmerkin9576]

@@CulturedVultures I wish I had better news for you friend, it's only going to get colder! I live in south Louisiana so sun is of more concern.

[@pharmcat8484]

Your carpet sort of looks like the static snow you’d get from an old CRT TV.

[@the_weird_scientist]

The Gameboy was my first handheld and I was a victim of "your mom calls everything a Gameboy." I wanted a Gamegear, but back in my generation you were happy with whatever your parents could afford...

[@gdot1803]

'No one uses the Steam Deck back buttons, do you?' That's a false statement, but yes I use them all the time. For example, in FromSoft/Elden Ring, I typically use one for sprint/roll, which allows me to keep my right thumb rested on the camera stick and not have to take it off to hit the B button. But generally any game where your right thumb is controlling the camera a lot, the back buttons are useful for. Or in FPS games, you can use them for leaning left and right; I've been playing Smite and a couple of other PC centric Moba, MMO and strategy games on Deck and it's nice to to map extra commands to those buttons. The trackpads are also fantastic for a lot of PC centric games, or visual novels, clickers, etc, which don't have native gamepad support.

[@plebb0069]

Really don't get the hate the ngage gets, back in 2003 when I got my hands on it I was in awe! Running symbian s60 it was a joy to use, loved so many of the games and then it got even better with the QD

[@chrislaustin]

Awesome list, as I started out with the MB Microvision, Mattel sports line up, and of course Game & Watch. I know why G&W wasn't included, as each unit was one off, but an honorary mention should have happened for the "D-Pad" alone, for its contribution to gaming(as it is still used today, by pretty much everyone). I probably would have swapped the Vita and PSP spots, as I agree the PSP was amazing, and having it as #1 was a shocking choice(not for me, but because most list like this would have a Nintendo device at the top). As the Vita can do everything the PSP can, but also everything the Vita can do as well, and PSP games play so much better with the dual analogs of the Vita(the PSP nub would keep me from ever putting it at #1, as that thing was terrible). LOL But of course if all handhelds are taken as they were at retail, then I can see the PSP over the Vita. But with that in mind, I would probably place the Steam Deck at #1, as it plays most of the system here and the wealth of PC games as well. And with all of its control options, it really can do it all, and with community controller choices, you'll never be left trying to figure out how best to set controls across so many generations of games(motion, touch, trackball, etc.). Normally I would offer my top 30 for discussion, but there are just to many great devices and I've owned most of them, even the N-Gage at one point. As stated, your list isn't bad, and besides the PSP/Vita swap, I would probably have the Lynx higher to the top, and the Switch lower to the bottom. And I would put the 3DS higher for the same reason as the Vita, as it can run and improve DS and GBA games, so it's an all in one option. But as was the case before, it wasn't that way at retail, so I can see it being where it was placed. Great video, and great history of handhelds, as that has always been my go to for gaming, as I rarely ever play on a TV anymore. As what drew me to these devices 40+ years ago, is still the same reason I use them mostly to this day.

[@dumbstruckempire]

Wow, so you've been in this for a while!

[@RSgaming1337]

I honestly use the back buttons on the steam deck a lot. I prefer them instead of R3 to sprint for example, way easier on my hands. Good alternatives for left and right bumper too

[@CulturedVultures]

true! forgot that they actually help me out a lot in Zomboid for a lot of the more specific actions you can't really replicate with a single button press

[@UmVtCg]

18:35 All right, I'll bite in the comment for algorithm trick. Of course I use the back buttons and the track pads in games on the Steam deck. One would be a fool not to.

[@ohmy4275]

The most fun you can have with your hands is removing the foil and eating a Cadbury Creme Egg

[@CulturedVultures]

Noshing off the top and then licking out its innards while maintaining eye contact 👁👄👁

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

I have a PSP (second one aka model 3000, I sold my original one to my dad who wanted one after he tried a store demo). Though as much as I love the PSP, GBA, Game Boy and PSVita, I think Switch should have been at #1.

[@mjdf122]

I enjoy all the handhelds

[@BlueCollaredGrit]

UPDATE: Rog Ally #1 👑

[@pharmcat8484]

Did it really take me 20+ minutes to notice the Earthbound background music, or did you sneak that in there?

[@CulturedVultures]

👁👄👁

[@racheljones777]

It's been 7 years since the Switch was released? 🤯

[@pharmcat8484]

It came out when my son did

[@iamman89]

31k Gang!

[@pharmcat8484]

Do I see you used Magical Chase for your Turbografx 16 montage. I dare you to look up the price for it 😈

[@taz_artista]

31k gang!

[@jampyplays9729]

31k gang

[@bradleymcavoy3432]

There’s a lot to unpack here: I would almost GOAT my SteamDeck but I don’t have the 512GB or 1TB OLED model and I will get a new better SteamDeck in 2025 or ‘26! I Love my Vita but I give the PSP the edge and I like my Switch a Lot but I don’t GOAT it. I think it is cheating to separate Gameboy from GBC! 🙄 Yeah PSP was/is Dope 🔥! A handheld PS2! 😎 I still wish I had an Atari Lynx, WonderSwan Color, and maybe a Tapwave Zodiac in my collection! 😉

[@frankfortfcgoc]

I can play all these other handheld games on my steamdeck.....The Deck pisses on everything on this list

[@UmVtCg]

Oh yeah, it does so very much indeed. Especially the OLED version

[@diogobenedito469]

31KGang bby!|

[@zeusmatthew4003]

#31kGang

[@Jophelerx]

Ok, putting the Vita above the game boy is just objectively incorrect from a historical standpoint...PSP at the top is one thing, but this is just personal bias being given too much weight in the ranking here.

