Retro Consoles You Can Actually Afford (Without Selling Your Childhood Memories)

I remember standing in front of the glass display case at Electronics Boutique, staring at a Sega Saturn. $299.99. I had $47 in birthday money. My cousin in Osaka had one and would send me photos of all the games I couldn’t play. That burning feeling of wanting something you can’t have? That’s what got me into retro gaming collecting years later. The good news is there are plenty of retro consoles you can actually afford without breaking the bank.

The difference now is that I’m an adult with a job (well, most of the time). But I still have a budget. And if you’re reading this, you probably do too. You don’t need to drop $500 on a pristine boxed NES to get into retro gaming. Some of the best retro gaming consoles are sitting on Facebook Marketplace right now for the price of two pizzas. These are retro consoles you can actually afford today.

I’ve spent the last fifteen years building my retro console collection on a budget that would make my teenage self proud. Made plenty of mistakes. Bought the wrong gaming systems. Paid too much. But I learned what’s actually worth your money and what’s overpriced nostalgia bait when searching for retro consoles you can actually afford.

Why Retro Gaming Console Prices Are Completely Bananas Right Now

Retro gaming went from “nerdy hobby” to “legitimate investment” sometime around 2020. COVID hit, everyone was stuck at home, and suddenly a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for $2 million. Cool. Great for that guy. Bad for the rest of us looking for retro consoles you can actually afford.

Prices exploded. Stuff that used to sit in thrift stores for $10 now has eBay sellers asking $200. The Nintendo 64 I passed on for $40 in 2015? That same console is $90 now. Supply stayed the same (they stopped making these things decades ago), but demand went through the roof.

But here’s what the YouTube collectors won’t tell you: plenty of retro consoles are still cheap. The trick is knowing which gaming systems flew under the hype radar. These are the retro consoles you can actually afford.

Also, you need to factor in the hidden costs. That $50 Sega Genesis is great until you realize you need $30 in cables to connect it to your TV, $40 for a decent controller (the pack-in is always half-broken), and another $20-100 for games. I learned this the hard way when I bought a cheap Dreamcast and spent the next month hunting down a VGA box so it would actually look decent on my monitor.

Budget Tier 1: Under $50 – Retro Consoles You Can Actually Afford

Sega Genesis Model 2 ($25-45)

The Genesis Model 2 is the best deal in retro gaming right now. Sega sold millions of these 16-bit consoles, so they’re everywhere. I bought mine at a garage sale for $20 with two controllers. The lady running it had no idea what it was worth. Neither did I. I got lucky.

The Model 2 is smaller than the original Mega Drive, which is better for shelf space but worse for aesthetics (the original looks way cooler). Doesn’t matter. You’re here for the games, not Instagram photos.

Genesis games range from $5 (sports titles nobody wants) to $30-50 for the classics. You can build a solid 10-game collection for under $150 total. Sonic, Streets of Rage, Gunstar Heroes, Phantasy Star IV, Castlevania Bloodlines. The Genesis library is deep.

I remember this kid in my sixth grade class, total rich kid, had every console. He brought in his Genesis to show off Mortal Kombat with the blood code. We all gathered around during recess. The teachers shut it down in five minutes, but it was worth it. That moment sold me on Sega forever.

If you want better video quality, you can grab component cables or even mod it for RGB output. But for budget gaming, the standard composite cables work fine.

Original Xbox ($30-50)

The original Xbox is criminally underrated. Most people think of it as “that console that played Halo” and nothing else. Wrong. The library is huge, Xbox Game Pass didn’t exist yet so physical games are cheap, and the modding scene is incredible if you’re into that.

You can find these for $30-40 all day on Facebook Marketplace. Problem is the disc drives are dying and the clock capacitor leaks and kills the motherboard. You want to remove that capacitor as soon as you buy one (YouTube has a million tutorials). I killed my first Xbox by ignoring this advice. Don’t be like me.

Xbox games are dirt cheap. Most titles run $5-15. Morrowind, Knights of the Old Republic, Ninja Gaiden Black, Jet Set Radio Future. The Xbox was basically a PC with a controller, so it got tons of ports that still hold up.

Nintendo Wii ($40-60)

The Wii is the most disrespected console of its generation, which is exactly why it’s one of the retro consoles you can actually afford. Everyone remembers the motion controls and Wii Sports. Nobody remembers that it plays GameCube games natively.

