The Super Pocket Activision Edition is bringing Pitfall!, River Raid, H.E.R.O. and 31 more classics from the Atari 2600 era to a small, officially licensed handheld. It launches on 28 September 2026 and, in addition to its built-in games, supports physical Evercade cartridges.
HyperMegaTech!, a brand owned by Blaze Entertainment, announced the new edition on 7 July. The idea is straightforward: put a collection of early Activision favourites on a device that works straight out of the box, without searching for ROMs, configuring emulators or connecting original hardware to a modern television.
This is not a new generation of Super Pocket hardware, however. The basic specification remains largely unchanged, while the built-in library, black shell and colourful stripe inspired by Activision’s classic visual identity provide the main differences.
What does the Super Pocket Activision Edition offer?
The Activision Edition is the eighth model in the Super Pocket range. Its 34 built-in games make this the second-largest included library in the series, behind only the Atari Edition and its 50 titles.
| Built-in games | 34 officially licensed classics |
|---|---|
| Display | 2.8-inch IPS screen with a 320 × 240 resolution |
| Battery life | Approximately four hours |
| Charging | USB-C, with a cable included |
| Audio | Built-in speaker and 3.5 mm headphone socket |
| Controls | D-pad, four face buttons, Start, Select, Menu and four rear shoulder buttons |
| Expandable library | Rear slot for Evercade cartridges |
A 2.8-inch display may sound modest by current standards, but its resolution is well suited to games created for far simpler hardware. The current official Activision materials do not list the processor, memory, dimensions or weight, so specifications associated with earlier Super Pocket models should not automatically be applied to this edition.
Pitfall, River Raid and the games that defined Activision
The number of included games is attractive, but the real value lies in the titles that helped shape the early history of home video games. Activision demonstrated that successful games for a console did not have to come exclusively from its manufacturer, while also giving its designers more public recognition than programmers commonly received at the time.
Pitfall! and its ambitious sequel
Pitfall!, created by David Crane and released in 1982, became one of the most influential early console platform games. Instead of remaining on a single static screen, players explored a chain of connected locations, jumped over hazards, swung across dangerous gaps and searched for treasure against the clock.
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns followed in 1984 with a more ambitious design. Its cartridge contained a special DPC chip that extended the capabilities of the Atari 2600 and allowed the game to achieve more than players normally expected from the ageing console.
River Raid and Carol Shaw’s pioneering work
River Raid is the collection’s other major attraction. It was designed and programmed by Carol Shaw, one of the pioneering figures in the early games industry. The river continuously scrolls and changes as players avoid obstacles, destroy enemies and keep a close eye on their fuel supply.
This approach made the game feel much larger and more varied than its limited cartridge memory might suggest. Its sequel, River Raid II, is also included.
H.E.R.O., Kaboom! and unusual additions
H.E.R.O. combines flight, careful movement, destructible walls and underground rescue missions, giving it more variety than many games from the same period. Kaboom! takes a very different approach, delivering a fast arcade challenge built around catching bombs falling from the top of the screen.
The more unusual additions include Kabobber and Thwocker, projects that did not receive conventional commercial releases during the original Atari 2600 era. The collection also contains games such as Demon Attack, Dragonfire and Moonsweeper, which were originally published by Imagic but are now presented as part of the Activision catalogue.
All 34 included games
- Barnstorming
- Beamrider
- Boxing
- Checkers
- Chopper Command
- Cosmic Commuter
- Demon Attack
- Dolphin
- Dragonfire
- Enduro
- Grand Prix
- H.E.R.O.
- Kabobber
- Kaboom!
- Keystone Kapers
- Laser Blast
- MegaMania
- Moonsweeper
- Oink!
- Pitfall!
- Pitfall II: Lost Caverns
- Plaque Attack
- Pressure Cooker
- Private Eye
- River Raid
- River Raid II
- Robot Tank
- Seaquest
- Skiing
- Sky Jinks
- Spider Fighter
- Stampede
- Starmaster
- Thwocker
The selection covers platform games, racing, shooters, sports and score-chasing arcade experiences. It offers plenty of variety, although it remains closely tied to the design philosophy of the early 1980s: short sessions, straightforward rules and repeated attempts to improve a previous score.
