Top 3 Retro Handhelds with a Single Joystick for Holiday 2026
A single analog stick is enough for DS games, arcade titles and 3D games that do not need a second stick, and it keeps the handheld small and cheap. Here are three retro handhelds with one joystick, all on Amazon.
At a glance
- MagicX Zero 40 (Around $76–$87)
- Anbernic RG DS Plus (~$95)
- DATA FROG SF2000 (Check Amazon)
Single-stick handhelds
These devices have one analog stick instead of two. That suits Nintendo DS, PS1 and arcade games, but you will want a dual-stick handheld for games that need a second stick for the camera. See our dual-joystick picks.
Our ranked picks
MagicX Zero 40Best for DS & Arcade
A niche pick that does its niche well. GamesRadar tested it for a month and liked it for DS games and arcade shooters, with the caveat that a used DS can cost less.
- Screen: 4" vertical IPS, 800×480
- Chip / RAM: Allwinner A133P / 2GB
- Battery: 4,300mAh
- OS: Android 10
- Plays well: Nintendo DS and vertical arcade shooters
- Tall screen suits DS and vertical shooters
- Hall-effect stick and save states
- Surprisingly comfortable
- Not ideal for every console's aspect ratio
- Buttons can feel crunchy
Best for: DS fans and arcade shmup players
Check price on Amazon →Anbernic RG DS PlusDual-Screen Budget
A budget dual-screen handheld for Nintendo DS games, with one analog stick. Retro Catalog lists it as best for NDS and Dreamcast. Retro Dodo notes the stick is not high quality.
- Screens: Two 4.3" 4:3 IPS, 1024×768
- Chip / RAM: Rockchip RK3568 / 1GB
- Battery: 4,000mAh
- Weight: 345g
- OS: Linux
- Storage: Dual microSD slots
- Stick: One analog stick (per Retro Dodo)
DATA FROG SF2000Ultra-Budget
An ultra-cheap handheld that Tech Tactician describes as having a single analog stick. Check the current Amazon listing for the exact model, price and controls before you buy.
- Stick: One analog stick (per Tech Tactician)
Before you buy
Stick counts and models vary by listing. Confirm the number of sticks on the Amazon product page before you order.
More handheld guides: Top 10 Retro Handhelds, Top 5 Horizontal, Top 5 Vertical, Top 5 Dual-Joystick, Top 3 Single-Joystick, Top 5 Joystick-Free and Top 5 Flip Handhelds. Add a card from our microSD card guide.
Where this guide comes from
We have not hands-on tested these devices. Specs and prices come from Retro Catalog's handheld database and published reviews, including Retro Dodo and Retro Catalog. Prices are approximate and change often, so check the current Amazon listing before you buy.