The Game Boy Pocket has reached its 30th anniversary, prompting reflection from GamesRadar+ on how Nintendo's slimmed-down 1996 redesign shaped the retro handheld gaming devices popular today. The original Game Boy Pocket trimmed the bulky size of the 1989 Game Boy, introduced a sharper screen and improved battery efficiency, setting a template that countless modern retro-style handhelds continue to echo.

The piece credits the Pocket's compact form factor and design choices with influencing the current wave of retro-inspired handheld consoles, which often borrow its proportions, button layout and general aesthetic. It frames the anniversary as an opportunity to appreciate how a relatively modest hardware revision from three decades ago left a lasting mark on the handheld gaming market.