After 6 generations of iPhones, it’s rare to see unique cases anymore. With 100s of options available, if you’ve seen one, you’ve mostly likely seen them all. That’s why I was surprised to come across the PureGear Retro Game Cases for the iPhone 5 and 5s, an incredibly uniquely designed way to protect your phone. How does it work? Read on for the full review.
Design
PureGear’s Retro Game cases come in 3 different designs: Amazing, Groovy, and Undecided. Each design features not only a different color scheme, but a different retro game embedded into the back of the case that not only functions as part of the design, but as a real, working game as well. The Amazing case features a bright red outer edge and classic bright blue maze on the back. The Groovy case is bright blue around the edge and has a circular green maze with three silver balls to maneuver to the center. Finally, the Undecided case has a bright yellow outer edge and pink back, offering not a maze, but instead a pinball-like plunger which propels the ball to either a “yes” or “no” section after falling through a maze of dots.
Though each one is different, all three of the cases share some common design elements. Around the outside, you’ll find raised buttons for the lock button and volume buttons, along with a cutout for the mute switch. This side also features the PureGear logo, extending towards the bottom of the case. On the bottom is a cutout for the headphone jack and the lightning connector, with additional room for the microphone and speakers. Part of the speaker is obscured by the case, so there are small holes cut in the same configuration as the iPhone’s speaker, in order to let sound through. On the back you’ll find a black-rimmed cutout for the iPhone’s camera and LED flash, and inside the back of the case you’ll find both introductions for the game and the name of the case printed.
The cases are all made of a rigid, yet soft thermoplastic, with a standard transparent plastic back face, in order to view the game. The games themselves are extruded from the back of the case, and really give the design a unique and distinctive look. It adds a real sense of depth you don’t find in a standard case.
Usage
I’ve been testing out the Amazing version of the Retro Game case for about 2 weeks at the time of this review, and I’ve been overall very pleased with it. The case hasn’t shown any signs of wear, the clear plastic on the back hasn’t scratched, and the front of the case provides enough lay-on-table design that I haven’t worried about my screen getting cracked. The construction looks and feels very solid, and the colored accents around the edge contrast well with the display of the iPhone. The case really stands out.
One immediate worry I had was that the camera flash cutout had too much depth, and that it would cause glare from the LED flash.Fortunately, I haven’t found any problems, thanks to the black ring around the cutout. I’ve also really enjoyed the games built into the back. Not only do they give your phone a really cool, retro look, they’re fun to play if you get bored. While I found the maze on the back of the Amazing case very easy to finish, the circular design of the Groovy case makes it’s course a lot tougher to pass. You’ll need a pretty steady hand to get all three of the silver balls into the center at the same time. The first day or two I used the case, I was often caught off guard when I’d hear the ball inside the case move around, thinking that something was loose inside my iPhone, but after a little use, you won’t even notice anymore.
Of course, with every pro, there’s a con, and these cases aren’t perfect. The volume and lock buttons are a bit mushy for my taste, and the cutout for the headphone jack is too small in my opinion- you’ll need to use your Apple earbuds with it. This case also adds quite a bit of thickness to your phone, since there is an entire game built into the back. It doesn’t bother me personally, but those who are ultra-conscious of phone thickness might see it as a turnoff. Last, but not least, I found it to be very difficult to remove the case from my phone. The plastic shell is incredibly rigid and snug fitting, and I had a difficult time taking it off when I needed to use a larger headphone connection with my phone. Unless there’s a better way to remove it I haven’t found, it’s quite a chore and requires a lot of pulling on both your phone and the case, something that doesn’t seem good for either. It’s definitely a case you’re going to want to leave on once you put it on.
Conclusion
Although it has its drawbacks, I’m still overall incredibly pleased with the PureGear Retro Game Cases. I plan on using it as my sole case for my iPhone for the foreseeable future. It’s incredibly unique design makes it one of my favorite cases I’ve seen. You can buy either the iPhone 5/5s or iPhone 5c versions of the case for $29.99.
Giveaway
Thanks to the generosity of PureGear, we’re able to giveaway two Retro Game Cases to 9to5Mac readers- one Groovy and one Undecided model. Entering to win is simple. Just leave a comment below on this post with your Twitter @name and the model of case you’d like- Groovy or Undecided (both pictured above), and in 1 week, we’ll randomly select two winners. Make sure you’re following 9to5Mac on Twitter, as we’ll direct message you on Twitter to inform you that you’ve won and to get contact information.
