Retro News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

Want a deal that will blow your mind on an exciting space shooter game? Craving a side of mystery with your pew-pew action? Hold onto your spaceships because Endurance: Dead Space Premium might be your next mobile obsession. This game blends retro vibes with RPG elements, all wrapped in a spooky spaceship setting.

Welcome to our living list of smiles and savings! That's right, Amazon's Big Smile Sale is back again from today through to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 24. What's a Big Smile event? Something that sounds like a dentistry discount-fest but is actually a mini Prime Day—the best time to cheaply grab a game or some peripherals to make your forthcoming holidays awesome!

, the free-to-play arena shooter that was released in December 2023, is quickly approaching the start of its second season and brings a host of new Gadgets, weapons, maps, and abilities. Season 2 officially begins on March 14, 2024, and also comes with a new game mode called Power Shift as well as a new map entitled SYS$HORIZON that embodies this season's new futuristic yet retro theme.

Around six months ago, the retro specialists at Digital Eclipse released the first edition of its new collection, the Gold Master Series.

Today I'm all about bang-for-your-buck bundle deals. Because why spend heaps on a hot and current AAA when you can score a low-cost cluster of classics? A Sega Mega Drive Collection, a gaggle of Trines, three Batman games actually worth giving a damn about, every Expanded Universe Star Wars game under the sun—these are the smart plays, my friend.

After numerous delays, the anticipated System Shock remake launched on PC to solid reviews and enthusiastic fan response early last year, but when do console players get in on the retro cyberpunk fun? Developer Nightdive Studios have always said a console version of the new System Shock was in the works (which sets it apart from the PC-only original) but have been a bit cagey about when it might arrive.

The Lego Atari 2600, with its moving joystick and charming details, is a set that is an absolute must-have for anyone who loves retro gaming as much as they love Lego. Now, thanks to a rad discount, reliving the '80s is more affordable than ever. While the console replica would usually set you back $239.99, you can now pick up a Lego Atari with all its totally bodacious accessories for just $167.99 on Amazon. That's a 30% discount on the whole, and is also the lowest the kit has ever been at Amazon. In other words, it's one of the better Lego deals of this week.

If you caught our Rise of the Ronin preview content and are keen, there's a sub-level discount you'll appreciate. I've spent a good six hours with this samurai epic and can confirm that it's well worth unsheathing your wallet for—click here for a longer version of why that is. Beyond that, you should also be aware that there are cheaper than usual Mario games afoot right now. Wonder, in particular, is well worth your coins.

The developer of Ori and the Blind Forest has revealed the Metroidvania series has sold around 10 million copies when it could've bankrupted its developer. 

Three more classic Mario Game Boy games are coming to Switch Online.

I only had a handful of games growing up, but they were all I needed. I played games like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Pitfall over and over again, without ever actually beating them. Instead, I was content to bang my head against them, learning a little more with each failure so I could get just a bit further on my next go-round. What I wouldn’t realize until I was much older was how short those games actually were. If I played my cards right, I could beat Sonic in under three hours. Pitfall, a game I played for years, was barely 40 minutes long. Difficulty meant value.

Thank your own personal deity—possibly the titular Dragon's Dogma 2 dragon—it's Friday! This morning, I should like to turn your attention to a sale of some old EA-owned gold that's made its way to Steam for the first time. Chief among them for me is The Saboteur, basically a WWII GTA set in Paris. I'm also all about the dirt cheap tsunami of Command & Conquer games, too.

You know that it’s a busy year for gaming when a project by an industry legend launches with hardly any fanfare. That’s exactly what happened in February 2023 with Akka Arrh. Created by Jeff Minter and his eccentric studio Llamasoft, the neon-tinted shooter is a remake of a 1982 Atari game that never saw the light of day after being deemed too difficult. Minter got the greenlight to revive the project, bringing it to life as a retro arcade shooter built in his unmistakable style.

The official full trailer for upcoming horror film Late Night with the Devil has dropped, and it looks like a mix of The Exorcist and retro late-night talk shows. 

Today, it's time to pay not that much to score quite a heck of a lot, thanks to Humble Bundle. The tastiest component in said package has got to be Nioh 2, top action-RPG and spiritual predecessor of the imminently forthcoming Rise of the Ronin. The latter keeps all the samurai action, strips out the supernatural enemies (plus giant enemy crabs), and adds in a backpack glider not unlike the Bat-tastic one from the Arkham series. Pretty good formula so far, no?

Every year, like clockwork, I end up playing one retro-style 2D game that gets its hooks in me. It’s not that I harbor a lot of nostalgia for the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis; it’s just that indie developers have gotten very good at both replicating and modernizing the fun of old-school platformers. So far in the 2020s, I’ve had a blast with Cyber Shadow, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider, and now, Berserk Boy.

