FPGB Mini: A Cartridge-Sized FPGA Handheld for Game Boy and Game Boy Color
FunnyPlaying has announced the FPGB Mini, a handheld that plays original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges with FPGA hardware, a type of chip that recreates old hardware in circuits for precise timing. The same device loads ROM files from microSD with software emulation, and the two paths stay separate. The Verge
Compatibility stops at Game Boy Color. Game Boy Advance cartridges are not supported. By comparison, the Analogue Pocket accepts GBA and Sega Game Gear cartridges in addition to Game Boy and Game Boy Color.
Size is the main limit. The FPGB Mini is only slightly wider than a Game Boy cartridge. It has a 2.98-inch 800x720-pixel LCD and an 1,800mAh rechargeable battery. A microSD slot stores game saves, screenshots and ROMs. Cartridges with rumble motors or other added hardware do not fit because of the compact enclosure.
FunnyPlaying has published an FPGB Mini User Manual for original GB and GBC cartridges. FunnyPlaying The manual states support for day/night, day-change and evolution events in time-based games. The company product listing adds a real-time clock, link play support, and 6 to 8 hours of battery life.
Pricing is lower than the established FPGA handheld. FunnyPlaying priced the FPGB Mini at $89.99, discounted to $69.99 for its first batch. The first batch was 20 units and sold out. The Analogue Pocket is priced at $239.99.
The broader context here is the usual split in retro hardware between using original cartridges and the convenience of a game library on a memory card. The FPGA side runs GB and GBC cartridges directly, with timing handled in hardware logic. The emulation side runs ROM files, saves and screenshots from removable storage. Fitting both into a cartridge-sized shell means support narrows to two systems and standard cartridge shapes.
In my view, the omissions fit the form factor, and that makes it a practical second device for collectors. No GBA slot removes the need for a second cartridge interface. No rumble support avoids extra power draw and space needs in a chassis barely wider than a cart. Keeping clock functions and link play preserves correct operation for time-based and multiplayer titles. If FunnyPlaying restocks near $89.99, original GB and GBC cartridges stay playable on the go without a larger multi-system handheld, which keeps decades-old games in regular use.