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undecided and my twitter is @liammjwise
I wouldn’t mind one lol..thanks 9to5guys..
@Christeres95 Groovy Undecided
I want the Groovy!! @jouz3
@marleyandkyle Groovy!
Undecided and my twitter is @akfg_fan
groovy my twitter @adanakebob
I’m @drywit_ on Twitter. I would love the Undecided model. Fingers crossed!
those cases looks great. but the red one looks the best
I would like the Groovy one :D user: @Adriandinarad
Pretty unique idea. I would love to win the Undecided model, since I usually resort to flipping coins.
Twitter name: @Maher_Elharake
@jordanwags. Groovy!
undecided would do wonders for @androwis.
Thanks for the wonderful review, I really want to have this case. :)
Undecided and @mercknickoel
Groovy – @estebanvm7
Is the designer of these cases blind, or do they just have bad taste? Why are so many iPhone cases so fugly?
undecided @lazyjay5
Groovy … @ithompsonftw
Groovy and my twitter is @bogie1234554321
Groovy and my twitterbis @GergoFoldes
My twitter name is @taidowebb and It’d be awesome if i could win the retro gear amazing case. The one that is red and blue
Groovy would be nice as it brings back memories. @MikeMP84
undecided twitter @alexrangel92
undecided and my twitter is @shrelzz
groovy & Twitter name is @bayareakahuna21
groovy and my twitter is @arnoldtsai
@kengu_rut groovy
Groovy and my twitter is @ManOfFandoms
Groovy and my twitter is @jessehardesty
undecided @jdgill5562
Groovy – hadleigh101
Groovy! My twitter is @smittenginger
undecided @louys123
Groovy and my twitter is @FerossH
Groovy! @ayager98 thank you!
Groovy coz I like its contrasting colors…. B)
undecided and my twitter is @kidjulio
Amazing, @jamesgoodmusic
Groovy & @rfennemore709
Model: Undecided
Twitter: @LimJunWei95
Groovy and my Twitter is @AndreasNesgaard
Groovy
Twitter name: @Crisci_nick
Groovy!
Twitter Name: @Azlannnn
Groovy and my twitter name is @chocolatesox
Groovy please! @leehaines_
@RAZOR0027 and the case I would like is Groovy and thanks 9to5Mac you guys are the best informers on all technology from Apple to Samsung.
Groovy and my twitter name is _hubsheng
Groovy and my twitter is @fcs132
Groovy and my Twitter is @kirklandavis
Groovy and my twitter is @Wassman98
Undecided and @parkourben
Thanks!
groovy and my twitter is @theMSCWins
Undecided. My user @simonnin.
I want the groooooovy!!!! Get my groove out!! My twitter is @nortorovega and I am happily following you guys!!!
Groovy
My twitter is @coopercarli :)
@rushko
Groovy!
I would love to win the Groovy case! @lauraviken
Groovy is my choice. ALP46A is my twitter.
Groovy would be nice as it brings back memories. @MikeMP84
My first message has been awaiting moderation for 2 hours. :(
Groovy @raldahleh
Groovy @AQW_Serpente
groovy @mLfarr
@lmjwoww groovy for me please!
Groovy and my Twitter is @djpd =)
Groovy @IvanJHuang Thanks
Groovy and my twitter is @matthewbissell
Groovy and my twitter name is @Alex_Symon
Undecided and my twitter is @connor_allan :-) Thanks ;-)
@KheldarUK – groovy :)
undecided, @lizheyman
Groovy please. Twitter name is: @chrisbaker3
Undecided
My Twitter: @iNovarro
Groovy! @smurs
Groovy and twitter is @josephmwood
Undecided @pat_adair
Groovy! @Nerosuprimo
My Twitter name is @RoyShtayim and i’d like Groovy! Thanks! :)
Groovy and my Twitter name is @cfl99
Groovy
@fernando9026
Groovy! Twitter: @RedheadEAP
Groovy and my twitter is @oscargotesson
whoops, typo in previous comment. Groovy, and twitter is @smrs
Groovy man @henryQueen
I’d love to have Groovy. @Lecter is my Twitter name.
