Sega
If you grew up with video games, then the titles from your childhood probably hold considerable sentimental value. It doesn’t matter what system it was, if you sunk hours of your childhood into a gaming console, it’s probably special to you.
That nostalgia is powerful, and it has driven the relatively recent trend of retro consoles, which now includes Sega’s Genesis Mini. Scheduled for release at the end of September, the $80 miniature system will include 40 games and a pair of controllers.
Here’s the official list of games included on the device:
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Space Harrier 2
- Shining Force
- Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
- Toe Jam & Earl
- Comix Zone
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Altered Beast
- Gunstar Heroes
- Earthworm Jim
- Castle of Illusion
- Shinobi III
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- World of Illusion
- Thunder Force III
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Streets of Rage 2
- Landstalkers
- Beyond Oasis
- Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
- Alex Kidd
- Golden Axe
- Phantasy Star IV
- Street Fighter 2
- Mega Man: The Wily Wars
- Sonic Spinball
- Vectorman
- Wonderboy in Monster World
- Virtua Fighter 2
- Alisia Dragoon
- Columns
- Dynamite Headdy
- Strider
- Kid Chameleon
- Light Crusader
- Monster World IV
- Eternal Champions
- Road Rash II
That’s a pretty great list of games, but there are other options out there if you want to scratch the retro button-mashing itch. Here’s a look at the other retro consoles on the market at the moment.
NES Classic
Nintendo
Nintendo is largely responsible for the current wave of stand-alone box hitting the market. When it released the NES Classic in November of 2016, it was only supposed to cost $60. The market demand crushed supplies, however, and they quickly shot up in the secondary market for hundreds of dollars.
The appeal shouldn’t have been a surprise. After all, the collection included some of the most iconic games ever made, from The Legend of Zelda to Super Mario Bros.. Before the market was satisfied, Nintendo ended the system’s run. Earlier this year, however, Nintendo realized it could still sell systems and brought it back to store shelves for its original $60 price. Here are the titles you get:
- Balloon Fight
- Bubble Bobble
- Castlevania
- Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Double Dragon II: The Revenge
- Dr. Mario
- Excitebike
- Final Fantasy
- Galaga
- Ghosts ‘n Goblins
- Gradius
- Ice Climber
- Kid Icarus
- Kirby’s Adventure
- Mario Bros.
- Mega Man 2
- Metroid
- Ninja Gaiden
- Pac-Man
- Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
- StarTropics
- Super C
- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros. 2
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Tecmo Bowl
- The Legend of Zelda
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link*
SNES Classic
Nintendo
In September of 2017, Nintendo went back to the retro well to make a miniature SNES classic. At $80, its retail price is $20 higher than the NES classic, but the SNES has 21 games, including the long-lost sequel to Star Fox that was never officially released. It also came with a pair of controllers to take advantage of the Street Fighter game included on the system. Here are the games you get with this system.
- Contra III: The Alien Wars
- Donkey Kong Country
- Final Fantasy VI[A]
- F-Zero
- Kirby Super Star
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Mega Man X
- Secret of Mana
- Star Fox
- Star Fox 2[B]
- Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
- Super Mario Kart
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Super Mario World
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
- Super Metroid*
Nintendo’s Retro Controllers for Switch
While it’s not technically a retro console, Nintendo has announced the coming availability of its official wireless NES controllers for the Switch. You’ll have to sign up for Nintendo’s Switch online service if you want to buy them, but the authentic controller is a huge part of what makes these retro consoles so appealing. So, if you’re running out of HDMI ports on your TV for new systems, buying these controllers and skipping the extra box is a solid option.
SNK Neo Geo Mini
If you’re a fan of Japanese retro games, the Neo Geo Mini comes with 40 classics in a box the shape of a tiny, classic arcade cabinet. You can look at the list of games and know right away whether or not they will scratch your nostalgia itch or expose you to some new (to you) classics.
- Aggressors of Dark Kombat
- Alpha Mission II
- Art of Fighting
- Blazing Star
- Burning Fight
- Cyber-Up
- Fatal Fury Special
- Garou: Mark of the Wolves
- King of Monsters 2
- Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle
- Metal Slug
- Metal Slug 2
- Metal Slug 3
- Ninja Commando
- Ninja Masters: Haou Ninpou Chou
- Puzzled
- Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers
- Real Bout: Fatal Fury
- Samurai Shodown II
- Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusas Revenge
- Samurai Shodown V Special
- Sengoku 3
- Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad
- Super Sidekicks
- The King of Fighters 94
- The King of Fighters 95
- The King of Fighters 96
- The King of Fighters 97
- The King of Fighters 98
- The King of Fighters 99
- The King of Fighters 2000
- The King of Fighters 2001
- The King of Fighters 2002
- The King of Fighters 2003
- The Last Blade
- The Last Blade 2
- Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy
- Top Players Golf
- Twinkle Star Sprites
- World Heroes Perfect*
Xbox
If you’re wondering about old Xbox games, you don’t have any mini consoles to play with, but Xbox Live does allow you to play more than 500 old Xbox and Xbox 360 games if you want to buy them or you already own them. Xbox’s Game Pass (which will set you back $10 per month) also has a rotating collection of retro games you can play as much as you want as long as you’re subscribed.
