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The best retro games consoles offer contemporary ways of accessing classic games from decades past. Gaming hardware price hikes have become the norm in recent times, and I'm sure many of you are beginning to feel priced out by the likes of PlayStation, Microsoft, and Nintendo.
As a result, there has been not only a yearning for simpler times from us older gamers. Additionally, curiosity in retro gaming among younger players feels like it's at an all-time high. This is driven by a desire for ownership of truly physical media, but also concerns around the ever-encroaching all-digital future the games industry is gradually shifting into.
March 30, 2026
The best retro games consoles buying guide has undergone a full refurbishment. All previous entries, including the NES Classic Mini and ZX Spectrum Vega, have been replaced largely due to a lack of modern availability. In their place, we've included a swathe of modern and readily available systems like the Analogue 3D, Super Pocket, and Commodore 64 Ultimate. Other changes include a fresh feature image, galleries for each product, and expanded sections for products we've given honorable mentions to, as well as a dedicated FAQs section.
As a lifelong gamer, starting with the humble Sega Mega Drive (or Genesis, if you're on the other side of the pond) and a copy of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, I've always had a deep appreciation for the games that got the industry going in the first place. I've got firsthand testing and review experience with several products in this list, so you can rest assured that these recommendations come from someone with hours of hands-on time.
The best retro games consoles in 2026
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The best retro games console overall
From the company that brought you the Analogue Pocket - a versatile retro-facing handheld - comes the Analogue 3D. This product is a bit more focused, and aims to offer a modernized way to play Nintendo 64 games, and it does so brilliantly.
The Analogue 3D will appeal to those with an existing N64 game collection, or are at least interested in starting one. That's because there's no software emulation here whatsoever; the console requires real N64 cartridges. What's extra brilliant here, though, is that it's fully compatible with the N64's library and is completely region-free. That means you can import games from other regions and they'll work straight away here.
There are plenty of modern quality-of-life features here. The Analogue 3D supports resolutions up to 4K, and various anti-aliasing and screen filtering solutions can be applied to suit your display. Original accessories including N64 controllers, Rumble Pak, and Expansion Pak, are also supported here, though none are necessary to enjoy the console.
The Analogue 3D can be purchased via Analogue's website, and thankfully, stock is readily available. It's certainly pricey, and the focus on N64 games means you're losing a lot of the versatility offered by the Analogue Pocket. But if you've got a bumper collection of games you'd love to see refined for modern displays, the Analogue 3D is incredibly easy to recommend.
- Read more: Analogue 3D review
The best budget retro games console
The Super Pocket isn't just the best budget retro games console, I'd argue it's an essential purchase for those looking to build a versatile cartridge-based library of classics. Created by HyperMegaTech! and Blaze Entertainment, the Super Pocket is compatible with Evercade cartridges. These cartridges (sold separately) typically offer themed collections of classics games, including titles from Atari, Capcom, Taito, Gremlin, and so many more.
The Super Pocket handheld has many versions available that are themed around specific developers or consoles. These all come with their own selection of games built-in (no cartridges required!). So far, seven Super Pocket editions have been released, themed around Taito, Capcom, Atari, Technos, SNK's Neo Geo, Data East, and Rare.
While the Super Pocket's screen may be a tad too small for some, it's an impressive display with crystal clear output. It's a vivid 2.8-inch 320x240 IPS display - ideal for these classic and mostly sprite-based games.
Each Super Pocket's in-built game collection is robust, but there will likely come a time when you fancy building up your collection with more Evercade cartridges. In fairness, this can be a pricey endeavor, with cartridges hovering around the $24.99 / £19.99 mark on average. They are at least readily available worldwide at a swathe of popular retailers, so stock likely won't be an issue for you.
- Read more: Super Pocket review
The best premium retro games console
The Commodore 64 Ultimate might be replicating a piece of gaming hardware that's before even my time, but the effort, love, and care that has gone into this new rendition cannot be overstated. Especially for those who grew up with this amazingly versatile machine.
Now, I've put the Commodore 64 Ultimate in the 'best premium' spot for a number of reasons. Price is obviously one of them, with it coming in at a pretty eye-watering $349.99. However, it also gets the premium pick for its remarkable build quality and attention to detail. This is a seriously professionally-made product and commands a price tag to match.
