Best Retro Gaming Consoles

But it isn't just about the practicality and ergonomics. We did say that you'll be able to experience 16-bit gaming like never before and we stand by those words. For one, using this mini console, you will have the ability to save the so-called Suspend Points. Remember Earthworld Jim? What about The Lost Vikings? Remember how nail-bitingly difficult were the Chrono Trigger and the Final Fantasy VI?

Well, with this little feature, you'll get quite a bit of help. For every game, you will be able to create up to 4 save points. It isn't enough to take all of the fun out of these difficult games but just enough assistance to make the experience as fun as possible.

You will also get a nice little Rewind feature that will allow you to rewind a minute or more, depending on the game’s last suspend point. Some developers didn't include a pause function to make their title artificially more difficult. This console solves that issue by introducing a Pause function with a very self-explanatory purpose.

The retro gaming console in question comes equipped with a My Game Play Demo feature. A bit gimmicky for our taste, this feature will let you replay one of those saved suspend points as a part of the demo game footage. It's better than the usual approach with the built-in demos but nothing to write home about, in our humble opinion.

But we wouldn't say the same about the Frame feature. Though seemingly small, it can make the overall experience quite a bit more fun and exciting. Using this feature, you'll be able to create a nice little border around your game. Plus, some of these frames change their color based on the game being played, a nice little touch that can make the game even more immersive.

Finally, the retro console comes equipped with 21 built-in games, including Super Mario Kart, Street Fighter, and 18 extra classics. On top of that, you get the never-before-released Star Fox 2, a sequel that took almost 30 years to arrive at the scene.

In short, if you've spent the bulk of your childhood riding Yoshi, getting to the final heart-pounding escape scene from Planet Zebes, or cleaning up the crime-ridden streets of the Street Fighter 2 world, we can't think of one reason not to get this new and improved version the classic Super NES console.

Now, we have focused most of our time at attention on the games, but it isn't like this console doesn't have anything going for it other than nostalgia points. On the contrary, there is a lot to it.

For one, the model includes a 720p HDMI output. And, sure, it won't fix the primitive by today's standards graphics of the games but, at the very least, it gives you a convenient one-cable connection to modern-day TVs. Plus, the scan line filtering feature will make the best out of the otherwise unimpressive image.

You also get the pause and save features that you will often find in these new iterations of the classic consoles. The rewind feature is a nice touch too. Using this feature, you will be able to rewind the game a few seconds. And, trust us, you'll need it. The games may seem simplistic but they're also far more unforgiving than 99% of the triple-A titles we see today.

Finally, the model comes with 2 wireless controllers and 2 wired paddles. The said wireless controllers work at the 2.4 GHz frequency, so you get no delay and no interference, even with a dozen wireless devices in the nearby vicinity.

To sum it up, Atari 2600 is the grandpa of video gaming and the original home gaming system. The console's games shaped the gaming world for decades to come and paved the way for future generations of gamers. The Atari Flashback 8 Gold gives you all of the best Atari 2600 titles with a few improvements to the overall experience.

Of course, we didn't play the NES on a huge flat-panel 4k display. No, more often than not, we used to play on a small CRT TV. So, even though the former option is better from the technical standpoint, it doesn't emulate that old-school CRT experience particularly well. Fortunately, the people behind this console have thought this thing through.

Equipped with a number of display modes, you'll be able to make the visual part of the experience as authentic and enticing as possible. There's a 4:3 mode, the preferred aspect ratio of the old CRT TVs that is slightly wider than tall. You'll also get the option to choose CRT filter, a display mode that mimics the visual effect of the aforementioned CRT televisions. The mode adds extra blur and scanlines, again, a nice little addition to make the overall experience as authentic as possible.

Finally, there's Pixel Perfect, a technology that fixes the issue with the original NES where the console's hardware would stretch its internal 8:7 aspect ratio onto a 4:3 screen. Thanks to this technology, you'll be able to view the games exactly as they developers designed and intended them to be.

Having said all of that, at the end of the day, it is all about the games. And, with this console, you get a collection of 30 pre-installed classic titles, including the original Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight, Pac-Man, Dr. Mario, and more. All of these games are an all-time favorite of just about every old-school gaming enthusiast.

