The Evercade EXP continued what the original Evercade handheld started, the Evercade VS covers the full, TV-based console experience, and now the Evercade ecosystem has expanded to cover the home arcade corner of retro gaming, with the Evercade Alpha.

One of the best, perhaps most underrated, features of the Evercade VS are the dual cartridge slots, and this feature is also included in the Evercade Alpha.

Not only does this allow you to have access to a much bigger and, if you want, very varied (perhaps even mismatched) collection of games to play from at any time – but also, it can unlock hidden games too.

That’s right – certain combinations of cartridges, inserted into the Evercade Alpha at the same time, will unlock otherwise completely inaccessible, unavailable and, importantly, full games to play!

Though not the only way to unlock free, secret games on the Alpha, it is definitely the most fun way to find these hidden titles.

Usually, the combination of a first and second collection by the same publisher will do the trick, as you’ll see.

Some games unlock by entering a code on the Secret menu option, accessed via the Settings screen on your console. Still more can unlock with button and/or d-pad combinations.

Make sure that you’re updated to the latest firmware, or some of the below games may not be available.

Let’s take a look at all of the secret games you can unlock via different means on the Evercade Alpha – and how you can get them!

Cartridge Combo Unlocks

Dark Chambers (Atari 7800)

Gauntlet-esque Dark Chambers is a fun game on the Atari 2600 – but the Atari 7800 version absolutely blows it out of the water. The way to access the superior version is simple: it’ll unlock automatically if you have Atari Collection 1 and Atari Collection 2 inserted at the same time!

Raid on Tricity: Second Wave (Atari Lynx)

Just as with Dark Chambers, the way to unlock Lynx title Raid on Tricity: Second Wave is to insert two Atari collections at the same time – in this instance, of course, it’s Atari Lynx Collection 1 and Atari Lynx Collection 2 that you’ll need to insert.

Pyramids of Ra (Game Boy)

Underrated, forgotten Game Boy puzzler Pyramids of Ra is unlocked when you insert Piko Interactive Collection 1 and Piko Interactive Collection 2 into your Evercade Alpha.

Zombie Madness (Intellivision)

Modern ‘retro’ title Zombie Madness – which I’ve found to be ridiculously challenging – is available when you have Intellivision Collection 1 and Intellivision Collection 2 in the Evercade Alpha.

Bang! (Arcade)

Though hardly the ideal format for it, given that it’s an arcade lightgun game, we’re not going to complain about getting Bang! for free, right? All you need to do is have Gaelco Arcade 1 and Gaelco Arcade 2 inserted in your Evercade Alpha!

Twin Brats (Arcade)

Weirdly old school when it was released in 1995, Twin Brats is an arcade game that felt incredibly dated back then – but it’s right at home amongst a selection of retro games in the current era! To gain access to Twin Brats, just make sure you have Piko Collection 1 and Gaelco Arcade 1 in the console!

Arkade Rush (NES)

Another modern title, Arkade Rush is a four player simultaneous game originally released for the NES. You can play it yourself by using the combination of Gaelco Arcade 1 and Indie Heroes Collection 1 in your Evercade Alpha.

Gyroscope (C64)

How about a heavily Marble Madness-inspired, somewhat infuriating title for the C64? To unlock 1985 Melbourne House game Gyroscope, make sure to have THEC64 Collection 1 and THEC64 Collection 2 in your Evercade Alpha simultaneously.

Twin Hawk (Mega Drive/Genesis)

A vertically scrolling shoot ’em up from Toaplan – one of the master devs of the genre – the arcade version of Twin Hawk appears on Toaplan Arcade 2. However, if you insert the Toaplan Arcade 1 and Toaplan Arcade 2 cartridges into your Evercade Alpha at the same time, it’ll unlock the 16-bit, Mega Drive/Genesis version of the game too.

Tiger-Heli (NES)

Another hidden Toaplan game? Yes please! This time, it’s the NES port of Tiger-Heli, which can be unlocked by having Toaplan Arcade 2 and 3 in your console at the same time.

Snow Bros. (NES)

Even more Toaplan goodness! You’ll find the arcade version of single screen platform classic, Snow Bros., on Toaplan Arcade 1, and its bizarre sequel on Toaplan Arcade 4. If you want to check out the NES version of the original game, just insert Toaplan Arcade 3 and Toaplan Arcade 4 into your Evercade Alpha at the same time.

Worms Director’s Cut (Amiga)

An enhanced version of the original Worms, you can gain access to the Worms Director’s Cut by inserting Worms Collection and Team 17 Collection into your machine at the same time.

Zynaps (C64)

Tough as nails C64 shmup, Zynaps, is accessed by having The C64 Collection 2 and The C64 Collection 3 in your Alpha simultaneously.

Secret Menu Code Unlocks

Unlike the cartridge combo unlocks, any games you unlock using the Secret menu will remain on your Evercade Alpha, without the need to enter the codes again. Note that codes can be entered as either lower or upper case.

Gribbly’s Day Out (C64)

Just type in GRIBBLYGROBBLY on the Secret menu option, accessed via the Settings on the Evercade Alpha (as shown in the above image).

Kubo 1&2 (NES)

Minimalist homebrew titles Kubo 1&2 can be found by entering SEIJIWASHERE on the Secret menu.

Rogue64

Great little roguelite Rogue64 can be unlocked by typing STONE on the Secret menu.

The Lost Mines

Excellent maze game The Lost Mines is unlocked when you enter the word BLOP on the Secret menu.

Juggling Balls

An homage to a classic Game and Watch title (Ball), Juggling Balls stars Evercade mascot Cadey, and can be unlocked by typing in the word JUGGLE on the Secret Menu.

Showdown

Atari classic Outlaw, despite looking incredibly primitive, is great fun to play, but if you want a more modern experience, Showdown has you covered. To unlock it, simply type PEWPEW on the Secret Menu!

The Sword of Stone

RPG fans rejoice; this unlockable game is a pretty hefty experience, particularly for a free game! It has a so-far unique unlocking method too; though you’ll need to enter a code on the Secret Menu screen, the code will be entirely unique to you, and to get the code, you need to sign up for the Evercade newsletter. You’ll be emailed your unique code, which can be used on 5 different Evercade devices before expiring.

Button Combo Code Unlocks

Note that any codes requiring L2 or R2 to be pressed will need to be entered using a controller, plugged into the Alpha’s USB port as shown above. Note also that any compatible controller with L2 and R2 buttons should work; it doesn’t need to be an Evercade controller specifically.

These games will also remain unlocked on your Evercade Alpha, with no need to enter the codes or unlock them again once you’ve found them.

Fairy Fire – Defender of the Fairies

This modern, Defender-influenced title is incredibly easy to unlock: just press the Menu button ten times when on the main menu, with no cartridge inserted.

Spacey McRacey (NES)

Just press L1+R1+d-pad down on the main screen simultaneously (with no cartridge inserted) to unlock this 8-bit title!

NNNNNN (NES)

For this NES title, with no cartridge inserted just press L1+R1+d-pad up on the main screen simultaneously!

Gotris (Sega Master System)

Is this the only Master System game available on Evercade? It just might currently be! With one cartridge inserted, press L2, R2 and Select simultaneously to unlock this Go/Tetris mashup! Note that Gotris can apparently be unlocked using L1, R1 and Select too; however, as I’d already unlocked it using the old code, I can’t confirm that this is the case.

Are there more secrets?

There are – but the above is the currently complete list of actual games, whereas other secrets you may stumble upon are odd extras such as messages or pictures.

Have fun – and do let me know if you happen to find any other games hidden on your Evercade console!