There is one important detail for existing Evercade collectors: none of the 34 games is exclusive to this handheld. Every title has previously appeared across the Activision Collection 1, 2 and 3 cartridges. A newcomer receives much of that library in one package, while someone who owns all three cartridges would largely be buying the same games again.
How does it work with Evercade cartridges?
A standard Evercade cartridge slot is located on the back of the handheld. The cartridge is inserted before the system is switched on, after which the Evercade option can be selected from the main menu. Players can browse and launch the games stored on the cartridge directly from the device.
The in-game menu provides options to pause, exit, save progress or load an earlier save state. This is a significant practical advantage over playing on an original Atari 2600, particularly when the handheld is being used for short sessions while travelling.
The current product page advertises compatibility with more than 75 Evercade cartridges and a library of over 650 games. Cartridges are sold separately, but the slot prevents the Super Pocket from becoming a closed system limited to one pre-installed collection.
How is it different from earlier Super Pocket models?
The main differences are the game library and exterior design rather than processing power. The Activision Edition uses the same basic platform as earlier Super Pocket models, including the same display, similar battery life, control layout and Evercade cartridge support.
The Atari Edition includes 50 games drawn from several Atari systems and its arcade catalogue, while the Activision Edition concentrates on a narrower and earlier period of Atari 2600 history. The Rare Edition contains only 14 built-in titles but covers a much wider period and includes games such as Banjo-Kazooie. A larger game count, therefore, does not automatically make one model the best choice for every player.
The black shell, white controls and colourful graphics may be the new edition’s strongest selling point. As officially licensed retro hardware continues to return, including the Commodore 64C Ultimate, the Super Pocket takes a smaller and more affordable approach.
What do the first independent impressions say?
The first hands-on reports appeared ahead of the official launch. GamesRadar was particularly positive about the design and highlighted games including Pitfall!, Dragonfire, Beamrider, H.E.R.O., Keystone Kapers and Moonsweeper. Its writer also felt that such an early library may have narrower appeal than the games included with some other Super Pocket models.
Time Extension focused on another important consideration: all 34 titles are already available across the three Evercade Activision cartridges. The package offers strong value for newcomers, but established collectors do not receive any exclusive games.
These are early impressions rather than long-term reviews of a retail unit. Even so, a common conclusion is already emerging: the exterior design is highly successful and the games carry genuine historical importance, but the collection’s appeal depends heavily on how much the player enjoys the straightforward, score-driven style of early 1980s games.
Price, release date and availability
The Super Pocket Activision Edition launches on 28 September 2026. Its recommended price is £59.99, $69.99 or €69.99, depending on the market.
Pre-orders are available through Evercade retailers, while Funstock EU currently lists the device at €69.99 with shipping scheduled for 28 September. Availability, delivery charges and local taxes will vary by country and retailer.
Is it more than nostalgia?
The Super Pocket Activision Edition clearly relies on nostalgia, but it is not merely a display piece. It provides legally licensed games, a device that works without complicated configuration, save states and support for an extensive collection of physical Evercade cartridges.
Its limitations are equally clear. The 2.8-inch screen is small, approximately four hours of battery life is unremarkable, and the underlying hardware has not been upgraded. The official specification does not advertise HDMI output, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so this is not intended to replace a larger home console or a more powerful emulation handheld.
It makes the most sense for someone looking for an accessible introduction to Evercade or a convenient way to play Pitfall!, River Raid, H.E.R.O. and other games from Activision’s early history. For owners of all three Activision cartridges, the main reasons to buy it are its design, collectable appeal and usefulness as an additional pocket-sized system.
If you are already building a retro gaming corner at home, the Super Pocket could serve as its practical travelling companion. It is not a universal retro handheld for everyone, but for players who still associate Pitfall and River Raid with the earliest days of home gaming, it is an appealing return to the Atari era.
Sources: Blaze Entertainment, HyperMegaTech!, The Strong National Museum of Play, GamesRadar and Time Extension.
Images: Blaze Entertainment / HyperMegaTech! ©/™/® 2026 Activision Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Evercade® and Blaze® are registered trademarks of Blaze Entertainment Ltd.