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I Tried 7 Retro Game Consoles With Built In Games So You Don't Have To
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items Friday nights used to be everyone on their phones in the same room, technically hanging out but not really. I wanted that couch co-op energy from the 90s back. Spent months testing retro consoles with preloaded games, returning the garbage ones, and ...
Sections
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Plug and Play Retro Consoles That Actually Work Out of the Box
Handheld Retro Devices for Gaming on the Go
Controllers and Accessories That Feel Like the Originals
Multiplayer Party Games That Got Everyone Off Their Phones
Room Setup Stuff That Made Game Night Feel Like an Arcade
Plug and Play Retro Consoles That Actually Work Out of the Box
Half the retro consoles I bought needed firmware updates, adapters, or a computer science degree. These ones literally plug into your TV and you're playing within 60 seconds.
Grab this if you still have a shoebox of old NES and Famicom cartridges. Plugged in my copy of Mega Man 2 and it worked instantly. No blowing on cartridges required.
Hyperkin RetroN 3 HD 3-in-1 Retro Gaming Console
Toss this in your bag for long trips. My buddy brought one to a cabin weekend and we passed it around for hours playing Galaga. The screen is surprisingly sharp for something this small.
My Arcade Portable
Use this if your dad won't stop talking about how games were better in 1982. Handed him the paddle controller and he literally didn't speak for two hours. 120 built-in games, all legit Atari titles.
AtGames Atari Flashback 9 Gold HD with 120 Built-in
Swap out your old Genesis that barely turns on anymore. This tiny thing has 42 games including Sonic, Streets of Rage, and Earthworm Jim. My roommate and I stayed up until 3am on a Tuesday. Bad decision, zero regrets.
Sega Genesis Mini
Keep this permanently hooked up to your living room TV. Star Fox 2 alone justifies the price. A friend who hadn't touched a controller since 1997 picked it up and immediately remembered every secret in Super Metroid.
Nintendo - Entertainment System: SNES Classic Edition
Try this if 20 games isn't enough for you. Over 90 built-in titles from Capcom, Data East, and Technos. Found Final Fight on here and my neighbor and I cleared it in one sitting like we were 11 again.
Retro Bit Super Retro-Cade Video Game Console Over 90
Snag this for the price alone. 50 licensed games for less than dinner for two. Not every title is a banger, but Space Invaders, Centipede, and Breakout hit different on a big screen at midnight.
Legends Flashback BOOM! HDMI Game Console with 50
Handheld Retro Devices for Gaming on the Go
Sometimes you want to play Tetris on your lunch break without pulling out a phone full of notifications. These handhelds scratch that itch without any app store nonsense.
Bring this to your commute and watch people stare. The vertical form factor feels like holding an old Game Boy. Loaded mine with ROMs and it runs SNES and GBA titles without a single stutter.
Shop Handheld Video Game Consoles Online
Pocket-sized and dangerously addictive. Fits in your jeans, plays thousands of retro titles, and the screen is crisp. I lost an entire Sunday to Link's Awakening on this thing.
Unbranded Handheld Game Console Miyoo Mini Plus
Get this for a kid who keeps stealing your phone. 300 built-in games, runs on AAA batteries, and it's cheap enough that you won't panic when they drop it on concrete.
My Arcade Go Gamer Portable Game System
Pair this with a cup of coffee on Saturday mornings. It's part collectible, part actual fun. The little clock feature is cute but honestly I just play the original Mario over and over.
Nintendo Super Mario Bros Game & Watch (EU Packaging)
Switch to this from your phone for gaming and your screen time drops fast. Runs everything from NES to PS1. A coworker saw mine and ordered one during our lunch break.
Anbernic, Handheld Game Console
Toss this in a stocking or a birthday bag. Four Pac-Man games on a tiny screen. My 8-year-old nephew figured it out in seconds and beat my high score in minutes. Humbling.
My Arcade, Handheld Game Console
Use this if you want something that handles N64 and Dreamcast games without choking. Played Ocarina of Time on a plane and the person next to me asked where I got it before we landed.
Retro Pocket Console Handheld Gaming Devices
Controllers and Accessories That Feel Like the Originals
Nothing ruins retro gaming faster than a cheap knockoff controller with mushy buttons. Spent way too much money on bad ones before landing on these.
Ditch whatever flimsy controller came bundled with your console. This feels like a real SNES pad but connects to basically everything. Bluetooth, USB, even works with your phone.
