The R36 Max runs the full NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Mega Drive, Neo Geo and PlayStation 1 libraries at native speed. Nintendo 64 runs about two thirds of its library, PSP runs its 2D titles and some of its 3D. Dreamcast does not run at all. Below is the breakdown system by system, with the landmark games each tier unlocks.
What the R36 Max runs, and how far
The R36 Max is built on a Rockchip RK3326 (ARM Cortex-A35, 1.5 GHz), a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU and 1 GB of RAM. That is the classic mid-range configuration: more than enough for every 2D system, comfortable on PlayStation 1, and at its limit on the generation after that.
| Emulated system | R36 Max compatibility | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| NES / SNES | Perfect | Native speed, no tweaking |
| Game Boy / GBC / GBA | Perfect | Native speed, no tweaking |
| Mega Drive / Genesis | Perfect | Native speed, no tweaking |
| Neo Geo / MAME | Very good | Smooth on the vast majority of arcade boards |
| PlayStation 1 | Very good | Smooth, including the heavy 3D titles |
| Nintendo 64 | Limited | ~63% of the library, minus the heavy 3D |
| PSP | Limited | 2D is smooth, 3D needs frame skipping |
| Dreamcast | Not supported | Not enough processing power |
The game list, system by system
One rule governs everything below: if the console emulates a system, it runs that system's games. The titles here are reference points for what each tier unlocks — they are not an inventory of the bundled memory card, whose contents vary from batch to batch.
8-bit and 16-bit: everything runs
This is the foundation, and it is fully covered. On NES, the R36 Max runs Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man 2, Castlevania, Contra, Metroid and Punch-Out!! at native speed. On Super Nintendo, Super Mario World, A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, Super Mario Kart and Street Fighter II Turbo pose no difficulty at all.
On the handheld side, the 4″ screen's 1:1 aspect ratio is a genuine advantage: Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles display without distortion. Tetris, Link's Awakening, first-generation Pokémon, Wario Land, then the whole Game Boy Advance library — Metroid Fusion, Golden Sun, Advance Wars, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Mario Kart: Super Circuit. On Mega Drive, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Streets of Rage 2, Gunstar Heroes, Shinobi III, Golden Axe and Phantasy Star IV also run without reservation.
Arcade and Neo Geo
The "very good" tier covers nearly every arcade board of the 1990s. Neo Geo gives you Metal Slug (all five entries), The King of Fighters '98, Samurai Shodown II, Garou: Mark of the Wolves and Puzzle Bobble. On the CPS side you get Street Fighter Alpha 3, Marvel vs. Capcom and Final Fight. These are reflex games: input latency matters more than resolution, and a 4″ IPS screen with decent buttons does the job. Our guide on how to play Neo Geo games on a handheld console goes deeper.
3D: PS1 yes, N64 and PSP in part
PlayStation 1 is the real argument for this power tier. Crash Bandicoot 3, Spyro the Dragon, Final Fantasy VII and IX, Resident Evil 2, Metal Gear Solid, Tekken 3, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Gran Turismo 2 all run smoothly, with instant save states and a cleaner image than the original hardware ever produced. Our dedicated article on how to play PS1 games on a handheld console covers the detail.
Nintendo 64 is the tier where you have to be selective. The most thorough community test set on this chip — 290 N64 games tested one by one — puts compatibility around 63%. In practice: Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Kirby 64 and Pokémon Stadium stay playable, Ocarina of Time runs with minor slowdowns, GoldenEye 007 lags noticeably, and Perfect Dark is out of reach. On PSP, the same project tested 330 titles: 2D games such as Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX run cleanly, and some 3D remains playable with frame skipping — but it is not a comfortable daily use. If N64 is your priority, read play Nintendo 64 games on a handheld console before choosing.
How many games are actually installed?
The 64 GB or 128 GB microSD card ships preloaded by our supplier, and its contents change from batch to batch. That is why we publish what the hardware runs rather than a frozen inventory: the first is a stable hardware fact, the second is not.
In practice the order of magnitude is several thousand titles sorted by original system, with a front-end that groups them by machine. Power on, browse the categories, launch. No computer, no installation.
Adding your own games
The microSD card comes out and reads on any computer. Each system has its own folder: drop a game file in and the front-end picks it up on the next boot. No software work, no unlocking.
Legally, the rule in the EU is the backup copy: you may make a digital copy of a game you physically own. Owning the console and the emulator is entirely legal; what matters is where the files come from. We cover this in is retro gaming emulation legal.
R36 Max or another model?
If your priority is 2D and PlayStation 1, the R36 Max retro handheld game console is the right compromise: 4″ screen, 4000 mAh, and the longest battery life in the pocket range. If you are after Dreamcast or 3D PSP, you need to move up a tier. If budget comes first, the R36S game list covers the same library on a 3.5″ screen at €39.99. The retro gaming console specifications page lines up all fifteen models on identical criteria, and our best retro handheld game console comparison breaks down the real gaps between tiers.
For the full reasoning — which power tier unlocks which systems, across the whole range — see our retro game console built-in games list.
FAQ — R36 Max game list and compatibility
What systems does the R36 Max emulate?
NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Mega Drive, Neo Geo, MAME and PlayStation 1 at full compatibility. Nintendo 64 and PSP at partial compatibility. Dreamcast is not supported.
Does the R36 Max run PlayStation 1 games?
Yes, with very good compatibility. The console's heavy 3D titles such as Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid and Gran Turismo 2 run smoothly.
Does the R36 Max run Nintendo 64 games?
Partially — around 63% of the library according to the reference community test set for this chip. Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Kirby 64 and Pokémon Stadium run; GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark do not. It is not the machine to pick if N64 is your main use.
How many games are on the R36 Max SD card?
Several thousand, sorted by original system, on a 64 GB or 128 GB card preloaded by our supplier. The exact contents vary by production batch.
Can you add your own games to the R36 Max?
Yes. The microSD card is removable and reads on any computer; each system has its own folder. Files you add appear on the next boot.
What is the R36 Max battery life?
The 4000 mAh battery is rated for 6 to 8 hours of play, the longest in the pocket range. A demanding system like PlayStation 1 draws more power than a NES or Game Boy title.
Do you have to set up an emulator?
No. The Linux system and the emulators come preinstalled and preconfigured on the card. The console boots straight into the game library.
