The best retro game consoles

Best retro games consoles
(Image credit: Evercade / Creative Bloq)

Forget about the best modern game consoles, the beauty of the best retro game consoles is how they offer an accessible way to play some of the most classic games ever made. Whether you prefer to play handheld or hooked up to a TV, these modern replicas can do it all. Enjoy remasters of old games, as well as perfectly executed emulation. Best of all, some of these retro consoles are designed as mini recreations of the original bulky consoles, and come with pre-installed games, plus the option to download games or plug-in cartridges.

I've included a mix of new consoles designed for retro gaming, as well as mini-console replicas from yesteryear in this guide. My top pick is the Evercade EXP-R which plays collections of classic games, new indie games in a retro style, and makes use of modern display tech to deliver a wonderful handheld experience. Another top choice is the budget handheld Super Pocket at No.2 (there are two new editions with Technos and Atari pre-loaded games coming in October).

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My Arcade Atari Pocket Player ProRead more about the Atari Pocket Player Pro

My Arcade Atari Pocket Player Pro
This cheap and cheerful battery-operated retro handheld can't compete with the likes of Evercade, but it does have over 74 Atari games pre-installed and comes in a mix of designs - if you don't like Atari games there's a Mega Man, Pac-Man and Tetris version.
Read more about the Atari Pocket Player Pro

UNICO SNK MVS

UNICO SNK MVS
UNICO generally makes full-scale arcade cabinets but it's also released this miniature crammed with SNK games - you can 45 pre-installed classic arcade hits, including games in the Metal Slug, King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown series. My pick here comes with two controllers and a TV connection lead.

Nintendo Switch OLEDRead our Nintendo Switch review

Nintendo Switch OLED
Nintendo Switch offers access to some classic NES, SNES, Game Boy and GameCube games as well as Sega Mega Drive games, but you need to subscribe to Nintendo Online for all of the. As well as this, Switch is home to some excellent remakes and remasters, such as Tomb Raider 1-3.
Read our Nintendo Switch review

PlayStation 5Read our PlayStation 5 review

PlayStation 5
Sony's new console now comes in the Slim model, but all PS5's have access to some great remasters and remakes, such as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and if you're a PS Plus subscriber you get free PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, PS Vita and PS4 games monthly - the 32-bit PlayStation games are remastered for PS5.
Read our PlayStation 5 review

Xbox Series X/SRead our Xbox Series X review

Xbox Series X/S
While Xbox Series X and S consoles have access to many of the same remakes and remasters as PS5, for example Resident Evil 4, Microsoft's console is also backwards compatible with hundreds of Xbox 360 and many (original) Xbox games, as well as all Xbox One games.
Read our Xbox Series X review

Atari THE400 MiniRead our Atari THE400 review

Atari THE400 Mini
This is a little known Atari home computer that has been replicated perfectly, comes with Atari games rarely emulated (if never) and features a modern version of the CX40 joystick that features rewind, saves and more.
Read our Atari THE400 review

Editor, Digital Arts & 3D

Ian Dean is Editor, Digital Arts & 3D at Creative Bloq, and the former editor of many leading magazines. These titles included ImagineFX, 3D World and video game titles Play and Official PlayStation Magazine. Ian launched Xbox magazine X360 and edited PlayStation World. For Creative Bloq, Ian combines his experiences to bring the latest news on digital art, VFX and video games and tech, and in his spare time he doodles in Procreate, ArtRage, and Rebelle while finding time to play Xbox and PS5.