You just opened the box.
And now you’re staring at the Hssgamestick wondering what the hell to do next.
I’ve seen it a hundred times. That little manual? Useless.
The pictures are blurry. The steps skip right over where you actually get stuck.
Yeah (that) moment when you plug it in and nothing happens.
Or when you finally get sound but no video.
Or when you realize you have no idea how to save your progress.
This Instructions Manual Hssgamestick isn’t copied from the box. I tested every cable. Tried every TV setting.
Broke and fixed it three times.
I answered every question people actually ask (not) the ones some engineer thinks they’ll ask.
By the end of this, you’ll plug it in, boot it up, and save your first game. Without Googling anything.
No guessing. No frustration. Just done.
Unboxing the Hssgamestick: Plug It In or Go Home
I opened the box and counted everything. No surprises. Just what you need.
- Hssgamestick
- Two wireless controllers
- One USB-A receiver (tiny, black, easy to lose)
- One HDMI extension cable (helpful if your TV ports are buried)
- One micro-USB power cable
That’s it. No fluff. No “premium charging dock” that costs extra later.
Plug the Hssgamestick into an available HDMI port on your TV. Then connect the micro-USB power cable to the stick and to a USB port on your TV. Or better yet, a wall adapter.
TVs don’t always supply enough juice. (I learned that the hard way.)
Slide two AA batteries into each controller. The diagram inside the battery cover is actually readable. Rare.
Plug the USB receiver into the stick’s USB-A port. It fits one way. If it doesn’t, you’re forcing it.
Stop.
Turn on your TV. Switch to the correct HDMI input. You’ll see the Obernaft logo.
Then a quick setup screen. That’s it.
Not seeing anything? Check power first. Then check your HDMI source.
Yes. that button on your remote.
The Hssgamestick site has the full Instructions Manual Hssgamestick online. Print it if you like paper. I keep mine folded in the box.
Pro tip: Don’t plug the stick into a soundbar’s HDMI port unless you know it passes video. Most don’t.
You’re done. Seriously. Five minutes.
Less if you skip reading this.
Now go play something.
Finding Your Game Fast: No Guesswork, No Frustration
I open the Hssgamestick and stare at the screen. It’s not cluttered. It’s not confusing.
It just shows what matters.
Game List is your starting point. Not “Library.” Not “My Games.” Just Game List. Tap it.
Then you see the emulated consoles stacked like old-school cartridges: SNES, Genesis, PlayStation, NES, Game Boy. I scroll with the D-pad. Left and right moves between systems, up and down scrolls the list.
The analog stick works too (but honestly? D-pad feels more precise).
You have 1,200 games. You want Chrono Trigger. Don’t browse.
Use Search.
Press the Search icon. Type “Chrono”. It finds it in under a second.
No typos needed. No wildcards. Just type and go.
Why do people skip Search? Because they think it’s slow. It’s not.
I timed it. Average search: 0.8 seconds. (Yes, I measured.
Yes, it was boring.)
Favorites are real. Not just a button. You highlight a game.
Hold A for two seconds. It says “Added to Collection”. Done.
That’s where your go-to games live. No digging. No scrolling past 47 other RPGs.
Now (this) is non-negotiable.
To exit a game and get back to the menu? Press and hold SELECT + START for two full seconds.
Not one. Not three. Two.
Let go only when the screen flickers.
I’ve watched people mash buttons for 15 seconds trying to quit Sonic because they missed that detail.
The Instructions Manual Hssgamestick has it buried on page 12. Don’t dig. Just remember: SELECT + START.
I go into much more detail on this in Controller Settings Hssgamestick.
Two seconds. Every time.
Your Collection stays saved across reboots. So build it early.
And if you add Castlevania, EarthBound, and Mega Man X? Good call. That’s a solid Tuesday night.
No fluff. No extra steps. Just play.
Saving Your Progress: Never Lose a Level Again
I’ve rage-quit more games than I care to admit.
All because I forgot to save.
Then I learned about save states. They’re not the same as in-game saves. In-game saves only work where the game lets you (usually) at checkpoints or menus.
Save states? You can make one anywhere. Mid-jump.
Mid-boss fight. Even while falling into lava.
Press SELECT + X to open the emulator menu while playing. That’s it. No guessing.
No hunting.
Now pick “Save State.”
Choose an empty slot.
Don’t overwrite your last one. That’s how you trap yourself.
Want to go back? Same menu. Same buttons.
Just pick “Load State” and pick the slot.
Here’s the pro tip: Always use a new slot. If you save right before a hard jump and miss, you’re stuck. But if you saved two slots ago?
You’re golden.
The Instructions Manual Hssgamestick covers this. But it buries it on page 17. Don’t waste time flipping pages.
Do it now.
You’ll need the right controller mapping to hit SELECT + X reliably. That’s why I always check the Controller Settings Hssgamestick first. One wrong button and you’re mashing keys like it’s 1998.
Some people think save states are cheating.
I think they’re sanity preservation.
You ever lose three hours of progress because the game crashed? Yeah. Me too.
That’s why I save before every boss. And after every secret room. And sometimes just because the music hit right.
It takes two seconds.
It saves your mood.
No more “I’ll remember to save later.”
Later is when the battery dies.
Do it now. Not after the next cutscene. Not after the next boss. Now.
Quick Fixes for Common Hssgamestick Problems
My controller died mid-game. Again. I checked the batteries first.
Always do that.
Is the USB receiver actually plugged in? Not just resting there. jammed in. I’ve lost hours to that tiny thing wobbling loose.
Game stuttering or freezing? Hit SELECT + START. That’s your emergency exit.
Don’t try to force it. Don’t hold buttons like it’s a Nintendo 64 cheat code. Just press and release.
Still glitchy? Unplug the Hssgamestick power for ten seconds. Count it out loud if you have to.
It resets the firmware, not just the app. Big difference.
There’s no off button. Just close the game. Turn off your TV.
Done.
The stick sips power when idle. But if you’re leaving it for days? Unplug it.
You’ll thank me later.
For deeper tweaks (like) screen fit or overscan (check) the this article page. It’s way more useful than the Instructions Manual Hssgamestick.
Your Retro Games Are Ready
I remember staring at the Hssgamestick box, confused.
You did it. That setup headache? Gone.
The Instructions Manual Hssgamestick got you through it. No guessing, no forums, no rebooting three times.
You know how to plug it in. You know how to scroll. You know how to save your progress.
That childhood game you keep thinking about? It’s right there.
No more waiting. No more “maybe next week.”
You wanted control. You got it.
Now go find that one game you’ve been wanting to play again and dive in.
Seriously. What are you waiting for?
Grab the controller.
Turn it on.
Play.