You’re buying two retro gaming systems for the price of one. A working Wii runs $40-60. GameCube games got expensive over the last few years, but you can still find deals if you’re patient. I snagged a copy of Wind Waker for $35 last year. Not cheap, but not the $80 some people are asking.

My friend’s mom bought a Wii for the family back in 2007. We played Wii Sports Boxing for three hours straight. His mom won every match. Absolutely destroyed us. We never lived it down. That console stayed hooked up in their living room until 2019.

The big caveat: you need the right model. Early Wiis have full GameCube support (four controller ports, memory card slots). Later models removed this. Check the model number before you buy.

Budget Tier 2: $50-$100 – The Sweet Spot for Classic Gaming

PlayStation 1 ($50-80)

The PS1 is the best value for the quality of games you get. Sony sold 102 million of these. They’re not rare. You can find them everywhere. This is classic gaming at its most accessible and definitely among the retro consoles you can actually afford.

I paid $60 for mine at a local retro shop. Came with all cables, one controller, and a memory card. The disc drive sounded like a jet engine taking off, but it worked. Still works. These things are tanks.

The PlayStation library is massive. Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Resident Evil, Crash Bandicoot. Sports games and random shovelware run $2-5. Best games start at $10 and cap out around $40-50 for the heavy hitters.

You’ll want to get a few games to start. I recommend sticking with “Greatest Hits” versions (the green label ones). Collectors hate them because they’re not original black label releases. That’s why they’re cheaper. You’re not a collector yet. You’re trying to play games.

Some people mod their PS1 for better video output or to play backup discs. That’s an option if you’re comfortable with soldering. Otherwise, stock PS1 with composite cables works fine for most gaming purposes.

Nintendo 64 ($55-90)

The N64 is climbing in price every year. It used to be $40. Now it’s pushing $100 for a console in good shape. Blame millennial nostalgia. Still, it’s one of the retro consoles you can actually afford if you shop smart.

The N64 was my white whale for years. I wanted one so badly as a kid. My parents said no. Too expensive. I watched my neighbor play Ocarina of Time through his window like a creep. Finally bought my own in 2018 for $65. Felt like I’d won the lottery.

The problem with the N64 is the games. Most are $20-40 each. Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask. These are not cheap games. You can build a respectable collection, but it’ll cost you.

The N64 controller is also notorious for worn joysticks. Budget another $25-40 for a replacement controller with a tight stick. You need it for proper gameplay.

PlayStation 2 ($60-90)

The PS2 is a retro console now. Let that sink in. Released in 2000, it’s old enough to drink. And it’s one of the best retro gaming deals available when looking for retro consoles you can actually afford.

PS2 sold 155 million units. They’re everywhere. You can grab one for $60-80 with cables and a controller. The fat model is more reliable than the slim (controversial opinion, but I stand by it).

PS2 games are incredibly cheap. Most run $5-15. Grand Theft Auto, God of War, Shadow of the Colossus, Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy X. The library is enormous. You can build a 50-game collection for under $300.

Plus, the PS2 plays PlayStation 1 games. Two console generations for the price of one. That’s 3,000+ games available to you.

Sega Dreamcast ($60-100)

The Dreamcast was Sega’s last console before they gave up on hardware. It died in 2001, which makes it retro by any reasonable standard. Also makes it cheap and firmly in the category of retro consoles you can actually afford.

You can grab a Dreamcast for $60-80 depending on condition. They’re reliable (for the most part). The GD-ROM drive can die, but most are still working fine 25 years later.

This was the first console I bought with my own money. Part-time job at a movie theater, saved up for two months. Walked into GameStop (back when they still sold retro stuff) and bought a used Dreamcast with Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi for $90 total. Best purchase I ever made.

Dreamcast games range from $10 to $50. Some heavy hitters like Marvel vs. Capcom 2 are pricey, but most of the library is affordable. Jet Grind Radio, Shenmue, Skies of Arcadia, Phantasy Star Online. This console has some of the best games nobody played because Sega marketing was a disaster.

Budget Tier 3: $100-$200 – Premium But Still Affordable Retro Consoles

Sega Saturn ($100-180)

The Saturn is my favorite retro console. I’m biased. I admit it. But if you’re willing to spend a bit more, it’s worth every penny and still counts as retro consoles you can actually afford.

American Saturns run $120-180 depending on condition. Japanese Saturns are cheaper ($80-120) because they sold way better in Japan. The catch: Japanese systems are region-locked. You need an Action Replay cartridge ($30) to play US games, or you can do a region mod (not hard if you can solder).

