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I've perhaps picked a terrible day to highlight an absurdly tiny NES controller that just arrived on my doorstep. I mean, if I spotted someone claiming that a gamepad that's narrower than a GBA cartridge and exactly the same height was actually really good, I'd label said claims as an April Fools' gag.
Yet, the IINE Gamebrick Mini is in fact real, and it's now the smallest gamepad in my collection. I'm known online for owning cursed retro controllers, so I would have picked up this thumbsized pad even if it were unusable. It turns out my latest impulse purchase is not only perfectly functional, but also feels almost like the original retro console accessory, albeit at 20% of the size.
Keep in mind that the Gamebrick Mini is only 49 x 17mm and weighs a mere 20.7g, so the fact that it's not a complete novelty is remarkable. Better still, it squeezes a pretty authentic feeling NES-style d-pad and buttons onto the tiny rectangle, and while you'll feel like Shaquille O'Neal holding a regular-sized Nintendo gamepad, everything from the grey textured front to the slightly smaller concave A and B buttons feels stupidly close to the real deal.
That is to say, while the IINE Gamebrick Mini vanishes under two thumbs, I could happily use it to play a bunch of NES or Game Boy games. Yes, its size inherently commits ergonomic sins, but I've come to the hilarious realization that Nintendo's real pad is actually more uncomfortable to use since the angular corners will dig into your palms, whereas the tiny version sits between your fingers.
I'm not saying you should switch your actual NES pad out for this tiny dork when playing something intense like Mega Man 2. That would make me an irresponsible retro hardware reviewer, but I'll be clipping the Gamebrick Mini to a carabiner just in case an impromptu chance to play some Pokémon on my phone happens when out and about. That said, I can't promise I won't recommend it for the Nintendo Entertainment System once I pick up a Retro Receiver ($23.98 at Amazon, FYI) for the console, and believe me when I say I plan to acquaint the two.
Lighter games are absolutely the IINE Gamebrick Mini's forte, especially if you're only planning to make pocket monsters fight using menus. The gamepad is hiding additional tricks within its tiny shell, though, as a bottom switch will let you toggle between regular Bluetooth controller functionality, a "multimedia touch mode", and a "keyboard and mouse" mode that will simulate PC-style inputs.
Those additional modes actually serve a really practical purpose beyond the size-shame novelty. The multimedia touch mode can either serve as a way to scroll through menus or interact with Android touch functions wirelessly, and it can emulate a mouse if you're using a PC (I've yet to get that working yet, though).
The keyboard function also adds extra remote functionality to e-readers, while also making specific key presses and macros a possibility. I'm envisioning a way to use the tiny pad with my living room PC setup for media navigation, but having only just got hold of the controller, I'll need to test whether it's up to the task.
While the Gamebrick Mini is pretty unique, I do feel like it sits in the same genre as the Gamesir Pocket Taco. Both are extremely travel-friendly gamepads, but the mobile controller boasts more buttons and a larger battery. Still, IINE's alternative is even tinier and still packs a 150mAh USB-C rechargeable cell that will run for over 10 hours, which is still a mean feat.
I'm currently on a quest to assemble a team of controllers suited to every retro console and specific setups. I'll need to spend a little bit more time with the IINE Gamebrick Mini, which deserves a seat at the round table, or if it's destined to be a tiny court jester. In any case, it makes for a surprisingly functional way to play NES and Game Boy games, and it's probably going to live on my belt as a standby gamepad option.
Who knows, maybe I'll be on a plane one day, and someone will shout, "We need a controller!" When that happens, I'll be there to save the day (be mocked for having a tiny NES gamepad).
Looking to revisit classics on the go? Check out the best retro handheld options for emulation consoles and more.
