Recently, I revisited Return of the Obra Dinn, contemplating a reinstallation of this captivating detective game with its unique dithered art style that would look stunning on an e-paper display. Historically, these displays have been criticized for their sluggish refresh rates.

The Solution? Modos Paper Monitor Kit

However, the creators of the Modos Paper Monitor and Dev Kit, a crowdfunded open-source project, now assert that their product can manage refresh rates up to 75 Hz, making it a viable option for gaming.

The kit includes an e-paper panel but allows users to utilize their own panels for enhanced performance. “Instead of our secret sauce, we have open sauce,” says Modos cofounder Alexander Soto.

“You could use a different panel and still get 75 Hz.”

This technology leverages electrophoretic displays to render high-contrast images akin to printed text. While traditional e-paper displays are limited to around 10 Hz, the Modos kit aims to change that by using a custom driver for superior refresh performance.

Optimizing Your Experience

The Modos Paper Monitor also features modes like the Hybrid Greyscale Mode, which toggles between a fast binary mode and a slower greyscale mode, allowing for quick updates followed by refined rendering.

This kit is adaptable for various e-paper screens from 6 to 13.3 inches, promising a drastically improved experience for graphic adventures.

For those curious about gaming on an e-paper display, the Crowd Supply campaign has already garnered over $128,000 towards its $110,000 goal, with preorders starting at $199 for the 6-inch dev kit. If you’re intrigued by the innovative possibilities, consider documenting your experiences, especially running classics like Doom: The Dark Ages at 75 fps!