Looking for alternatives to Nintendo, Playstation and Xbox Consoles?
As a gamer you may have been thinking if there are any other options available. With this article I tried to map out all the options available to gamers. These are the best alternatives to Nintendo, Playstation and Xbox Consoles!
Table of contents
Retro Gaming
Rising trend for the last couple of years have been retro gaming. Countless number of console re-releases (mostly smaller consoles with slightly improved hardware) and multi systems with capacity to emulate various consoles from the past. And it’s actually pretty cool to play all the best retro games with your friends, it’s like time travelling back to the childhood.
Top Retro Gaming Devices
While ignoring Nintendo, Playstation and X-box Consoles – These are the other top Retro Consoles available on the market:
Retro Gaming Devices by Atari
Atari Flashback 8 Gold Deluxe
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Atari Flashback line of machines are well made and offer an exhaustively detailed option for revisiting the game console grandfather’s library. 120 pre-installed games, including most of the Atari-published essentials like Adventure, Yar’s Revenge and Swordquest. While they are emulated, they do run properly.
Flashback 8 makes up for its relatively high cost by also including great controller options, including two wireless joysticks and two paddles for paddle-specific games like Warlords. It also offers proper 720p HDMI output and pause, save, and rewind functionality.
Atari Flashback 9 Console
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Flashback 9 is relatively same as previous models. However, it includes an SD slot like the Atari Flashback Portable for firmware updates, downloaded games, and saving and resuming game states.
Another change is the replacement of the AC power adapter with a 5V/1A MicroUSB power adapter and cable.
Retro Gaming Devices by Sega
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Flashback (AT Games)
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If you’re a Sega fan, then the range of options simply aren’t as extensive as the Nintendo ones. Still, this Genesis (Mega Drive if you’re in the UK) console is a lovely piece of kit, so not all is lost. There are 85 games built into the console as standard, including the best Sonic titles, Mortal Kombats 1-3 and Altered Beast, and you can plug in an SD card to expand your collection even more.
What’s best about this console, though, is that you can actually put your old Genesis carts in it and play the games on them. So, potentially, it’ll play ANY classic Sega game you can get your hands on.
And it wireless and HD
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Mini (SEGA)
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Official miniature Sega Mega Drive replica. Includes 40 games built-in, plug and play ready. Box Contains: Console, Power Cable, HMDI Cable, 2 Controllers
Analogue Mega SG
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Definitive way to explore Sega’s 16-bit and 8-bit era. A re-imagining of the underdog that led a 16-bit revolution. Engineered with an FPGA. No emulation. 1080p. Zero lag. Total accuracy.
Mega Sg is not a plug n’ play toy. Compatible with the 2,180+ Sega Genesis, Mega Drive and Master System game cartridge library.
Other Retro Gaming Devices
Multisystem – Retron 5
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Plays: NES/Famicom, SNES/Super Famicom, Genesis/Mega Drive, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges.
Retron 5 offers a lot of bang for the buck. For the price, there is no better mix of moderately priced broad functionality and emulation quality. The Retron 5 is an Android-based machine with its own operating system that dumps the game on your Sega Genesis or NES cartridge (the ROM if you prefer) and plays it through an emulator.
Output in up to 1080p on an HDTV, the result is a game that looks and plays close to how it would on original hardware while also supporting emulator functions like save states or cheat codes. It doesn’t match the quality of an actual Super Nintendo running on a high quality CRT television or pumped through a video processor like the XRGB, but it’s a significant improvement over emulated Virtual Console releases on Nintendo Wii and Wii U.
Plus: you can use your old controllers! The quality of the machine is not the best: the plastic is light, flimsy and picks up blemishes easily whether it’s the grey or black model.
Multisystem – Retro Freak
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Plays: PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16/SuperGrafx, NES/Famicom, SNES/Super Famicom, Genesis/Mega Drive, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges.
More expensive and more complicated to set up than the Retron 5, the Retro Freak is ultimately worth the extra effort: this is a superior machine that offers the same functionality and then some without the same drawbacks. It’s even got a very nice controller, which may not be wireless but is far more comfortable and solidly built.
USB controllers are also supported if you don’t want to spring for the separate adapter that will use your vintage controllers. In fact that whole package is of a much higher quality than the Retron, with solid plastic that doesn’t feel like it’s going to break the moment you use it.
The actual console itself is a small brick that stores games on a MicroSD card. This plugs into a larger adapter that reads classic cartridges and stores the game ROMs on the SD card. Then if you want a clean entertainment center, you can store the cartridge adapter after ripping your games and tuck the base unit away out of sight beneath your TV. Unfortunately for those in the US and Europe with a plethora of NES games, yet another adapter is needed to plug those cartridges in.
The sheer range of other consoles supported elevates Retro Freak. All of the cartridges for NEC’s cultishly adored PC Engine, whether Japanese releases or American TurboGrafx-16 versions, run on the machine. It even supports games for SuperGrafx, PC Engine’s obscure successor, of which only five even exist.
Retro Freak is also a special treat for Sega fans. While there are myriad quality options for NES and SNES retro console fans, there are fewer quality options for Sega fans. Options like At Games’ Genesis, which includes a selection of pre-installed games as well as supporting cartridges, is terrible; bad emulation, bad UI, just bad all around.
Retro Freak runs Genesis and Mega Drive games incredibly well and an extra adapter ups the Sega love to include the Master System, SG1000 console, and even Sega My Card, the rewritable Sega game cartridge that was only officially in use from 1985 to 1987. That is robust, if inconvenient for the player who wants something they can just plug in and start using.