Undecided… Yes. No, I mean yes… @Drummatix
Definitely “Undecided”. Twitter is: @Philipp_Pi
Undecided and my twitter is @dannylovell
Undecided twitter @AYAMO76
I mean Groovy. sorry lol. @AYAMO76
Groovy all the way
Twitter – @harsh_tiwari
Groovy please! @drmjshah
Thanks guys!
groovy and my twitter is @lieder1987
Groovy and my twitter handle is @vatshisname
groovy. twitter is @jkgoalie
groovy and my twitter account is @AmirSM
Thank you!! :D
undecided @bre0n_l
undecided and my twitter is @pamelaforero
groovy @christomo6
undecided and my twitter is @telejin
Undecided please. @heshamf
Thanks
undecided please :) and my twitter is @Amit_Eliyahu
undecided and my twitter is @M1nL1
Awesome case!!!
Groovy looks lovely. Twitter @miroslavbujna
I would really like the groovy model. My Twitter is @jaaaacobbbb
Thanks for the opportunity!
groovy and my twittername is: @mohammedjhavary
undecided and twitter name is @josevega92
Groovy and my twitter is @ramgandhi
Groovy for me please :) twitter is @MikeMP84 (Hoping this one gets posted)
Groovy and my twitter name is @proppedyret
@reachingforthosedollarswithmorecrap
undecided and my twitter is @namnams4
@iRahulRana is so GROOVY
Groovy and my Twitter is @UKRockCovers.
Undecided, twitter is @ldglover20
undecided @trillamerika
Groovy and my twitter is @karan1525
Groovy and my twitter is @A01334390
Undecided . . . .@robotstorm
Groovy. Twitter: @DayKendyl
groovy…@dbrandonthomas
Undecided and my twitter handle is @aDam_Nerd
Undecided! Twitter name is @JRMVNE
Groovy Twitter: @albrightikus
Groovy
@BobbySing_
@aleks_czernicki Undecided is great c:.
Groovy please. @usman_haque
undecided and I’m @tylerwicneal
@somebodyurnot and would prefer groovy
@shookisawesome Groovy
groovy and my twitter is @jakebusuttil. thats such a sick case :)
Groovy @ijoshwa
Undecided! This is a really cool case and I would love to have it! Not sure how it protects the phone though. Let’s hope that I can win this so I can find out :)
forgot to write down my twitter name. It’s @jerryponmac
Undecided for sure and my Twitter handle is @Hashuumi
undecided like whoa! @connosur_bv
Groovy case please!
Twitter: @jerrylshen
Groovy for 5S and my Twitter is @Rafagon
Groovy and my twitter is @ichasecohen
Groovy for me! Twitter is @juanrauel
Groovy @MikeMP84
Groovy would be nice as it brings back memories. @MikeMP84
groovy @bilibo – love to play
Undecided @ryanwleach
Undecided! They’re both really rad. – @elleywv
groovy case, @lowellreade
Groovy! My twitter name is @avujic
Undecided and twitter is @dmbshn41
Cool Cover! Love the reviews.
Undecided @liawdaniel
Groovy and my twitter is @BigB1095
Undecided!
@cevansdust
groovy and my twitter name is @shapiro21
Groovy, thanks :)
@davide_lomba
Groovy – @angelicaaaaaa98
I actually am undecided! They’re all nice, but I think the Undecided case is the one to get. @Pizzaman1996
I would love the undecided! @Double0singh
Groovy for iPhone 5 for @azurelogic
groovy looks really fun @rellyboy105
Groovy is awesome and my twitter is @quincyd09
I really like Undecided! My twitter is @latinoboyboy These cases are so quirky! I love them!
I think it’s the case that suit my iPhone 5 best because I’m an indie game developer ;)
Groovy
@andrekhrisna
I’d like undecided please
@bacore
Groovy and my twitter is @natalietanczak
Groovy and 908ef
Groovy for me! @adamstein
WOW! I want one Groovy & my twitter @rishikeshdesai
Groovy and twitter is: @DTB8
love them btw
Undecided and my twitter is @SDragon0210
@whex5 and groovy !!!!
Groovy – @cmsjade5000
Groovy- @thelawfirm11
Groovy – @alexsalidoa
Groovy ! – @mikepana
Groovy, @KevinTweaton
Groovy!
@runbrittanyrun4
undecided @Ritesh_Joshi
Undecided @ryanjamesweldon
@airjoby and i would like groovy
Amazing. My Twitter handle is @ckroks
groovy definitely @manideep_gunnam
Its like endless gaming))
I like Groovy one
@boi_in_luv
@Unanim0uslyUniq
Groovy
groovy – @mtmaster
@biggaharry–Groovy please!
