6 Video Games to get you into Retro Gaming

With the recent surge in retro gaming, I wanted to share 6 games for anyone on the fence and interested in giving retro gaming a chance.

You may be put off by a large number of retro games due to their high level of difficulty, but there are a lot of great titles to get started that are more entry-friendly.

1. Tetris (Gameboy Version)

Arguably one of the most iconic games in history, even my mother has heard of Tetris, this simple yet addictive game helped to pave the success of Nintendo’s original Gameboy.

Tetris is a puzzle game where you need to align different shapes in a single line to get points. It has one of the most memorable and iconic soundtracks of any game and going back to the original Gameboy version is a perfect place to start, if you are considering getting into retro gaming.

2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Megadrive/Genesis/Game Gear)

Sonic at the time was Sega’s answer to Nintendos mascot which had been dominating the gaming industry, the well-known Mario. This adorable blue hedgehog captured the hearts of many and has become of Sega’s most iconic series to date.

The gameplay is fairly simple and takes elements of other platformers at the time like Mario, but focused more around speed, getting from the start to end of each stage.

Although it can take some time to get used to the fast-paced gameplay and another excellent soundtrack, make this game is a must-play for anyone and a great way to get into the 16-bit era.

3. Pacman (Arcade)

Another classic for the list, which has seen several ports over the years across multiply platforms and devices, this simple yet incredibly fun action maze-based game, is a great entry point into a vast library of fantastic arcade games.

In Pacman, you play as a yellow puck, in which you need to eat all the white dots on the screen, whilst avoiding the 4 enemy ghosts. Although one of the older games on the list, first being released back in 1980, it is still as fun to play today and is a game suitable for everyone.

4. Streets of Rage 2 (Sega Mega Drive/Genesis)

Streets of Rage 2, is an iconic beat ’em up style game, where you can play as several characters, fighting your way from one end of a stage to the next, with a boss at the end of each stage.

One of the harder games on this list, as it progresses, but even for any newcomers to retro games, and with some button bashing you can easily get through the first few stages. By that time you will have fallen in love with its incredible art style and a fantastic soundtrack. Another must-play and a personal favorite of mine!

5. GoldenEye 007 (Nintendo 64)

GoldenEye is a first-person shooter, originally released back in 1997 on the Nintendo 64. Although this game has aged, compared to the long list of modern first-person shooters, there is still something unique and more importantly incredible fun about this classic game.

For any fans of the James Bond film franchise and those looking to see early 3d first-person shooters, there is no better place to start.

At this time, prices of the game are also still fairly low, with this being a more common game, and can be picked up for around £20.

6. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (Playstation 1)

With the recent launch of Sony’s PS5, there could not be a better time, to travel back to the beginning of Sony’s console history, by trying out one of their well-known franchises Crash Bandicoot. Which went on to become one of the best-selling Playstation 1 games of all time.

Crash Bandicoot 2, is an action platformer, even with the remastered versions available on most modern platforms, going back to play the original still looks and plays great today, whether you are playing on original hardware or through emulation.

Before you go

There is no better time to get into retro video games and experience a back catalog of some of the greatest games of all time. No matter your experience these games are a great place to start.

What other games would you recommend for anyone who was looking to get into retro video games?