As a retro gamer, I’ve tried all manner of consoles aiming to replace my OG Game Boy Color, but not many that scratch the itch of the recently released Chromatic Transparent from Modretro. It’s, honestly, the best way to replicate the feeling of the original hardware while improving in so many key ways.
I have a decent number of original gaming consoles from the 90s, but the Game Boy is arguably the handheld that I covet the most. I was a little too young to really enjoy the DMG model, but the Game Boy Color was the first EDC I ever owned. It still has a special place in my heart that very few things can match.
Luckily for me, my parents didn’t throw my original clear “Atomic Purple” Game Boy Color away under the guise of ditching clutter at home. It’s a piece of art, one that I love dearly, but it’s missing out on the fundamentals of a good gadget by 2026 standards.
Using original hardware isn’t always ideal. You miss out on a backlit display, the battery longevity is often subpar, and, in the interests of hardware preservation, I don’t want to break something that means so much to me.
That’s kind of why I picked up the original Modretro Chromatic last year. That is a high-end FPGA Game Boy clone that replicates software emulation with hardware-level logic recreation. You’re able to play original cartridges with supremely accurate visuals, sounds, timing, all that good stuff.
The original Chromatic was kind of pricey at over $200 with the Sapphire glass display and all-metal chassis. Sure, those are “nice-to-haves,” but the new Modretro Chromatic Transparent lowers the price of entry and adds back in the transparent tech highlight of my youth for under $150 – with a copy of Tetris. Maybe you need to be a 90s kid to truly understand the appeal. I’m just glad that brands are at least offering us these kinds of options again.
I’ve been carrying this thing for a few weeks in my sidebag in place of my orange Chromatic, and it’s a different beast in many ways. Being able to play all of my favorite Game Boy games isn’t anything new, and sure, I could use an emulator on my phone, but there’s nothing quite like playing as Nintendo intended.
From a purely holistic standpoint, you’re going back to the slow, intentional gaming that is completely vanilla. Mod-free, methodical gaming that feels intentional. I love emulation as much as anyone, but playing at 1x speed rather than trying to speedrun the grinding of Pokémon is a throwback.
Okay, it’s not a gadget for everyone. It’s more of a fancy thing that old heads will adore because it literally does one thing exceptionally well. The screen is 1:1, and includes the all-important backlighting. It does downgrade the scratch protection to Gorilla Glass, but that is far better than what the original Game Boy could ever claim.
By default, it takes three AA batteries, or you can pick up a rechargeable battery pack that charges up through the USB-C port. The port does a little more, like letting you stream to Discord and update on-device firmware. Make no mistake, the Chromatic Transparent is made for the modern era, despite doing one thing and one thing only.
I was sent the green Chromatic Clear, and it’s almost jewel-like, which demands attention. I like that it isn’t quite neon; the smoky color feels premium despite the material difference from the original Chromatic. It will pick up scuffs and dings. Personally, I see that as a patina that means I’m playing my favorite games, which, in my opinion, we should all do more of. Although some of my original carts need battery replacements, I’m using a flash cart to play through my collection.
The buttons are not quite 1:1 with the original Game Boy Color. I’d say they’re a little “stiffer” but feel about as close as you could get without being outright replicas. I know some people won’t like the D-pad. It’s marginally harder to roll through the four directions than an actual Game Boy, so some games may play a little differently.
My only major criticism is that the volume scroll wheel is too easy to adjust without intent. So be aware that you might inadvertently increase the volume while launching the Modretro settings menu.
On that, the speaker is a solitary downward-firing mono speaker, and it gets loud with no distortion. It’s amazing to hear the earworm of the Tetris theme playing at full blast, but remember to tone the volume down when you’re in public.
For anyone wondering why you wouldn’t use an original Game Boy Color to play your games, well, that’s a very fair comment. However, to get a modded Game Boy Color that has all the same functionality, it actually costs upwards of $150 from most reputable sellers on sites like eBay. Modretro is basically undercutting the original with lots of quality-of-life changes with the Chromatic Transparent.
As much as I love this hardware and will covet it in my EDC, you simply cannot separate the company from the controversial founder, Palmer Luckey. To many, the ties to his business ventures outside the gaming space will tarnish the brand. I can understand hesitation, and while I was sent this device for review, you will need to decide for yourself if you are willing to support the company. It would be unfair to omit this; hence, mentioning it.
It would also be a lie if I were not to say I’m smitten with the product. I do wish it were not marked with this extra controversy, as it’s the best way for ardent retro gamers to play through your back catalog of Game Boy titles.
For $150, the Chromatic Transparent is not a cheap way to indulge in some nostalgia. However, it’s undercutting the competition and now has even better colors to choose from.
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