8BitDo SN30 Pro Bluetooth Controller for Switch 2, PC
Try holding one of these and not immediately wanting to play GoldenEye. The stick is tighter than the original, which is saying something since those things got loose after six months.
PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch
Grab this if you have big hands and miss the absolute unit that was the original Xbox controller. Held it for the first time in 20 years and muscle memory kicked in immediately.
Hyperkin M01668-RD Duke Wired Controller for Xbox One
Keep this paired with your Sega Genesis Mini. Six-button layout is perfect for Street Fighter II. My friend tried playing with the stock controller first and switched to this after one round.
8BitDo M30 Bluetooth Gamepad - White (US) (PC)
Snag one for fighting games specifically. The d-pad on this thing is absurdly good. Pulled off combos in Mortal Kombat that I couldn't land on any other controller.
Retro-Bit SEGA Saturn® 2.4GHz Wireless Pro Controller
Get this for your desk if you want to feel like you're typing on a NES. Sounds satisfying, looks ridiculous, and every single person who visits asks about it. Conversation starter guaranteed.
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard
Use this before you ruin your new TV trying to connect old AV cables. Plugged my original N64 into a 4K TV and it actually looked decent. Took 30 seconds, no settings to mess with.
Hyperkin HDMI Cable Review: Retro Consoles in 720p
Multiplayer Party Games That Got Everyone Off Their Phones
The whole point was getting people to actually interact. These are the specific games and setups that turned a quiet living room into a loud, competitive mess.
Bring this out at any gathering and watch friendships get tested. The mini-games are simple enough that your friend who never plays games can still win. That's what makes it dangerous.
Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2
Try this with your partner if you want to find out how well you actually communicate. We nearly broke up over a soup order. Genuinely one of the funniest co-op games I've ever played.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat Nintendo Switch
Keep this loaded and ready at all times. No explanation needed for anyone born between 1985 and 2000. Blue shells still ruin friendships exactly the way they should.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe racing video game (Nintendo Switch)
Use this when you have more than four people. Everyone plays on their phones but in a way that's actually social. The drawing games expose who in your friend group cannot draw a horse to save their life.
The Jackbox Party Pack 9 - Nintendo Switch [Digital]
Throw this on after midnight when everyone's competitive energy peaks. Watched a 45-year-old accountant spike a 22-year-old off the stage and scream. Worth every penny for that moment alone.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Nintendo Switch
Dust off a Wii for this one, seriously. Bowling still hits. Brought mine to a barbecue and people who said they don't play video games were fighting over the remote within ten minutes.
Walmart.com Nintendo Wii Sports Game Nintendo selects
Grab this for pure nostalgia co-op. Six players, beat-em-up action, and it looks like a Saturday morning cartoon. Cleared it with three friends in one session and immediately started over.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Room Setup Stuff That Made Game Night Feel Like an Arcade
Playing retro games under bright overhead lights on a folding chair kills the vibe. A few cheap additions turned my living room into somewhere people actually wanted to hang out.
Stick these behind your TV and turn them to a purple or blue glow. Instant arcade basement energy. Took five minutes to install and now my living room looks completely different at night.
Govee 16.4ft RGBIC LED Strip Light
Swap this in if your TV is sitting on a stack of books or a wobbly dresser. Solid base, adjustable height, and it freed up space underneath for my consoles. Simple fix, big difference.
WALI Universal Tabletop TV Stand with Base
Park this next to the couch so nobody has to pause mid-race to get a drink. Loaded mine with sodas and snacks before game night and it became the most popular corner of the apartment.
HOMCOM 3.2 Cu.Ft Mini Fridge with Freezer
Get a couple of these if your current seating situation is a beanbag from college. Comfortable enough for a four-hour session and they recline for when someone inevitably falls asleep at 2am.
JUMMICO Gaming Chair Ergonomic Computer
Pair this with any console that has weak built-in audio. The Genesis Mini sounds way better through an external speaker. Cranked up the Sonic soundtrack and my neighbor knocked on the door. Oops.
Amazon Basics Portable Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker 15W
Toss all your controllers, cables, and cartridges into this instead of a tangled drawer. Found my missing HDMI cable the day I organized everything. Should have done this years ago.
Metal Letter Tray,Simple Houseware Mesh Desk Organizer
Use these to display your consoles and cartridges instead of hiding them in a cabinet. Mounted three shelves and arranged my retro collection. Looks way better than I expected for under $20.
WALI Wall Mounted Media Floating Shelf System