The best retro consoles in 2024 come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and ages. While it's easy to just rhyme off a bunch of original systems, there are plenty of modern devices and accessories that can provide easier access to the classics. Not to mention modern benefits like HDMI output can provide your childhood outings with a glow-up when connected to new TVs and monitors.
Whether you fully believe Genesis does what Nintendon't or you were brought up by a Nintendo Entertainment system, there are tons of ways to revisit retro consoles today. Mini plug-and-play systems like the NES Classic Edition are no longer in production, but brands are still bringing out tiny versions of old hardware that are both collectible and convenient. Excellent new accessories are also available for those of you who like to keep things authentic with OG hardware, and you'd be surprised how good old games can look when you don't have to use a scrappy old antenna to tune them in.
So, without further ado, here are the best retro game consoles we've tested, alongside some games to watch out for and must-have add-ons for your original systems. Some of our choices focus on convenience and price, whereas some are based on catering to enthusiasts, meaning there's something to suit all budgets and preferences below.
The best retro console for arcade games
The Evercade Alpha proves that at-home arcade machines don't have to just feature one or two games. In fact, Blaze's bartop system is actually a platform in itself, providing access to over 500 releases using cartridges.
At its core, the Alpha is an authentic arcade experience that comes armed with excellent button and stick microswitches paired with a sharp LCD display. Despite using modern tech, this Evercade machine manages to feel just as authentic as the real deal, even though it's much smaller than the original cabinet. Plus, you'll have plenty of modern connivences at your fingertips like wide USB controller support, punchy speakers, and effects that can make the screen feel like an old CRT.
Naturally, Evercade cartridge support is a huge selling point since you'll have access to over 500 games. That's pretty remarkable considering alternative machines are usually limited to just a few themed classics, but you can technically even play 3D outings like Tomb Raider and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver on this bad boy alongside countless retro capers.
If you're into authentic retro gadgets, the Alpha is absolutely going to win you over with its detailed art, light-up marquee, and smaller touches like light up coin slots. There's plenty of detail to be found with this cabinet that emulates the look of an actual system from back in the day, making for both an excellent way to play arcade romps and a collector's piece for your game room.
Evercade emulation has proven itself time and time again to be robust, and the same applies to the Alpha's abilities. Every game I've tested runs at full speed with no hiccups, and the LCD screen provides vibrant visuals that don't spoil the retro aesthetic. The integrated controls are spot on too, with responsive clicky switches holding up against the best arcade controls in the business. Load times can be slightly slower than alternative means, but it's not noticeable enough to be a proper gripe.
By way of cartridges, the Evercade Alpha has solved one of the at-home arcade scene's biggest issues - game selection. This cabinet is pretty much a platform in its own right, and while it's missing HDMI output to make it a true living room solution, it's still a fantastic piece of kit that represents an arcade gaming gold standard.
Read more: Evercade Alpha review
The best retro console for Atari games
Plenty of alternatives have arrived in the past, but the Atari 2600+ is one of the most authentic modern ways to play the system's back catalogue. It is effectively a smaller version of the OG system that runs the original cartridges, but trades that old RF cable for HDMI out.
One of the caveats to sticking with the original console's design is that for the most part, the Atari 2600+ doesn't boast many modern features. Instead, it runs cartridges just like the '70s system, with all the difficulty and stage options being changeable via four switches on top. That makes for a super authentic way to play your old collection using a modern gaming TV, but connivences like save states and visual effects are missed.
Rather than picking up the 2600+ features, you should do so based on its extremely authentic design. This console homage is pretty much an original Atari 2600 save for its HDMI port and illuminated front logo. Its beautiful woodgrain front panel and top ridges are just as iconic as the games it runs, and if you don't have the OG system, this one will serve the exact same purpose in your retro collection.
