The humble Playdate has become one of gaming’s best deals
The Playdate handheld console continues to gain popularity due to its unique design and affordable game subscription model. The release of 'Season 3' introduces new titles like 'Soggy Froggy' and 'Gloom Gate,' showcasing the device's creative potential.
Why it matters
It highlights a niche but successful alternative to the increasingly expensive mainstream gaming market.
The Playdate, Panic’s tiny yellow handheld that launched in 2022, has slowly but surely become a great deal — which is a good thing, because everything else in gaming has only gotten more expensive. Despite being a weird device with a black-and-white screen and a crank jutting out the side, the Playdate has managed to cultivate a strong and constantly growing library of games. And with the handheld’s new season 3 of games, the deal has only gotten better.
Playdate’s “seasons” are basically curated collections of games that are released over a short period of time. For season 3, there are eight games in total, with two launching weekly over the span of four weeks. The whole thing costs $39, and the season is off to a pretty good start with two games that are indicative of what the overall Playdate experience is like.
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