First off I have to say that I am happy that the N64 is getting some love, it was the game console I had as an ”old” teenager, I was luckly to get one being on sale shortly after the launch, the system, Mario 64 and Wave Race 64, two awesome games that would keep me entertained for a long time.

Unfortunately the N64 lifespan was rather short, some 6 or so years and it was gone and it seemed like no one wanted to collect for it for years, everything N64 was dirt cheap for years – boy have that changed though.

Over the years modders have made various attempts to make N64’s work with modern TV’s by making and installing HDMI mods, some better than others – both when it comes to build quality, but also picture quality. Now in 2023 Analog announced that they would be working on their own “version” of the N64, the Analog64 – while I won’t go into much detail about the making of such product, maybe because I do not fully understand how it’s even possible – I think the take from all of it was the N64 was difficult to “emulate” for quite a while.

Hyperkin had their “Ultra RetroN” on display in 2019’ish but the product just wasn’t good enough to bring to market and the console was never heard of again.

Late 2025 the Analog64 saw the light of day, it looked like an awesome console, but I don’t know why, the Analog product line never really appealed to me, the scarcity of consoles available, trying to stir up a hype (my opinion) just wasn’t me, although the Analog64 looks really cool.

Now ModRetro of, to me, Chromatic fame also announced that they were working on their own version of a N64 compatible console, called M64. While the M64 sure looks more like a kids toy than the Analog64, I decided to wait for the M64 – I did not look at specs or anything to make that decision – it’s just the route it went.

The wait might have been a little longer than I expected as, as I look back at it, we were teased with a release around Christmas 2025, however that did not happen, but today – July 28th 2026, it’s here.

My preorder is in, out of the four colors available I went with probably the most boring of the lot – the clear edition, with a red button that sticks out as a sore thumb to me. So why buy it if you do not like the design? Well I am curious, and curious enough to pick up the M64 over the Analog64.

Modretro today also launched a deep dive into the M64 and in all honestly I liked what I heard, a console that can be customized to your liking, with new shells and so on being available at a later point, a console that is assembled to be easy to disassemble, so those curious enough can have a peak inside without breaking anything, or those wanting to change the look of their M64 can do that in the future with customization kits, similar to what was released for the Chromatic.

If that’s not all, the console is made as an open source project, all schematics will be made available – even another part of the M64 eco system, the cartridges, will also have its schematics made available.

The cartridges are probably what intrigues me the most, sure there is a somewhat vast catalog of old games to re-release from, maybe translations of Japan-only games – but Modretro is also working on bringing new M64 (N64) games to market and that tickles my interest, so to speak.

I am curious to see what they and their partners, being andie developers most likely, are able to bring to the shelves at the Modretro store, well and Gamestop. One of the 4 launch titles is called Xibalba 64 – a brand new N64 game although to me it’s too indie and maybe that’s what concerns me. An N64 is much more difficult to make than a Gameboy game for the Chromatic, so my concern is the quality of the games they are able to make – and not I do not expect a new Mario 64, if I have to pay $50 for a game, or way more as I am in Europe, it has to be worth picking up.

Anyway, my order is in and I can’t wait to check it out and give you my two cents about it... my wallet was not too happy though :-)