🏆 Review Score: 5/5 – ‘Outstanding‘
🏅 Editor’s Choice Award
✅ Pros:
👀 Gorgeous transparent shell
💰 More affordable than before
🏆 Still the best way to play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games
👏 Transparent Tetris cartridge included
👍 Modern-day features
🤝 Matches the ModRetro M64
❌ Cons:
🔊 Louder buttons and D-Pad
👷♂️ Not quite as durable as before
😤 The menu button is still annoying
The Shortcut Review
The ModRetro Chromatic quickly became one of my favorite gaming products when it was released last year and led me down an expensive rabbit hole of collecting games for a handheld I adored growing up but didn’t fully appreciate.
Now, I fear the same will happen to many more nostalgic gamers, as the new ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent not only looks fantastic, capturing the iconic look that defined the 90s, but it costs $149.99 – $50 less than the magnesium shell Chromatic.
This isn’t a hamstrung version of the original Chromatic, either. You’re still getting the pixel-perfect, insanely bright screen, super-responsive controls, and full support for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Chromatic games. Nothing has been cut back or trimmed – only the shell has changed.
The new ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent version not only looks fantastic, capturing the iconic look that defined the 90s, but it costs $149.99 – $50 less than the magnesium shell Chromatic.
The ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent may not be as durable long-term because of its plastic build, but it’s noticeably lighter at 219 grams compared to 252 grams (with three AAA batteries inside). It makes the handheld feel even more portable and suitable for younger players who may have found the original Chromatic too heavy.
ModRetro Chromatic Transparent specs 🛠️
Price: $149.99
Colors: Smoke, Red, Green, Purple
Compatibility: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Chromatic cartridges
Display: 160x144 pixel 2.56-inch IPS backlit LCD
Release date: October 8, 2026
There’s also never been a better time to pick up a ModRetro Chromatic, especially as the company has proved it wasn’t simply a flash in the pan or a nostalgia grab. Various firmware updates have improved the experience and added new features, like being able to change the color temperature and the ability to update newly released cartridges via Cart Clinic. The list of ModRetro Chromatic games has also continued to grow, with more titles on the way.
Throw in upcoming support with the ModRetro M64 – the company’s modernized Nintendo 64 – and suddenly there’s a thriving ecosystem for two systems released decades ago.
In my ModRetro Chromatic review, I said it was a perfect retro revival of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color. It’s a statement I stand by, and the ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent is a welcome reminder of that fact. Read my full ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent review below and check out my original Chromatic review for more.
A review unit was provided by ModRetro. Nintendo®, Nintendo 64®, Game Boy®, and the 2-dimensional shape of the Game Boy® console are registered trademarks owned by Nintendo of America, Inc. Nintendo is not affiliated with ModRetro, nor does Nintendo sponsor, approve of, or endorse ModRetro.
What I loved about the ModRetro Chromatic Transparent ❤️
👀 Take a look inside. Transparent tech went the way of the dodo at one point, but has slowly been reintroduced as companies remembered why it was so cool (and popular) to begin with. The ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent delivers on its promise, letting you ogle at all the circuitry and intricate parts that make the handheld come to life. Long live transparent tech.
💰 More attractive price point. It’s refreshing to see ModRetro charging less for the transparent Chromatic, instead of more. Rival retro hardware maker Analogue also released transparent versions of the Analogue Pocket, but asked for $249.99, up from the usual $219.99. At $149.99 for the ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent ($50 less than before), it’s a steal in comparison and makes it even easier to recommend.
The ModRetro Chromatic Transparent delivers on its promise, letting you ogle at all the circuitry and intricate parts that make the handheld come to life.
🏆 Still the ultimate Game Boy. The ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent lets you play original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games exactly as you remember them. There’s no emulation, input latency, or shady ROMs to deal with – just dust off your favorite cartridge, slot it in, and you’re ready to go. The Chromatic also supports link cable play and has an IR blaster built-in.
👏 Transparent Tetris included. Just like before, every Transparent Chromatic comes with a copy of the excellent Tetris for Chromatic. Not only that, but the cartridge will also be transparent to match the final retail version. Now that’s cool.
👍 Modern sensibilities. The ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent also includes some modern-day tweaks that players will welcome. You can adjust the screen’s brightness, turn on silent mode, adjust frame blending, screen transitions, make the D-Pad ignore diagonals, and change the color temperature. You can also stream and record your gameplay directly to a Mac or PC, and ModRetro games can be updated via Cart Clinic. Firmware updates have also continued to improve the overall experience.
🤝 Ready for the M64. The new transparent colorways match the ModRetro M64’s look and feel. Whether you have the Smoke, Red, Green, or Purple M64, you can now pick up a matching Chromatic. It comes ahead of an update for the M64 that will allow video passthrough for the ModRetro Chromatic and a Chromatic Transfer Pak.
What I disliked about the ModRetro Chromatic Transparent 💔
🔊 Louder buttons and D-Pad. One downside of the ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent’s plastic shell is that the face buttons produce more noise when pressed. It’s nothing too egregious, but the magnesium-shelled version is a touch quieter when you’re bashing buttons. The quality of the buttons is the same – the noise is merely a byproduct of the different acoustics produced by the shells.
👷♂️ Not quite as durable as before. The original Chromatic is built like a tank thanks to its metal shell. The Transparent’s plastic shell is more likely to suffer long-term wear and tear, and less likely to survive a hard drop, while the original Chromatic feels like it would go through the floor rather than bounce off it.
😤 The menu button is still annoying. This isn’t a hardware refresh, so it’s understandable that some of the same gripes I had with the original Chromatic remain, including the overly recessed side button. Again, it’s not something you use often, other than to adjust the screen’s brightness on the fly or change a few settings, but I wish it was easier to press.
Should you buy the ModRetro Chromatic Transparent? 🤔
Yes, if…
✅ You miss the days of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color
✅ You want the most authentic possible experience and not an emulation
✅ You love physical games and collecting, or already have an existing library
No, if…
❌ You already have a ModRetro Chromatic
❌ You want one device that can play games from multiple systems
❌ You’re fine with emulating retro games
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.