These Retro Gaming Consoles Deliver a Dose of Nostalgia - WIRED
From the stylish Evercade to the old-school Sega Genesis Mini, these machines will have you bleeping, blooping, and blasting back to the good old days.
play retro games
There are many ways to <anchor>play retro games</anchor>, but perhaps the easiest is to snag a retro gaming console. I grew up in the arcade and owned a string of computers and consoles over the years, so when updated versions of these systems were released, I jumped at the chance to test them. These are the best retro gaming consoles worth your time.
What's the Best Way to Play Retro Games? | WIRED
Open Navigation Menu
Menu

Story Saved

Close Alert

illustration of the word "featured"

Mar 18, 2021 7:00 AM

# What's the Best Way to Play Retro Games?

Should you buy a virtual console, find old-school hardware from your childhood, or dip your toes into emulators? We can help.

retro gamings

Photograph: Ollie Millington/Getty Images

Save this storySave

Save this storySave

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

But some of those old games are available on so many different platforms, it's hard to know which is best—should you play Chrono Trigger on your PC, phone, or the Super Nintendo stashed away in your parents' basement? Are all-in-one emulation systems like the Raspberry Pi worth the effort over an NES Classic Edition or Sega Genesis Mini? We're here to help.

‘Virtual Consoles': As Easy as It Gets

Many games—particularly popular ones that aren't tied up in licensing nonsense—are easily playable on modern consoles thanks to manufacturers' online game stores. This became popular in the Wii era with Nintendo's Virtual Console on the Wii, Wii U, and 3DS, which allowed you to buy and download individual classic games to play on your modern machine. If you have one of those systems, this is arguably one of the easiest ways to play those old games, and the selection is pretty decent. It even includes some Nintendo 64 games, which are not as common on other platforms or easy to emulate. While the virtual console isn't without quirks—the Wii U Virtual Console had emulation issues, input lag, and a noticeably dark tint to many games—it's still fairly reliable, with a sizable library. The Wii eShop is now closed, but the 3DS and Wii U digital game stores remain open in the US if you still have that older hardware.

These days, you tend to see these "virtual consoles" as subscription services, like Nintendo Switch Online (which has "80+ games" from Nintendo and Super Nintendo available for a monthly fee) or PlayStation Now (which has 700 PS2, PS3, and PS4 games available as part of a subscription). Both companies also sell backward-compatible games and remastered ports on their respective online stores, like Super Mario 3D All-Stars and the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. Just click Buy and start playing—in some cases, you may even be able to grab retro-style controllers that match the look and feel of the originals.

Mini ‘Classic’ Systems: Modernize the Old-School

Nintendo started a trend with their first mini console. Now you can buy tiny replicas of all your childhood favorites, including the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, PlayStation, Atari 2600, and more. Some are higher quality than others (Nintendo's are great, Sony's is disappointing), but all aim to be plug and play, and fully compatible with modern TVs. These tend to come with a selection of popular games built in, along with a few extra features (like save states) and customization options (like CRT filters and other goodies).

These mini machines have more limited libraries than the virtual consoles, but are similarly simple to set up. In addition, some had limited runs and are harder or more expensive to acquire, but if you like the added novelty of having a tiny console—not to mention the most authentic controller—it's a great way to rebuild the retro collection of your youth.

Mobile and PC Ports: Spotty, but Convenient

In some cases, you may be able to find your favorite game(s) available right from the iOS App Store, Google Play Store, or on PC through a store like Steam. This can offer a similarly convenient way to play, especially if you already carry your phone with you everywhere. The quality of these ports, however, can be all over the map.

For example, Sega's ports of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, and Sonic CD are stellar remasters of their classic counterparts. They play in widescreen for modern displays, add the ability to play as other characters, and allow you to choose between the Japanese and American soundtracks. Last year's re-release of Doom 64 has also been lauded for its quality. On the other hand, the mobile version of Mega Man X was widely panned due to its poor use of screen space and sluggish speed. Chrono Trigger's PC port started out as an absolute mess, but was later fixed with a series of patches. And many other terrible ports have come and gone from the App Store over the years, no longer available for download.

