Micro Player vs Pocket Player vs Nano Player: My Arcade Format Comparison

Quick answer

Choose a Pocket Player if you want a pocketable handheld with a licensed game library, like the Data East Hits Pocket Player or Tetris® Pocket Player Pro. Choose a Micro Player Pro if you want a slightly larger, desk-friendly arcade feel, such as the Ms.PAC-MAN Micro Player Pro. Nano Player is My Arcade's smallest format, but the supplied catalog does not list Nano Player models, so we can't compare its specs here.

My Arcade sells retro gaming devices in several formats, and the names can be confusing. Pocket Player, Micro Player, and Nano Player are three of the main ones, and each makes a different trade-off between size, price, and how many games you get.

This comparison uses only the product records supplied in the My Arcade catalog. That means we can compare Pocket Player and Micro Player Pro models directly, but we can't invent Nano Player specs that aren't listed. Where a detail is missing, we say so instead of guessing.

What each format is

Pocket Player is a handheld game system format. The supplied catalog lists models like the Data East Hits Pocket Player and the Tetris® Pocket Player Pro, both priced at USD 20.00 and USD 22.50 respectively with comparison prices of USD 39.99 and USD 44.99. These are collectible devices packed with licensed titles from a specific publisher or franchise, so the game list is the main selling point.

Micro Player Pro is also a handheld game system format in the catalog. The Ms.PAC-MAN Micro Player Pro and Super Street Fighter II Micro Player Pro are both listed at USD 22.50 with a USD 44.99 comparison price. The catalog describes these as arcade-style devices, and the game library is again tied to the specific title on the box. Nano Player is My Arcade's smallest format, but no Nano Player product records were supplied, so this comparison can't cover its size, price, or library.

• Pocket Player: handheld format with licensed multi-game libraries.
• Micro Player Pro: handheld format with arcade-style branding and a single franchise focus.
• Nano Player: smallest format, but no catalog specs supplied for this comparison.

Size and portability trade-offs

The catalog does not list exact dimensions for any of these formats, so we can't give you millimeter-by-millimeter comparisons. What the records do show is that Pocket Player and Micro Player Pro are both classified as handheld game systems, which means both are designed to be held and played in your hands. The practical difference is in how they are marketed: Pocket Player emphasizes portability and collectibility, while Micro Player Pro emphasizes the arcade experience.

If you plan to carry a device in a bag or pocket, a Pocket Player is the safer bet based on the catalog positioning. If you want something that sits on a desk and looks like a tiny arcade cabinet, a Micro Player Pro is the closer match. Without Nano Player specs, we can't say how it compares on size.

• Check the product page for exact dimensions before buying if size is critical.
• Both Pocket Player and Micro Player Pro are handheld formats, so neither is a full-size console.

Price and value

The supplied catalog prices are close. The Data East Hits Pocket Player is USD 20.00 with a USD 39.99 comparison price. The Tetris® Pocket Player Pro, Ms.PAC-MAN Micro Player Pro, ATARI Pocket Player Pro, Mega Man Pocket Player Pro, and Super Street Fighter II Micro Player Pro are all listed at USD 22.50 with a USD 44.99 comparison price. That is a small gap, so price alone probably won't decide it for you.

Value depends more on which games you actually want. A Data East Hits Pocket Player gives you a bundle of Data East classics, while a Tetris® Pocket Player Pro gives you one iconic puzzle game. A Micro Player Pro like the Ms.PAC-MAN Micro Player Pro gives you the arcade chase in a compact format. Pick the library you will replay, not the one with the lowest number.

• All listed Pocket Player and Micro Player Pro models are under USD 23 at catalog price.
• Comparison prices suggest these are discounted from around USD 40-45, but check current pricing at checkout.

Game library and licensing

This is where the formats differ most. The Data East Hits Pocket Player is described as a collectible packed with memorable Data East titles, including BurgerTime and Bad Dudes. The Tetris® Pocket Player Pro centers on Tetris, a puzzle game that has remained iconic for nearly four decades. The Ms.PAC-MAN Micro Player Pro centers on Ms.PAC-MAN, the 1982 arcade game with power pellets and ghost mazes.

The ATARI Pocket Player Pro covers Atari classics like PONG, Breakout, and Asteroids. The Mega Man Pocket Player Pro focuses on the Mega Man franchise, which has sold over 38 million units worldwide. The Super Street Fighter II Micro Player Pro focuses on Super Street Fighter II The New Challengers, with four new characters and four new stages. In short: Pocket Player models often bundle multiple titles from one publisher, while Micro Player Pro models tend to focus on one franchise.

• If you want variety, a multi-title Pocket Player like Data East Hits is the better fit.
• If you want one game done well, a focused Micro Player Pro or Tetris® Pocket Player Pro is the better fit.

Format trade-offs at a glance

• Pocket Player portability: Pocket Player models like the Data East Hits Pocket Player and Tetris® Pocket Player Pro are positioned as handheld, collectible devices with licensed libraries. Choose Pocket Player if carrying the device matters more than arcade styling.
• Micro Player Pro arcade feel: Micro Player Pro models like the Ms.PAC-MAN Micro Player Pro and Super Street Fighter II Micro Player Pro focus on a single arcade franchise in a compact handheld. Choose Micro Player Pro if you want one arcade title and a desk-friendly look.
• Nano Player information gap: The supplied catalog does not list any Nano Player product records, so size, price, and game library cannot be compared here. Check the Nano Player product page directly if that format interests you.

Product facts from the My Arcade catalog

• Data East Hits Pocket Player: Collectible Pocket Player packed full of memorable Data East titles, including BurgerTime and Bad Dudes, priced at USD 20.00 with a USD 39.99 comparison price. Best value if you want a multi-game Data East library in a pocketable format.
• Ms.PAC-MAN Micro Player Pro: Ms.PAC-MAN is the iconic 1982 arcade game with power pellets and ghost mazes, priced at USD 22.50 with a USD 44.99 comparison price. A good pick if you want a single arcade classic with a compact Micro Player Pro form factor.
• Tetris® Pocket Player Pro: Tetris® has remained an iconic puzzle game for nearly four decades, priced at USD 22.50 with a USD 44.99 comparison price. Choose this if you want one endlessly replayable puzzle game in a Pocket Player format.
• ATARI Pocket Player Pro: Atari is a pioneer in the video game industry, responsible for iconic games including PONG, Breakout, and Asteroids, priced at USD 22.50 with a USD 44.99 comparison price. A strong choice if you want early Atari classics in a handheld Pocket Player.

Which My Arcade format should you choose?

Best for

• Buyers who want a pocketable handheld with a licensed multi-game library, like the Data East Hits Pocket Player.
• Fans of a single arcade franchise who want a compact device, like the Ms.PAC-MAN Micro Player Pro or Super Street Fighter II Micro Player Pro.
• Gift buyers looking for a sub-USD-23 retro device with a recognizable game title.

Not for

• Buyers who need confirmed Nano Player specifications, since none were supplied in this catalog.
• Players who want a full-size console experience or modern online features.
• Anyone who needs exact dimensions before buying, because the catalog does not list them.

Pocket Player and Micro Player Pro are close in price, so the real decision is which game library you will actually play. Pick a Pocket Player for portability and multi-title bundles, a Micro Player Pro for a focused arcade favorite, and check the Nano Player product page directly if you need that format's specs.