this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2025
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My AYN Thor (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 days ago by PerfectDark@lemmy.world to c/games@lemmy.world
76 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

AYN recently got in touch with me, asking if I'd like to review the AYN Thor in an article, and...naturally I said 'yes'. I've been super excited, seeing that there's a new boom in DS retro handhelds, hoping that this might mean a viable alternative to the older genuine Nintendo hardware.

I'll just give you a tldr here:

For me, this really is the alternative. There are some caveats, but they're so few, and those it does have really don't affect me much. This can handle all the consoles I need, I've been enjoying Wind Waker HD, MGS 2, Mario Odyssey and so many DS and 3DS games (Metroid: Samus Returns has been a blast!)

If you'd like to read my full review, the link is here. Plenty of pics in there too. I chose the white model, since it was the closest look to my DSi (my fav of Nintendo's handhelds!)

Regardless, this is a handheld I recommend if you can afford the higher price point!

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[–] DupaCycki@lemmy.world 4 points 22 hours ago

Looks great. I might be interested in something like that. In your article you mention it's running Android, so I immediately started wondering... how will this and similar devices be impacted by the upcoming 'sideloading' restrictions? And honestly, any potential future changes to Android's policies.

[–] BobDendry@masto.fediverse.games 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Absolutely beautiful looking device.

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago

It is! I love how closely it resembles my (very loved) DSi. The clean white look makes me so happy!

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Great review, as always I love your content! You mentioned a higher price point but I don't think you mentioned the actual price anywhere in the review. Or did I miss it? I guess it's just a quick search away.

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago

Oh. You're absolutely right! I'm going to have to go back in and add that, somehow it just passed me by!!!!! Thank you!

[–] Hasherm0n@lemmy.world 51 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Hol up, DS is now old enough to be considered retro‽

Why does my back hurt so much? Unrelated I'm sure.

[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago

The original DS released almost 21 years ago. Because of that, the patent is now in the public domain, hence why products like this can be sold now

[–] Rooty@lemmy.world 52 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Better lie down for this fact: 3DS is considered retro.

[–] Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

2011 is not retro, dammit!

[–] Rooty@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

14 years ago, man.

Edit: I fogor how to count

[–] Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

Was N64 retro in 2010?

[–] angstylittlecatboy@reddthat.com 3 points 1 day ago

Yes. I very much remember it being uncontroversial to call the N64 retro in 2010.

[–] Colalextrast@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Bruh. The GameCube was practically retro in 2010

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[–] PonyOfWar@pawb.social 4 points 1 day ago

Yeah. I mean Crysis had been out for 3 years already. N64 graphics seemed ancient at that point.

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[–] WolfLink@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Does it have a 3D display?

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

No, Nintendo is the only one who managed that! This is just straight AMOLED

[–] spicehoarder@lemmy.zip 1 points 15 hours ago

That's not true, there are other companies making glasses free 3D displays. For me, no 3D is a deal breaker for a device like this

[–] Karjalan@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I mean... The 3D idea was pretty cool, and it worked surprisingly well, but I realistically never used it other that for fun occasionally.

I've just hacked and started reusing my old 3DS and it's great fun! Can download most games abs cool hacks/mods to modify them.

Is this able to hook up with the same software as 3DS so I could do the same on it?

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago

You don't need that same software. The principle is still the same though, you're loading ROMs of games on there. The 3DS console method simplifies it because they created their own freeshop, but with this, you're going to load the ROMs yourself.

[–] LiveLM@lemmy.zip 32 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Review Sample? You're an influencer now :P

[–] BurgerBaron@piefed.social 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't miss the crab claw pain trying to play with anything in the DS form factor and that d-pad placement looks rancid.

[–] yermaw@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

For sure you'd need to get grips immediately for it to resemble a controller.

[–] carotte@lemmy.blahaj.zone 33 points 2 days ago

often I think to myself "damn, i should buy one of these dual screen handhelds to emulate 3DS games!"

…and then i remember that i have a 3DS lol

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 42 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Damn it can play Mario Odyssey?? I am a little surprised it can emulate Switch games, but damn that's cool.

I understand why it's Android but that also feels so limiting in a way...

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 37 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Yes! It depends on which Switch games, of course Switch emulation is a slippery slope of diving into drivers, settings and builds. But a lot of games run well!!

Even more surprising was WiiU (since that emulator is quite recent on the scene!), and PS3! WipEout HD: Fury was fun to play!

Little edit: I've actually got an article on Eden emulator coming up soon, I interviewed two of the devs, and I'm writing things up now. So if you're interested in the 'main' Switch emulator being built and maintained, then keep an eye out for when I post it! You can just bookmark my author link here and when it's up, it'll appear there

[–] Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (4 children)

the bigger wall with switch emulation on android is that mobile companies are terrible at writing gpu drivers when compared to conventional desktop/laptop graphics vendors. its why for example the older snapdragon gen 2/3 outperform their newer snapdragon elite counterparts in emulation.

theres significantly more setup time on mobile because some of the jank doesnt "just work"

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[–] bitwolf@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What is the game UI you're running in the top picture?

Or is it a different retroarch theme?

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Daijishō is the launcher up top!

[–] pat277@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

The temptation to get the 12gb model has been so bad.... I would love it...

[–] nupo@quokk.au 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Can they send me one to review too?

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 35 points 2 days ago

I think it's the history of my posts. I've been interviewing developers from programs and projects for a couple of years now. From Heroic to Lutris to EmuDeck, RetroDECK, Junk Store to things like RomM and Minigalaxy. These and articles on the scene...I don't know, I guess it's just because I've established my voice as one in this gaming scene.

It's not as loud as some, but it certainly was nice to have some validation that a company wanted me to review their product!

[–] OozingPositron@feddit.cl 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Does it have an SD card slot?

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yes, it does! I'm running all my ROMs via a 512GB Samsung card.

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[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That looks so good. Imagine if people started making games for it. That would be a true ds spiritual successor

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago

3DS emulation still has a long way to go (the emulators themselves) since Citra got taken down. But some are making great progress, Azahar is a nice project to keep an eye on. Like I mentioned in the article...it can only get better!

As to original games being made after the systems shut down, I'd love to see that too! Now we're seeing these retro handheld manufacturers pivot to dual screen systems like the AYANEO Pocket DS, AYN Thor and the Anbernic DS, there's definitely a community and plenty of consoles to play them on!

[–] frank@sopuli.xyz 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Super super cool. I don't have a need for this since I have a nice modded 3ds lite, but the youtube on one screen and gaming on the other is absolutely sick. The screen size and color depth looks great too.

Does it have an SD card slot? I didn't see it on their site but I assume so.

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[–] MystValkyrie@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I'm so happy we're finally getting a handheld that's genuinely portable! I watched a disassembly video and really appreciate that the battery isn't glued down, too. And have you all seen gameplay videos? Ocarina of Time 3D at 7x native resolution looks about as close to those Unreal 5 Zelda tech demos as we'll likely ever get.

I skipped the Nintendo Switch line, but I'd eventually pick the Thor up to replace my 3DS. (If I don't hold out for an Ayn Freya 😅 .)

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