Repair it
Repairs
The problems I see most.
- Broken hinges or shell damage
- Bad screen or broken touch screen
- Batteries
- Buttons
Repairs · Mods · Retro
Retro handheld repairs, mods, and custom projects.
Nug Knows is personal work I enjoy. I repair and restore handhelds, set up mods, and build custom games, cartridges, and one-off retro projects.
What I do
Repair it. Mod it. Build it.
A repair, an upgrade, or something made from scratch.
Mod it
Mods & Setup
The upgrades people ask for most. I set up software and carts you already have.
- Shell swaps
- Screen upgrades
- Homebrew setup
- Flash-cart setup
Build it
Custom Projects
Built from an idea, not a broken console.
- Custom handhelds
- Custom cartridges
- Original games
- One-off projects
From the bench
Featured repairs
Four before-and-after jobs from the bench.
GBA SP hinge and shell
A hinge and shell swap on a GBA SP. The closed shells are on the left. The clear shell, open and powered on, is on the right.
Original DS hinge and shell
A broken hinge and a new shell on an original DS. The damaged shell is on the left. The replacement shell is on the right.
3DS XL touch screen
A shattered bottom touch screen on a 3DS XL, then replaced. The cracked digitizer is on the left. The new screen is on the right.
PSP battery and buttons
A clear-shell PSP with the battery in place, then powered on. The pack is on the left. The buttons and screen are on the right.
How it works
A simple way to start.
- 01
Tell Me What You Have
Send the handheld, what it is doing, and photos if you have them. For a custom idea, describe what you want built.
- 02
I Review the Request
I look at the symptoms or the idea and tell you whether it is a good fit, what it might take, and what I still need to know.
- 03
We Figure Out the Best Option
That might be a repair, a mod, or a custom build. If I am not the right person for the job, I will say so.
About
I'm Nug.
I've been a gamer my whole life, and I've always loved taking things apart and figuring out how they work. As my handhelds have gotten older, I started learning how to bring them back to life. What started as a hobby I really enjoyed has grown into something even more rewarding: helping other people restore their old handhelds or find replacements for the ones they've lost over the years.
A lot of people reach out because they want to revisit a handheld they grew up with or share something from their childhood with their own kids. I still remember the excitement of getting a new game or handheld and spending hours playing it. It's been so much fun sharing those experiences with my daughters, and I love being able to help others create those same memories with their families. I work from Arizona's East Valley and take local inquiries, plus mail-in when the job is a good fit.
Custom projects
More than repairs.
I also build custom games, cartridges, handheld experiences, and experimental retro projects. These are part of Nug Knows, not a side note.
Game Boy Advance · Available
Suika on GBA
A custom Game Boy Advance adaptation inspired by the Suika-style puzzle.
View Project
Game Boy Advance · Available
Stage Hero
A custom Game Boy Advance rhythm game. Time the notes on stage, in artist-themed editions.
View Project
Game Boy Advance · Available
Homesteader
A cozy island-building adventure for the GBA. Gather, craft, farm and explore 25 islands to grow your homestead.
View Project
Game Boy Advance · Available
Idol Roll
A marble-matching temple adventure. Clear the chain before it reaches the maw.
View Project
Game Boy Advance · Available
The Playroom
A two-player game collection for the Game Boy Advance, made so a grandpa and his grandkids could sit on the couch and play together.
View Project
Game Boy Advance · In Development
Kanto Wars
A Game Boy Advance strategy project in development, inspired by the Pokémon universe. The idea is a map, region control, and tactical encounters, not a conventional Pokémon game.
View ProjectSocial
Recent work
Repair videos, mods, tutorials, and project builds live here, each linking back to the original post.
Start here
What do you need?
Repair
I Need Something RepairedA broken handheld, a fault you cannot pin down, or a restoration you want done carefully.
Request workUpgrade
I Want to Upgrade SomethingA better screen, a new shell, software setup, or a flash cart on a system that already works.
Request workCustom
I Want Something CustomA built-to-order handheld, a cartridge, or an original retro project.
Request work