I went the Japanese route. Bought a Saturn from a seller on eBay who ships from Osaka. $95 shipped. Took three weeks. Worth the wait. Games are cheaper too. Japanese Saturn games run $10-30 for most titles. US versions can hit $100+ for the same game.

The Saturn library is half arcade ports, half weird Japanese games that never came to the US. Panzer Dragoon, NiGHTS into Dreams, Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silvergun (good luck affording that one), Daytona USA. This console is a shmup paradise.

TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine ($100-200)

The TurboGrafx-16 (or PC Engine in Japan) is the weirdest console of the 16-bit era. It was technically 8-bit with a 16-bit graphics chip, which led to endless arguments on forums in the 2000s. Nobody cared. The games were good.

These run $100-150 for a bare system, $150-200 with games and cables. Not cheap, but not Saturn-level expensive either. Still within reach for retro consoles you can actually afford.

The library is small but solid. Bonk’s Adventure, Castlevania Rondo of Blood (Japanese exclusive, prepare to pay), Blazing Lazers, R-Type, Ys Book I & II. The CD add-on is where the magic happens, but that’ll run you another $200-300. Maybe start with the base console first.

My uncle had one when I was a kid. I have no idea how. He wasn’t a big gamer. He just liked weird tech. I played Bonk for hours at his house. Never saw another TurboGrafx in real life until I started collecting. They’re rare, but they exist.

When to Splurge vs. Save

You don’t need to buy the most expensive console to have a good time. I made that mistake early on. Dropped $250 on a Neo Geo AES because I read online that it was “the ultimate collector’s console.” Played it twice. Sold it a year later.

Buy what you’ll actually play. If you loved the SNES as a kid, get an SNES. If you never owned a Saturn but you’re curious, get a Saturn. Don’t buy stuff because collectors on Reddit say it’s rare. Buy stuff that makes you happy. Focus on retro consoles you can actually afford and will use.

Modern Alternatives: Mini Consoles & Handheld Gaming Devices

The mini console boom changed everything. Nintendo and Sega re-released their classic gaming systems in tiny form factors with HDMI output and pre-loaded games. No hunting for cables. No worrying about disc rot. Plug and play. These are modern takes on retro consoles you can actually afford.

NES Classic Mini & SNES Classic Mini ($60-120)

These were impossible to find at launch. Nintendo made about twelve of them and sold out instantly. Scalpers bought them all and resold them for $300. Classic Nintendo.

Now they’re back in stock (sort of). You can find them on eBay for $80-120. The SNES Classic is the better deal for retro gaming. 21 games including Super Mario World, A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Final Fantasy III, and the unreleased Star Fox 2.

I broke down and bought one after my original SNES died. The controller cable is criminally short (like three feet), but otherwise it’s perfect. Games look great on modern TVs with proper upscaling. No input lag. Save states mean you can actually beat Contra.

Sega Genesis Mini ($50-80)

Sega’s entry is better than Nintendo’s in some ways. 42 games vs. 21. Better variety. Actual deep cuts alongside the hits. Castlevania Bloodlines, Contra Hard Corps, Gunstar Heroes, Phantasy Star IV. Even has the arcade version of Tetris.

I picked one up for $60 on sale. Worth every cent. The only downside is the six-button controller feels cheaper than the original. Still functional, just not as satisfying to click.

PlayStation Classic ($40-60)

The PlayStation Classic was a disaster at launch. Sony rushed it, included weird game choices, and the emulation was buggy. But now it’s $40-60 and modders fixed everything. Definitely one of the retro consoles you can actually afford.

Stock, it’s mediocre. Modded with RetroArch, it becomes a powerhouse emulation device. You can load PS1 games, SNES games, Genesis games, GBA games. It’s basically a cheap retro gaming PC.

I wouldn’t recommend it to casual gamers. But if you’re comfortable with modding and want cheap hardware for emulation, it’s a solid option.

Retro Handhelds Under $100 (Anbernic, Miyoo Mini, Retroid)

Retro handhelds exploded in the last few years. Chinese manufacturers figured out how to cram emulators into a Game Boy form factor and sell them for cheap. These portable options are definitely retro consoles you can actually afford.

The Miyoo Mini Plus runs $50-60. Plays everything up to PlayStation 1 flawlessly. Tiny screen (2.8 inches), but the build quality is shockingly good for the price. I keep mine in my bag. Perfect for lunch breaks and portable gaming.