There's something special to a retro gamer about the resurrection of a cult classic, as it either gives a hidden gem a new lease of life, or it introduces gamers to a series they've never heard of before. Sunsoft has capitalised on this idea, as Tasto Alpha has developed the single player platform game, Ufouria: The Saga 2, which manages to combine being part-remake and part-sequel of an underappreciated NES game called Ufouria: The Saga — released as Hebereke on the Famicom in 1991.

If you've been holding off on taking the PS VR2 plunge, today's the day to leave crappy old crud-reality behind. 132 bucks off the headset, Sense Controllers and one helluva good showcase title for the tech is a very enticing deal. Take it from the guy who's played everything worth playing on the system—it's awesome and well worth a spot in your collection.

Welcome to another week of not paying retail for the games that matter. As per always, I've scoured the storefronts for nothing but the best in budget-minded gaming, plus the perfect preorder entry points. Wish I had time to say more, but Super Earth isn't going to super save itself. See you planetside in Helldivers 2, where I may or may not accidentally (but also democratically) delete you with an Orbital Airburst Strike.

Call of Duty Warzone doesn't exactly lend itself to skins in the same way Fortnite does. Sure, Nicki Minaj and Snoop Dogg have been added as operators, but you can't truly customize your in-game self to look just the way you want as doing so would scupper your attempts to remain hidden from enemies. That doesn't mean you can't look good while you play in real life though, and now you can do so by wearing some official Call of Duty merch courtesy of Boohooman.

Computer and video games are the largest and most lucrative form of media entertainment today. But it’s a mistake to think of games as a new phenomenon – at this point, their history stretches back over 50 years. Generations of gamers have grown up and passed on their love of gaming to their children. So why is it so hard to find and play the classic games we enjoyed in our youth?

Popular RPG Octopath Traveler has been delisted on the Nintendo eShop.

Thank your own personal deity—possibly the God-Emperor—it's Friday! I'm going to round out the week with a crapload of triple and double packs on Xbox. I'm also seeing an unusually cheap Switch Pro Controller, and the first double-digit discount yet spotted for Shadow of the Erd Tree. If I don't see you defending Super Earth in Helldivers 2, stay safe, save often, and catch you Monday!

If Sonic The Hedgehog had come out in the era of tilt controls, there’s every chance that it might have looked a bit like Tumble Rush. 

Today I'm all about discount deals and democracy manifest. Though discounts on it are scarce (beyond this 17% off one with the code OMEN17), Helldivers 2 still holds my attention like the vice-like pincers of a terminid warrior bug. Why? Because even in a squad of randos, you can experience heroic, heart-in-your-mouth moments like these.

3DRealms is known for its many, many retro first-person shooters, and though Wrath: Aeon of Ruin doesn’t necessarily stand out in this respect, it’s a marquee example of the niche regardless. It’s pretty exciting, then, that its 1.0 version has now launched from Early Access.

I wasn’t wrong when I said that the release of Nvidia’s RTX Remix toolkit would see retro games be given a bit of a spin shine. In this latest example, a modder has taken the original Unreal and injected it with some path tracing and other visual tweaks.

Well, it's the day of days. The much awaited sequel to Remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, is launch imminent, and I have the cheapest prices for it. Preloading is available for your midnight play, however, I have just been informed that the embargo for longplays and other VODs is two hours earlier at 10 p.m. AEST. That's good news if you want a bigger sneak peek, possibly via the three non-commentary vids I have in the wings. I'd put gil on the US team having a Let's Play going on too. Will link that when it's live and I'm allowed to.

The 8BitDo retro hot-swappable keyboard caught my attention just before the holidays, and it's since been a staple in my rotation. At $99, this NES / Famicom styled device was already well priced - especially considering the hot-swappable switches and additional programmable A / B buttons. 

By now, you would have seen the Borderlands movie trailer and scratched your head. Why? Possibly because you don't know if it needs to be thing. Or maybe because you've somehow been gaming with no actual exposure to this phenomenal, 15-year-old looter-shooter franchise. Today, I'm gonna fix that up quick, fast, and in a hurry with an utterly stupid price on a whole shebang Borderlands Collection. You have 850 fewer excuses for not playing it now.

Thank your own personal deity—possibly Fortinbras—it's Friday! Well, by now you've heard that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is quite the sequel. I've been playing it for two weeks and have secretly been trying to tell you all how good it is via a complex system of blinks and winks. That probably didn't translate well into text. Anyway, it's great and worth paying full price for. But why do that when you can do this?

