The best retro games console in 2023

If you thought the days of collecting physical copies of games were over, here comes the Evercade VS. Blaze Entertainment has done a brilliant job of making a brand new, cartridge-based console that looks suitably retro. Ignoring those front-facing USB ports, it could easily pass for a prototype Famicom from the 80s. This Retro Premium Pack also comes with two controllers and two cartridges - the Technos Arcade 1, and Data East Arcade 1. And those carts are where the whole concept of this system comes to life. Each one is packed with various titles, such as the arcade versions of Double Dragon II and Burger Time.

Evercade has a large and growing library of classic retro games that originally ran on a variety of systems, check out the list: Atari 2600 and 7800, Atari Lynx, Intellivision, NES and SNES, Sega Genesis / Mega Drive and the PlayStation. Plus, the Commodore 64 and Amiga for computer gaming, and even games you played in arcade cabinets back in the day.

This is hands-down the best retro gaming product for anyone who misses being able to collect games. Nothing beats grabbing an official copy of your favourite game, slotting the cart into the slot and firing up a proper console to play it on. Best of all, this isn’t some cheap software-based emulator, as 8, 16 and 32-bit titles run faithfully thanks to bespoke hardware. As you’d expect from a modern console, you also get HDMI output at 1080p, screen ratio and filter options for retro-accuracy, and multiple save states to let you (finally) beat those titles that still get the better of you after 30 years. Evercade really heralds a new age for retro game fans and collectors alike, and at this price, it’s hard to resist.

What better name for a retro gaming company than Retro Games? The UK-based company makes a genuine stir among the gaming community with each new product release. In fact, the scramble to get one often means they sell out after the first release. The C64 Mini is partly responsible for the mini console craze and is an accurately scaled-down version of the ‘breadbin’ Commodore 64. The little keyboard doesn’t work, however, but the microswitch joystick has all of the controls you need to be able to navigate the carousel of included games. And there are plenty, with an apt 64 titles to enjoy -  from California Games to Impossible Mission and classic space shooter Uridium.

However, the hidden ace up the C64 Mini’s beige sleeve is the fact that it can boot up straight to Basic. That means you can load games the old-fashioned way - all be it with the on-screen keyboard (or USB keyboard which won't, of course, have exactly the same key layout as a real 64). But, hang on, where’s the Commodore tape deck? Well, if you still own your C64 games you can find a way to transfer the programs (as TAP, CRT, D64 and more) to a USB drive and play all of them on the C64 Mini. You can’t get much more nostalgia for the money. And, of course, it’s a licenced product so you have all that Commodore breadbin goodness (at 50% scale) to look at as you play.

Yes, Evercade is back on our list with a handheld that’s every retro gamer’s answer to the Nintendo Switch. The Evercade EXP is a sizable easy-to-hold console with a generous 4.3-inch 800x480 pixel screen. And that display is an IPS panel, which means it has great viewing angles and will work well for fast motion and vibrant colours. Once again Evercade plugs into the market for physical game carts with a large range of titles that once graced a variation of systems.

Best of all, it comes with 18 Capcom games on board - including classics like 1942, Commando, Street Fighter II, Strider, and Mega Man. And if that’s not enough, the same range of carts that fit the VS console will work in the EXP handheld. That’s a massive 380 games over 35 collections spanning multiple systems. So, if you miss the experience of slotting a game into a Sega Game Gear, this is the handheld console for you. You can even hold it vertically for those arcade games that need it.

Lastly, but perhaps the most practical feature, is the option to connect to your TV via HDMI. That makes this the ideal system for retro gaming both at home and away.

Any retro gamer won’t have missed the fact that Nintendo really sparked the mini craze with its shrunk-down NES Classic. It sold like hot pixelated cakes, as did the follow-up - the SNES Classic Mini. While neither of these supported cartridges or the ability to add your own games, they did come with a great range of iconic games built-in. However, now discontinued they continue to fetch unrealistic prices. If you really want one, the SNES Classic Mini console can be found on Amazon at a price that would make Mario jump down the nearest pipe. 

But, fear not Mario fans - the Nintendo Game & Watch is back. And it’s been given an authentic early 80s finish, right down to the brushed metal facia and packaging artwork. Other than the full-colour screen, it accurately reproduced the golden days of LCD gaming and tinny-sounding beeps and boops from the internal speaker.

This thing really is a showcase of how far things have come: this is the full version of Super Mario Bros. that you’d have played on the NES. They’ve even thrown in The Lost Levels, and a Mario version of the LCD classic Ball. Naturally, it’s a watch as well. So, as an iconic game on an equally iconic repro of the world’s first console, you’ll be getting a double dose of retro goodness. And if you’re a serious Mario fan, you’ll be glad to know there’s a brilliant range of licenced Super Mario accessories as well.

Sega made its name in the hallowed halls of the arcades just as much as with its home consoles like the Master System and Mega Drive. This little console is a perfect handheld (or tabletop) replica of the full-size multipurpose Astro City arcade machine from the 90s. The arcade-style stick and six buttons are a nice addition here, signalling the type of retro gameplay you can expect. And the titles don’t disappoint either. There are a grand total of 37 to choose from, with a 720p version of Virtua Fighter, plus Altered Beast, Wonderboy, Alien Syndrome and more.  

