Retro Gaming in [2026]: The Honest Guide to Getting Started

Retro gaming — playing games from earlier console generations — has grown from a niche hobby into a significant part of gaming culture, and the ecosystem around it has expanded accordingly. The options for how to play old games have multiplied; so has the cost of original hardware and cartridges. Here is the honest guide to getting into retro gaming in 2026.

The Original Hardware Question

Playing on original hardware — the actual NES, SNES, N64, PlayStation, Dreamcast, or other original consoles — produces the most authentic experience and is what most hardware collectors pursue. The economics have changed significantly: classic game prices have increased substantially since around 2020 as mainstream interest in retro gaming grew. A complete Super Mario World cartridge that cost $5 at a garage sale a decade ago now sells for $30-50; complete-in-box versions of sought-after games have reached collector prices that make original hardware gaming expensive if you're assembling a library from scratch.

Sourcing strategies for original hardware: local thrift stores and estate sales still occasionally surface older hardware at below-market prices. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist have moved a lot of retro gaming commerce and are worth checking regularly for local sellers. eBay provides market price reference but typically reflects the higher end of pricing. The games that remain reasonably priced: common-release sports games and shovelware that nobody wants, which is genuinely uninteresting; and certain platforms (early PC, later PS2 era) where the volume of releases kept prices lower.

Emulation: The Accessible Entry Point

Emulation — running old games through software that replicates the original hardware — has matured to the point where it provides excellent experiences for most classic platforms. SNES, Genesis, N64, PlayStation 1, and Game Boy Advance all have excellent emulators that run on virtually any modern hardware including smartphones. PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Wii emulation (PCSX2 and Dolphin respectively) are excellent on mid-range PC hardware. The legal situation is complex and jurisdiction-dependent — emulator software itself is generally legal, while downloading ROM files of games you don't own is technically copyright infringement in most jurisdictions.

The Miyoo Mini Plus and similar handheld retro emulation devices ($60-90) have become extremely popular as dedicated retro gaming handhelds — they run established emulation platforms like Onion OS with pre-configured emulators for dozens of systems and are genuinely excellent for portable retro gaming. Steam Deck runs emulators well through EmuDeck and is a more powerful option for demanding systems (PS2, GameCube). These devices provide the handheld form factor that fits retro gaming nostalgia without the cost of original hardware.

The Best Entry Points by Genre

For someone new to retro gaming who wants to understand what the enthusiasm is about: the SNES library is the most consistently celebrated, with games like Super Metroid, Link to the Past, Chrono Trigger, and Yoshi's Island representing what many consider the peak of 2D game design. The PlayStation 1 library is where 3D game design became genuinely interesting — Final Fantasy VII, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear Solid, and Crash Bandicoot are the best entry points. N64 is the nostalgia platform for a specific age group but has a thinner library than SNES by most critical measures.

My honest take: A Miyoo Mini Plus with Onion OS is the most accessible retro gaming entry point in 2026. Original hardware is authentic but increasingly expensive. Start with the SNES library if you want to understand what the golden age was about.