I played a whole bunch of original games using the Atari 2600+, and while it's technically using emulation to achieve its goal, the results are pretty flawless. Sure, most modern toasters could probably run classics like Berzerk and Pac-Man, but for what it's worth, you're getting super accurate visuals and sound here with an HD resolution. The included joysticks and paddles also hold up compared to the originals, and if you happen to have other 9-pin retro gamepads lying around, those will work too.
Ultimately, the Atari 2600+ is for players looking for as authentic of an experience you can get while still using a modern screen. It would have been nice to have some modern perks like save states or effects, but many will argue that would defeat the point of this tribute system
Read more: Atari 2600+ review
The best retro console for Nintendo games
With the success of and overwhelming demand for the NES Mini Classic, a 16-bit follow up was virtually guaranteed. And here we are - once again, Nintendo has knocked it out of the park by providing a library of essential games inside a faithful, adorable replica of the original SNES.
Besides being hugely nostalgic, these games represent some of the era's best; they're classics that changed the industry in fundamental ways. Whether it's Super Mario World or Street Fighter 2, these are games that inspired generations. They aren't museum pieces, either. The likes of Yoshi's Island, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Super Punch-Out! are still as engaging today as they were in the heyday of the SNES.
They're displayed at their very best here thanks to a suite of display options. These range from fuzzy CRT emulation to crisp HD output, rewind and suspend options, and a bucketful of the kind of fun Nintendo Easter eggs you'd expect from one of the best retro game consoles available. Even though the issue of controller cord length persists - it’s longer, but still nowhere near long enough for living room setups - it’s hard to imagine a more slickly packaged, densely concentrated dose of retro goodness.
That's true no matter which side of the Atlantic you're on. While US readers get the North American model with its sleek purple accents, UK fans are able to revisit their unique version with primary-colored buttons on the joypad. Perfection.
Play these first: Super Mario World | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Super Metroid | Yoshi's Island | Secret of Mana | Earthbound
Read more: SNES Mini hands-on
The best retro console for Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games
If you're a SEGA fan from a time when Sonic had just arrived and the Biker Mice From Mars were still a thing on TV, you're in luck - the SEGA Genesis Mini (or Mega Drive if you're in the UK) is the best retro game console for you. From an adorably dinky console with a cartridge slot you can actually open for 'blowing away dust' to its authentic packaging, this is a system that excels at the little things. It even has original menu music by the 16-bit era legend Yuzo Koshiro, created using authentic tools of the day.
Then there's bang-for-buck. Thanks to 42 all-time classic games (and bios on the significance of each one), the Genesis Mini offers better value for money than most. It's an excellently handled throwback to another time that'll hit you right in the nostalgic feels.
Play these first: Sonic The Hedgehog | Gunstar Heroes | Streets of Rage 2 | Mega Man: The Wily Wars | Castlevania: Bloodlines | Contra: Hard Corps
Read more: SEGA Genesis Mini review
The best retro console for PlayStation games
The original PlayStation holds an interesting spot in the landscape of the evolution of gaming. It was amongst the first (and certainly the most popular) console to truly push the 3D frontier, expanding beyond the flat 2D planes of gaming's primitive origins and launching a revolution that would define the future of the medium.
For some, it's iconic, and rightfully so: games like Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil, both included on the PlayStation Classic, are some of the most revered titles in gaming. They also shaped the landscape of gaming for years to come.
Although some high profile exclusions like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night or Grand Turismo rankle a bit, Sony has done an excellent job picking a slate of titles that's broad enough to represent one of the most diverse libraries in console history. The whole package is a great nostalgia-trip not only for anyone looking to relive the mid-90s, but also for anyone who's played the endless flood of sequels to these games and wonders where those series originated.
Play these first: | Final Fantasy VII | Grand Theft Auto | Metal Gear Solid | Resident Evil: Director's Cut | Tekken 3
Read more: PlayStation Classic review
The best retro gaming handheld
We've seen a lot of seriously dodgy retro handheld emulators knocking around the net over the last few years, but now we have an officially licensed product that really appeals to our old-school sensibilities - the Evercade.
