Wolfgang from RETRO is the New Black has taken the MiSTer FPGA project to a whole new level—literally turning it into a cartridge-based console using NFC tags and a clever bit of software. No soldering. No hunting down vintage plastics. Just a stack of NFC cards, a mobile app, and a MiSTer that’s ready to play.
In his latest video, Wolfgang walks through how to create custom NFC “game cartridges” that can be tapped onto a reader to instantly launch games on the MiSTer. Want to load Boulder Dash on your C64 core? Just tap the card. Prefer Castlevania IV on SNES? Same process. It’s all about making physical media fun again—without the shelf space.
What You’ll Need (and Why It’s Surprisingly Cheap)
At the heart of this build are NFC cards—standard blank tags you can find in bulk for around $10 per 50-pack. Wolfgang also showcases round NFC stickers, which open up more playful ideas. Want to turn an old action figure into a game launcher? Stick one on and program it. He demonstrates this with a Scrooge McDuck figurine that boots up DuckTales on a C64 core. Retro magic.
You can program these tags using a mobile app available for Android and iOS. The free version works, but the full version—about $7—adds a few extra tricks. For those wanting a physical reader, USB-based NFC readers are available for around $16. These plug straight into the MiSTer or your PC and make the whole thing feel that much more console-like.
Meet Zaparoo: The Secret Sauce
The NFC cards are only half the story. What ties everything together is a tool called Zaparoo—a background app that runs on MiSTer (or even C64 if you have a TeensyROM, which Wolfgang plans to explore in a future video). Zaparoo links the unique string stored on an NFC tag to a specific game in your MiSTer library. Tap the card, and the game launches.
Installation is pretty straightforward. After downloading the “update_all.sh” script from the Internet, upload it to your MiSTer’s /media/fat/scripts/ folder. Run it once, and you’re set—it pulls in the latest cores and Zaparoo’s core files. Then you pair your mobile app with your MiSTer by inputting its IP address, and your library is ready to scan.
Creating the Cards
Wolfgang doesn’t stop at getting the games working. He goes full retro aesthetic and shows how to design physical labels for the NFC cards. Using Photoshop (with a downloadable template he created), you can make your own mini cartridge stickers. He prints them on glossy vinyl paper using an everyday inkjet printer, cuts them to size, and sticks them onto his NFC cards.
Want to make it easier? The Zaparoo app and website also have a built-in label creator if you’d rather skip Photoshop entirely. Either way, the result is a set of tactile, physical cards—each customized with box art and ready to boot a classic.
Beyond the Cards
Wolfgang doesn’t shy away from experiments. He tries out placing stickers on various surfaces, like a Death Star figurine, and learns a few lessons along the way—such as avoiding interference from pre-existing NFC chips. His approach is hands-on, light-hearted, and practical, giving viewers real results while showing that it’s fine if things don’t work perfectly the first time.
He even showcases his son’s vertical stand of favorite games, pointing out how NFC cards have changed how they use the MiSTer in their home. No menus, no scrolling—just grab a card, tap it, and play.