Once again, this can also connect to the TV as well, so despite not having a second controller out of the box (it’s available separately) you can blast away in comfort when you’re at home. As a sturdily-made and faithful reproduction of the original cabinet, it’ll look great on the shelf too.

There’s no beating the Commodore 64 when it comes to iconic 8-bit home computers. So, having taken the retro gaming world by storm with its C64 Mini, there was only one logical thing to do. Retro Games Ltd. went all-out and created the full-size version, even copying the tooling of the original breadbin case and doing a great job on the keyboard. And, of course, unlike the Mini the keyboard works just as it should. Obviously, those enhancements take this device out of the mini-console category and into the ‘replica home computer’ one. 

This time, booting straight to Commodore Basic is the true retro experience, with coding, loading games and more. And again, you can enjoy disc and tape file support from a USB drive. It’s HDMI, so will hook up to your modern TV  - but they haven’t forgotten to keep those filters for the authentic CRT look. The microswitch-based joystick is sturdy enough, and still has the shortcut buttons to access the save, load and menu functions. And there’s still a line-up of games built-in that you can load from the carousel. It'll even switch to VIC 20 mode if you prefer. Despite licencing the games, software and the look of the machine from their respective owners, Retro Games were not actually given the licence for the name ‘Commodore’, which is why it’s badged as a TheC64. Other than that, at a casual glance, this really does look the part. Any ex-breadbin owners will love it.

We don’t normally recommend products that haven’t been released in the U.K. yet, but in this case, we’ll make an exception. Early owners from across the Pond love this new version of the legendary Atari 2600. It’s a slightly scaled-down version of the original, and it comes with a 10-game cart that includes Adventure, Haunted House, and Missile Command. Yes, this is probably one of the best consoles on this list for a truly retro look and feel - right down to the wood-effect trim. As this is the brand new 2600 Plus, it’ll connect to your TV and can play Atari 7800 games too. 

So, you’re probably expecting an Evercade-like array of bespoke cartridges for this? Well, that’s where Atari has outdone itself. You can buy new carts, but the original 2600 ones will also work. We think this might be a first - a nicely reproduced and licenced machine that can actually take physical games from your 30 to 40-year-old collection. Astounding when you think about it. We do wish it had been full-size, but it’s close enough to scratch that vintage Atari itch. Preorders are available from Amazon, as the Atari 2600 Plus is currently an Amazon exclusive.

Our old friend Retro Games Ltd. has been at it again, this time with its miniature version of the Amiga A500. Following on from the C64 Mini, the company has used its expertise to accurately model the A500 case, mouse and an appropriately styled gamepad. In much the same way as the mini Commodore, the keys are for show - but an on-screen keyboard and, of course, that mouse, will help things along. With a 16-bit mouse-driven system at your fingertips, the game selection becomes a lot more familiar to PC fans, with point-and-click adventures like Simon The Sorceror, sci-fi platformer Another World and arcade-style games like Speedball 2 and Zool.

Once again we have full emulation of the original operating system, and also the 600 and 1200 OSs. USB support for your own software is there too, as is the HDMI TV connection up to 720p. Needless to say, while this definitely ticks the ‘mini console’ box with its 25 in-built games, fans are asking the question: “Will there be an A500 Maxi?”. As yet Retro Games haven’t confirmed this, but if the C64 Mini was anything to go by, we’d be astonished if an Amiga A500 Maxi wasn’t on the cards. Watch this space. And in the meantime, the A500 Mini is an absolute steal.

Moving up in the bit stakes, Sony’s PlayStation was one of the earliest home consoles to offer 32-bit content - the sort that was usually reserved for PC owners. The console ushered in a new age in home entertainment, with its CD-based titles like Tomb Raider, Twisted Metal, GTA and more. So, although a little late to the mini-console party, the PlayStation Classic is another pleasingly accurate addition to the collection for retro gamers. The light grey case and non-opening CD lid sit very nicely next to the two full-size controllers (bonus points there, Sony, for including two). The system itself is about 45% the size of the original.

Although there are only 20 games included here, they do at least have some excellent titles. Relive your Final Fantasy VII battles alongside classics like Tekken 3, Ridge Racer Type 4, and Jumping Flash. Plus, you won’t be needing to plug in any of those old memory cards, as the save slots are handled internally. In many ways, given that everyone will have their favourite PS1 games, it was probably asking too much to have even more games crammed into this thing. But, although we would have liked to have seen Tomb Raider and Wipeout, we do at least have Resident Evil and Syphon Filter to keep us up way past bedtime.

We’ve had mini consoles, now we have something really tiny, The Super Impulse Tiny Arcade Atari 2600 is part novelty, part replica, part functional console. It might be a little on the pricey side, but this just looks so cool. It’s probably the only one on the list that is as entertaining to look at as it is to play. With nine original and licenced Atari games onboard, you’ll be reliving your childhood tiny-style with the fully functional yet teeny joystick. There are no miniature carts though, even just for display. But that sounds like a weekend make-and-do challenge to us. 

One really nice addition here is that the small vintage-style TV has a tiltable screen, making it comfortable to play on a tabletop. But, on to the games - you have (deep breath): Combat, Warlords, Millipede, Tempest, Centipede, Pong, Missile Command, Asteroids and Breakout. The star here, though, is the power-pill munching ghost-gobbling Pac-Man. Atari 2600 games work really well on a tiny screen like this too, thanks to the resolution of the original. Brilliant, portable, Atari fun.