12 Handheld Games That Only Worked for 10 Minutes
Here's a look back at the portable games that promised hours of fun but usually fizzled out after just a few minutes.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Handheld games once felt like treasures, but many of them had one major flaw. They didn’t hold attention for long. Whether it was flimsy design, repetitive gameplay, or batteries that drained too fast, most ended up forgotten in backpacks or drawers. Here are 12 handheld games that gave kids a short burst of fun before wearing out their welcome.
1. Water Ring Toss
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This simple handheld game used water pressure to shoot tiny rings onto plastic pegs. The challenge was fun at first, but once you figured out the perfect angle, there was no more mystery. It became a quick boredom killer rather than a lasting favorite.
2. Brick Game Consoles
호셔줘아요리호나 on Wikimedia Commons
Cheaply made and preloaded with basic block games, these handhelds were a knockoff staple in the ’90s. The pixelated screens and identical gameplay across “9999 games in one” devices grew dull fast. That constant beeping sound could drive anyone nuts.
3. Tamagotchi Clones
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When the Tamagotchi craze exploded, countless knockoffs hit store shelves. These imitations had poor graphics, buggy controls, and lifespans shorter than the batteries that powered them. Most kids lost interest after their “pet” glitched into oblivion.
4. LCD Tiger Electronics Games
~ tOkKa on Flickr
Every popular character, from Batman to Sonic, had a Tiger handheld version, but they all played identically. The minimal movement and stiff buttons made every round feel the same. The hype faded as soon as you realized every game was just a reskin.
5. McDonald’s Happy Meal Video Games
Janet Ganbold on Unsplash
Fast-food giveaways briefly made lunch more exciting, offering pocket-sized “video games.” In reality, they had a single button and one repetitive action. After a few minutes of tapping, kids went right back to their fries.
6. Keychain Virtual Pets
Nxr-at on Wikimedia Commons
These miniature Tamagotchi-style pets hung from backpacks and keychains across the country. Their screens were tiny, their sound was tinny, and gameplay was painfully limited. They were fun to show off but boring to actually play.
7. Handheld Pinball Games
Joe Haupt on Wikimedia Commons
Plastic tabletop pinball machines looked cool at first glance, with bright colors and moving parts. But they jammed easily, drained batteries fast, and lacked real control. After a few frustrating rounds, they ended up collecting dust.
8. LED Football
Joe Haupt on Wikimedia Commons
A series of glowing red dots stood in for an entire football team. It was groundbreaking for its time but lost its charm once you realized every game felt identical. The novelty of “digital football” wore off within minutes.
9. Pocket Simon
Joe Haupt on Wikimedia Commons
This mini version of the classic Simon game had all the beeps and colors but none of the staying power. Once you memorized a few sequences, it became repetitive. It was better as a keychain than a real challenge.
10. Giga Pets
Zeitblick on Wikimedia Commons
These colorful digital pets tried to rival Tamagotchi but required too much attention for too little reward. Missing a beep often meant disaster for your pixelated friend. Most ended up abandoned after the first week.
11. Electronic Fishing Games
Micha on Wikimedia Commons
These handheld “fishing” toys used magnets or spinning fish to simulate catching. They looked cool in the box but quickly turned tedious for most kids playing the game. After a few tries, they lost all sense of excitement.
12. Mini Arcade Cabinets
Xabi Vazquez on Wikimedia Commons
Tiny replicas of arcade classics seemed like a collector’s dream. Unfortunately, the screens were too small and the controls too stiff for kids to enjoy playing it for long. They ended up as shelf decorations rather than actual games.