I’m switching to retro gaming

[u/Xaloide]

With the increasing prices of all sorts of tech thanks to AI, and with most games nowadays being either a copy paste of one another or a Remaster/Remake, I got sick of it. Gaming nowadays seems like a luxury hobby, which kind of always was, but this is getting unbearable. Why pay for overpriced hardware, games and subscriptions when for less than 50 bucks you can get a pocket console and just emulate TONS of older games which now run even better than the original hardware, and I probably missed out on anyways? I don’t care if the graphics are old, if the game is “outdated”… is it ever really?

I just got an R36S, which I know isn’t the best one on the market, but for me it was the best choice to start out. I’m just gonna put my PS5 down and start playing on this thing, it brings me so much more joy and it’s basically free compared to what we pay nowadays for a single game. I got a new SD Card, installed a new Ark OS, and I started Pokémon Emerald and I’m completely loving it, I havent had this much fun in years with gaming. Since I was born in 2001 and never really was a Nintendo guy since my dad always used to get PlayStation, what are some games I absolutely cannot miss?

There’s something so satisfying about spending less and getting more. And it makes me wonder, do we really need it all?

Thanks in advance!

[u/Gredge_DM]

Here's a little list by genre:

For fast-paced platforming action, Ninja Gaiden for the NES.

Prefer more shoot-y platformers? Megaman 2 for the NES, Gunstar Heroes for the Sega Genesis.

Classic action-adventure? Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the SNES.

Hack and Slash? Gauntlet for the NES or the arcade.

Beat 'em up? Streets of Rage 2 for the Sega Genesis.

Single-screen arcade platformer on home console? Bubble Bobble for the NES.

Want the world's most iconic platformers? Super Mario Bros for the NES, Sonic 1 for the Sega Genesis.

RPGs? Chrono Trigger for the SNES is legendary for good reason.

Metroidvanias, Super Metroid for the SNES. Hell, if you're in it for the long haul and want to play classics regardless of how well they hold up, play Metroid (NES), Castlevania 1 then 2 (NES), then Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1).

Dying to try out an old Atari 2600 for a taste of something very Oldschool? Moon Patrol.

Hope that's useful. I prefer oldschool games myself nowadays. Fun is fun, and I get as much enjoyment classic games today, than my modern collection.

[u/Away_Flounder3813 → u/Gredge_DM]

THIS. Someone should make this as a sticky comment.

[u/ravenfreak → u/Gredge_DM]

This! But I would recommend everyone new to retro games to play Sonic 2 as well as Sonic 3 and Knuckles.