Those who do take the plunge will be treated to a largely warts-and-all Commodore 64 experience. It's compatible with old Commodore accessories, joysticks, and game cassettes, and it even comes with a comprehensive user manual to get you up to speed. Performance-wise, the Ultimate is thankfully not as glacial as the original hardware when it comes to load times, but with just 128MB of RAM you can still expect it to be rather slow overall.
It's not just about the games here, though. The Commodore 64 Ultimate is a brilliantly versatile machine, and if you've a passion for coding, you can undergo your own programming projects with BASIC on the Ultimate. While perhaps not as robust as modern coding languages, it does give you the means to shape your very own software.
- Read more: Commodore 64 Ultimate review
The best retro games console for arcade games
The Evercade Alpha has become a mainstay in my retro gaming collection, and a large reason why is because it just looks gorgeous. I've a real soft spot for the look and feel of arcade machines, and this tabletop solution succeeds at bringing some of that musky caravan park arcade magic into your home.
Like the Super Pocket, there are multiple versions of the Evercade Alpha available, each featuring their own built-in officially licensed games. My Street Fighter model comes with several iconic fighting games including Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo and the Street Fighter Alpha trilogy.
The Alpha's biggest strength is presentation. It's fitted with a gorgeous 4:3 display and even comes with a selection of swappable marquee cards, which light up when the system is turned on. The coin insert module has been lovingly repurposed as the system's power switch, and there's a sturdy joystick and a six-button layout that's perfect for fighting games.
Special mention has to go to its powerful stereo speakers, too. While you may want to turn the volume down slightly for home use, the speakers here provide booming arcade-quality audio.
Lastly, if you're not keen on the in-built joystick setup, two USB ports let you attach a controller of choice. And as with the Super Pocket, the Alpha is compatible with all Evercade cartridges, and there are two slots for those here.
- Read more: Evercade Alpha review
The best retro games console for Atari games
There's something to be said about the sheer simplicity of the Atari 2600. The games are primitive, with titles spanning just a single word. Soccer, Football, Pitfall, Adventure, Centipede. Simpler times, to be sure, but many of these games remain effortlessly charming to this day.
Enter the Atari 2600+, which as you might gather from its name, is a modern and enhanced version of the original console. Like others in this list, it's compatible with its own original hardware; if you or a family member have some old 2600 cartridges locked away somewhere, you can blow off the dust and get them playing again here.
The very basic nature of the 2600's games mean that they're still surprisingly playable to this day. And in my testing, I lost hours to the mesmerizing colors and sounds of this era of games; I simply couldn't pull myself away.
That said, there are some faults. The included joystick is uncomfortably stiff, almost comically so. It's workable, but certainly not ideal for longer sessions and I found myself often having to take a break to just give my arm a rest.
Still, the Atari 2600+ is easy to recommend if you have some old cartridges lying around, and HDMI support means you can hook it up to just about any modern display and have a good time.
- Read more: Atari 2600+ review
The best retro games consoles: also tested
How we test the best retro games consoles
To be eligible for this buying guide, we provide written review for all of the best retro games consoles often after weeks of rigorous testing. The best retro games consoles can't simply be those knockoff plug-and-play '50 games in 1' devices you've undoubtedly seen plenty of.
Instead, each product here has to demonstrate a reverence for the original hardware, and an understanding of what made it so special in the first place. Enhanced features like higher resolution support and quality-of-life additions are nice, too, so long as they're not to the detriment of the overall play experience.
Of course, it's nice if the best retro games consoles look the part. But what really matters here is performance and accuracy. Can you expect as close to an 'arcade perfect' experience as possible? Are things like visual and audio clarity, as well as input latency, a reasonable facsimile of original hardware?
The best retro games consoles: FAQs
I can't afford to buy games/cartridges separately. Which retro games console should I buy?
If you're looking for a retro games console that at least has something to get you started out of the box, I'd recommend checking out the Super Pocket. It's the cheapest product on the list, its handheld nature makes it portable-friendly, and each comes with a selection of games built right in depending on your version of choice.
I'd avoid the likes of the Analogue 3D or Atari 2600+ in this scenario. These consoles are a good deal more expensive, and strictly rely on original cartridges. If you don't already have a solid collection of N64 or Atari 2600 games in these cases, they won't be particularly worthwhile purchases in the short term.
Do you recommend Nintendo's 'Classic Mini' line of consoles?
Around half a decade ago, probably. However, these consoles have been discontinued for a while, and second-hand markups can be ridiculously expensive on sites like eBay. If you own a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2, you'd be much better off getting a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, as the vast majority of those games have made the jump to the service.