A handful of platforms dominate the modern gaming scene, but in the past there were dozens of options to choose from. If you fancy yourself a collector of sorts, these retro consoles are worth buying now if you can find them.
1 Neo Geo
The Neo Geo is an interesting console that went for a whopping $650 back in 1990 when it first came out. It was expensive because the console had the same capabilities as SNK’s arcade cabinet hardware, which was pretty unheard of for home consoles at that time. Because of that, the Neo Geo had some of the best graphics and sound quality at the time.
Admittedly, it didn’t have the same level of third-party support as consoles like the Sega Genesis or the SNES, but it is pretty much the best way to play the fighting games it was known for at the time, including a slew of The King of Fighters titles.
The big appeal of getting a Neo Geo today is the fact that many of us didn’t get a chance to own one in its heyday due to the prohibitive price. Don’t worry, they aren’t nearly as expensive as they used to be, though admittedly, the Neo Geo and its games are still more expensive to acquire than lots of other retro consoles. Totally worth it if you want to set up your own arcade cabinet at home, though.
2 Sega Dreamcast
Prior to the Sega Dreamcast, the Sega Saturn absolutely flopped on launch, making the Dreamcast the company’s last shot at maintaining a position in the home console market. Unfortunately, the Dreamcast, while a great machine, just couldn’t match the popularity of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
It’s a real shame, because it was quite innovative at the time. It had downloadable content and multiplayer over the internet, a memory card that could function as a portable gaming device, and even used a unique optical format, GD-ROMs.
The main appeal of buying a Sega Dreamcast today is the quality of the original games. Some of them can be played on other platforms today, but there’s nothing like playing Soul Calibur, Skies of Arcadia, or Phantasy Star Online on the original hardware. Thankfully, Sega has always been one step ahead of everyone else when it comes to preserving their classic titles.
Expect to pay at least $100 for a Dreamcast in most cases.
3 Sony PlayStation
The original PlayStation almost didn’t happen. Nintendo and Sony originally agreed to produce a special version of the SNES together, one that used CD-ROMs instead of cartridges. Nintendo backed out of the deal, leaving Sony to complete the PlayStation on its own. Released in 1994, it was a direct competitor to the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64, though it single-handedly brought an end to the dominance of Nintendo at the time.
The CD-ROM setup gave publishers more to work with, leading to some of the more demanding (for the time) games such as Final Fantasy VII going to the PlayStation. The console was well-rounded and accessible to all ages and holds a nostalgic place in the hearts of many gamers. Anyone who played Tekken 3 or the Spyro games during their childhood can find some value here.
Thankfully, huge numbers of PlayStations were manufactured, so it’s pretty easy to find them at an affordable price. You can find a used PS1 for as low as $25, though those in better condition might run you slightly upwards of $100.
4 NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System is arguably one of the most important consoles in gaming history, marking not only Nintendo’s first foray into the home console market but also establishing them as a serious contender for the entertainment crown.
If it weren’t for the NES, Nintendo might not be the titan it is today. Heck, gaming might not be the same as a whole. The success of the NES is often credited as a major contributor to the revival of the video game scene after its crash in 1983.
The NES is the system that birthed many of gaming’s most recognizable franchises, including Metroid, Final Fantasy, and Super Mario Bros. On top of that, the NES has more than 1,400 games in its library.
There were several variants of the NES, so the price of acquiring one depends on what you’re after. Some are as low as $50, while others are as high as $250 or more.
5 SNES
Considering how massively successful the NES was after its release in 1986, it’s only natural that Nintendo made a superior version in 1990, the Super NES. Compared to the NES, the SNES used 16-bit microprocessors instead of 8-bit and had more advanced controllers with more buttons.
As a collector’s item, the value of the SNES depends on whether you opt for a lovingly used model or one still secure in its original box. The SNES is incredibly popular, with the SNES Classic, launched in 2017, selling out in no time following its release.
Personally though, whether or not a SNES is worth it to collect depends on how nostalgic you are for it. It is still a major part of gaming history, but it’s not as big of a titan as the original NES. Expect to pay anywhere from $50-$200 to acquire one. Though if you really want to, it’s not terribly difficult to build your own SNES.
6 Nintendo 64
Released in 1996, the Nintendo 64 was Nintendo’s flagship console up until the release of the GameCube in 2001. Lots of things made the Nintendo 64 unique at the time. For one, it stuck to cartridges at a time when other consoles were moving to CDs. Two, it had an absolutely bizarre trident-shaped controller. Finally, it could even play some Game Boy games via the Transfer Pak.
Despite cartridges not having as much space as CDs at the time, the Nintendo 64 still brought many incredible titles to the table, such as Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Super Smash Bros., Pokémon Snap, and many more. It’s an incredible piece of gaming history, making it a worthwhile console for Nintendo collectors.
Short of an emulator or “modern retro” console, the Nintendo 64 is also still one of the only legitimate ways to play certain games, like Castlevania 64. The price of a Nintendo 64 varies wildly according to where you buy it, but you can expect it to cost around $150 tops, unless you are buying a special edition console.
7 GameCube
The GameCube is a bit of an odd piece of Nintendo history: it wasn’t really a commercial failure, managing to sell over 20 million units in its lifetime. Yet it’s often overlooked or forgotten about. As far as its era of gaming is concerned, gamers tend to remember the Xbox and PlayStation 2.
Personally, I feel that the GameCube is one of the most underrated consoles of the 2000s. It had a fantastic library of exclusive games, and some interesting accessories, such as the Game Boy Player, and even had a handle on the back so it could be carried to your best friend’s house.
Ultimately, the real appeal of buying a GameCube today is the fact that there are lots of games you can only play on the console even now. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II are just two prime examples of such games.
You can get a GameCube for pretty cheap right now, with used ones being around $70 and unused or refurbished ones being about $150-$200.
There are other retro consoles out there worth getting if you’re a collector, such as the original Xbox or the Sega Genesis, but I just can’t cover all of them here. What’s true for all of these consoles is the fact that they are only going to increase in price as the years wear on. So if you do plan on starting a collection, now is the time.
Besides, some retro consoles still get new games even today, so your investment might have even more of a return than you realize!
