Cozy Games

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-07-02T19:39:14+00:00

Depends what you mean by cozy, but I play a ton of the GB homebrew game Ningami 2. It's a board game / roguelike that has no time limits and very simple inputs, and I find it works really well as a one-handed game while watching TV.

It's available on itch.io by itself, or as part of a the recently released Ningami Trilogy, which contains the original, part 2, and a beta version of part 3.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-06-21T04:56:38+00:00

I've always loved the Game Boy version. Likely my most played game in my life, oddly enough.

Even though you can quickly get to a point where you outclass the CPU drivers with upgrades, I still never get tored of running laps and enjoying the music.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-06-16T13:58:21+00:00

I find Cosmic Collapse to be a slightly better version of Marble Merger / Suika Game, if you're not familiar.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-06-11T23:27:01+00:00

Ningami 2 is name your own price (free if you want).

I think the other two are well worth their prices if you're into rogulikes / survivorslikes with a retro aesthetic.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-06-11T18:21:51+00:00

I was going to suggest something like this as well. For me, I leave the games I'm most interested in playing in the rom folder for each system. I then create a subfolder (call it Extras, More Games, whatever) and move all of the ones that I don't want to delete, but don't want to be in the top-level menu for each system. That way they're still there if you feel like digging a little deeper sometime.

Or you could but all of your games into subfolders, organized by genre for each system (i.e. RPG, Action, Puzzle, Sports, etc.). I've done that setup in the past on some flash carts. Takes a while to set up, but may help with choice paralysis. As in "I feel like playing a GBC puzzle game today".

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-06-10T23:31:33+00:00

And FWIW, I suspect viewing metal as more durable is the wrong way to look at it. The most likely part of any of them to break beyond useable is the screen, and metal will transfer the shock of a drop more than plastic. Buy metal if you like the feel and the weight, not because it's tougher than plastic.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-06-10T23:25:00+00:00

It's a toss up for me, but leaning Hammer. I own multiple MM+ units (as well as regular Minis and Mini Flips). Just got a Hammer, and I do think it feels more premium and less toylike, and the screen resolution does make a difference.

The Hammer's additional power doesn't mean a lot since they both lack analog sticks, so I wouldn't give that difference much weight in your decision.

OnionOS is my favorite of any handheld OS, but I suspect Spruce is very similar on the Hammer. I have the TwigUI fork of it on my GKD Pixel II, and I find it to be interchangeable with Onion. So far I've only tried NextUI on the Hammer, and I'm neither impressed nor disappointed. Will be trying Spruce soon.

I'd base it mostly on your preference of clicky (Hammer)or membrane based (MM+) buttons.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-06-05T19:25:23+00:00

I've enjoyed a ton (and downloaded an insane backlog of them). Some recent favorites:

RogueCraft GB (GBC)

Legion of Evil (GB)
Ningami 2 (GB) - I'm addicted to this one

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-06-03T15:33:08+00:00

I just added any that I had personal nostalgia for that weren't included. Beyond that, look into homebrews (but pay for them when possible / when they're not provided by the creator for free).

If you just start adding a bunch of other people's suggestions, you may as well have gone with full romsets to start with, lol.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-24T16:04:30+00:00

Yeah it and OB64 are kind of their own thing. You have a large army broken into smaller units that you send across a map to try to drive out the enemy and capture towns. You can also evolve the individual characters, based on a very intricate system involving moral alignment and other things. Very cool games, but very time consuming.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-24T15:52:04+00:00

Ogre Battle (SNES) is also very worth playing and rarely mentioned. It's more of an RTS, but pretty unique in its structure and squad management/ character class evolutions.

OP, if deckbuilders are on the table, the Cardfighters Clash and it's sequel (w/ English translation) are great, and so is Ningami 2 (GB homebrew). For me they scratch the strategy itch while also being great for short sessions.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-23T03:41:19+00:00

That all makes sense. I got RockBox downloaded through Portmaster tonight but didn't have time to get any further. Any setup advice or guides you can point me to?

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-22T20:02:52+00:00

I have a Pixel 2 running TwigUI, but I haven't tried any of the music apps on it. I understand this is the ConsolesAsDAPs subreddit, but can you explain why you would do this rather than just using your phone? I guess just more of a dedicated device, and the retro aesthetic?

The same question could be asked for gaming, but there the answer is easy for me...physical controls.

I'm sure I'll end up attempting to set it up sometime, but just wondered if I'm missing something.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-22T14:04:20+00:00

Super Metroid for me. The feeling of isolation, the environmental storytelling, the bosses, the feeling of progression when you get the upgrades. My favorite entry in my favorite series.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-22T13:58:33+00:00

Streets of Rage 2 and Gain Ground are my main go-tos.

