The retro revival is here
Retro gaming, or playing classic blasts from the past, has been surging in popularity as of late. There’s a logical for reason for this phenomenon too: those who gamed in the 80s and 90s are now adults. And let’s be honest, going back and reliving all your favourite childhood games is extreme exciting!
For those with families, retro gaming is also an awesome way to introduce the classics to your children. Gaming has a rich and fascinating history, so it can be fun to explore games of yesteryear. If your child loves Super Mario Odyssey, why not introduce them to the NES or SNES classics? Perhaps your family played Sonic Mania recently, if so you’ll enjoy checking out classic SEGA Genesis games together. There are literally thousands of amazing retro games waiting for you to discover—or rediscover!
Let’s take a look at some great retro gaming options available today:
Atari – play the all-time classics
No other name in gaming drums up as much nostalgic feeling as the first huge hit in home consoles: Atari. AtGames has some amazing Atari products available including the Flashback 8 Gold, which I recently reviewed on the blog. In the box you get a miniature replica Atari 2600 console pre-loaded with 120 Atari games. You also get two wireless controllers that look and feel just like the classic Atari joysticks. Some of the timeless games you’ll get include Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Pitfall!, River Raid, and Space Invaders. Now those are some legendary games!
Another option is the standard Atari Flashback 8, which features 105 built-in games. That’s a tad less games than the Flashback 8 Gold version, but it costs less too. It also comes with two wired Atari controllers, in contrast to the Gold‘s wireless. Both Flashback 8 consoles include legacy controller ports that enable you to plug in Atari joysticks or paddles.
One last option is the Atari Flashback Portable console. This new version lets you take 70 built-in Atari games with you anywhere on-the-go. Games included range from PAC-MAN, to Dig Dug, to Frogger, and much more. All of them are playable on the console’s 2.8″ LCD screen using the D-pad and face buttons. It comes with a built-in rechargeable battery and a USB charging cable so the gaming never stops. To expand your game library, the SD card slot lets you download more games! Just note the SD card is not included.
SEGA – games that made it a household name
While SEGA no longer makes home consoles, they’ll always be known for creating one of the best machines of all time: Genesis. With the AtGames SEGA Genesis Flashback console you can relive 85 SEGA hits. These include Alex Kid, Phantasy Star, Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Mortal Kombat, and Sonic games. It also features stunning new design that closely resembles the original console. Two high-performance wireless controllers come in the box as well, both styled after the Genesis’ original 6-button controller.
A second option is the AtGames SEGA Genesis Classic Console, featuring 81 built-in games. It includes hits from the Sonic and Mortal Kombat series, along with games like Comic Zone, Virtua Fighter 2, and Phantasy Star II. You also get two wired controllers modeled after the SEGA Genesis original.
Finally, if you like portability than you’ll love the new SEGA Genesis Ultimate Handheld. Featuring a high-resolution 2.8″ screen, 6 buttons, and a D-pad, this portable Genesis is like a console in your hands. 85 classic Sega Genesis and Mega Drive games are built-in, including Splatterhouse, Sonic, and Mortal Kombat. Longer role-playing games like Shining Force and Phantasy Star are also built-in, and the console features save game support. Lastly, a built-in rechargeable battery and included USB charging cable round out the console’s offering.
Nintendo – the birth of legendary franchises
Super Mario. Kirby. Metroid. The Legend of Zelda. Donky Kong. Star Fox. In the history of video games it doesn’t get much bigger (or better!) than Nintendo. The company has had enormous success with their micro-consoles including last year’s Super NES Classic Edition. This hit console includes 20 all-time SNES classics, plus the never-before-released Star Fox 2 game.
Some of the built-in SNES games include Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Super Mario Kart, and Donkey Kong Country. There are also incredible third-party titles like Mega Man X, Final Fantasy III, Super Castlevania IV, and Secret of Mana. That last game was recently fully remade by Square Enix using 3D graphics, just to show how popular the classic is.
It’s amazing that after more than two decades (in some cases three) these Nintendo franchises still continue and thrive today. In fact, Nintendo released a Super Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart, and Kirby game all within Nintendo Switch’s first year. Clearly we all love these characters, universes, and experience very much!
Consoles that let you use legacy cartridges
Whereas all the above consoles include built-in games, there are also retro systems that don’t. Instead, these machines let you play using legacy game cartridges. For classic game collectors this is a superb way to go, and provides that ultimate nostalgic experience. Plus, some of these consoles include great new features!
Hyperkin has amazing retro consoles designed for legacy cartridges, such as the SupaRetroN HD Gaming Console. This consoles lets you play SNES (NTSC and PAL) or Super Famicom cartridges in crisp 720p HD.
For more versatility, the Hyperkin Retro N 2 Gaming System gives you the ability to play SNES and NES games. That means you can play 8-bit and 16-bit Nintendo classics all on one console. It also comes with 2 wired controllers, and supports the original Nintendo and Super Nintendo gamepads. Cool!
For the ultimate retro experience, there’s the Retro-Bit 3-in-1 Home System. This console lets you play original cartridges for SNES, NES, and Genesis. It’s also compatible with multiple regions including NTSC and PAL so you can play games released in different parts of the world. Two controllers are included, but it also has six controller ports compatible with original or third party controllers!
Best Buy is your source for retro gaming
From micro-consoles with retro games pre-installed, to portable retro consoles, to consoles that use your old game cartridges, it’s never been easy to relive those childhood classics!
All the above consoles (and more) are available in the retro video game section of Best Buy’s website.
Need a special controller, adapter or extension cable for a retro console you already own? Browse the specialty accessories retro video game section. You might find something you’ll really enjoy!