We're well past the midpoint of the week and are now hurtling towards some very important things. Obviously, there's the weekend to consider, but we're also in the vicinity of FFVII Rebirth's review embargo lift. My advice: peruse the amazing deals below, lock in some purchases for Saturday, and then go offline until the 29th. It's gonna be spoiler city soon.

The Japanese version of Wednesday’s new Nintendo Direct showcase had a surprise: Beloved Game Boy Advance role-playing game Mother 3 is now part of the Nintendo Switch Online lineup of retro games.

February’s remaining Game Pass lineup is a good time at the beach, whether you’re hanging out with the Heeler family and friends in Bluey: The Videogame or feasting on tourists as a bloodthirsty killer shark in Maneater.

A number of people would have been disappointed to learn that Epic changed its mind about offering the retro Fallout games for free via its store. However, some good news is on the horizon, as the company will launch them as part of its storefront giveaways. Just not yet.

I have my usual eclectic list of bargain games worth buying today. That said, here's a personal recommendation for you: become a bounty hunter in Huntdown and make a healthy living (by making living unhealthy). In the same side-scrolling, hyper-violent, and co-optastic vein, Broforce is going for cheap, too. Spectacular '80s action movie vibes for both games, much like the reduced RoboCop: Rogue City on offer.

DreadXP has confirmed its upcoming retro psychological survival horror game, Heartworm, will be released in 2025.

Super Mario 64 defined 3D platformers to such a degree that its influences are still being felt now, 28 years later. The original Crash Bandicoot debuted more or less simultaneously with Nintendo's classic, but ended up taking a much different path with the concept.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the new expanded remake of the GBA retro puzzle-platformer, is out now on the Nintendo Switch and the game has plenty of post-game content to unlock and play through. While you can see the credits after playing through the game’s 8 worlds once, there are also a full slate of “Plus” levels, particularly tough “Extra” levels, and even a secret extra boss fight to tackle. Here’s a full rundown of how to access all of Mario vs. Donkey Kong’s endgame goodies…

If you like spending money, I have heaps of bargain priced things to buy today. However, you might wanna skip all that entirely by simply downloading FlatOut for free on GOG. Why? Because it's the physics-heavy racer where you fender bend with other POS cars (or try to slingshot your driver through the windshield at a giant dartboard). What's not to love there?

RPG Maker XP is currently free to claim on Steam for a limited time.

There's never been a better time to serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law, and save some moolah. Yep, RoboCop: Rogue City—the game I'd buy for a dollar—has finally seen a decent double-digit discount. I'm also spying a bunch of Final Fantasy related bargains, chief of which being the free FFVII Rebirth demo. Grab it here, register a save file, and then reap a free Summon reward if you decide to buy the full game.

Boomer shooters, retro FPS games, whatever you want to call them. They’re popular on Steam, and for a good reason: they’re loads of fun. But what if you stepped back into a classic ’80s and early ’90s anime, with big guns and an even bigger need for speed?

After a year of Epic Games Store exclusivity, Dead Island 2 will launch on Steam on April 22. And in celebration, Valve is giving away Techland's 2013 co-op horror game Dead Island: Riptide for free for a (very) limited time.

D4 Enterprise has made good on its promise, and the original PC-88 version of Ys is being released on Switch as part of their EggConsole line. It releases on February 15, 2024. Don’t get too excited just yet.

There’s plenty to look forward to on the D&D release calendar for 2024. Given that this year brings the iconic TTRPG’s 50th anniversary, it promises to be a super exciting time for us players. 

Looking for something to scratch that retro role-playing game itch, but don’t want to purchase a brand-new game? Well, if you’d rather make your own, you can always check out the expansive list of RPG Maker toolkits, which are currently on sale.

As a bargain hunter, nothing pleases me more than the continuing slow orbit decay of that Starfield fancy edition. Why? Because I need that watch in my life, but I'm sure not going to pay 500 bucks for the privilege. Personally, my event horizon for a purchase is the $200 off mark. Will it get there before stocks deplete fully? Who knows, fellow space cadets.

The main games lineup for Evo 2024 has been revealed, and to the surprise of no one, Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 are the headline acts. Those heavy hitters will be joined by Guilty Gear Strive, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Under Night In-Birth 2 [Sys:Celes], Mortal Kombat 1, King of Fighters XV, and Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike (the latter being Evo's 'retro' pick for 2024).

Venerable publisher SEGA has been around for a long time. It was founded, appropriately enough, in Hawaii back in 1960. In its latest game, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (which ventures to the tropical locale), SEGA couldn't help but give itself a pat on the back via a fourth-wall-breaking conversation between protagonists Ichiban Kazuga and Kazuma Kiryu.

