👋 Hello!
Thanks for picking up the WeirdBoy Retro NFC Keychain — a miniature Game Boy-inspired cartridge that’s secretly a smart shortcut to your favorite retro games (Game Boy and Game Boy Color classics) via Delta Emulator on iOS. It looks like it came straight from 1989, but it’s powered by modern NFC tech. With a quick tap, this little cart brings your handheld memories back to life — no blowing required!
Originally created as a bonus item for the WeirdBoy Case project — a handmade Game Boy-style case — this little cart got so much love we had to release it solo! Check out Homepage to learn more, join the waiting list, or support the project on Ko-fi. ☕️
🎮 What Is This Thing?
This tiny gadget:
Opens a certain game installed on your Delta Emulator
Works using NFC (no battery needed)
Material: 3D printed PETG — durable and lightweight
Size: 40x48x5mm — a true miniature cartridge smaller than the real thing
Important: This NFC keychain contains no ROMs or games. It’s simply a shortcut to a game you already own and have installed on Delta Emulator.
It’s a little love letter to classic gaming — with a modern twist.
🕹️
History of
Game Cartridge
Image source: acriticalhit.com
In 1976, the Fairchild Channel F introduced the first game cartridge system. It was a groundbreaking moment — for the first time, a home console could load multiple games from swappable cartridges rather than having them built in. This concept laid the foundation for everything that came after.
Image source: Evan Amos
The very next year, Atari 2600 launched and brought cartridge-based gaming into living rooms across the world. With hits like Space Invaders and Pac-Man, the Atari helped solidify the idea that video games could be a home entertainment staple — and it all ran on cartridges.
In Japan, Nintendo was watching and learning. They released the Famicom (Family Computer) in 1983, which would later become the NES in the West. It redefined home gaming and turned cartridges into pop culture icons.
But the magic truly became portable in 1989, when the Game Boy hit the shelves. Game Boy cartridges were small, tough, and easy to swap. You could share them with friends, carry them in your backpack, and build your own mini library of favorites. Suddenly, your gaming adventures could go anywhere.
Swappable games. Instant fun. Totally game-changing. Game cartridges changed everything — and this little keychain keeps that spirit alive.
Fun Fact: Blowing on a cartridge never actually fixed it — but we all did it anyway. It became a universal ritual among gamers — part science, part instinct, and all nostalgia.
Image source: AI Generated
🚀 How It Works
- Your iPhone must support NFC (iPhone 7 or newer).
- The keychain is preloaded with a shortcut link — but you can change it!
- Just tap the top of your phone (near the front camera) with the keychain.
- It opens Delta or any page you’ve linked. Magic!
Where to Tap?
- iPhone XS and newer: sensor is at the top edge near the front camera
- iPhone 7, 8, X: also near the top — try front and back
- Move slowly and wait a second — some phones need time to read
👾 About Delta Emulator
Image source: AltStore.io on X
Before playing retro games with your iPhone, you first need to install the Delta Emulator.
Delta is an all-in-one classic video game emulator for non-jailbroken iOS devices, developed by Riley Testut. It’s the spiritual successor to GBA4iOS by Paul Thorsen and rebuilt from the ground up with modern iOS features. Delta supports systems like NES, SNES, N64, and DS.
Image source: macstories.net
Currently, Delta is officially available via the App Store in the United States. Unfortunately, users in the European region still need to use AltStore to get the app.
📥 How to Download the App?
On your iOS device, launch the App Store. Use the search bar to look for “Delta – Game Emulator.” Once you find the app, tap the “Get” button to download and install it.
After installation, open the Delta Emulator app from your home screen.
Read more at:
deltaemulatorapp.com
🎮 Adding ROMs
To play games, you’ll need ROM files (game files) for the specific consoles you want to emulate.
You can find ROMs online (make sure they are legal copies of games you own).
