Today I’m trying out three items to share with you: the Tiny Arcade (Atari 2600 edition), the Tiny Ice Cream Maker, and the Magnatab. Can these miniature items deliver outsized fun, or are they simply novelties destined for the junk drawer? Let’s dive in!
Where to Purchase
Below are links where you can purchase the items in this video, and they are the same listings where I purchased them.
Tiny Arcade (Atari 2600): Nostalgic Fun or Too Small to Play?
Priced at $29.99, the Tiny Arcade promises a retro gaming experience packed into a tiny Atari 2600 replica. It boasts a respectable 4.6-star rating on Amazon, and out of the box, it’s immediately clear that attention to detail is impressive. The miniature console includes 10 classic games: Pac-Man, Asteroids, Pong, Missile Command, and more – operated by an authentic mini joystick.
The nostalgia is undeniable. The graphics and sounds are exactly as pixelated and tinny as I remember from childhood. But here’s the catch: it’s really tiny. Playing Pac-Man or Asteroids on such a small screen was more challenging than enjoyable for my 50-something eyes and clumsy fingers. The joystick felt awkward, and controls were sluggish, making precision gameplay difficult. Some games did better than others, but overall, it felt more like a novelty than something I’d regularly play.
That said, it looks great on display. If you’re a fan of retro aesthetics or Atari memorabilia, it’s worth considering for its charm alone. For gameplay, however, younger eyes (or a magnifying glass) might be necessary!
Verdict: Great as a display piece, but actual playability might disappoint adults. Best for nostalgia lovers and collectors.
Tiny Ice Cream Maker: Adorable Concept, Exhausting Execution
The Tiny Ice Cream Maker ($21.25) is advertised as the world’s smallest ice cream maker, complete with 21 tiny pieces to whip up 1/4 cup of ice cream. While it has a decent 4.2-star rating on Amazon, I was immediately skeptical when the package arrived looking rather beaten up.
The process sounded cute, churning ice cream by hand using miniature equipment. Unfortunately, reality soon set in: It involved meticulous preparation, chilling ingredients, layering ice, salt, and water, followed by an exhausting 30 minutes of constant cranking. The tiny handle painfully scraped my fingers throughout, leaving me genuinely uncomfortable by the end.
And the reward for all this labor? About two small spoonfuls of soft, runny ice cream. The flavor wasn’t bad, but the payoff was nowhere near the effort required. I can’t imagine kids staying interested throughout this tedious process, which leaves the adult stuck completing the laborious task alone.
It’s an adorable idea, but not practical or enjoyable in execution.
Verdict: Too much hassle for minimal reward. Great in theory, impractical in reality. Skip unless you’re seeking a novelty gag gift, or if you kid has a lot of patience.
Magnatab: Low-Tech Satisfaction at Its Finest
Finally, I tried the Magnatab, a magnetic sensory drawing toy priced at $24.95 with a solid 4.5-star rating. It’s a simple concept: you use a stylus to pull tiny metal balls to the surface of a perforated board, creating satisfying clicking sounds and tactile sensations. You erase your creation by simply pressing down with your finger or the stylus.
There’s no Wi-Fi, no batteries, and no app required, just good, low-tech fun. Drawing is soothing and oddly satisfying, with tactile feedback reminiscent of childhood classics like Magna Doodle. It feels durable and entertaining, with minimal frustration aside from diagonals being slightly trickier to manage.
I found myself genuinely enjoying this, and I suspect kids would too. It’s a fantastic low-tech option for road trips, waiting rooms, or just quiet creative playtime.
Verdict: Delightful, tactile, and universally appealing. Highly recommended for kids—and maybe even adults seeking stress relief!
Final Thoughts
Of these three products, the Magnatab clearly stands out as the winner to me. I found it simple, engaging, and fun for kids and adults alike. The Tiny Arcade is a great nostalgic collectible, though its playability suffers from its tiny size. The Tiny Ice Cream Maker, unfortunately, was a cute idea poorly executed, leaving me frustrated and sore-handed.
Have you tried any of these products? Tell me what you think in the comments below!
Video Review
Check out the full video review below.