[@CulturedVultures]

Play an OG Game Boy today and you will see why it's ranked lower within about 15 seconds.

[@JimMcNutty]

Gamegear was the best

[@cajunotaku3256]

Where the f*ck is the Evercade EXP?! It’s better than half of the handhelds on this list.

[@UmVtCg]

what the f is an Evercade EXP?

[@tiagofernandes8389]

P. S. - The creator of the list was under the influence of drugs.

[@CulturedVultures]

List enhancing drugs ye

[@hermesayala8632]

SWITCH IS NUMBER 1 SORRY THIS LIST ISNT RIGHT

[@vargsieber]

31K Gang!

[@mistic808]

31K GANG!

[@csweeney67]

PSP#1😂 what a joke

[@CulturedVultures]

Nobody has given us a single good reason why it shouldn't be yet 🤠

[@Raphtor13]

Ugh - Steamdeck - too big, too heavy not really anything I would consider a handheld. All time best handheld is by far the 3ds!

[@jampyplays9729]

I mean i had the steam deck and its not that bad on your hands its big yes but i would not say too big

[@CulturedVultures]

just do reps with the Deck and give yourself a lil vent sniff as a reward and you will have 0 problems

[@dumbstruckempire]

@@CulturedVultures Worked for me

[@gdot1803]

A handheld gaming device doesn't mean a pocketable device, though. The Game Gear, Atari Lynx and several older ones were also large devices, which didn't fit in a pocket, but were still 'handhelds'. Anyway, as an older gamer, with a full time job and less time to play nowadays, 90% of my gaming is done on Steam Deck. I typically use it around the house, but when I travel with it, I use the TomToc sling bag. I don't find it heavy at all (OLED), and I like the size, because it's comfier to hold, unlike the Switch, which causes my hand to cramp - and I need to use a grip, which makes it the same size of a Steam Deck, anyway.

[@chrislaustin]

@@gdot1803 Came to make the same reply, as I had all those handhelds you mentioned , and most were rather large, but very much held in your "hands".

[@BCOMPLEXX]

31K gang

[@Kingeseryt8105]

👀 it's sorta funny how the steam deck is number 9 and can play all the handhelds above it via emulation damn the steam deck was robbed I tell you plus mobile gaming should at least be top 10 mainly because of emulation a cheap phone can play up to PSP 😐so yeah ,I'm not saying this list is wrong no I'm just saying it's funny but thank you for putting PSP at no.1

[@CulturedVultures]

Steam Deck is a bit young still! give it a few years and it (or the Steam Deck 2!) might be higher

[@Kingeseryt8105]

@@CulturedVultures 🤔 true

[@Kingeseryt8105]

@@CulturedVultures wanted to ask what are the chances we can get a top 10 highest selling console list 😁😉

[@CulturedVultures]

fairly high! the one danger is that the Switch is still going very strong so any video might get immediately outdated haha

[@Kingeseryt8105]

@@CulturedVultures 🤔true , but top 10 best selling consoles will always instantly go out of date do to console always selling and when they slow down over a few years a pro version or next gen comes out and the cycle continues 🤔 so I think putting in as of 2024 should cover some of it or saying as of writing this

[@kickpuncher1892]

PSP is number 1 hahaha. What a joke.

[@dumbstruckempire]

What do you have at #1? Always curious.

[@CulturedVultures]

and why wouldn't/shouldn't it be? it's a banger

[@dumbstruckempire]

@@CulturedVultures Gets me hot anyway.

[@EsThirt33n]

I love my psp, had it since 2006, satisfied with what it can do stock and with mods. Love it so much I have multiple psp's, multiple of each model!

[@andrewwalker7340]

To Include the Switch and GBA and have PSP first is a joke. This is their opinion but....wow.

[@arlonborges]

31G GANG!

[@CulturedVultures]

😂 k not g!

[@00SLX]

I think this is the worst ranking I ever seen, Lil bro said the switch is better than the steam deck that can emulate most of the switch games in higher quality and Lil bro said that the psp is the best huh, is he drunk or something?, I think that the 3ds deserve more that the ds and the psp in the same time what a joke.

[@777dulera777]

31k Gang!

[@Cyb3rCl3ric]

31K Gang!

[@RafaelWingnux]

31k gang!

[@hellsgunfire]

31k gang

[@MrPkBarrel]

31k Gang!

[@CulturedVultures]

Congrats! You won the giveaway! pickawinner.co/certs/66144609a6526/1 Please add your email to your KZbin profile on here (kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYCYi52Jm7iEa9k), then email us at infoatculturedvulturesdotcom to claim your prize :)

[@MrPkBarrel]

@@CulturedVultures Awesome! Thanks a lot, love the videos :D

[@darklink00br]

31k gang!

[@fireboy312002]

31k gang!

[@vallaurianv6024]

31k gang