Sibling spats are part of growing up with a brother or sister, but when my brother and I were young, one of the main standoffs was over who got to play on the gameboy next.
As the youngest, I would have to settle for watching over his shoulder as he worked this way through Mario World 2 and saved the Princess, all through a tiny screen with even smaller graphics.
Fast forward to today, and video games couldn't be more different. Sharp graphics, amped up characters and controllers for multiple play mean my gameboy adventures sound like antiques from gaming's past.
But I still maintain some of the early games were the most fun to play. Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Pac-Man - Tetris for goodness sake. Perhaps it's the feeling of tumbling back down memory lane, but the simple games sill hold the greatest charm.
Plus, they're not subject to endless updates. I can still dig out my old gameboy color (bought in America, hence the spelling) packed with a 128 -in-1 cartridge my dad picked up in Beijing and play those games like I did three decades ago.
If your console has long been donated to the charity shop, have no fear. There are plenty of old school iterations that can play classic video and arcade games but will run on the best tech available today, offering the best of both worlds. If you're in the market for nostalgic gameplay, I've rounded up the best ones to spend your pocket money on now.
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Nintendo Switch 2
The new console will boast 256GB of memory – a considerable improvement on the earlier Switches (the first one only had 32GB), and which can be improved upon even further with microSD cards.
The only downside was the battery. The new console takes three hours to charge and lasts between 2.5-6.5 hours, depending on what games it’s playing. That’s not a lot of charge at all – certainly less than the upgraded Switch OLED with its whopping 4.5-9 hours of battery life.
Then again, processing power doesn’t come cheap, and the Switch 2’s awesome power comes thanks to a custom bit of kit from gaming giant NVIDIA. While no further details have been released in terms of what that means, the software is capable of playing massive games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy and even the new Hazelight game Split Fiction without breaking a sweat.
This is a bigger beast than its predecessor, though it still weighs in at around the same, at about 500g. It feels great to hold, and comes in a lovely matte black colour. The Switch 2 has a much bigger 7.2-inch screen (compared to 6.2 inches), that displays games in 1080p, and (bonus) it’s thinner than its predecessor, coming in at 1.4cm width. Oh yeah – and there’s no OLED screen, as with the later Switch models. This is just LED for now, which essentially means slightly less crisp visuals.
There is also a dock. While it looks roughly the same as earlier models, it’s also bigger, and rightly so – when the Switch 2 is docked, it will be capable of outputting videos at a 4K resolution, and playing games at up to 120FPS. That’s no joke – it’s certainly much better than any of the current models, and explains why the new dock contains a fan to help the switch cool down faster.
The Joy-Cons are probably the flashiest upgrade of the entire product. Nintendo was at pains to show us everything that could be done with the brand-new Joy-Con controllers, and no wonder: in addition to a gyroscope, they contain HD rumble packs and (best of all) mouse control functionality.
Buy now £595.00, Amazon
GameSir X5 Lite Mobile Gaming Controller
Turn your iPad mini or Android tablet into your very own game station with these controllers that snap onto either side of the screen. The accessory can stretch up to 213mm, while a stable Type-C connector ensures lag-free gaming across the screen.
It's lightweight too, weighing a sprightly 135.4g with laser-engraved grips and intuitive controls for hours of uninterrupted mobile gaming. The X5 Lite even supports pass-through charging so you don't have to put your gaming adventure on ice when your device needs a recharge.
Best Amazon review? "I found the grip to be comfortable for prolonged periods of time. The overall construction is very solid and the spring recoils very strongly. At £35 I believe this product provides extraordinary value for portable on-the-go gaming at this quality."
Buy now £34.99, Amazon
Atari Super Pocket
Feeling nostalgic for your 90s Gameboy? Atari's got you with its handheld Super Pocket console, which comes with 50 preloaded classic arcade games to play on the IPS screen- think Centipede, Asteroids, Missile Command and Pong. If you tire of those, this baby also takes Evercade cartridges, throwing open your games menu even further.
The battery will give you around four hours of play, which should be enough to see you through most moderate journeys or a few rounds of the commute, but it comes with a fast charging USB-C cable, so if you need more juice, it shouldn't take long to get it back up to speed.
A great budget buy that old school gamers will get a kick out of.
Buy now £55.95, Amazon
Hyperkin RetroN 5 HD Gaming Console - Hyper Beach Edition
With old school controllers and a vivid 80s-esque colourway, this console is built for playing down memory lane. The device is gameboy, Famicom, NES, Genesis and Mega compatible, taking all of the aforementioned's cartridges, so if you have a dusty old classic you haven't played for a while, this can give it a second life.
The controller uses BT Technology with a range of up to 30 feet, so you're not glued in your HDTV. You can also save and load games when you like, even in the middle of gameplay, with 10 save slots per game. Oh, and it's as customisable as you like, allowing users to tweak filter and shader effects.
Sold with a one-year manufacturer's guarantee.
Buy now £179.99, Argos
Atari Flashback 12 Console
Dive headfirst into the delightful world of 8-bit gaming with this Atari console, which holds 110 pre-installed games. It might look like a relic, but the tech is anything but - the display is vibrant thanks to a 720p HD output through an HDMI connection and there's oodles of internal storage, allowing you to save, load and rewind without a glitch. It comes with two controllers, so grab some drinks and snacks, and invite your BFF over for a game night, just like in the good old days.
Buy now £67.50, Boots
Capcom C8 Retro Station Arcade Machine
Want to recreate arcade adrenaline but have no space for a full machine? No need to clear out your furniture thanks to this mini design.
From Capcom comes the dinky D8 console loaded with 10 games including Mega Man and Street Fighter plus a 20cm display, 10W super bass Yamaha speakers and an adjustable monitor for a true retro experience. There's even an HDMI port if that 20cm LCD screen isn't doing it for you.
Suitable for ages 6+, this console comes with a one-year manufacturer's guarantee.
Buy now £199.99, Argos
Arcade1Up Pac-Man 5-in-1 17 inch Partycade
Know what your next house party needs? An arcade-ready Pac-Man game, like this beauty from Arcade1Up. The retro design has five preloaded games, all ready to play through the on-screen menu, adding to the nostalgic aesthetic. The mains-operated device will need to sit close to a power source, but you can balance it on a table, keeping bulk to a minimum.
It comes with a full one-year warranty.
Buy now £239.99, Wayfair
