The Ultimate List of Best Classic Video Games That Were Ever Made

And if you’re still in the mood for a bit of nostalgia mixed with a mental challenge, check out our NYT games hub for brain teasers like Wordle and Connections. It's a great way to blend retro vibes with modern-day fun.

Where to Buy Classic Video Games?

Modern games are fun, exciting, and can take you on a good adventure, but they don’t provide the same feelings of joy that classic video games do. Remember when you used to play Donkey Kong, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, or Super Mario Bros? You could pop into an arcade and play for hours or fire up your Game Boy or Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

You can still capture the feelings of playing the best video games of all time by buying them. Some people keep them as collectibles, whereas others want to explore every way to play these games again.

You can find these iconic games at retro game stores, pawn shops, flea markets, or, if you are lucky, at yard sales. The best way to buy one of those games would be to use eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or other online stores.

Why Aren’t Some of the Greatest Video Games of All Time Being Remastered?

Remakes and remasters allow younger gamers to experience and enjoy the most influential games of all time with better graphics and gameplay. But there can come a time when nostalgia isn’t enough to bring certain retro video games back. This is because the gaming world has steadily moved ahead with better software and systems. Some games would not be compatible with the new software, which could cause gaming issues.

Still, the video game industry is resourceful and keeps finding ways to remaster the best classic games of all time for hardcore gamers. One of the best examples of this is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which will soon be remastered for the Oculus Quest 2.