7 Best Retro Video Game Devices of 2024: Price and Availability

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Overview: Best Retro Video Game Devices

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Retro gaming has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many gamers wish they could go back to simpler times, when old school 8-bit and 16-bit graphics and audio reigned supreme and were filled with after-school fun.

To quench that nostalgic itch, game companies like Nintendo, Sega, and Sony offer easy-to-set-up features that allow you to choose a game, play a few levels, and get on with the rest of your busy day. We have developed a retro gaming device. You can return to the game after a few hours. These devices offer a low barrier to entry due to their ready-to-go design. In fact, many of them come pre-loaded with dozens of games, so it's like scrolling through your favorite streaming service looking for something to play instead of watching.

We've rounded up some of our favorite retro gaming devices, including some we've tried and recommended, as well as devices from top brands with 4.0+ star ratings. Below we present our main options.

What are the best retro video game devices?

If you're looking to buy a new retro video game device, here are the seven best devices to get in 2024, based on real-world usage, consumer reviews, performance, and the library of games available.

1. Nintendo NES Classic Edition

The Nintendo NES Classic Edition is a much smaller replica of the original Nintendo Entertainment System released in 1985. It doesn't have the same RCA TV input as the original, but has been updated to HDMI for modern TVs. Comes with 1 retro controller and 30 preloaded classic games, including: Super mario bros., legend of zelda, metroid, Rockman, doctor mario, Kid Icarusetc. See the complete list of NES games here.

On the other hand, it also has modern features such as saving states and rewinding in three gameplay modes. 4:3 aspect ratio, Pixel Perfect for the best picture quality on modern TVs, and CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) filters. Scanlines to imitate old TV games.

This retro gaming device is perfect for anyone who wants to experience playing video games from the 80's or wants to go back to the good old days of gaming.

2. Arcade 1 Up

The days of playing cutting-edge video games at your local arcade are long gone, but with Arcade1Up you can get the same experience as holding a joystick and mashing action buttons. They are a video game company that specializes in creating affordable, small-scale replicas of classic arcade games from the 80s and 90s.

games — like street fighter ii, simpsons, nba jam, x menand Terminator 2: Judgment Day — Play exactly like it did back in the day, with the original action button and joystick layout and the same artwork that adorned arcade cabinets, but with a modern LCD display and Wi-Fi connectivity for modern leaderboards. The system features online multiplayer. – players and even various other games included. This means that instead of getting one game, you get several.

Example: Arcade1Up cabinet Mortal Kombat IIthe original is also included. mortal kombat and mortal kombat 3similarly rampage, jousting match, newspaper delivery man, gauntletetc.

If you have the space and want to recreate classic arcades at home, be sure to check out other classic titles on Arcade1Up first. Pac-Man, Ms. Pacman, Dig Dugand galaga.

3. Atari 2600+

The Atari 2600, released in 1977, was the first successful home game console. This effectively moved video games from arcades to homes. For those who want to play classic hits from the late 70's and early 80's, the Atari 2600+ is the perfect old school retro gaming device.

The Atari 2600+ is a little different. Rather than having preloaded games built-in, it stays true to the original console and has the ability to actually play Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 games. If you have game cartridges from this classic gaming era, you can slide them in. and start playing. However, if you don't have any older games handy, the Atari 2600+ comes with a 10-in-1 cartridge containing classic titles. adventure, battle, Please avoid, Haunted house, Maze Craze, missile commandothers.

Meanwhile, it comes with a CX40+ joystick controller and HDMI cable for the latest TVs. The Atari 2600+ is essentially an Atari 2600 that is also compatible with Atari 7800 games.

4. Nintendo SNES Classic Edition

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is the quintessential home console of the '90s, with its then-state-of-the-art 16-bit graphics and audio, wide range of games, and wide popularity among gamers. Thanks to Amazon's Renewed Store, you can now relive his '90s gaming glory days with the Nintendo SNES Classic Edition.

This mini-console is a replica of the original SNES and comes with two SNES controllers, an HDMI cable for modern TVs, and 21 preloaded games (including: super mario world, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, super metroid, F-Zero, star fox and star fox 2 (never released before), earth bound, Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting, others. See the complete list of SNES games here.