A lot of the games in question have a 2-player option. Unfortunately, with this console, you only get a single controller, so you will have to buy the second one separately if you'd like to play with some friends.

But, other than that, the Nintendo NES (CLV-001) is a fantastic take on the classic NES, easily the best retro gaming console of the late 80s. You'll get to revisit all of your favorite games. The console emulates the original NES experience to a tee. But it also adds a few extra options, like the ability to save the game or pause it.

Alright, we've been harsh on the console up until now, but that's only because we thought it's important to explain the model's shortcomings as its advantages are pretty obvious.

It doesn't cost any more than these new renditions of NES and SNES. So to say that you get two consoles for the price of one wouldn't be an exaggeration at all. With this lovely device, you will be able to play all of the original 8- and 16-bit NES and SNES games.

Plus, unlike its predecessors, the home gaming system in question has no issues with imports from Japan. And if you've been around the gaming scene back in the early 90s (give or take a few years), you know how huge of a deal that is. From Contra and The Legend of Zelda to Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania. From the differences in audio to the shape and the size of the cartridges, there was a lot of differences between the American NES and Japanese Famicom.

By the way, the console itself is no slouch either. The cartridge doors are reinforced. A number of specially placed air-through vents prevent the system from overheating, making sure that no stops or unfortunate delays will stand between you and your trip down the memory lane.

As you'd imagine, compared to 2 separate consoles, the slim and sleek design of this device will save you quite a bit of space. A couple of controllers that come with the model aren't too bad either. Though, for the most part, they incorporate the original SNES controller design, these gamepads work just as fine with NES games.

In other words, if you have a lot of old 8- and 16-bit cartridges lying around in your parent's locker, you owe it to yourself to give this console a shot. With it, the only thing standing between you and a trip down a memory lane is a light flip of the power switch. Use the NES cartridge slot to defeat the evil cult in Ninja Gaiden, then switch to the SNES one and explore the multitude of ridiculously convoluted and intricate, even by today's standards, realms of Chrono Trigger.

As we've said earlier, Sega Genesis as a console was all about innovation, pushing the boundaries, and re-drawing the old lines to get the gaming scene going in a different direction. The console in question and both Sega's in-house and third-party developers are the ones who we have to blame for the ESRB ratings.

Mortal Kombat introduced a level of bloodshed and violence that was previously unheard of. Sonic the Hedgehog was the one responsible for accelerating gameplay and kicking the whole fast-paced gaming phenomenon into gear. And did we see anything that reveled in the artistic aesthetics of comic books as Comix Zone before the titular title arrived on the scene? Hardly.

The technological limits often render classic games obsolete. And though Sega was known for its games' stunning visuals as much as the next console, plenty of the Genesis titles hold up surprisingly well. Gunstar Heroes does it with easy-to-grasp mechanics, a clean art style, quick pacing, and clever bosses.

Earthworm Jim (both the original and its sequel) is still hilarious. Its gameplay is as diverse, creative, and challenging as ever. And though the innovative level design isn't as impressive as it seemed at the time, it is still interactive and attractive enough for hours of unadulterated fun.

Now, we've been raving mostly about the console's games, but Sega Genesis is all about its games. Sure, we could talk about the Motorola 68000 CPU and the Zilog Z80 sub-processor that are responsible for gorgeous (by the early 90s standards) 16-bit animation. We could also talk about the stereo sound, a huge improvement upon the 8-bit predecessor.

Or we could focus on the console in question that, in addition to all of the original version's advantages, incorporates 81 pre-installed games, including a number of Sonic the Hedgehog titles, Mortal Kombat, Virtual Fighter 2, Altered Beast, Phantasy Star, and so many more.

Of course, as Sega Genesis is bolstered by about a thousand titles, there's a decent chance the collection doesn't include quite a few games that you'd find interesting. But, as the console comes equipped with a slot for Sega Genesis cartridges, you can always get yourself a physical copy and enjoy one of those games to the fullest.

All in all, if you've never had any of these consoles but would like to give some of these old games a go, we couldn't recommend this retro console highly enough. For our taste, Sega Genesis has some of the best 16-bit titles and the games that have aged a lot better than their competition.