An enormous part of the appeal when it comes to retro remasters or compilations like Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered is earning spangly new Trophies in classic games. Developer Aspyr appears to understand this, as it’s plotting almost 300 Trophies across the upcoming trilogy, according to lists published by Insider Gaming.

Whatever happened to the old Discworld games? Well, they pretty much ceased to be a thing around the late 90s. However, there is a glimmer of hope that the retro point-and-click adventure series may return, so long as it bypasses a small bit of red tape.

In the fast-paced world of PC gaming, where cutting-edge graphics and advanced technologies are grabbing the headlines, there remains a timeless allure for the classics.

If you’ve played Daggerfall Unity, you’ll know it’s the best way to experience The Elder Scrolls 2 in the modern gaming climate. Now, with the full thing having recently launched, the creator of the project is looking to make their own game.

From Software owner Kadokawa has purchased Japanese development studio Acquire for an undisclosed sum.

Retro specialist Hamster Corporation has announced that it has reached 400 titles in its Arcade Archives series.

Today is the day, bargain hunters. It's time to pounce on some "whole shebang" collections that have all entries included. Alternatively, I've also found a bunch of isolated single-shot games that can be ruthlessly picked off for next to nothing. Get amongst it. Show those deals no mercy.

The weekend is finally here, and plenty of deals have arrived alongside it. From video games to new computer peripherals, there is no shortage of deals you don't want to miss out on. The best deals for Sunday, January 28, include an LG 32" gaming monitor, Meta Quest 2, Arcade1Up Cabinets, Splatoon 3, HORI Split Pad Compact, Armored Core 6, and more.

All it took was one look at the pedigree of the devs behind Shadow of the Ninja Reborn for it to rocket up my wishlist for new games of 2024 - but then the trailer absolutely confirmed that this is one to watch for retro enthusiasts.

It’s now been five years since Nintendo announced that development of Metroid Prime 4 was being rebooted and handed off to a new steward, Metroid Prime series creators Retro Studios. Nintendo has said little about the game since, leading to speculation that the fourth Metroid Prime game will serve as either a swan song for Nintendo Switch or as a marquee launch title for that console’s successor, aka the “Nintendo Switch 2.”

Graven has been in the works for what feels like a very long time, this dark medieval fantasy immersive sim turning heads when it originally released in Early Access back in 2021. While the game has grown on its path to a full release, it brings me no pleasure to report that it still feels like a lot of work is needed to make this even close to the experience that is promised to be.

If you’ve been itching to see retro games be given a bit of a pep in this modern gaming world, Nvidia’s RTX modding toolkit is already realizing that dream. With the open beta now out, prepare yourselves for an upscaled return of some classics.

The Nintendo Switch flash cart MIG-Switch has yet to hit the market, but if it does in its current condition, it could have a significant impact on the second-hand market due to how it tricks the console into identifying backups as legit cartridges.

A proper Metroid Prime 4 reveal could be coming very soon, judging from some recent findings that suggest how the game could be in an advanced state of development.

In the aftermath of its stellar debut at CES '24, Rabbit's pocket-sized AI gem, the Rabbit R1, is forging new frontiers through a strategic collaboration with Perplexity AI. This alliance promises to elevate the R1's capabilities, marking a significant leap in the realm of AI-driven personal assistants.

Don't be fooled by this upcoming indie with its Disney-style animations, as it's closer to Little Nightmares than The Little Mermaid. 

Thank your own personal deity—possibly Zodiark—it's Friday! You've just about made it through the grind of the working week, so pat yourself on the back. Better yet, reward yourself with some good old-fashioned escapism from the lists below. Because, hey, it's probably gonna be too bloody hot to do anything on the weekend anyway. Staring down the barrel at 36°C+ over here. Awesome.

Back in November, Ayaneo officially unveiled the AM01 mini PC. This thing was built to look like a retro Macintosh computer, but the inclusion of older AMD APUs wasn’t exactly going to win any power awards. Now, the AM02 is here, with a revamped NES-inspired design and a much more impressive chipset. It’s also three times the price.

Even if you've lurked here for not very long, you probably already know I love Lego and co-op-centric games. Obviously, the venn diagram meets perfectly on anything made by TT Games, and there are some cracking discounts on some of their studliest efforts. If you've never played one, grab a few pieces of stock, because I'm sure they're going to click with you.

Whether you're nostalgic for a bygone era or want to experience a period of gaming that's older than you are, playing retro games on modern hardware is easier than ever. Best of all, there's a platform to suit every taste, budget, and form factor.

ScummVM is a game engine recreation that allows many old games, from "The Secret of Monkey Island" to "Myst," to run on modern devices without emulation or compatibility layers. ScummVM 2.8 has been released with support for new games and game engines, online multiplayer support, and more.