The Anbernic RG35XX is another solid option at $60-70. Bigger screen, more ergonomic, same level of emulation. Has a more authentic Game Boy form factor.

The Retroid Pocket 3+ is $100-120 but handles PS2 games and GameCube games. That’s impressive for a handheld gaming device. OLED screen, Android OS, proper controller layout. This is serious portable gaming.

There are dozens of these devices now. Do your research before buying. Some are great. Some are trash. Check reviews on r/SBCGaming before pulling the trigger.

Game Boy Advance SP ($60-80)

The GBA SP is actual original hardware, not emulation. Nintendo sold millions of these things, so they’re not rare. But demand has pushed prices up. Still, it’s among the handheld retro consoles you can actually afford.

You can find a working SP for $60-80. The backlit screen (AGS-101 model) is more expensive but worth it. Playing GBA games without a backlight is painful in 2025.

GBA games range from $10-40. The library includes some of the best handheld games ever made. Pokemon, Metroid Fusion, Castlevania Aria of Sorrow, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.

Plus, the SP plays original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Three generations of handheld gaming in one device.

Alternatives to Original Hardware: Emulation and Flash Cartridges

Not everyone wants to deal with old hardware. Disc drives die. Capacitors leak. Cartridge pins corrode. Sometimes emulation is the better option when looking for retro consoles you can actually afford.

Software Emulation (Free)

Emulators run on your PC, phone, or even hacked consoles. RetroArch is the most popular option. It’s free, open-source, and handles everything from NES to PlayStation 2. This is the cheapest way to access retro gaming.

The ethical question: ROM files are technically illegal if you don’t own the original game. I own physical copies of most games I emulate, so I sleep fine at night. Your mileage may vary.

Emulation isn’t perfect. Some games have glitches. Input lag can be an issue. But for casual retro gaming, it’s hard to beat free.

FPGA Hardware (Expensive But Accurate)

FPGA technology recreates original hardware at the chip level. Analogue makes FPGA consoles: Super Nt (SNES), Mega Sg (Genesis), Analogue Pocket (Game Boy).

These run $200-250 and play original cartridges with zero lag and perfect accuracy. They’re expensive, but if you’re serious about retro gaming and want the best experience, FPGA is the gold standard.

I don’t own any Analogue consoles. Too rich for my budget gaming blood. But everyone who has one swears by them.

Flash Cartridges (Gray Area)

Flash carts let you load ROM files onto original hardware. EverDrive cartridges work with NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, Game Boy. They’re $50-150 depending on the system.

You play on original hardware with original controllers. No emulation issues. But you’re still using ROM files, so the legality is questionable.

I use flash carts for expensive games I can’t afford. Earthbound costs $400. The EverDrive SNES cart costs $100 and plays Earthbound plus 500 other games. Easy math.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About

You bought a $40 Genesis. Great. Now you need games, cables, and controllers that aren’t falling apart. Factor these into your budget when shopping for retro consoles you can actually afford.

Games (Budget Per Console)

• Genesis/SNES: $10-30 per game, budget $150 for a 10-game starter collection
• N64: $20-40 per game, budget $250 for 10 games
• PS1: $10-30 per game, budget $150 for 10 games
• PS2: $5-20 per game, budget $100 for 10 games
• Dreamcast: $15-40 per game, budget $200 for 10 games
• Saturn: $20-60 per game (US), $10-30 (Japanese), budget $200-300

Sports games and shovelware are cheap. Everyone wants Mario and Zelda. Buy the weird stuff. Some of my favorite games are the ones I’d never heard of. Got Gunstar Heroes for $15 because the box art looked cool. One of the best run-and-gun games ever made.

Cables & Adapters for Modern TVs ($20-80)

This is where you get hit with the surprise costs. Old retro consoles use composite (yellow, red, white) or S-video or RGB SCART. Modern TVs use HDMI. You need adapters to bridge that gap.

Cheap composite-to-HDMI adapters run $10-15 on Amazon. They work, but they look terrible. Input lag, washed-out colors, blurry image. You get what you pay for.

Better adapters run $30-50. The RetroTINK-2X is $80 and worth every penny if you’re serious about retro gaming. Zero lag, clean image with proper upscaling, built for this exact purpose.

I spent $50 on a Genesis, then another $100 trying different cables and adapters before I found one that worked. Should’ve just bought the good one first.

Some people go full RGB SCART with expensive scalers. That’s for serious enthusiasts chasing 1080p perfection. For budget gaming, a decent HDMI adapter is fine.

