Top 5 Retro Games You'll Want To Play With An Emulator

Despite the almost overwhelming variety of games that get released every year now, sometimes there’s just something special about returning to an old favorite—or even discovering an old game anew. Luckily, no one has to hunt for an old game console or PC to get to play those games today.

 

Thanks to emulators, anyone can have a retro game up and running in mere minutes.

 

What is an Emulator, and How Does It Work?

 

An emulator, much like its name implies, emulates an old or different operating system. The software makes the current device “behave” like the device it’s emulating so that other software recognizes it and will work. It doesn’t change the entire system but only recreates the target operating software within the emulator. The game has to be run within the emulator, too, for it to work.

 

People usually use emulators to play older games or games from different operating software, such as playing iOS games on a Windows PC. However, they’re also commonly used for work-related activities, like testing out a piece of software across multiple operating systems on one device. Emulators typically come in software form, but hardware emulators exist too.

 

There are plenty of free emulators available on the web and paid ones with some additional features. Paid emulators tend to be safer, security-wise, since the developers are more inclined to update them regularly. This type of software isn’t just confined to PCs either. Android gamers can get their hands on some great retro games, too, with emulators like LDPlayer.

 

Some Safety Concerns Before Starting

 

As always, the internet isn’t just a friendly place where people are willing to help each other out from the goodness of their hearts. There are a lot of scams and viruses out there, masquerading as the real thing. So when searching for a game emulator (or any retro games to download, for that matter), make sure it’s from a reputable source.

 

Also, keep in mind that Adobe has officially stopped supporting Flash Player. This means that many older games that people could simply play online via Flash now don’t work. Flash emulators have since popped up, however, letting people play those games again. But keep in mind that, potential viruses aside, this can potentially open people up to hackers, as it uses outdated software.

 

This means that it’s a good idea to get some extra security when downloading and using emulators. Using a VPN can help since it encrypts a device’s network connection, keeping hackers and other third parties from snooping. It might not stop any malware, but it will keep hackers from abusing any weaknesses in old software. Make sure to keep that antivirus updated at all times too!

 

The Top 5 Nostalgic Retro Games Everyone Should Play (Again)

 

Nostalgia can be a hell of a drug, and there are so many beloved games out there. So it’s hard to narrow a list like this one down to just five games. But these five have been played by millions of people across the globe and are almost universally loved. They’re worth exploring again - or even experiencing for the first time!

 

1. Mortal Kombat (1992)

With the recent release of the movie Mortal Kombat is getting popular again in a big way. But nothing beats trying out the original game that started all of this iconic butt-kicking mania. Like its descendants, Mortal Kombat focuses on several characters who enter a martial arts tournament.

 

 

It wasn’t the first game to introduce this type of fighting game format where various characters with different abilities can be played interchangeably. But it managed to apply the genre so well, with enough unique elements thrown in, which skyrocketed the game into extreme popularity. Despite subsequent fighting games taking on a similar theme and playstyle, Mortal Kombat has retained its status.

 

2. Super Mario Bros. 3

The Super Mario franchise (and offshoot franchises) are still some of the most popular games around, much to Nintendo’s delight. Almost every person on the planet has seen these characters at some point and knows what Super Mario is about.

 

 

Super Mario Bros. 3 builds on its platformer predecessors and is widely known as the most polished game in the franchise's original trilogy. It’s a must-play for any platformer fan, especially newer gamers who want to get a taste of this genre’s magnificent roots.

 

3. GoldenEye 007

Many gamers feel a twinge of dread whenever a new movie-based game is announced. Few movie-based game releases have ever been decidedly good, but GoldenEye 007 is the exception.

 

In its heyday, this game sold about 2.1 million copies and has sold more than eight million copies worldwide since. The game features a brilliant single-player mode where players take on the role of the British spy across various missions. It also has a popular split-screen multiplayer mode that lets up to 4 players compete against each other in deathmatch games.

 

4. Pokémon Red and Blue

The Pokémon franchise is another long-standing stalwart in the gaming community, and none come as nostalgic as Red and Blue. Beware for anyone who has played this in their childhood - the veil of nostalgia might have made people forget that this game had its flaws. Yet, even so, it’s still a truly fantastic entry in the series, even today.

 

 

It had catchy music, a great origin storyline without all of the additions and retcons that come later, and some truly rare Legendary Pokémon.

 

5. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past

It may not be the original 1986 classic that started it all, but this Zelda game is widely considered one of the best video games of all time. As the third iteration in the series, The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past introduced Zelda staples like Master Sword.

 

The game has been praised for its excellent controls, unique mechanics, and fantastic dungeons. It manages to be atmospheric from the start and introduces an incredible sense of scale and suspense - despite the limitations of the hardware and graphics of the time.

 

Conclusion

 

There are plenty of amazing retro games that even hold up to today’s gaming standards, mechanics-wise if not so much graphically. Even though they’re older, these games offer captivating stories, intriguing characters, and childlike joy that will charm even the saltiest of modern gamers.

 

They are, after all, the building blocks on which so many of today’s best games have been built.