For those unfamiliar with the Vectrex, it was a games console that came out in 1982. Everything about it was absolutely ridiculous…
It had a built-in vertically orientated CRT that displayed nothing but white vector graphics onto a black screen. Remember the game Elite where you flew a spaceship about? Well all the games were like that.
And, yes, it had a long controller with four buttons, but it was connected to the screen by what looked like a telephone cord from the 70s.
And, well, ok, if you wanted to play games in colour, you could – but you had to put a piece of coloured plastic on the screen and pretend you were looking through transparent Quality Street wrappers.
But it was these things that made it unique, and I absolutely loved it! And if you had a Vectrex in the 80s, I’m certain you loved yours too. It is an iconic machine.
So when I heard that a Vectrex Mini was being developed for sale, I’ll admit I got quite giddy.
The Vectrex Mini.
The Vectrex Mini preserves the soul of the original console while adopting a more compact format. It’s half the size of the 1980s Vectrex and comes with a 5-inch AMOLED screen. Compared to a simple OLED, AMOLED offers a sharper image and deeper blacks, ensuring the readability and contrast of vector games.
The Vectrex Mini will be powered via USB-C, use a Bluetooth controller, and feature a video output. It runs on an emulator based on VecX, known for its stability and accuracy.
It comes with 12 built-in games AND physical overlays for each one. And for those who want to go further, a microSD slot will allow you to add more games, including homebrews.
A word from the creators
The original Vectrex remains a rare machine, sometimes hard to find… That’s why the Vectrex Mini is aimed at anyone who can’t afford an original, those who want to play without risking damage to their collector’s console, and also newcomers discovering the Vectrex for the first time. It fits perfectly on a desk, looks great in a collection, and above all, brings back a gaming atmosphere we all love.
And in case you were wondering: no, iconic accessories like the 3D Imager or the Light Pen are not compatible with the Vectrex Mini, though we would have loved to include them. But of course, they’re accessories we’ll never forget!
In summary
The Vectrex Mini:
- Kickstarter campaign planned for early November 2025.
- Launch price will be 149 Euros, so around $175-ish, or £130-ish.
- Half the size of the original console.
- Includes 12 games + physical overlays.
- MicroSD slot, AMOLED screen, video output, Bluetooth controller.
- Will be available worldwide. Shipping costs will vary, but should be no more than 25 euros. ($29-ish or £23-ish)
We will add further details as they are announced.
