Game Boy shells? Plastic. Cartridges and cases? Plastic. Aftermarket buttons and D-pads? More plastic. And the Throne retro display stand from Gamenook? Plastic, sure — but this time it’s not what you think. The Throne, built to show off retro handhelds and game carts, is crafted entirely from 100% recycled plastic waste. This waste is converted into polymers or ground into smaller pieces, then injection-molded into an aluminium-grade mold specifically designed for this stand.
Launched by Brandon Saltalamacchia and his business partner, Joseph Tomkins, Gamenook aims to create sustainable accessories for retro handheld enthusiasts. Their first product, the Throne, is now available. I was eager to get my hands on one of them, and I am very grateful to the team at Gamenook for sendin…
Game Boy shells? Plastic. Cartridges and cases? Plastic. Aftermarket buttons and D-pads? More plastic. And the Throne retro display stand from Gamenook? Plastic, sure — but this time it’s not what you think. The Throne, built to show off retro handhelds and game carts, is crafted entirely from 100% recycled plastic waste. This waste is converted into polymers or ground into smaller pieces, then injection-molded into an aluminium-grade mold specifically designed for this stand.
Launched by Brandon Saltalamacchia and his business partner, Joseph Tomkins, Gamenook aims to create sustainable accessories for retro handheld enthusiasts. Their first product, the Throne, is now available. I was eager to get my hands on one of them, and I am very grateful to the team at Gamenook for sending me one of each color to review.
The Throne
The Throne’s recyclable packaging
I was impressed with the Throne before I even opened the box. Even the packaging, made entirely from cardboard and paper, aligns with the company’s message of using sustainable and recycled materials. The box is small and lightweight, reducing the amount of material needed, and is completely recyclable. I received one of each color: the Jawbreaker-like Cluster and the dark Coastal variant, which evokes a churning ocean.
The “Coastal” Colorway
The stand feels great, with a nice texture and weight, and it’s extremely sturdy, with no flex at all. As promised, it holds my Game Boy Color nicely, and the back area holds either batteries or Game Boy carts. I will note that the carts need to be naked, though, as a cart protector will not fit. The shape of the stand works well, as the weight behind where the Game Boy sits helps prevent it from tipping over.
What Can It Hold?
When presented with a new product, I like to experiment with what it can do. Knowing that it can accommodate all Game Boy models (and a few other handhelds), I tried out some items from my collection that I’ve been wanting to display.
The shape of The Throne’s stand is quite deep, which means that some objects won’t fit. My audio cassette tips over if placed vertically, and none of my smartphones work vertically either — but the stand is designed for Game Boys and works as advertised. I was pleased to find that my Defcon 2024 badge sits nicely in both orientations.
Final Thoughts
These are handheld stands I feel good about buying. Beyond supporting a small company with sustainable practices, I have a unique way to display my collection, and these stands have already sparked conversations in my office, where my collection is on display. At $35, it’s a considerable cost that reflects its careful design and manufacturing, and I’ve yet to find another stand that offers the same rigidity at this price and finish quality. Plus, they just look cool. You can check out the Throne and some of Gamenook’s upcoming products at https://gamenook.co.uk/
Now an essential part of my collection on display at work
Audio Engineer, Mac Technologist and Video Game Developer. Managing Editor of GBStudio Central. (he/him)