Retro video games have grown in popularity over the last few years. More people than ever are breaking out their old consoles and playing games from the past. While playing the same games over and over again can grow stale, getting a new experience doesn't have to mean buying a brand new game.

Gamers generally want a bit of variety when it comes to their video games. Whether you experienced the games when they first came out or not, retro games can be a great contrast or supplement to the kinds of games you normally play. With most people staying home to reduce the spread of COVID-19, now is the perfect time to relive some of the classic games that made gaming what it is today.

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Older video games give players a fresh experience. These games have different mechanics than newer games you'll find on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. This can be due to hardware limitations or just being the first of its kind. For example, the early Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein games have a vastly different vibe than more recent first-person shooters. The control layout, graphics and story progression are different from the games that came after them. These titles can take some time to get used to, but once you get the hang of them, the experience is very rewarding, as you'll really get to see how these games have evolved.

Retro games tend to be far more difficult than modern titles. A lot of early video games weren't that long, but relied on difficulty to stretch the game out as much as possible. Others were ports of arcade games, which used difficulty as a way to keep players putting their quarters into the machine. Players who wanted to progress through the game would have to sharpen their skills.

Take the Contra or Mega Man series for example. Gamers would sometimes spend hours upon hours just to beat one level. A handful of retro games, such as Battletoads and Ghosts ‘n Goblins, are notorious for being extremely difficult. Now, during this period of social distancing, is a great time to go back and try to beat the levels that gave you problems as a kid.

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Additionally, it's not hard or expensive to experience many of the retro classics we know and love. While physical copies of older games are rare collectors items (as are the consoles they were made for), there are plenty of retro games available digitally. For example, a hard copy of The Misadventures of Tron Bonne sells for around $240- $245, but the digital download is only $5.99 on the PlayStation Store.

Many retro games also come in collections that package several together, usually for a reasonable price, or as part of the online services that many gamers already subscribe to. Nintendo Switch Online, for example, gives users access to dozens of NES and SNES games including the original Mario Bros, Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda games. Digital downloads and streaming are great ways to dive into the retro gaming world without breaking the bank.

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Re-releases are the big trend in gaming right now, with two major ones launching a week apart this month. But whether you're planning to play Resident Evil 3 or Final Fantasy VII Remake or not, there are older games in these franchises available digitally on various platforms. If you are planning to play these remakes, it can also be fun to go back and play the original games to compare it with its re-release. Oftentimes, developers update more than just the graphics in re-releases. The same thing could be said about modern sequels to older games. God of War from 2018 plays differently than the previous entries. It can be a lot of fun to see how far a series or game has come since its original release.

Just because a video game is old doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to play. In fact, many retro games are just as enjoyable now as they were 20 or 30 years ago, and their low digital price points make them great for gamers on a budget. If you are looking for a different experience than modern games have to offer or you want to revisit an old favorite while cooped up at home, you might want to give retro games a shot.

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