Nearest Retro Video Game Store (2025)

FAQs

What was the first video game that let you save? ›

In 1986, The Legend of Zelda became the first game to possess battery-backed memory directly on the game cartridge. This method of saving game play became more common during the Super Nintendo era in the 1990s.

Both online and IRL, pop culture is embracing the sounds, visuals and experience of retro gaming. On TikTok, #retrogaming videos have amassed over 6bn views.

Retro gaming is experiencing a resurgence, driven by simplicity, nostalgia, and cultural influence. Classic games from the 80s and 90s are being embraced by both older gamers revisiting their past and younger players discovering these games for the first time.

a well-played game is thousands of dollars. While a cartridge on its own may sell for $5, the same sealed title might be worth $10,000. The best way to value vintage video games is to research actual auction prices of titles with similar grades.

However, it seems that we may have reached the peak over the past year. Prices for games seem to have either stalled or started tracking downward in price after peaking in the past 12-18 months and for the most part, it seems the trend will continue.

Atari's Pong was released in late 1972 and is considered the first successful arcade video game.

When was the first video game made? October 18, 1958. William Higinbotham's "Tennis for Two" was introduced at Brookhaven National Laboratory's annual visitors days.

Some historians believe that mancala is the oldest game in the world based on the archaeological evidence found in Jordan that dates around 6000 BC. The game might have been played by ancient Nabataeans and could have been an ancient version of the modern mancala game.

In 2024, retro gaming is experiencing a significant resurgence. This trend is driven by a mix of nostalgia, accessibility, and the timeless appeal of classic games. As modern gaming continues to evolve, many players are finding comfort and excitement in the simplicity and charm of retro games.

Founded in 1998

Retro Studios has been producing award-winning titles with its partner and parent company, Nintendo, for over two decades.

Is retro still cool? ›

We're already in 2023, and it seems that vintage fashion is still everywhere. From Y2K aesthetics to the psychedelic retro pattern clothes of the '80s, it appears that 2023 is all about taking fashion inspiration from the past.

Retro Game & Console Hardware Is Continually Aging

Another reason why retro games are becoming more expensive is because there is a larger demand for them as older units begin to age and fall apart, making surviving items more valuable.

It's legal. It's easily accessible. Plus since you're getting a cartridge or disc, you don't need to worry about losing access or rights to these older games.

Vintage fashion holds a special place in our hearts because it allows us to connect with the past, express ourselves authentically, and make a positive impact on the world around us. It's a celebration of craftsmanship, creativity, and the enduring allure of timeless style.

As more platforms emerged and the online marketplace matured, the accessibility to rare and sought-after titles became easier, further inflating the cost of vintage games. There were even auction sites, such as Game Gavel, dedicated strictly to video games.

Out of Print, Out of Luck. This kind of goes without saying, but game publishers aren't producing retro games anymore. The number of old game cartridges and discs out there will never increase. That produces a natural scarcity that, in many cases, drives up prices over a long enough period of time.

Yes, game budgets have increased dramatically over the years, in part because of graphical fidelity increasing (for which the publishers and developers should take some of the blame for convincing the consumers that a better looking game is a better game overall), but he doesn't factor in the fact that the market, the ...

It is obvious that prices have increased over time. We should expect this given the prowess of modern consoles, the cost of making games and the rhythm of naturally incurring inflation. In Graph 2, here are those same release prices but adjusted for 2022 price equivalent, using a US inflation calculator.