For many of us, the joy we find in video gaming can be traced back to our childhood days, where it wasn’t unusual to spend weeks, or even months, trying to complete our favourite games
Old habits die hard, so they say, which is why it’s probably no real surprise that there are more adult gamers today than ever before. According to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the age of the average US gamer now sits at 34. And whether you were more a fan of adventure, sports, MMORPGs, racing or classic shoot ‘em ups, there are usually a few titles that we tend to look back little more fondly on.
The power of nostalgia cannot be underestimated, which is why many gamers occasionally feel the desire to head up into the attic to bring down dusty consoles that haven’t seen the light of day for years, if not decades. Even if you’ve accidentally traded in or pawned off your retro consoles at some point, then there’s no need to worry.
These days there are plenty of classic reboots and services geared towards reviving your long-lost gaming habits. And before you go spending a small fortune on retro hardware on eBay, it definitely pays to gen up on the range of retro gaming options currently out there.
With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at some of the best retro consoles and gaming services available to enjoy in 2019!
Origin
Origin has become the platform of choice for many people looking to get their gaming fix in recent years. The online store is run by Electronic Arts and features a wide array of classic titles across a broad range of genres – both new and historic.
It’s a subscription service, which will set you back $4.99 per month, so it’s worth considering if you’re looking to keep a tight rein on your gaming budget. There’s also a premium version now available if you fancy nabbing yourself some additional benefits. Their vault of games is quite impressive and constantly being added to, with standout titles including The Sims, Fifa and Battlefield. That being said, it does tend to lean towards slightly newer releases, so it might not be the way to go if you’re on the hunt for really old games.
PlayStation Now
If we take a look various areas of the gaming industry, it’s been impossible not to notice the rise of retro updates in recent years. Whether it’s AR releases like Pokemon Go or iGaming sites like Buzz Bingo, there’s definitely a growing demand for classic titles and formats to be repurposed for a modern audience.
The same goes for Sony, who have invested heavily in developing their range of classic Playstation games via the Playstation Now subscription service. Players can now sign-up and enjoy over 600 PS4, PS3 and PS2 games, ready to stream instantly to their PS4 or PC. If you grew up playing Playstation, this is perhaps the perfect way to rekindle your love for the console without having to re-buy all your old favourites.
Antstream Arcade
Antstream Arcade bills itself as the Netflix of retro gaming – and for good reason! This London start-up has been making big waves in the retro gaming world, recently receiving huge investment from Chinese gaming giant Tencent.
Antstream runs a monthly subscription service and boasts a sprawling catalogue of over 2,000 retro games. Players can also engage with social challenges and compete with friends. One of the big advantages is that the platform is available on almost every console and device, from Mac and PC to Xbox and Amazon Fire Stick.
So, next time you’re feeling the nostalgic itch and curse yourself for selling a long-lost console, don’t fret! As you can there are plenty of options when it comes to getting your retro gaming fix. We’re expecting much more to come over the coming 12 months.
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