Retro-Bit Super Retro-cade
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Plays: All those arcade classics you loved
This console is a combination of slick and bright and boxy and functional, a vivid white shell slashed with bright red that’s shaped like a brick and lacks contours or much other visual flair. The feature set is a similar mesh of design philosophies; 720p video output as well RCA for connecting to older CRTs, two sturdy, no frills controller with nice ten foot cables, and other solid features matched with a deep, flashy library of 90 games that represent a huge, eclectic swath of 8 and 16 bit classic, including some games that have never been available domestically.
Alongside classics like Mega Man and Ghosts N’ Goblins are some lesser known but excellent coin-op titles like Side Arms and Wizard Fire. The Retro-cade is a great addition to any retro collection and a convincing argument for Retro-bit staking out a permanent position in the retro console market.
C64 Mini
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If you were a huge fan of the Commodore 64 or feel waves of nostalgia sweeping through your body after a glimpse of that bright red joystick and beige keyboard, the C64 Mini was made specifically for you. While it’s a console that comes with some caveats, like a joystick that’s extremely stiff and limited and a couple of high profile titles missing from it’s otherwise generous catalog (you won’t find Wasteland, Skate or Die, or Elite here), it’s delightful little shell is packed with retro fun that will transport you back to the era of stained-washed jeans and hair metal.
A surprising number of the 64 included games are still a huge amount of fun to play, especially if you’re looking to jump around in a frenetic platformer, or immerse yourself in the deadly, futuristic racing league of Alleykat.
While there are a lot of games that fall into similar niches (platformers and scrolling shooters are available in abundance), there are enough distinctive standouts to remind you why the original C64 was the best selling home computer of all time.
Source: Retro Gaming Devices
World of Warcraft Guides
Sega Mega Drive Mini
Computer Gaming
Computer gaming has always been there, actually it’s even older than console gaming. There have been times, when computer gaming was more advanced than console gaming but it’s almost always close to the top. It depends, what kind of games you are going to play. For example, I can not imagine playing real time strategy on a console. And you can always attach a controller to get near console experience.
Starting from around £1000 you should get a decent PC to play all the computer games you want. Obviously, if you pay more, you should be fine for few more years to come.
Computer Gaming Advantages
1. Games are cheaper
If you are a family man on a budget, the less cash you have to pay for games, the better. And PC games are far cheaper than console games. Consoles are walled gardens, while game stores on the PC have to compete for your money.
2. Free multiplayer
You actually don’t have to pay to play multiplayer games on your PC.
3. Wider variety of games
You’ll also find a wider variety of game types on PCs compared to consoles. PC’s open nature helps, as the comparative ease with which developers can whip up a game has led to an absolute explosion of indie titles on the platform. And you don’t have to worry about missing out on big games, either. The days of widespread console exclusives are over.
4. Keyboard and mouse
But the reasons extend beyond the ecosystem alone. Keyboards and mice offer speed, accuracy, and complexity benefits that controllers simply can’t match. There’s a reason the Counter-Strike and Civilization series exploded on PCs, but fizzled when they attempted to leap to consoles: Handling them with a controller just isn’t the same.
5. Play how you want to play
You can play your games however you want to play them. Many gamers don’t actually like to play games with keyboard and mouse, but you can just as easily play many games with a gamepad attached. PC gaming is all about choice and flexibility, and choice and flexibility are always wonderful things.
6. As real as you want it to be
That choice and flexibility extends to the hardware inside your PC and the gaming experience itself. Pricey multi-GPU rigs with cranked-to-4K resolutions are pretty darn sexy but there’s no need to break the bank to be a PC gamer. You can choose the quality suitable for you.
7. Mods
You can’t play Grand Theft Auto as a demented, fire-loving version of Woody from Toy Story on your Xbox. You can’t experience the manic joy of Just Cause 2’s multiplayer mod. Nor can you enjoy all the care, love, and polish poured into the community-created Half-Life 2 update, or bask in the thousands of Skyrim tweaks available. You can do all that and more on a PC.
Source: Computer Gaming
Nintendo NES Mini
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Mobile Gaming
Mobile gaming is perfect time killer while you are waiting for your train. It helps when you are waiting for a friend. Or when you are just bored and looking for quick ways to relax. No matter what type of games you like, there is a variety of choices. With a widespread of mobile phones, mobile gaming has improved to a completely new level.
Mobile Gaming Advantages
Creativity
With the high demand of games, developers are using their skills to bring out the best games ever. Every game requires creativity which attracts the customer to play games. This has lead to the development of more creative minds in the world. Even the small firms are heading to make more experiment on gaming. This has increased the demand for developers, worldwide.
Low Cost
You’ll surely agree to me that mobile gaming does not range in millions. By spending only a few dollars or even less, you can enjoy a range of games. Also, another benefit of having low cost is that you can try many games instead of only the traditional one. The good news is that there is no installation cost for playing these games which certain games include such as PS3, Xbox or computer. You can save several hundred dollars which such equipment requires.
Convenience
Mobile gaming can be done anywhere as you carry your game wherever you go. If you are playing offline, you just need to download it once and you are all set to play it. The games are stored on the hard drive similarly like a computer. People can play games anytime they want to as it’s highly convenient.
Communication
Mobile was made to communicate and connect but slowly it turned to be more than just used for used for this. Now, one can do so many things on a mobile phone. One can also connect while playing with games as there are games in which you can play as teams. People living at separate places stay connected while playing games which helps to build their relationship.
Mobile gaming has become a part of our everyday activity, offering fun to millions. People spend their leisure time to play games which also helps them to maintain their mental health. Some studies have shown that playing mobile games increases the ability to memorize, decision making and more. Mobile games have many advantages which make it beneficial to play anywhere, anytime. In coming years, mobile games will surely reach new heights.
Source: Mobile Gaming
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Super Nintendo SNES Mini
