Where to Find Retro Games and Consoles
Tips for Buying SNES, NES, Sega Genesis, and Nintendo 64 Video Games
Aug 20, 2008
Many of today’s most avid gamers got their start back in the video game heyday that was the late eighties. Most are too young to remember the rise and subsequent fall of Atari, but just about any person in their mid to late twenties these days has fond memories of the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Sega Genesis, and the Super Nintendo.
Today, many of the best games for these retro consoles are available on the Nintendo Wii’s Virtual Console. The selection, however, is far from complete.
Fortunately for those feeling nostalgic for the days when Super Mario Bros. was king, finding retro games and consoles is still relatively easy and inexpensive. Gamers just have to know where to look. Ebay is one popular location for finding older games but those looking to find something a little closer to home should consider these alternatives.
Find Retro Games at Local Secondhand Stores/Pawn Shops
Many local secondhand stores will carry a selection of retro consoles and games. These local places can lead to fantastic finds, as many have a decent selection of consoles.
Diligent collectors can sometimes find good deals on rare or hard-to-find games like the Final Fantasy or Secret of Mana games for the Super Nintendo at places like this. Often, the people at the store have no idea of the value of individual games, and will price all games for a system the same, sometimes as low as five dollars.
These treasures tend to be rare. It is often the case that even after sorting through a seemingly-endless pile of old sports games, gamers might leave empty handed. Persistence is key. All that drudgery will seem a very small price to pay when a collector finally finds that one special game they’ve been searching for.
Retro Games at Goodwill
Another often-overlooked place to acquire games for the SNES, NES, and even older consoles like the Odyssey or Atari systems is Goodwill and other similar thrift stores. The selection tends to be pretty hit or miss because the inventory depends solely on donations, but collectors who check regularly can find great deals on games.
Like many secondhand stores, Goodwill doesn’t price games individually. All the games for a particular system get the same low price. Currently, NES games are selling for four dollars or so.
Thrift shops are a good place to find consoles and accessories as well. Most Goodwill locations usually have at least one or two older consoles like the N64 or Sega Dreamcast for sale at decent prices. They also usually have a decent selection of controllers for older consoles in the electronics section. AC adapters and cables to connect consoles to television sets can be found here as well, one just needs to know what they’re looking for.
Few people think of Goodwill as a place to purchase these items, so the stock tends to last for awhile. Retro game collectors would do well to pop into any Goodwill they pass, there’s no telling what they might find.
Gamers seeking the games and consoles of their youth have many options. SNES, NES, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, N64, Sega Dreamcast, Atari, and Sega Saturn games can often be found at a local Goodwill or pawn shop/secondhand store. Check back frequently, some amazing values can be found by those with persistence.
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