Retro gaming is an awesome but potentially expensive hobby. Classic systems are likely to either have technical challenges, be hard to find, and/or cost a pretty penny if they are in mint condition.

Luckily though there are a few solutions which provide cheaper and more accessible alternatives to original hardware.

Of course one option is emulation, but the legality of emulation can be questionable, and the risks involved (both legally and from viruses) can make it not worth it.

A better alternative for several of the top consoles from the 80s and 90s are classic mini retro consoles prepackaged with some of the top games for each, and updated to work well in 2020.

Nintendo seemingly started the recent classic mini console craze with its NES Classic Edition. Released for $59.99 on 11/11/16, the NES Classic was a near perfect-looking mini replica of the old NES from the 80s, and came preloaded with 30 iconic games from the NES’ library.

The NES Classic sold out quickly and was such a hit that Nintendo released a SNES Classic Edition for $79.99 not even a year later, on 9/29/17.

Like its predecessor, the SNES Classic was a near perfect-looking mini replica of the old SNES from the 90s, and came preloaded with 21 iconic games from the SNES’ library.

Unfortunately both the NES Classic and SNES Classic have been discontinued and can be quite expensive on the secondary market. However, other console makers saw the success of the NES and SNES Classic, and have released their own mini consoles which are still available for less than $100.

The following are some of the mini consoles currently available on Amazon:

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C64 MINI

Kick nostalgia into overdrive with a tiny but perfectly formed officially licensed 50% scale replica of the much loved Commodore 64. Featuring high-definition output via HDMI, a classic style joystick and 64 built-in games including: Alleykat, Anarchy, The Arc of Yesod, Avenger, Battle Valley, Boulder Dash, Break Dance, California Games, Chip’s Challenge, Coil Cop, Confuzion, Cosmic Causeway, Cyberdyne Warrior, Cybernoid, Cybernoid II, Deflektor, Destroyer, Everyone’s a Wally, Firelord, Gateway to Apshai, Gribbly’s Day Out, Heartland, Herobotix, Highway Encounter, Hunter’s Moon, Hysteria, Impossible Mission, Impossible Mission II, IO, Jumpman, Jumpman 2, Mega-Apocalypse, Mission A.D., Monty on the Run, Netherworld, Nobby the Aardvark, Nodes of Yesod, Paradroid, Pitstop II, Ranarama, Robin of the Wood, Silicon Warrior, Skate Crazy, Skool Daze, Snare, Speedball, Speedball 2, Spindizzy, Street Sports Baseball, Street Sports Basketball, Street Sports Soccer, Summer Games II, Super Cycle, Sword of Fargoal, Temple of Apshai Trilogy, Thing on a Spring, Tower Toppler, Trailblazer, Uridium, West Bank, Who Dares Wins II, Winter Games, World Games, Zynaps.

As of 9/23/20 the C64 Mini is available on Amazon.com for about $36, and has a 4.5/5 rating with 552 reviews.

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SEGA GENESIS MINI

The SEGA Genesis Mini console is loaded with 40 legendary games and comes with two wired controllers.

Games included:

• 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
• Landstalker
• 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
• Tetris
• Darius

As of 9/23/20 the Sega Genesis Mini is available on Amazon.com for about $50, and has a 4.5/5 rating with 5,256 reviews.

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TURBOGRAFX 16 MINI

Games include:

• Alien Crush
• Victory Run
• Blazing Lazers
• Neutopia
• Dungeon Explorer
• R-Type
• Moto Roader
• Power Golf
• Ys book I&II
• Ninja Spirit
• J.J. & Jeff
• Space Harrier
• Military Madness
• Chew-Man-Fu
• Psychosis
• Bonk’s Revenge
• Parasol Stars
• Cadash
• New Adventure Island
• Air Zonk
• Neutopia II
• Soldier Blade
• Lords of Thunder
• Bomberman ’93
• The Kung Fu
• Jaseiken Necromancer
• Fantasy Zone
• Appare! Gateball
• Nectaris
• Dungeon Explorer
• Neutopia
• PC Genjin
• Ys I・II
• Super Darius
• Super Star Soldier
• Daimakaimura
• Aldynes
• Neutopia II
• Gradius
• Salamander
• Super Momotaro Dentetsu II
• Ninja Ryūkenden (NINJA GAIDEN)
• Star Parodier
• Snatcher
• Gradius II – Gofer no Yabō –
• Chō Aniki
• Akumajō Dracula X Chi no Rondo
• Bomberman ’94
• Bomberman Panic Bomber
• Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire

As of 9/23/20 the Turbografx 16 Mini is available on Amazon.com for $99, and has a 5/5 rating with 1,133 reviews.

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NEO•GEO MINI INTERNATIONAL

NEOGEO mini International is equipped with a 3.5 inch LCD screen, includes a joystick controller and stereo speakers. You can enjoy the games without a separate TV, but it also includes an HDMI out to play on a TV, and it also supports external controllers (sold separately).

Includes 40 games:

• METAL SLUG
• METAL SLUG 2
• METAL SLUG 3
• METAL SLUG X
• METAL SLUG 4
• METAL SLUG 5
• KING OF THE MONSTERS
• KING OF THE MONSTERS 2
• SENGOKU3
• MAGICIAN LORD
• BLUE’S JOURNEY
• SHOCK TROOPERS
• SHOCK TROOPERS 2ND SQUAD
• ROBO ARMY
• CROSSED SWORDS
• MUTATION NATION
• 3 COUNT BOUT
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’95
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’97
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’98
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2000
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2002
• ART OF FIGHTING
• FATAL FURY SPECIAL
• REAL BOUT FATAL FURY
• GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES
• SAMURAI SHODOWN
• SAMURAI SHODOWN SPECIAL
• THE LAST BLADE 2
• WORLD HEROES PERFECT
• KIZUNA ENCOUNTER
• NINJA MASTER’S
• TOP PLAYER’S GOLF
• SUPER SIDEKICKS
• FOOTBALL FRENZY
• BLAZING STAR
• LAST RESORT
• GHOST PILOTS
• PUZZLED

As of 9/23/20 the NEOGEO Mini is available on Amazon.com for about $45, and has a 4.5/5 rating with 1,140 reviews.

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PLAYSTATION CLASSIC

Games include:

• Battle Arena Toshinden
• Cool Boarders 2
• Destruction Derby
• Final Fantasy VII
• Grand Theft Auto
• Intelligent Qube
• Jumping Flash
• Metal Gear Solid
• Mr Driller
• Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
• Rayman
• Resident Evil Director’s Cut
• Revelations: Persona
• Ridge Racer Type 4
• Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
• Syphon Filter
• Tekken 3
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six
• Twisted Metal
• Wild Arms

The PlayStation Classic was released on 12/3/18 for $99.99. As of 9/23/20 the PlayStation Classic is available on Amazon.com for a little over $70, and has a 4.5/5 rating with 2,947 reviews.

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