It was amongst the first (and certainly the most popular) console to truly push the 3D frontier, expanding beyond the flat 2D planes of gaming's primitive origins and launching a revolution that would define the future of the medium.įor some, it's iconic, and rightfully so: games like Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil, both included on the PlayStation Classic, are some of the most revered titles in gaming. The original PlayStation holds an interesting spot in the landscape of the evolution of gaming. Play these first: Sonic The Hedgehog | Gunstar Heroes | Streets of Rage 2 | Mega Man: The Wily Wars | Castlevania: Bloodlines | Contra: Hard Corps It's an excellently handled throwback to another time that'll hit you right in the nostalgic feels. Thanks to 42 all-time classic games (and bios on the significance of each one), the Genesis Mini offers better value for money than most.
It even has original menu music by the 16-bit era legend Yuzo Koshiro, created using authentic tools of the day. From an adorably dinky console with a cartridge slot you can actually open for 'blowing away dust' to its authentic packaging, this is a system that excels at the little things. If you're a SEGA fan from a time when Sonic had just arrived and the Biker Mice From Mars were still a thing on TV, you're in luck - the SEGA Genesis Mini (or Mega Drive if you're in the UK) is the best retro game console for you. Play these first: Super Mario World | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Super Metroid | Yoshi's Island | Secret of Mana | Earthbound While US readers get the North American model with its sleek purple accents, UK fans are able to revisit their unique version with primary-colored buttons on the joypad. That's true no matter which side of the Atlantic you're on. Even though the issue of controller cord length persists - it’s longer, but still nowhere near long enough for living room setups - it’s hard to imagine a more slickly packaged, densely concentrated dose of retro goodness. These range from fuzzy CRT emulation to crisp HD output, rewind and suspend options, and a bucketful of the kind of fun Nintendo Easter eggs you'd expect from one of the best retro game consoles available. They're displayed at their very best here thanks to a suite of display options. The likes of Yoshi's Island, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Super Punch-Out! are still as engaging today as they were in the heyday of the SNES. Whether it's Super Mario World or Street Fighter 2, these are games that inspired generations. And here we are - once again, Nintendo has knocked it out of the park by providing a library of essential games inside a faithful, adorable replica of the original SNES.īesides being hugely nostalgic, these games represent some of the era's best they're classics that changed the industry in fundamental ways. With the success of and overwhelming demand for the NES Mini Classic, a 16-bit follow up was virtually guaranteed. Controller cords still inexplicably short The best retro game consoles available now That means the best gaming tablets and the best gaming phones are viable options for the retro gamer when all else fails. It's worth bearing in mind that many older games have been ported over to mobile.
Struggling to find the games you want right away? Don't lose hope. Most of the best retro consoles only have 20 - 30 titles on them, so there's a good chance that some of your favorites have been left by the wayside. Just remember to check which games are included on your console of choice before buying it. To help point you in the right direction, our team has put together a list of the best retro game consoles that every fan needs in their collection. The only downside? The sheer volume of choice. Plus, because most of them feature HDMI ports, you can also hook them up to the best gaming TVs. These are all-in-one plug and play devices, but with reams of games available on each one there's sure to be something for everyone hiding in these plastic shells. Whether you're feeling nostalgic for pixels gone by, or looking to play through a history you weren't around to see, there are plenty of memory boxes on the market right now. The best retro game consoles can be the perfect antidote to anyone seeking a respite in a simpler time.