It’s a shame that two of the best retro game consoles of recent years, the NES Classic Mini and the SNES Classic Mini, were interrupted. Both feature stunning designs with a miniaturized look true to the originals, silky-smooth performance, and solid game lineups of Nintendo’s greatest hits. You can still buy them online (usually from third-party resellers), but the prices are seriously inflated. The SNES Classic Mini, for example, cost $80 at launch, but one reseller has it for over $300 on Amazon right now. You might have better luck buying one used.
Nintendo fans hungry for classic gaming action might be better served by picking up a Switch and buying a Nintendo Switch Online Membership ($20 for one year) to access more than 100 NES and SNES titles (here is the complete list). Add the Expansion Pack ($50 for one year) and you can get these N64 games Also. If you’re craving an old-school handheld Nintendo game, check out the new game. Game and watch ($50) double. They are limited to a few games each, but when those games are Super Mario Or Zelda titles, that can be enough for hours of fun.
THE Analogue Mega SG ($200) (8/10, WIRED recommends) is expensive and doesn’t come with any games or controllers (they cost $25 each). But it can play old Sega Genesis cartridges, so it’s a solid choice if you have a box of them in the basement. Thanks to an FPGA chip, this console runs the original games just as you remember them.
There is a lot of classic arcade games available on PlayStation 4 or 5. If you opt for a PS Plus Premium Subscription ($18 for one month or $160 for one year)you get the Catalog of classicsfilled with old PlayStation games.
Xbox Series You can also find classic titles included in our favorite gaming subscriptionthe excellent Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($17 per month).
If you own Valve’s Steam Deck, check out the full guide ÉmuDeck to stylishly emulate a wide variety of legacy systems.
PC gamers also have a huge choice of emulators. I like RetroArch because it emulates multiple systems, but if you have an old favorite console and want to get closer to that original experience, you can probably find a tailor-made emulator to scratch that itch.
Do you miss all those Flash browser games you played at the office when you were supposed to be working? Read our guide, How to Play All Those Old Flash Games You Remember.
THE Panic Game Date ($199) (7/10, WIRED recommends) isn’t strictly a retro console, but it’s fun, creative, and original, and it has a distinct retro feel. It even has a crank for a whole new way to interact with games!
THE Analog Duo ($250) (6/10, WIRED Review) makes TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine games look amazing on any HDMI display. It has HuCARD and CD-ROM functionality, so existing games work regardless of media, region or other requirements. Unfortunately, it’s expensive, controllers cost more, and there’s no openFPGA support.
