There are thousands of new video games released each year, including hundreds of AAA blockbusters on consoles and computers, as well as many more mobile and indie titles. Yet, despite this constant stream of fresh ideas entering the market, many gamers prefer classic retro games.
If you’re one of them, here are ten of the best retro titles that are available for you to play right now.
1. Pac-Man
Pac-Man was an era-defining title, helping to encourage many new people into taking up gaming as a hobby. This maze game required players to direct the hungry yellow disc around a maze, eating all of the crumbs, while avoiding the deadly ghosts as they chased around.
Today, Pac-Man remains incredibly popular and has spawned a lot of merchandise. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise then that you can also play Pac-Man on practically any internet-connected device, too.
2. Mario
Mario is probably the most recognised video game character on the planet. This moustachioed plumber got his big break as ‘Jump Man’ in the original Donkey Kong but quickly became the star of the show.
Today, you can play Mario games on all past and present Nintendo hardware, as well as your smartphone, tablet, and computer.
3. Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the oldest retro games that is still enjoyed today. It is a card game that requires you to make a hand worth 21, or as close to 21 as possible, without going over. It’s played against the house, making each round very quick.
You can enjoy blackjack in person at a land-based casino or at home with your friends. Alternatively, you can play online through your computer, smartphone, or tablet thanks to online casinos and free blackjack game apps.
4. Roulette
Roulette is another centuries-old casino game that still commands the interest of many players. Originally invented by the Frenchman Blaise Pascal, the wheel used in roulette was intended to be a perpetual motion machine, but it was soon turned into the fun table game we know and love today.
Hundreds of years later, roulette continues to attract millions of new players, with many structuring their playing sessions using different popular strategies like the Martingale and Paroli systems.
5. Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto may not seem like a retro game because the latest version, GTA V, looks very modern. However, some of the most iconic releases in the franchise are now more than 20 years old, placing them firmly in the retro category.
The most popular classic GTA games are III, Vice City, and San Andreas which were remastered in 2022, making them compatible with most consoles, computers, and mobile devices.
6. Sonic
Sonic is the legendary blue hedgehog who is famous for moving at lightning speed and spewing gold rings when he’s taken out by an enemy. Created by SEGA as its answer to Nintendo’s Mario, Sonic and the Italian plumber were once locked into a fierce battle for video game supremacy.
Today, that battle has been long won by Mario, but Sonic remains a classic that you will love. SEGA also appears to be trying for a rematch as new Sonic and Mario games were recently released in the same week.
7. Tetris
Tetris is another 1980s video game smash hit. Its premise may be simple: players must rearrange falling blocks to try and fill up full rows so that they’ll disappear and free up room for more blocks. However, it offers an infinite number of possibilities.
Tetris is also available on almost every platform from consoles to smartphones.
8. GoldenEye 007
James Bond is Britain’s most famous spy having built a large following through the series of films and books which feature the character. However, many gamers associate Mr Bond with the GoldenEye 007 game that was released for the Nintendo 64 back in 1997.
The game was praised for having many features that are now taken for granted but were pioneering at the time. That’s why it still feels so modern, despite the clunky graphics. It’s available on Nintendo consoles and through emulation.
9. Zelda
A list of retro titles would not be complete without Zelda. The first game, The Legend of Zelda, was released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System but it’s since appeared on almost all other consoles created by the company.
Most Zelda titles are exclusive to the Nintendo ecosystem, so you’ll need a Switch or an older console to play. But you’ll have plenty of choice, with a mix of modern releases and retro games on offer.
10. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
The Tony Hawk video game franchise is iconic. While not as established as Mario, Sonic, or Zelda, it is a fondly-remembered classic among gamers old enough to have experienced the originals in the 1990s and 2000s, as well as younger players who can now experience Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater for the first time.
A remastered version of the original two titles was released in 2020, containing both the original and the popular sequel. It is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.