Undecided! @LouisWayne
They look awesome! Groovy @HctrJBza
Undecided. – @Krisiouz
Grovvy will be great for my new iPhone 5s! @flashstorm0123
Oh my God. I love these cases. Color scheme is sexy.
If I win, I’d like to have Groovy and my twitter id is @felixwidjaja
undecided! and my twitter handle: 2itterist
groovy….. @rwongspelling
definitely undecided. Twitter is @forrestberndt
The undecided case is amazing. I really love them both but the undecided is cool. I’m planning on getting the iPhone 5c so if I win, one for the iPhone 5c. @pandam432
UNDECIDED looks like a nice case for me! @mralexwalls
Undecided @ionvarela
@bettaboy123 The Groovy one. :)
Undecided and my Twitter account is @smashmario!
I really want the Groovy one! Twitter name is @falsomanMX
UNDECIDED! @JesseRice13
@mayreeluwis Undecided case :)
Groovy @cityhuntermx
Groovy – @iJayCee23
@nightlyc groovy please :)
@mouthfully undecided
Groovy @TheWaveable
@CamKrohn Groovy
I would love to win Groovy case. Thanks! @asyrafmdrodzi
groovy @kraythor
Groovy is the way @thepigathome rolls!
groovy! @derekwenn22
UNDECIDED I JUST LOVE IT :D @cccc1999
UNDECIDED I JUST LOVE IT :D @cccc1999 IT SUITS MY IPHONE 5 SO MUCH.
Undecided @ronnel
Undecided and my name is @Pepermuntj3
Groovy!! :)
@bersaelor
I’d like undecided
@DarionHylt
Undecided for iPhone 5/5s @julimcintosh. Thanks.
@beyondthetech is Undecided. :)
@omar_hazem6 – Groovy
The Groovy one
Nickname – @geolms
That is awesome! @Marchy50
And the Groovy one is pretty sweet
Groovy and my twitter name is @iMAronH. Thanks!
groovy! @exinfamous
@alexw2010 Groovy
groovy. @cleschert
Undecided
@nsm022
@methi1999 Undecided!
@allyourguvin would like a Groovy case!!
Undecided
@sunnysaurusrex
Groovy (Canucks colours) @kevdking
i love the amazing and the groovy case but my favorite is the AMAZING CASE good job creators of the cases fabulous job loving it …. i would love the groovy for iphone 5s my twitter name is @texasnycbkboi thank u
@Kcco_Kenny Undecided please
Would be awesome to get the Groovy case!
@onlineaddy Undecided
Undecided please @chairman_blau
groovy
@olivershipp id be all over that undecided case
@stanleyrya would love an undecided!
@kjciarletta groovy! :)
@ipspman and would love a groovy case!!
Undecided :) @sleepytiger_
Please, give me undecided case to help me decide everything :)
@blesafho
@tedinframe would love a groovy case!
My Twitter name is @lifesalich, and I’m still Undecided.
@mz9 groovy!
Groovy @christiansgia
Wow! No Facebook login? Very retro :) Undecided @infin8dvone
GROOVY 👅 @jdtungcab
Groovy!!! @jdtungcab
@Yeishalee is my twitter name. I’d like the Groovy case! :)
@robertdwilson – I love that Undecided model!
Would like the Amazing case please!! @skeeterbug007
@uronliexception would like a undecided case please!!
@robintay an undecided case would be perfect!
@ginas1726 I would love the Groovy case looks so fun! It’s so me and my favorite saying of all times has always been “Groovy Baby”!!!! So much si my daughter wants to get “Groovy Baby” tattooed on her because it reminds her of me and growing up! I’ve been saying it to her since she was little! So this chic would love the Groovy Case because it’s totally “Groovy Baby”!!!!
@delacruzjay Groovy baby yeah!!!!
@KevinTastic234,Groovy Case!
It’s @gigglingpuppy I’d pick the Undecided :)
@Lindasayswhat the groovy case!
@wvfan_ge I want the Groovy case! :D
One of my friends recommended a site called caseily. Check them out for some amazing retro cases for iPhone and iPad.
@malafe07 One Groovy please! :]
Very fun and useful if you need distraction when your battery dies!