The iGC R36S is designed to work out of the box. No firmware flashing. No ROM loading. No configuration. This guide covers everything from first power-on to advanced features — so you get the most out of your device from day one.
Lab-Tested · Gamer-Verified · Expert-Curated by the iGC Team — www.handheldgameconsoles.games
⚡ Quick Start — 30 Seconds to Playing
Step 2: Wait 15 seconds to boot
Step 3: Navigate to a game system
Step 5: Game loads in 5 seconds
Done: You're playing — that's it
🔋 Step 1: First Boot & Charging
- Charge via USB-C for 2 hours first
- Hold power button 2 seconds to boot
- Wait 15 seconds for ArkOS to load
- EmulationStation menu appears
- All game systems listed on left
- Ready to play — no setup needed
- USB-C port on top of device
- Full charge: ~2 hours
- Battery life: 6-8 hours
- Charge from any USB-C source
- Phone charger, power bank, laptop
- LED indicator: red = charging, off = full
🎮 Step 2: Navigating the Menu
| Action | Button | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Browse systems | Left / Right D-pad | Switch between NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, etc. |
| Browse games | Up / Down D-pad | Scroll through game list |
| Launch game | A button | Start selected game |
| Back / Cancel | B button | Go back one level |
| Game options | X button | Game info, favorites, delete |
| System menu | Start button | EmulationStation settings |
🎹 Step 3: In-Game Controls (Universal)
| Shortcut | Buttons | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Save State | Select + R1 | Save game anywhere instantly |
| Load State | Select + L1 | Load last saved state |
| Fast Forward | Select + R2 | Speed up game 2-3x |
| Rewind | Select + L2 | Rewind gameplay (if enabled) |
| RetroArch Menu | Select + X | Open emulator settings |
| Quit Game | Select + Start | Exit to main menu |
| Screenshot | Select + Y | Capture screenshot |
| Volume Up/Down | R3 / L3 (click sticks) | Adjust volume in-game |
Select + R1 (Save State) and Select + L1 (Load State) are the two shortcuts that transform your gaming experience. Learn these first. Save before every boss, every legendary Pokémon, every difficult section. You'll never lose progress again.
💾 Step 4: Save States — The Game Changer
⚙️ Step 5: Key Settings to Adjust
Hold power button + D-pad Up/Down to adjust brightness. Recommended: 70% for best battery life. 100% for bright environments.
Click L3 or R3 (press analog sticks) to adjust volume in-game. Or use the EmulationStation menu for global volume settings.
Open RetroArch (Select + X) → Settings → Video → Scaling. Enable Integer Scaling for pixel-perfect retro graphics. Recommended for all 8/16-bit games.
Open RetroArch (Select + X) → Settings → Frame Throttle. Set fast forward ratio to 3x for optimal grinding speed. Default is 2x.
📋 Complete Setup Checklist
🛠️ Troubleshooting Common Issues
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The iGC R36S requires no setup. Charge via USB-C for 2 hours, hold power button 2 seconds, wait 15 seconds to boot, navigate to a game system, select a game, press A. You're playing in 30 seconds. All 6,000+ games are preloaded and all emulators are pre-configured.
Press Select + R1 to save anywhere instantly (save state). Press Select + L1 to load your save. This works in all games across all systems. You can also use in-game saves as normal — save states are an additional feature on top of regular saves.
Hold Select + R2 to activate fast forward. Release to return to normal speed. Default speed is 2x. You can increase to 3x in RetroArch settings (Select + X → Settings → Frame Throttle). Useful for grinding in RPGs and skipping slow sections.
Press Select + Start to quit any game and return to the main menu. The R36S auto-saves your position when you quit, so you can resume exactly where you left off. You can also open RetroArch (Select + X) and choose "Close Content" to quit.
The R36S uses a microSD card. Remove the card, connect to a computer via microSD reader, and copy ROM files to the appropriate system folder (e.g., /roms/snes/ for SNES games). Reinsert the card and the games appear in the menu automatically. The 64GB version has ~10-15GB free; the 128GB version has ~70-75GB free.