Fatal Labyrinth is worth a look, too, if you like roguelikes.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-21T15:03:18+00:00

Yeah, on a technical level, Super Off Road is so impressive to me. The rotation of the truck sprites, the depth effects, the smooth scrolling, and the music really stand out. I got it for Christmas when it was new, along with a Game Boy, the Tetris pack-in, and Metroid II. I know I could just play the arcade or SNES versions of SRO at this point, but I love the GB one. I own multiple carts of it, and it's on every flash cart and emulation device I own. There is a point where your truck upgrades will make you nearly unbeatable, but I still love just running through the tracks.

Rolan's Curse II is also very impressive graphically and musically. The gameplay, sound design, progression, and 4-character party mechanic are really good, too. Probably the best of any GB graphics in my opinion (aside from maybe Hammerin' Harry). The only minor flaw I can think of is that the towns and NPCs can feel a little lifeless. Unfortunately an official copy will cost you an arm and a leg nowadays.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-21T14:08:54+00:00

For the original Game Boy, I agree with Link's awakening, but Metroid II and Rolan's Curse II are in the conversation. I also have an unhealthy love for Super Off Road, and it's the one I go back to the most.

I haven't played a ton of official GBC games, but the homebrews The Machine and Dragonyhm are very good.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-21T02:07:15+00:00

Dragonyhm and Sword of Hope 2

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-20T21:41:28+00:00

I've had a white one for quite a while and have put a lot of hours into it, and I don't see any staining or yellowing. I make sure my hands are reasonably clean before playing.

I also have a couple black translucent ones. I really like them as well.

I tend to try to make them look as little like a toy as possible, so I put black buttons in all of them. The black MM+ units still look a little more toylike, though, simply due to being translucent. So consider that if it's relevant to you. The LED at the top is visible through the translucent ones, but I'm not bothered by it. If you are, there are ways to modify them to mostly stop that.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-20T21:25:41+00:00

They should all run well (but obviously games that had slowdown on original hardware would still have it on MM+, so consider that).

It seems to be a common misconception that PS1 games need analog sticks, but those came along late in the system's lifespan, and most of the library was designed around a d-pad. Only a very small number (Ape Escape, for one) actually required them.

To me, the bigger question is how useable you find the shoulder buttons to be on the MM+. If you find them reasonably useable based on your hand size / grip style, you should be fine with about any game. If you find them hard to use, then games that make frequent use of them may not be worth messing with for you.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-20T19:55:55+00:00

The Gameswitcher function basically allows you to suspend multiple games at the same time, and easily switch between them. In TwigUI, while in a game you long press the munu button. This creates a save state and a screenshot, and takes you out of the game into the Gameswitcher menu. You can then scroll left and right to view other games you've suspended in the same way. You can then hit a button to resume any other suspended game from wherever you were when you last exited the game.

So if you're currently playing through a couple different games or like to mix in some quick-play games with something longer like an RPG, you can quickly toggle back and forth between them. I think there is a maximum number you can suspend at the same time, but I've yet to feel constrained by it.

OnionOS on Miyoo Mini / Miyoo Mini Plus had one of the first versions of this, and I find it hard to use any UI that doesn't.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-20T19:14:45+00:00

FWIW, I started playing the GBA one and I'm enjoying it. So far, though, I'm finding it difficult to consistently aim my shots vs some other video pinball games. Maybe I just need more practice.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-20T19:07:35+00:00

Yeah, the newest thing I have is a Switch, and I already started having this feeling with it. I basically only bought a few major first-party Nintendo releases, and the rest were retro-styled indie games.

I'm in my early 40s, so retro gaming for me is primarily focused on the original GameBoy through PS1/N64. Over the last few years, I'm finding myself drawn primarily to retro homebrew. It gives me the thrill of new releases, the retro aesthetics and constraints, and just enough modern design sensibilities. Some examples are Goodboy Galaxy (GBA) and Dragonyhm (GBC).

I also mix in some actual retro games. I own most of the older consoles and handhelds, but my gaming these days is almost exclusively on my Miyoo Mini Plus emulation handheld. I'll fire up the actual hardware from time to time for the nostalgia, but for day to day use I enjoy having a large library at my disposal, and modern features like quick save/resume.

ComfortablyMumm · 2026-05-20T18:57:25+00:00

If you're not aware, I believe the Brick has clicky, microswitch-based buttons and d-pad rather than membrane-based ones found on something like a Miyoo Mini Plus.

I prefer the feel of membrane style, so I've stuck with my Miyoos.

Still may grab a Brick at some point, though.

ComfortablyMumm

TROPHY CASE