Nintendo’s Virtual Boy might be one of the most amazing gaming devices I’ve ever seen. It sits on a table like a small portable grill, but you look at it like a microscope. Your eyes are covered with a ruby-red interface, where you can play retro 3D games with the paired controller.

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend time with the upcoming video game releases for Nintendo Switch 2together Mario Tennis Fever and Resident Evil Requiem—with new hardware like a fairly faithful reimagining of the 1995 Virtual Boy. The last one is the one that stuck with me the most because there is nothing else like it. This remake is not a stand-alone console but an accessory for the Switch 2 and original moving On (no tech or power in the new Virtual Boy; it’s just a 3D stereoscopic lens).

Nintendo is known for its amazing games, but the Switch 2 is a pretty bland console compared to the original, which is considered quirky at the time. Virtual Boy has a lot going for it for the Switch 2, though its appeal is more niche than Carton Labo accessories the company drummed up for the original Switch.

Getting one can be difficult. On top of You will pay $100 for the Virtual Boyyou need a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack to access the games. That’s a bit limited, but Nintendo offers a cardboard model of the Virtual Boy for just $25which makes it easier. Unfortunately, the prepurchase period for both has ended, and they are sold out. Nintendo says you can check back on February 16, though supplies are limited. The Virtual Boy officially launched on February 17.

Photo: Julian Chokkattu

Red Alert

The Virtual Boy is sturdy, even if the stand is a bit flimsy; it never slides around and can be angled for maximum comfort. You’ll want to make sure you have a height-adjustable desk or chair because that’s one thing you can’t change with the Virtual Boy. You’ll notice some buttons and dials on top—for adjusting your inter-pupillary distance (IPD) or focus—but these are cosmetic; you can tweak your IPD through software.

Pop open the plasticky top to insert your Switch 2 (or Switch/Switch OLED!) in front of the lenses. Look at the rectangular eye holes, and everything happens red, matching the original Virtual Boy interface. (Nintendo says you can change the color in the settings.) The game’s main library is similar to other libraries on previous consoles, such as the GameCube and SNES. There will be seven titles at launch on the Virtual Boy, though there will be an additional nine coming throughout the year. Many of these titles were available on the original short-lived console, which was discontinued in less than a year, although there are still some unreleased games.