🕹️ 8BitDo’s Retro R8 Mouse (N Edition)
A Proper Bit of Kit with a Few Quirks
If the NES controller and a gaming mouse had a one-night stand in the back of an arcade, the offspring would be the 8BitDo Retro R8. It’s got that unmistakable old-school DNA — off-white plastic, red buttons, and a shape that wouldn’t look out of place next to a stack of floppy disks. But under the hood? Pure 2025.
This is the N Edition, the one styled like the classic Nintendo console, and for anyone who grew up mashing A and B before you knew what DPI even meant, it’s going to hit you right in the nostalgia. But this isn’t just a display piece — it’s a proper mouse. With proper specs. And yes, a few rough edges too.
🧱 First Impressions: Straight Outta ’85
Let’s not mess about — this thing looks cool. It doesn’t try to hide its inspiration. That NES-style aesthetic is front and centre, from the grey housing to the red buttons and subtle venting. It even ships with a matching charging dock that looks like a mini console. Bonus points for that.
It’s not just a gimmick, either. This thing’s solid. No rattles, no cheap-feeling plastics. It feels like someone at 8BitDo actually gave a toss about how it turned out — which is more than I can say for half the so-called “retro” accessories out there.
⚙️ Spec Check: No Slouch in the Performance Dept.
Here’s what’s under the bonnet:
Sensor: PixArt PAW 3395 — serious kit, same as what you’ll find in high-end gaming mice
DPI Range: 50 to 26,000 — because someone, somewhere, needs that
Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3, and 2.4GHz wireless (dongle included, naturally)
Battery life: 100 hours on Bluetooth, 26–105 on 2.4GHz depending on polling rate
Weight: 77g — light, but not fly-off-the-desk light
Switches: Kailh GM 8.0, rated for 100 million clicks
It’s got all the connectivity options you could want, the tracking’s tight, and there’s zero spin-out nonsense. Whether you’re pushing pixels in Photoshop or clicking heads in CS2, it keeps up. I’ve used it across a week of work and a weekend of gaming, and honestly? No complaints where performance is concerned, although I expect many will prefer higher-end mice from the many competitors out there if not nostalgic for the vibe the R8 presents.
✋ Ergonomics: Compact but Capable
This mouse isn’t massive — it leans compact and symmetrical, which means it’ll work for both lefties and righties. But let’s be real: if you’ve got shovel-hands or you like to palm grip your mouse like it’s a baguette, this won’t be your favourite.
For claw or fingertip grip users? Lovely. Light in the hand, nicely balanced, and easy to fling around a mousemat without overshooting. Side buttons are a bit inset — took me a couple of days to stop misclicking or missing them entirely — but once you’re dialled in, they’re fine.
🎛️ Ultimate Software V2: More “Functional” Than “Ultimate”
Ah yes, the software. 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software V2 sounds impressive — and technically it ticks the boxes:
DPI adjustment
Button remapping
Polling rate tweaks
Macro creation
Profile switching
But using it feels like a throwback in all the wrong ways. It’s a bit clunky, a bit awkward, and generally looks like it was designed in a hurry by someone who forgot what year it is. The UI’s not intuitive, navigation’s fiddly, and it lacks the polish you’d expect from a company that clearly nailed the hardware.
Still — it does work. You can save profiles directly to the mouse, which is handy if you’re moving between setups. And once you’ve set it all up, you don’t really need to mess with it again. It’s just not a great first-time experience.
🧰 The Dock Is a Vibe
The included dock deserves a shout. It charges the mouse, acts as a 2.4GHz signal extender, and stores the dongle so you don’t lose it behind your desk. Plus, it’s shaped like a tiny console — which is either cute or brilliant, depending on how long you’ve been alive.
🧐 Who’s This For?
Let’s be honest — if you’re sweating out ranked Apex matches and obsessing over debounce time, this probably isn’t your next main. But if you:
Appreciate retro design that actually works
Want solid wireless performance without RGB overload
Are pairing it with 8BitDo’s mechanical keyboards
Just want something unique on your desk that still gets the job done…
…then this mouse is a no-brainer.
📝 Final Thoughts: A Throwback That Doesn’t Hold Back
The 8BitDo Retro R8 (N Edition) is more than a nostalgia trip. It’s a competent, well-made, surprisingly capable wireless mouse that just happens to look like it fell out of a 1980s time capsule. It’s not flawless — the software’s clunky and the ergonomics won’t suit everyone — but it’s got bags of personality, great performance, and a price that doesn’t take the mick.
In short? It’s the kind of kit that makes you smile every time you sit down to use it. And in a market saturated with overdesigned, RGB-choked clones — that counts for a lot.
🧾 TL;DR:
The Retro R8 (N Edition) looks like a toy from 1985, but performs like a modern gaming mouse — sharp sensor, solid wireless, and top-tier build. The software’s a bit of a faff, but once it’s set up, you won’t need to touch it again. If you’re into retro gear that actually works, this one’s a winner.