ModRetro M64 Color Guide: Every Colorway and Exclusive Edition Explained

Top pick: Clear M64 – the one most people should buy

The ModRetro M64 is a modern Nintendo 64 revival console that plays original N64 cartridges, outputs at up to 4K resolution, and ships in five translucent color variants that echo classic 90s hardware aesthetics while offering contemporary features like Bluetooth controller support and flexible video scaling options. For most buyers, the clear ModRetro M64 is the best choice. It keeps the nostalgic translucent look while showing off the FPGA hardware and internal layout in a neutral style that fits any setup. The M64 itself is now available to purchase with no wait times or pre‑orders, with shipping underway already, and the base console price starts at USD 229 (approx. RM1,060). According to one detailed review, “the console feels like a premium product with excellent build quality” and can output N64 games at 720p, 1080p, and 4K. If you want one definitive ModRetro M64 that looks good in every collection, go clear.

Core M64 specs: the same power in every color

Every ModRetro M64 colorway shares the same core hardware, so you can pick based on looks without sacrificing performance. This FPGA console is built to be “the best way to play your classic Nintendo 64 games on 4K TVs,” with outputs at 720p, 1080p, and 4K and multiple display and scaling modes so games look as you remember or cleaner, depending on your preference. It works with both Bluetooth and wired N64 controllers, and it also supports the brand’s own Pro controller, which is sold separately and uses an aluminium shell plus a TMR joystick for accurate inputs. The main downside is that competing hardware has more mature software with extra features like save states, though that alternative is reported as USD 70–100 (approx. RM325–465) more expensive depending on when and how you buy. In short, every M64 color delivers the same premium feel and solid performance; your decision is purely aesthetic and collector‑driven.

Standard ModRetro M64 colors: purple, green, red and clear

Four of the five ModRetro M64 colors are available through the main retail channel: purple, green, red and clear. All use translucent plastic inspired by the original Nintendo 64 color shells, giving each console a distinct personality while staying firmly retro. The purple M64 is the closest to the original translucent N64 design and feels like the default nostalgic option for many collectors. Green is a bold yellowish shade that draws attention to the oversized power and reset buttons, ideal if you want the console to stand out on a shelf. Red is presented as an “AMD Red” collaboration color, adding a sharper gaming‑brand spin to the translucent look. Clear, our top recommendation, takes the same see‑through shell but keeps the focus on the hardware rather than any one color, making it the most flexible choice for mixed setups and multi‑brand collections.

Smoke Edition M64: the exclusive GameStop colorway

If you want something harder to find and more collectible, the Smoke edition M64 is the color to target. This limited edition M64 is exclusive to GameStop, meaning that retailer is the only place you can order the Smoke colorway. The shell uses a gray and black translucent finish across both the console and the matching M64 Pro controller, giving it a slightly stealthier look while still showing the internals. Apart from its cosmetics and exclusivity, it is the same M64 FPGA console as the standard colors and carries an identical MSRP of USD 229.99 (approx. RM1,065). You can secure it on preorder with a listed release date of August 21, so plan ahead if you want this edition for your collection. Because it is locked to a single retailer, expect the Smoke edition M64 to be more desirable among collectors and fans of limited hardware runs over time.

Controllers, shells and future color variants

Color options are not limited to the console itself. The M64 controllers are offered in matching translucent shells, including purple, green and clear at launch, with red and Smoke controller shells also available to pair with the AMD Red and Smoke edition consoles. At the console level, ModRetro’s founder has said that more than a dozen M64 colors are on the way and that these will use easily swappable, low‑cost body kits, allowing you to change your console’s look in under a minute if you are quick at shell swaps. That design gives collectors a path to build multiple color combinations over time without buying separate consoles for each shade. While details of every future color are not yet final, the confirmed five ModRetro M64 colors already cover nostalgic purple, bold green, AMD‑branded red, minimalist clear, and the exclusive Smoke edition M64, so you can start your collection with a strong base now.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the clear M64 if you want one console that suits any setup and highlights the hardware without clashing with other devices.
• Skip the clear M64 if you prefer a color that closely matches classic translucent N64 consoles, in which case the purple M64 is a better fit.
• Buy the purple M64 if you want the most nostalgic look that echoes original N64 translucent shells and a strong retro identity.
• Skip the purple M64 if you want a more neutral or stealthy presentation; pick clear or Smoke instead.
• Buy the AMD Red M64 if you like bold gaming‑brand styling and want a striking centerpiece for your collection.
• Skip the AMD Red M64 if you dislike strong color accents and prefer softer or more understated hardware.
• Buy the green M64 if you enjoy unusual, eye‑catching colors and want the power and reset buttons to stand out.
• Skip the green M64 if you think a yellowish green shell will clash with your other devices or room decor.
• Buy the Smoke edition M64 if you want an exclusive, limited edition M64 colorway with a gray and black translucent shell available only at GameStop.
• Skip the Smoke edition M64 if you do not want to preorder from a single retailer or you prefer immediate, non‑exclusive availability.
• Buy the M64 Pro controller if you want aluminium build quality, a TMR joystick, and matching translucent shells for your chosen color.
• Skip the M64 Pro controller if you are happy using your existing N64 controllers and do not need the extra features.