Most ports, though, lie somewhere in between. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was ported to mobile with HD graphics and improved checkpoint saving, but middling performance (and less-than-perfect touch controls). The Final Fantasy games are also generally well-regarded, though some players dislike the new graphics, and some control better than others. If you're interested in playing one of these retro games on your phone or PC, you'll want to look up reviews for that specific title to see what other players think—and see if it's compatible with external gamepads for the best experience.

Unofficial Emulators: Super Versatile

Ports, remakes, and remasters can be great, but you rarely see them for less popular games. You also don't see them for games that have licensing hurdles to overcome. Emulators have long been the go-to for games like this, with programs like MAME, Snes9x, and Dolphin allowing you to play arcade games, Super Nintendo games, or GameCube and Wii games on your PC. These days, the emulation community has even gotten those games running on cheap Raspberry Pi–based systems, modified game consoles, and versatile handheld hardware like the Anbernic RG351P and Bittboy PocketGo—often with the help of all-in-one emulation programs like RetroArch.

Some of these emulators can be fairly easy to set up, while others (like the famously fiddly Nintendo 64) require a bit more know-how. You're rewarded for your efforts, though: Often, emulators allow you to remap controls however you want, hack in widescreen support and high-res textures, download patches that mod the game with quality-of-life improvements, and even play online with friends. Oh, and there's that whole legality issue: D ownloading ROMs from the web is piracy, and while you can rip your own cartridges for a more legal setup, you may still encounter some challenges along the way (like manufacturers constantly closing loopholes that allow for emulation on their devices). In other words, this is a fantastic way to play, provided you're willing to do a bit of legwork.

Original Hardware: Complicated, but Authentic

Finally, if you still have your old Genesis sitting in a closet with your original copy of Altered Beast, you could hook that up to your TV and start playing—but while this seems easy, it's far from the best out-of-the-dusty-box experience. Modern TVs don't always accept those old-school connections, and even if yours does, the resulting picture is probably going to look awful compared to the more modern options listed above. It'll do in a pinch, but it won't be pretty.

That's why many retro enthusiasts have old-school CRTs in their game room to truly re-create the classic experience. Others turn to lesser-known connections like SCART and external scalers like the Open Source Scan Converter (OSSC) to make things clearer on modern HD sets. In some cases, this even requires modding the original console for RGB or HDMI output, so things can get complex quickly. For a deep dive into running original hardware at the highest quality possible, check out My Life In Gaming's RGB Master Class on YouTube—it's a rabbit hole, but well worth it if you're looking to get deep into the hobby (rather than get a quick nostalgia fix).

Alternatively, if you like the idea of playing the original cartridges but aren't devoted to setting up a whole command center of gear, modern console re-creations like the Analogue NT Mini, Super NT, and Mega SG mimic the original hardware using an FPGA rather than software emulation. It may not look the same as your old Super NES, but it'll replicate the games themselves better than your typical PC emulator, giving you an incredibly authentic experience without much hassle.

More Great WIRED Stories

Most Popular

- Gear

By Carlton Reid

- Gear

By Boone Ashworth

- Gear

By Christopher Null

- Gear

By Adrienne So

Whitson Gordon is a San Diego-based writer helping people make the most of their technology.

Contributor

Read More

Write right with one of our favorite notebooks, journals, and sketchbooks.

Scott Gilbertson

“Ask Photos” is a conversational way to find specific photos in your ever-expanding image library.

Julian Chokkattu

Distraction Control, which removes annoying elements from web pages, is coming to the iPhone’s default browser with the release of iOS 18.

David Nield

All the new hardware was unveiled at a splashy media event at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. The new iPhone was the star of the show.

Boone Ashworth

Apple’s new iPhones are primed for the company’s upcoming artificial intelligence features. The new phones also have an interactive shutter button for even better photos.

Julian Chokkattu

Use these tools in iOS and Android to exchange contact details and never fumble with business cards again.

David Nield

Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find those worth your money.

Julian Chokkattu

These 2-in-1 computers upgrade the norm with touchscreen displays, 360-degree hinges, and detachable keyboards.

Daniel Thorp-Lancaster

## WIRED COUPONS

WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our lives—from culture to business, science to design. The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries.

More From WIRED

Reviews and Guides

© 2024 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad Choices

###### Select international site

United StatesLargeChevron