Retro games to make your inner child squeal with delight.
Do your fave childhood memories take place in front of the telly, wired controller in hand as you try your hardest to reach the next level, top your best score or beat your buddy on the virtual racetrack? You’ve come to the right place!
From classic consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis to time-honoured titles like Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros., retro gaming offers a unique and memorable experience that all kinds of gamers still enjoy today.
That’s right, fam: it’s still totally possible to get your hands on the GOAT retro games and systems we loved as kids. And we’re here to help you find ‘em.
Old is gold! Why retro gaming always slays.
Like turntables, typewriters and film cameras, retro video games never seem to go out of style. Why? Well, there’s no denying there’s a big nostalgia factor at play here.
Whether it’s the thrill of beating a face-meltingly difficult boss in Mega Man or the excitement of discovering a secret level in Donkey Kong Country, retro gaming can instantly transport you back to a simpler time.
Not to mention, as games have gotten more sophisticated, so have their controls – which can make for an off-putting learning curve. But the developers of yesteryear had far fewer buttons to work with, resulting in clever yet straightforward gameplay that’s easy to get the hang of.
Thanks to their simplistic (yet notoriously addictive) mechanics, old-school games can be as chill or challenging as you make ‘em. That means gamers of all ages and skill levels can get in on the fun.
If this iconic kid’s reaction doesn’t sum up how we feel about retro gaming, we don’t know what does:
Hit rewind with an OG retro game console.
Gaming hardware in the 70s, 80s and 90s was incredibly diverse, inventive and full of character. Retro enthusiasts are spoiled for choice when it comes to legacy consoles, with the most popular being the:
- Atari 2600
- Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
- Sega Genesis
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
- PlayStation
- Nintendo 64
- Game Boy Colour
Each of these consoles has a rich library of games, from classic platformers like Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog to fighting games like Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat.
For the ultimate throwback experience, we recommend getting your mitts on an Atari VCS 800. This charming system pays homage to the brilliant Atari 2600, which sold more than 30 MILLION units in the decades following its 1977 release, making it one of the hottest consoles in history.
Time to see what all the fuss was about, right!?
Reduce, reuse and replay with pre-owned copies of your fave games.
The wide availability of pre-owned games means retrophiles are spoiled for choice when it comes to digging up timeless, genre-defining titles. An online search will return heaps of results for vintage discs and cartridges that are still playable on your trusty old PlayStation, Game Boy or Nintendo 64. (Pro tip: many second-hand gaming outlets accept Afterpay!)
Preloved purchases also make for a more environmentally friendly gaming experience, so everyone wins.
Millennials in the crowd will remember the mind-blowing upgrades in resolution, textures and lighting that made revolutionary 90s titles like Crash Bandicoot, Pokémon Red and Donkey Kong 64 so absorbing. As you might’ve guessed, these gems still hold up on their hundredth play-through!
Hankering for a nostalgic noughties moment? Why not snap up a copy of Halo 2, whose legendary multiplayer mode and single-player campaign made it one of the decade’s highest-selling games?
Nab your fave retro games remastered for modern consoles.
If you’ve lost your legacy consoles to garage sales of days gone by, don’t stress – many retro games have been re-released for modern systems.
With remastered versions of the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy now available for the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, millennials can easily fire up the OG titles they adored as tots and kick the butts of Gnasty Gnorc and Dr. Neo Cortex all over again.
If Sonic > Spyro in your books, you’ll have a blast burning rubber with friends with Team Sonic Racing, a contemporary spin-off of the classic Sega series.
The magic of remakes is they deliver everything that made the original games so great but do away with the exasperatingly long loading times of the era. Where’s the downside?
Pay better, play better with Afterpay.
Celebrated for its 8-bit graphics, cheery chiptunes and distinctive box art, retro gaming is a heartwarming throwback activity guaranteed to delight lifelong gamers and curious newcomers alike.
With Afterpay available for a wide range of history’s most treasured titles and consoles, there’s no need to wait to relive the glory days of gaming from the comfort of your couch.
Press ‘Add to cart’ to start!
