10 Odd Mini Video Game Consoles That Were Still Worth the Money

Scroll backwards through time with these tiny machines.

By BMooreWriting

Published 4 years ago in Feels

Mini consoles are all the rage these days. It seems like every console from our childhood is getting packed into these tiny devices that unlock nostalgia.

Over the years, there have been plug ‘n’ play consoles, redone shrunken mainstream consoles, and even flashback versions of gaming’s forefathers.

These mini gaming machines remind us of a time when the worst issue was a scratched disc or a spilled can of Fanta on the carpet. So spend a few minutes indulging with the best retro bite-size consoles of yore.

1
Sega Genesis

The Sega Genesis was a turning point for gaming. A mini console version was bound to happen after the success Nintendo found with its mini SNES.

It even released with separate decals and color variations based on the regions the original Genesis was sold in.

2
SNES

The follow up to the NES Classic Edition, this mini console might be the best for two simple reasons.

One: Yoshi’s Island. Two, it included the previously canceled Star Fox 2. Add to that Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Kart, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and this is everything classic gamers could ever ask for.

3
NES Classic Edition

While this wasn't the first mini console or plug and play device, the NES Classic Edition set off the current trend. Without it, a number of other mini consoles released probably wouldn’t have happened.

With three Super Mario Bros. titles, Excitebike, Tecmo Bowl, and more, this tiny system's game selection packed a major punch.
4
The Walking Dead Battleground

Zombie games rule. That’s just a fact. While The Walking Dead itself may have fallen off a bit over the years, its popularity was unmatched when this thing came out in 2014.

Battleground was the second TWD plug and play device. It was a shotgun controller that plugged right into the television, allowing players to slay zombies in a rail shooter akin to House of the Dead.

The Walmart exclusive version switched the shotgun controller out with a sweet crossbow.

5
Atari Flashback 2

The Atari Flashback 2 doubled down on the first Atari Flashback’s efforts and held 40 games. Favorites like Centipede, Missile Command, and Yars’ Revenge brought gamers back to the '80s.

The console didn’t let players switch games after beginning one, however. It needed to be restarted completely in order to play a new game.
6
Playstation Classic

The world jumped for joy when the PS Classic mini console was announced. That joy didn’t translate to sales, though, as the PS classic got a price drop within four weeks after release.

But its library of 20 games, including the original GTA, Rainbow Six, and Resident Evil: Director’s Cut, made this console more than worth it. Its lack of success might just have been bad timing.
7
Power Rangers

Plug and play themed consoles are great. The Power Rangers one included five games, each considered an “episode mission.”

In the games, Power Rangers battle the army of Emperor Gruum, and naturally things end with them forming the Megazord and kicking some Kaiju butt.

8
ZX Spectrum Vega

The ZX Spectrum was a UK only 8-bit personal home computer. This machine is said to have launched the UK IT industry.

When the ZX Spectrum Vega released, it had a massive 1,000 game roster and allowed more to be added via SD card.

Who wouldn’t want to play the amazing set of alien games such as Alien Destroyer, Alien Evolution, Alien Insects, Alien Maze, and Alien Research Centre?
9
Intellivision Flashback

In 2014, the Intellivision Flashback arrived with classics such as Body Slam: Super Pro Wrestling, Crown of Kings, and Astrosmash. It included 60 games in total as well as extremely retro controllers.

A 61st game, the original two-player Baseball, was only included with the Dollar General version.
10
SpongeBob Squarepants: The Fry Cook Games

Despite their inherent cartoonishness, the SpongeBob plug and play games actually ruled. There are several that come in the form of SpongeBob himself or his pineapple home.

The Fry Cook Games gives players nine games that represent the olympic-style fry cook contests from the show. The controller is SpongeBob and his massive nose is the paddle.