TurboGrafx-16 Mini

Lore & Background

The TurboGrafx-16 Mini is half the size of the original TurboGrafx-16 video game console and supports two controllers out of the box, whereas the original supported one. It includes one full-size replica controller that connects through USB, making original controllers incompatible, along with a USB-to-Micro-B power cable and an HDMI video cable. Sold exclusively through Amazon, separate Mini console releases exist for North America, Europe, and Japan, each reproducing the original console's regional decal and color variations.

Sixty titles were announced between all regions for the Mini, 54 of which are unique. Konami lists the titles under either "TurboGrafx-16" for American games or "PC Engine" for Japanese games, though this listing is simplified as TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM², Super CD-ROM², Arcade CD-ROM², and SuperGrafx titles are also included on all regions. The Japanese model includes 24 TurboGrafx-16 games and 34 PC Engine games for a total of 58 games. The international model includes 25 TurboGrafx-16 games and 32 PC Engine games for a total of 57 games. Five games are counted twice as they appear in both American and Japanese versions on all regions. Splatterhouse is also technically counted twice, with the uncensored PC Engine version exclusive to the Japanese model and the censored TurboGrafx-16 version exclusive to the international models. Three other PC Engine games are region-exclusive: Tokimeki Memorial and Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru are exclusive to the Japanese model, and Salamander is exclusive to the international models.

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood includes a mini-game named "Akumajyo Dracula Peke"; Soldier Blade has its Caravan edition; Gradius, Fantasy Zone, and Salamander have received arrangements listed as "near arcade" versions. These five alternative versions can be played by highlighting them and holding Select while booting the desired game. Tokimeki Memorial and Salamander include the mini-games Force Gear and Twinbee Returns, available through cheat codes.

Reader's Guide

The TurboGrafx-16 Mini represents a continuation of the trend of miniaturized retro consoles that began in the late 2010s. By emulating the original 8-bit hardware and including a curated selection of 57 or 58 games, it offers a compact way to experience the library of NEC's TurboGrafx-16 and its add-ons, including CD-ROM² and SuperGrafx titles. The console's regional variations—with different decals, controller colors, and game lineups—reflect the original system's fragmented global release history. The inclusion of alternative versions of games (such as near-arcade arrangements and mini-games) adds depth for returning players. The Mini was originally set for a worldwide release on March 19, 2020, but was delayed everywhere except Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually shipping in North America on May 22, 2020, and in Europe on June 5, 2020. Its exclusive sale through Amazon and the availability of accessories from Hori, including a Turbo Pad controller, a multitap for up to five players, and an AC Adapter, further defined its distribution and ecosystem.

Did You Know?

• It includes 57 games on the international model and 58 games on the Japanese model.
• Castlevania: Rondo of Blood includes a hidden mini-game named 'Akumajyo Dracula Peke'.