The Hyperkin RetroN 3 HD is a 3-in-1 retro gaming console with three dedicated cartridge slots, one each for NES, Super NES/Super Famicom, and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. It plays original cartridges from all three systems in 720p HD over HDMI, with a physical system selector switch to toggle between them. If you have a collection spread across the 8-bit and 16-bit eras and want to play everything through one box on a modern TV, the RetroN 3 HD is built for exactly that.
The console also supports both NTSC and PAL cartridges across all three systems, making it useful for collectors who have picked up Japanese or European titles over the years. It ships with two premium wired controllers, a 3-foot HDMI cable, and a 6-foot micro charge cable, so the basic setup is covered out of the box.
How does the RetroN 3 handle three different cartridge formats at once?
Each format gets its own slot. The top of the unit houses three physically separate openings: one shaped for NES cartridges, one for Super NES and Super Famicom carts, and one for Genesis and Mega Drive carts. There is no adapter or converter involved. You insert the cartridge for the system you want to play, flip the system selector switch on the console to the matching platform, and power on. The console activates the hardware path for that system and ignores the other two slots entirely.
This matters because it means there is no software emulation layer deciding whether your copy of Contra or Super Metroid runs correctly. The RetroN 3 HD uses dedicated hardware for each platform, which is why compatibility with original cartridges tends to be high across the board. Switching between systems is a matter of powering down, changing the selector, and powering back up.
The controller ports follow the same logic. There are six ports total: two for NES, two for Super NES, and two for Genesis. When you switch the system selector, the corresponding pair of ports becomes active and the others go dormant. That means you need the right controller type for the system you are playing. The included “Scout” controller works with Super NES games, and the “Squire” handles Genesis titles, but NES games require an original NES controller or a compatible third-party option, since neither included controller maps correctly to the NES port.
What cartridge regions and formats does the RetroN 3 support?
Broad regional support is one of the more practical strengths here. The RetroN 3 HD is compatible with NTSC and PAL cartridges for all three systems. For Super NES games, a dedicated NTSC/PAL switch on the bottom of the console lets you select the correct video standard before loading a Super Famicom or PAL SNES cart. The Genesis slot has its own separate switch with three positions: NTSC-U for North American cartridges, NTSC-J for Japanese Mega Drive titles, and PAL for European releases.
Super Famicom cartridges fit the SNES slot directly, so Japanese 16-bit Nintendo titles work without any pin adapter. The Genesis slot is shaped to accept both the standard North American cartridge shell and the slightly bulkier Japanese Mega Drive form factor. NES and Famicom support is also present, though Famicom cartridges typically require a physical adapter due to the different connector shape.
The RetroN 3 HD also carries compatibility with most EverDrive flash cartridges and reproduction carts, which is useful if you want to run a full library from a single flash cart rather than swapping dozens of originals.
What does 720p output actually change for retro cartridge games?
The RetroN 3 HD outputs video at 720p over HDMI. For games that originally ran on analog hardware outputting a 240p signal, this means the console is upscaling the image to fit a modern display. The practical effect is that you get a stable, clean picture on an HDTV without the blur and signal degradation that comes from running an original console through composite or RF into a modern panel.
There is also an aspect ratio switch that toggles between 4:3 and 16:9, available when using the HDMI cable. The 4:3 setting preserves the original proportions of NES and SNES games, which were designed for square-pixel displays. The 16:9 option stretches the image to fill a widescreen TV, which some players prefer even if it is not technically accurate. For CRT owners, AV output is included alongside HDMI, so the console works in both setups.
Audio is output through HDMI along with video, so there is no need for a separate audio cable in a modern setup.
Three Systems, One Shelf Slot
The RetroN 3 HD answers a straightforward problem: three beloved platforms, three separate original consoles to hunt down and maintain, and a single HDMI input on a modern TV that can only do so much. By putting a dedicated cartridge slot for each system inside one housing, Hyperkin removed the need to keep a NES, a Super Nintendo, and a Genesis connected at the same time.
The system selector switch is the mechanical heart of the design. It routes power and signal to one platform at a time, which keeps each system’s hardware isolated and tends to produce better compatibility than a shared-chip approach would. For anyone with a physical cartridge collection spanning the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, that is the detail that makes the RetroN 3 HD worth understanding before buying.
Hyperkin’s broader RetroN line covers single-system options as well. If you only collect for one platform, the Hyperkin Supa RetroN handles SNES exclusively, and the Hyperkin RetroN 5 steps up to five cartridge formats with save state support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Hyperkin RetroN 3 HD require original controllers for NES games?
Yes. The RetroN 3 HD includes a “Scout” controller for Super NES and a “Squire” for Genesis, but neither works with the NES controller ports. To play NES games, you need an original NES controller or a compatible third-party wired controller. The NES ports accept standard 7-pin NES connectors.
Can the Hyperkin RetroN 3 play Japanese Super Famicom and Mega Drive cartridges?
Yes. Super Famicom cartridges fit the Super NES slot directly, and a bottom-panel switch selects NTSC or PAL output for that slot. The Genesis slot has a three-position switch for NTSC-U, NTSC-J, and PAL, so Japanese Mega Drive carts are supported without any physical adapter.
Does the RetroN 3 HD support EverDrive flash cartridges?
The RetroN 3 HD is listed as compatible with most EverDrive and reproduction cartridges across its three slots. Some edge cases may vary by specific EverDrive model and firmware version, so checking current community compatibility reports for your exact cart is worth doing before assuming full support.
What is the difference between the RetroN 3 HD and the original RetroN 3?
The original RetroN 3 used composite and S-video output with no HDMI. The RetroN 3 HD added 720p HDMI output, a 4:3/16:9 aspect ratio switch, and Hyperkin’s Perfect Pin connector technology. The HD version also improved cartridge pin contact quality compared to the earlier model.
Can you have cartridges loaded in all three slots at the same time on the RetroN 3 HD?
Yes. All three cartridge slots are physically independent, so you can leave cartridges inserted in each one simultaneously. The system selector switch determines which platform is active. Switching between systems requires powering the console off, moving the selector, and powering back on with the appropriate controller connected.