Transfer the ROMs to your iOS device using a file-sharing app or service (e.g., iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or a file manager app).
In Delta Emulator, tap the “+” button to add ROMs.
Navigate to the folder where you saved your ROMs and select them to start playing.
Game System
Extensions
Game Boy
GBC
NES/ Famicom
.gb
.gbc/.sgb
.nes/.nez/.fc/.fds
🛠️ How to Customize the NFC
If your NFC keychain doesn’t work as expected, it is most likely due to a mismatch between the ROM file on your device and the filename registered in the NFC keychain.
FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO CUSTOMIZE THE NFC KEYCHAIN:
1. Download the NFC Tools App
Go to the App Store and download the NFC Tools app (it’s free).
2. Copy the Deep Link from Delta:
Open the Delta app and navigate to your game library.
Tap and hold the game you want to link until a popup then select "Share".
Now select "Copy Deep Link".
3. Write the Deep Link to the NFC:
Open the NFC Tools app and select "Write".
Then select “Custom URL/URI”.
Paste the Deep Link you copied from Delta and tap "OK".
Press the “Write / 58 Bytes” button.
When the “Ready to Scan” panel appears, tap your NFC keychain to your iPhone to replace the old record with the new one.
Done! Now your keychain is ready!
Enjoy the convenience of launching your favorite retro games with just a tap.
🛠️ Troubleshooting
Nothing happens? Try moving the keychain slowly across the top of your phone
Wrong app? Use NFC Tools to rewrite the link
Still stuck? Try another iPhone or ask us for help!
❓ FAQ
Q: Android?
A: This one’s designed just for iOS users (sorry Droid gang).
Q: Does it need power?
A: Nope. It runs on magic (ok, passive NFC).
🖼️ Catalog
Ready to collect them all? Here’s the full list of WeirdBoy Retro NFC Keychain variants you can get. Each miniature cartridge is lovingly crafted to honor some of the most legendary games from the Game Boy and Game Boy Color era:
WeirdBoy — Universal cartridge so you can customize it with any retro game.
Tetris (Game Boy)
Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Game Boy)
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
Kirby’s Dream Land (Game Boy)
Castlevania: The Adventure (Game Boy)
Pokémon Blue Version (Game Boy)
Pokémon Red Version (Game Boy)
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (Game Boy)
Final Fantasy Adventure (Game Boy)
Mario’s Picross (Game Boy)
Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (Game Boy)
Mega Man V (Game Boy)
Mole Mania (Game Boy)
DuckTales 2 (Game Boy)
Contra: The Alien Wars (Game Boy)
Dr. Mario (Game Boy)
Batman: The Video Game (Game Boy)
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Game Boy Color, Japanese Version)
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (Game Boy Color)
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (Game Boy Color)
Pokémon Crystal Version (Game Boy Color)
Pokémon Gold Version (Game Boy Color)
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (Game Boy Color)
Metal Gear Solid (Game Boy Color)
Wario Land 3 (Game Boy Color)
Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)
Tetris DX (Game Boy Color)
Shantae (Game Boy Color)
Dragon Warrior III (Game Boy Color)
Harvest Moon 2 GBC (Game Boy Color)
Legend of the River King 2 (Game Boy Color)
Bomberman Quest (Game Boy Color)
Mario Golf (Game Boy Color)
Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)
Rayman (Game Boy Color)
Tomb Raider (Game Boy Color)
Mega Man Xtreme (Game Boy Color)
🙌 Thanks!
You now own a piece of retro-future tech — and more than that, you’ve helped support a small, weird dream. This project started with one handmade Game Boy case and grew into something unexpectedly special. Thanks for being part of it.
If you love your NFC cartridge, show it off! Snap a pic and tag us on Instagram: @weirdeetz
Scan the QR on the package anytime to get back to this manual.
For more weird things:
Join the waitlist or support us via our Ko-fi page!
✨ Tap. Play. Keep it Retro!
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