Hands On: The Activision Super Pocket Is Bursting With Games, But I Feel Like I'm Not The Target Audience 1
Image: Damien McFerran / Time Extension

Blaze – via its HyperMegaTech sub-brand – has released a series of Super Pocket devices, each themed around a different video game publisher. This range includes Capcom, Data East and SNK devices, and they come pre-loaded with a curated selection of classic titles and are compatible with the Evercade family of cartridges.

I've spotted a pattern with these systems, as I would imagine many others have: when pre-existing deals with publishers are in place for multiple Evercade collections, you can safely assume that a Super Pocket handheld is on the cards, too.

That's certainly the case with the recently released Activision Edition Super Pocket, which comes pre-loaded with a whopping 34 games (more than the Capcom and Taito editions, but short of the 50 games included with the Atari Super Pocket).

Given that we've already had three Activision collections on Evercade, it goes without saying that there's going to be some duplication with this new Super Pocket.

Here's the full list, and a reference to the Activision pack each game has previously appeared on:

  • Barnstorming (Activision Collection 3)
  • Beamrider (Activision Collection 1)
  • Boxing (Activision Collection 2)
  • Checkers (Activision Collection 2)
  • Chopper Command (Activision Collection 3)
  • Cosmic Commuter (Activision Collection 2)
  • Demon Attack (Activision Collection 1)
  • Dolphin (Activision Collection 3)
  • Dragonfire (Activision Collection 3)
  • Enduro (Activision Collection 1)
  • Grand Prix (Activision Collection 1)
  • H.E.R.O. (Activision Collection 2)
  • Kabobber (Activision Collection 3)
  • Kaboom! (Activision Collection 3)
  • Keystone Kapers (Activision Collection 3)
  • Laser Blast (Activision Collection 3)
  • MegaMania (Activision Collection 1)
  • Moonsweeper (Activision Collection 2)
  • Oink! (Activision Collection 2)
  • Pitfall! (Activision Collection 1)
  • Pitfall II: Lost Caverns (Activision Collection 2)
  • Plaque Attack (Activision Collection 2)
  • Pressure Cooker (Activision Collection 3)
  • Private Eye (Activision Collection 1)
  • River Raid (Activision Collection 1)
  • River Raid II (Activision Collection 2)
  • Robot Tank (Activision Collection 2)
  • Seaquest (Activision Collection 2)
  • Skiing (Activision Collection 2)
  • Sky Jinks (Activision Collection 1)
  • Spider Fighter (Activision Collection 2)
  • Stampede (Activision Collection 2)
  • Starmaster (Activision Collection 1)
  • Thwocker (Activision Collection 3)

The games featured on the three Evercade packs that aren't included on the Activision Super Pocket are Crackpots (Activision Collection 1), Fishing Derby (Activision Collection 1), Freeway (Activision Collection 1), Space Shuttle: A Journey Into Space (Activision Collection 1), Tennis (Activision Collection 1), Dragster (Activision Collection 2), Bridge (Activision Collection 3), Ice Hockey (Activision Collection 3) and The Activision Decathlon (Activision Collection 3).

On the one hand, this could be considered disappointing, as seasoned Evercade fans who already own the three Activision packs are effectively doubling up here. However, it's important to remember that the Super Pocket range, despite its connection to the Evercade family, targets a different audience; these cheap and cheerful handhelds are aimed at a sector of the market that might not have heard of Evercade. In that regard, I'm sure Blaze sees them as more of a 'gateway drug' that can pull new customers into the Evercade ecosystem.

Hands On: The Activision Super Pocket Is Bursting With Games, But I Feel Like I'm Not The Target Audience 4
Image: Damien McFerran / Time Extension

Taking that into account, the fact that you've got 34 different games – some of which would require you to purchase three different collections in order to play via Evercade carts – is something of a bargain. Furthermore, it's worth noting that you've got some of the best home console games of the period here, thanks to the fact that Activision was something of a trendsetter at the time.

I'm a big fan of the Super Pocket series and regularly take my devices on the road with me, but this is the first time I've been largely indifferent to a new release, mainly because there's not a single exclusive game here – something which has been the case with some of the other Super Pocket devices.

That's not to say that there isn't a receptive audience for the Activision Edition Super Pocket, though – but I'm not really part of it, beyond the understandable desire to own more cool pieces of colourful plastic, of course.

The Activision Super Pocket costs £59.99 and launches on September 28th 2026.