The Evercade is a little different from the other retro consoles on this list as it actually comes with game collection cartridges that you can buy separately in order to build up a sweet retro selection. These boxed collections include between six and 20 games from the likes of Namco, Atari, Interplay, Technos, Data East, Mega Cat Studios, Piko Interactive and more at around $20 / £15 per cartridge. While you'll have to pick these up separately, slotting each cartridge in and building up your collection evokes its own separate sense of nostalgia, making this one of the best retro game console experiences on the market.
The PSP-sized display is wonderfully crisp and clear and you have the option to switch between the original 4:3 aspect ratio or stretch things out to 16:9 if you want to take advantage of the full screen. The handheld console feels great in the hand too, even if the button layout takes some getting used to for the Mega-Drive/Genesis titles. While we're expecting more retailers to take orders soon, it's available to order from Amazon now.
Play these first: | Namco Collection 2 | Atari Collection 1 | Technos 1 | Data East Collection
Read more: Evercade review
The best retro console for microcomputer games
If you were a huge fan of the Commodore 64 or feel waves of nostalgia sweeping through your body after a glimpse of that bright red joystick and beige keyboard, the C64 Mini was made specifically for you. While it's a console that comes with some caveats, like a joystick that's extremely stiff and limited and a couple of high profile titles missing from it's otherwise generous catalog (you won't find Wasteland, Skate or Die, or Elite here), it's delightful little shell is packed with retro fun that will transport you back to the era of stained-washed jeans and hair metal.
A surprising number of the 64 included games are still a huge amount of fun to play, especially if you're looking to jump around in a frenetic platformer, or immerse yourself in the deadly, futuristic racing league of Alleykat. While there are a lot of games that fall into similar niches (platformers and scrolling shooters are available in abundance), there are enough distinctive standouts to remind you why the original C64 was the best selling home computer of all time.
Plus, unlike most of the best retro games consoles on this list, you can also port your own ROMs into the system as well.
Play these first: Impossible Mission | Uridium | California Games | Boulder Dash | Bounder
Read more: C64 Mini review
The best retro console for Capcom games
Although it looks ungainly and is a little snug when you’re using it with a second player, the goodies contained within make it all worthwhile (and let’s be honest, it does capture that sense of jostling shoulders with your friends in front of an arcade machine). That's partially because of its lineup of classic games and range of screen settings that offer sharp visuals - even when displayed in 4K - but a lot of the credit goes to how it feels in use.
Its developers made the decision to build the Capcom Home Arcade with authentic Sanwa arcade pieces, and that results in a comfortingly tactile feel which boasts an oh-so-satisfying 'click'. It's a move that significantly increases this console's price, but it's also one that pays off in a big way.
Play these first: Street Fighter II | Final Fight | Ghouls'n Ghosts | Darkstalkers | Super Puzzle Fighter II
The best retro console for Neo-Geo games
The Neo-Geo Mini is an eye-catching piece of kit; it recreates the Neo-Geo arcade cabinets of yesteryear in cute micro form, complete with its own 3.5-inch LCD screen that'll send you hurtling back to the 1990s faster than listening to Smells Like Teen Spirit. When combined with stereo speakers and arcade controls, it's as authentic an experience as you could hope for.
Happily, that LCD panel is crisp and bright - it's the perfect companion for the console's 40 classic games. Even though it can be used on a TV, the Neo-Geo Mini is definitely at its best as is.
It doesn't look great blown up on the big screen and its joystick lacks that ever-important tactile feedback. However, it's still a good Neo-Geo experience overall.
Play these first: Metal Slug 3 | Garou: Mark of the Wolves | The Last Blade | Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad | Blazing Star
If you're shopping for someone in particular, check out our guide to the best gifts for gamers, or if you're looking for more retro Ninty action, take a look at the latest Nintendo Switch Online membership prices. We're also rounding up all the best video game art books to stock out your collection as well.
