Video games. Almost everyone has a favorite or two, but before modern games like Fortnite and Roblox, there were retro games. Games like Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, Metal Gear Solid, Halo, and many more paved the way for the creation of modern games–but are they still worth the play after all these decades?
Retro games are 15-20-year-old games or consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Gameboy, Atari 2600, and Sega Genesis. In the 80’s and 90’s, you could get one of these consoles for about $200, increasing to the $300’s in the 2000s with the release of newer Playstations and Xboxes.
Retro video games can be super nostalgic for those who played them when they were released. Younger people also buy retro games to see how gaming has evolved and to find some interesting older titles. Some are treasured by collectors, giving people more reason to play and enjoy them–though it can be difficult to get certain titles for older systems.
The most popular and rare games are high-priced due to their collector value, putting them out of the reach of most casual players. For example, the Nintendo World Championship for the NES is estimated to cost around $20,000, even without a box.
Another downside to older games is that you need an older television to play them. Most newer TVs and monitors only have HDMI, while older consoles use RCA, which is not as common anymore.
Here are my top 5 retro games:
#5: Tetris
Tetris is an endless puzzle game where the goal is to get the highest score by creating horizontal lines with differently-shaped blocks. It’s available on both the NES and Gameboy, and also on Nintendo Switch Online.
#4: Super Mario World
Super Mario World, an SNES exclusive title also available on Nintendo Switch Online, is a 2D platformer where your goal is to save Princess Peach from Bowser and his seven children while saving Yoshi eggs along the way. I put this above the first Super Mario Bros because it introduces new characters like Yoshi and the Koopalings and has multiple level types, like caves, underwater, and castles.
#3: Super Mario Strikers
This Gamecube title (also on Nintendo Switch 2) is basically Mario soccer, where you play as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi, and Donkey Kong. You can pick on-field players like Toads, Koopa Troopas, Hammer Bros, or Birdos. The goal is simple: score more goals than your opponent. You can use power-ups and even face Bowser, though you can turn these options off.
#2: Super Mario 64
Available on Nintendo 64 and Nintendo Switch Online Plus, Super Mario 64 is the game that established 3D free-roam play. In it, Princess Peach invites you to the castle, but Bowser kidnaps her. You collect stars across painting worlds to reach the final Bowser fight and save Peach.
#1: Paper Mario
My personal favorite game is Paper Mario. It’s a role-playing game (RPG) where you face unique enemies across a big world map. Bowser steals the Star Rod and kidnaps Princess Peach, taking her castle into space. To defeat him, Mario must save the seven Star Spirits. The combat is turn-based, and during the story, you unlock partners who act as sidekicks with unique abilities.
Retro games are my favorite pastime. I like playing different kinds of games instead of the same one over and over. With retro games, I can switch between sports, fighting, or casual games. Retro video games are really fun, and there’s a retro game for almost everyone.
Places such as eBay, and even yard sales, have great deals on these games. The best way to know what they’re worth is to search the game on eBay, filter by “completed and sold items,” and see what they’ve sold for. People interested in retro games can look for ones they might enjoy by watching YouTube videos or asking friends who know about retro gaming.
