Whether you're a gaming veteran with fond memories of 8-bit and 16-bit classics or you're going back to them for the first time, there has never been a better time for retro games.
And while you could easily use a gaming emulator or a retro gaming system, there are plenty of retro game collections for modern gaming consoles—and they're much easier to play!
This is not a comprehensive list of all the retro game collections available. Instead, you should see it as a list of retro game collections that represent the best value for retro gamers!
7. Sega Genesis Classics
This collection has been released over the past several years on different platforms, including the PC and all current consoles.
Exactly which games will you get? That varies from version to version, but a certain blue hedgehog with a penchant for speed appears in all of them.
In addition to the first three Sonic the Hedgehog games, you get Ristar, Kid Chameleon, Mappy, and beloved RPGs Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, and Phantasy Star IV.
6. Disney Afternoon Collection
This features the fewest games of any of those we're looking at, but it will appeal to a very specific age group.
If you ever watched DuckTales, Darkwing Duck, or Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, you probably remember the Disney Afternoon programming block. This collection lets you revisit those afternoons in video game form.
Included in the collection are DuckTales, DuckTales 2, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2. The game features a handy rewind feature to make the games easier to play, and is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
5. SNK 40th Anniversary Collection
If you're familiar with SNK, you probably associate the company with the NeoGeo arcade classics bearing those initials. But this isn't a collection of NeoGeo games. The SNK 40th Anniversary Collection focuses on even older games.
This collection includes Ikari Warriors, Psycho Soldier, Crystalis, among many others. Initially released for Nintendo Switch, the collection is now also available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
4. Castlevania Anniversary Collection
Contra isn't the only series that Konami has packaged up for sale on modern consoles. The Castlevania Anniversary Collection does a similar treatment for everyone's favorite vampire fighting series. It's even available on all the same platforms.
This package collects everything from the original Castlevania to Super Castlevania IV It also includes Castlevania The Adventure, Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge, Castlevania Bloodlines, and Kid Dracula, released in English for the first time here.
3. Contra Anniversary Collection
If you love mechs or just can't get enough robot-fighting action, this collection is for you. It contains everything from the original Contra and Contra II: The Alien Wars to Contra Hard Corps.
You'll encounter the same game with a different name on a few occasions, but it's nice to see the sheer amount of games packed into the collection.
The Contra Anniversary Collection is available for the PC as well as all current gaming consoles.
2. Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle
Capcom gobbled up arcade quarters by the dozen in the 80s and 90s with the games in this collection. You won't find a lot of variety here, as these are all beat-em-ups (as implied by the name), but there are some great games in the collection.
This collection packs in classics Final Fight, The King of Dragons, Captain Commando, Knights of the Round, and Warriors of Fate. It also includes Armored Warriors and Battle Circuit, both for the first time on home consoles.
The Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle is available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
1. Mega Man Legacy Collection
If we wanted to, we could fill this entire list with just Mega Man games. You have the Mega Man Legacy Collections, then there are the Mega Man X Collections. You probably don't need all of them, but if you're a completionist, you might not be able to help yourself.
No matter which collection you pick, it will provide hours of side-scrolling platform run-and-gun action. These are available on basically every console available, so no matter what console (or PC) you prefer, you'll be able to play these games.