Nintendo SNES Classic Edition also has some modern features like saving and rewinding your gameplay.

5. SEGA Genesis Mini

One of the biggest rivalries in the gaming world was between Nintendo and Sega in the late '80s and early '90s. Although the Sega Genesis featured games that were a little different and off the beaten track compared to the Nintendo, the games were just as fun and replayable as the NES and SNES games. Not to be outdone, Sega also has his own mini-console called his Sega Genesis Mini.

It comes with two classic Genesis controllers that connect to retro gaming devices via USB, and can connect to modern TVs via HDMI. A miniature replica of the first generation model, the Sega Genesis Mini comes with 40 pre-installed games. Sonic the hedgehog, modified beast, Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, eternal champion, comic zone, dolphin echo, earthworm gym, alex kidd in the magic castleetc.

Meanwhile, there are also two bonus games included. Darius And the Sega version Tetris, which was not released in the United States until it appeared on this mini-console. See the full list of Sega Genesis games here.

6. SEGA Genesis Mini 2

Some of the more bizarre Sega games from the '90s include the Sega Genesis Mini 2. It is a replica of the second generation model of the home game console, features a sleeker design compared to the original, and comes with six features from the Sega Genesis. Uses a button controller instead of the classic his three button layout. The mini console connects to modern TVs via HDMI.

Additionally, the Sega Genesis Mini 2 includes not only Genesis games, but also Sega CD games. Streets of Rage 3, Toejam & R in Panic on Funkotron, Ecco: The tide of time, Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Shinobu's Revenge, lister, others. You can play a total of 60 preloaded games. Check out the complete list of Sega Genesis and Sega CD games here.

7.Sony PlayStation Classic

Step into the world of digital gaming with the Sony PlayStation Classic. The Sony PlayStation Classic is a mini-console replica that is over 45% smaller than Sony's first home game console. It comes with two original PlayStation controllers that connect to the replica via USB, and the mini-console itself connects to a modern TV via HDMI. Comes with a virtual memory card that allows you to save your progress while playing the game.

Speaking of games, the Sony PlayStation Classic comes preloaded with 20 games from the original PlayStation era in the late '90s. Final Fantasy Vll, grand theft auto, jumping flash, Resident Evil Director's Cut, ridge racer type 4, tekken 3, twisted metal, wild arms, others. Check out the complete list of Sony PlayStation games here.

Buying Guide: How to choose a retro video game console

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best retro video gaming device for you. There are several important factors we considered when compiling this list.

game: Unlike traditional gaming consoles, where power and speed are the main factors, retro video gaming devices are all about gaming. Most of these devices do not allow you to add or remove games on the fly, so the amount of games preinstalled onboard is mostly limited.

If you're a fan of Nintendo games, you can't go wrong with the NES Classic Edition, but if you love Sega games, go for the Sega Genesis Mini. If you're happy with both mini-consoles, buy their sequels, SNES Classic Edition and Sega Genesis Mini 2, respectively.

size: Although most of these retro gaming devices are compact, the Arcade1Up arcade cabinet takes up a lot of space in your home. In fact, the cabinet is about 2 feet deep, 2 feet wide, and 5 feet tall, so it might be beneficial to dedicate a large portion of the room to his Arcade1Up. This is especially true if you plan on purchasing multiple cabinets.

Features: The Arcade1Up arcade cabinet is Wi-Fi enabled for leaderboards and online multiplayer, but most other retro gaming devices cannot connect to the internet. But devices like the NES Classic Edition have things like rewind to go back to fix mistakes, save state to save your progress without having to restart the game, and the feel of playing on an old boxy CRT (cathode tube). It has different gameplay modes to imitate. ray tube) television.

price: Most retro gaming devices are relatively inexpensive, between $100 and $200, compared to purchasing older hardware and cartridges. However, these devices are also limited edition, so the price may be higher than the original price. For example, when Nintendo's NES Classic was released in 2016, it retailed for $60, but due to demand and lack of stock, it now trades for around $140 to $200.

Additionally, Arcade1Up arcade cabinets are expensive, ranging from $299 to $700. However, the impressive cabinet art, premium build quality, and smooth, accurate gameplay emulation make it a great value.