Controllers (Replacements) ($15-40 each)

Original controllers are almost always beat to hell. Stick drift. Broken buttons. Cracked shells. The pack-in controller will work for about twenty minutes before you realize why the previous owner got rid of this thing.

Budget $20-40 per controller for a decent replacement. Retro-bit makes quality third-party controllers for most gaming systems. Not quite as good as original, but close enough.

I bought a Dreamcast with two controllers. One worked perfectly. The other had a sticky A button and a trigger that didn’t register half the time. Bought a new controller for $25. Should’ve just done that from the start.

Real Example: My First Console Purchase Breakdown

• Dreamcast console: $60
• Two additional games: $30
• HDMI adapter that actually worked: $35
• Replacement controller: $25
• VGA box (for better video output): $40
• Total: $190

That $60 console cost me $190 by the time it was fully playable. Budget for the extras upfront when searching for retro consoles you can actually afford.

Smart Buying Tips From a Broke Collector

Where to Buy Retro Gaming Consoles

Facebook Marketplace: Best deals, highest risk. People who don’t know what they have. I’ve found $20 Xboxes and $40 Saturns here. I’ve also driven an hour to look at a “working” PS1 that didn’t work at all. Test before you buy. Always.

eBay: Safer, more expensive. You’ll pay market rate, but you have buyer protection. Good for filling in specific gaps in your retro console collection. Bad for impulse buys.

Local retro game shops: Convenient, overpriced. I still shop there because I like supporting them and sometimes they have good trade-in deals. Just know you’re paying a premium.

Thrift stores: Used to be amazing. Now everyone knows what retro games are worth. I still check every time I pass one. Found a PS1 for $15 last year. It’s rare, but it happens.

Red Flags When Buying Used Gaming Systems

• “Untested” means broken until proven otherwise
• Yellowed plastic is cosmetic but can indicate poor storage conditions
• Missing AV cables means you’re spending another $10-20 minimum
• “Disc read issues” on CD-based consoles = dead system 90% of the time
• Bundles with 10+ sports games and nothing else = someone cleaned out their closet and has no idea what the good games are

Best Times to Buy

January-February: Everyone’s broke after Christmas. Prices drop. Sellers get desperate. Best time for budget gaming deals and finding retro consoles you can actually afford.

August-September: Back to school. Parents sell their kids’ old stuff. More inventory, better deals on retro consoles and games.

Avoid November-December: Holiday shopping season. Prices spike. Nostalgia kicks in. Everyone wants to buy retro stuff for their friends. Wait until January.

The Japanese Import Trick

Japanese consoles are region-locked but often cheaper than US versions. Sega Saturn, PlayStation, TurboGrafx/PC Engine, Super Famicom. All available for less than their American counterparts. These are often the most affordable retro consoles you can actually afford.

The catch: you need to deal with region protection. Action Replay carts ($30), region mods (varies), or just collecting Japanese games (often cheaper anyway).

I buy Japanese when possible. Got a Japanese PS1 for $35 shipped from eBay. US version would’ve been $60-70. Same console. Different plug. Bought a $10 power adapter. Saved $25.

Some consoles are region-free. The original PlayStation will play US games if you use the disc swap trick (risky but works). The Dreamcast is fully region-free. No tricks needed for importing games.

Building Your Budget Retro Gaming Collection

You don’t need a room full of consoles to enjoy retro gaming. Start with one. Play it. Get your money’s worth. Then decide if you want to add another. Focus on retro consoles you can actually afford and will use regularly.

My current “budget” retro console collection if you’re just getting started:

• Sega Genesis Model 2 ($20)
• PlayStation 1 ($60)
• Sega Dreamcast ($90)
• Sega Saturn (Japanese, $95)
• Nintendo Wii ($45)
• Miyoo Mini Plus handheld ($55)

Total investment: $365 over three years. That’s not counting games, cables, and controllers. All-in I’m probably around $800-900 total. Sounds like a lot. But I’ve gotten hundreds of hours of play out of these gaming systems. Better cost-per-hour than any $70 modern game. These are the retro consoles you can actually afford.

The goal isn’t to own everything. The goal is to play the games you always wanted to play. Maybe you only need one console. Maybe you need ten. Figure out what makes you happy and build from there.

I still think about that Sega Saturn in the Electronics Boutique display case. Took me twenty years, but I finally got one. It was worth the wait.

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