Review
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour: a successful Switch 2 tutorial that really should be free
by Domagoj Belancic
Analogue 3D review: the best console for Nintendo 64 games
12/1/2026
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
The Analogue 3D console allows you to play Nintendo 64 games in 4K resolution on modern televisions. The whole thing works without emulation – a dream for retro fans, albeit primarily for purists.
Old consoles and modern TVs don’t mix well. Scart, cinch and antenna plugs are foreign concepts for today’s flat screens, just as Mandarin is to most of us without Google Translate. A simple HDMI adapter can translate the signal, but as with Google Translate, the result usually isn’t sufficient for true retro aficionados.
US company Analogue realised this too, making a name for itself with a growing range of consoles for old games. The latest release is called Analogue 3D, a device that looks like an aerodynamic, compact Nintendo 64. It plays all games from Nintendo’s 90s console in crisp 4K resolution and at 60 hertz. Mind you, crisp isn’t the right word for Nintendo 64 games.
Unlimited gaming pleasure
The Analogue 3D works basically the same as the original Nintendo 64. Insert a game into the slot, switch it on and start playing! Instead of Scart, the device uses HDMI to play European, American and Japanese games. It wasn’t until I got the Analogue 3D that I realised I’d been duped into buying a couple of US game versions with my Nintendo 64. While trying to cram them in, I thought I was losing my mind. Due to the slightly different design, US cartridges won’t physically fit into an EU console. The Analogue 3D doesn’t have this problem, no matter which games I test.
The Analogue 3D operating system is quite rudimentary. It’s called 3DOS, and can be updated via the SD card supplied and inserted at the back. After inserting a game, a grey cartridge will pop up on the start screen with information covering year of release, any developer, publishers and game region. There are no pictures for any games, however, I assume for copyright reasons. Conveniently, eager modders have already created a collection of images that can simply be packed onto the SD card. In an instant, my game library already looks respectable.
A genuine Nintendo 64, for better or worse
A key reason for the popularity of Analogue systems is that they aren’t emulators. Their devices rely on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA). Among other things, this chip family is capable of faithfully reproducing old consoles. The Analogue 3D doesn’t emulate a Nintendo 64 via software, the hardware works just like Nintendo’s console from 1996. Emulators often struggle with image and audio errors as well as slight delays. Casual users like me rarely notice this, but expert retro gamers will spot these differences immediately. But the Analogue 3D doesn’t just play games true to the original, it improves them too.
Before or during a session, you can easily open the Analogue settings and make plenty of adjustments. Image ratio, CRT filters, edge smoothing, de-blur, 32-bit colours, texture filters and much more. A blessing for retro fans. You can even customise the picture so that it looks exactly the way you want on any TV. Thanks to the transparent menu, you can immediately see what each setting changes too.
Even with ten times the resolution compared to a Nintendo 64, games don’t look miraculously sharp on the Analogue 3D. Unlike pixel-based games, later polygon releases haven’t aged gracefully. If you blow them up to today’s screen sizes, many times larger than tube televisions of days gone by, a blurry picture is all you’ll get. Even on my smaller 48-inch TV, I can easily count the pixels, and any vertical lines are as thick as prison bars.
The console aims to provide the most authentic Nintendo 64 experience possible. Keep this in mind when buying it. Comparing Goldeneye to an emulated Nintendo Switch online version feels like night and day. The image on the Switch is razor-sharp, and I can make out a lot more detail. On the Analogue 3D, I can only distinguish enemies when they’re a few metres away. Everything else in the battle devolves into a samey pixelated mess. Just like the good old days. Because while emulators upscale resolutions as a whole, the Analogue 3D reproduces games realistically and only upscales the result to 4K.
Retro charm instead of smooth polish
Although I prefer the emulated version, I like the charm of my Analogue 3D. Compared to the Nintendo 64 on my tube TV, the games definitely look sharper. According to the experts at Digital Foundry, this is mainly thanks to the 32-bit colour option. It displays textures more clearly and colours more vibrantly than Nintendo’s console.
The Analogue has another significant advantage: the device can be overclocked. First-person shooters like Goldeneye in particular benefit enormously from this. The game runs much more smoothly, and I no longer get the feeling that James Bond’s fallen into a vat of slime whenever he aims. Artefacts or other problems may pop up, but I haven’t noticed any, even at the highest setting.
No emulator can replace the physical appeal of inserting game cartridges into the device. After all, the Nintendo 64’s gaming experience includes a collaborative element. That multiplayer concept is also upheld with the Analogue 3D. 70 per cent of all Nintendo 64 games support multiplayer. It’s why the Analogue 3D has four connections for original controllers. Alternatively, you can buy a suitable Bluetooth controller from 8bitdo. By itself, the console doesn’t come with a controller.
The 8bitdo offers a mix of the Nintendo 64 button layout and a modern arrangement. Although it only has one analogue stick, it offers a familiar feel to gamers used to PlayStation and Xbox controllers. It also has additional buttons, including one to open the Analogue settings. On the original controller, you have to press the start and Z buttons at the same time.
In addition to Bluetooth, the Analogue 3D can also connect to Wi-Fi, although a connection first has to be activated. Firmware upgrades might be possible in the future, and perhaps additional online functions. However, there’s no comprehensive storage option or screenshot feature. Other Analogue devices already offer this. There isn’t a rewind feature as on emulators or Switch Online either.
The Analogue 3D costs 270 US dollars and can be purchased directly from the manufacturer’s website
In a nutshell
A dream for retro purists
The Analogue 3D is without a doubt the best way to enjoy physical Nintendo 64 titles on modern TVs. With no emulation whatsoever, the games feel just like they did in 1996. Thanks to 4K upscaling and numerous settings, you can customise the picture to your liking. You won’t get a sharp, detailed image like with emulators, but that’s not the point. The Analogue 3D aims to preserve that original experience and gets the maximum out of it. It’s just a shame Nintendo 64 games haven’t aged particularly well visually. The device can’t conceal that.
The multiplayer strength of the N64 also lives on in the Analogue 3D. You can connect four original controllers to duel through Facility with friends in Goldeneye. The optional 8bitdo controller offers slightly more modern controls and less cable clutter. You can connect four of them too.
If you own a lot of Nintendo 64 games and want to get as close to the original experience of playing them as possible on your OLED TV, there’s no way around the Analogue 3D. You won’t find a more authentic experience anywhere. Just be prepared for washed-out textures on huge screens. They don’t really go well together.
Pro
- True to the original Nintendo 64 experience
- Compatible with all Nintendo 64 games
- Countless image adjustment options
- Pretty design
Contra
- «Still» lacking convenient functions such as storage or rewind
- No controller included
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chAs a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
Review
Which films, shows, books, games or board games are genuinely great? Recommendations from our personal experience.
Show allThese articles might also interest you
40 comments
later