So you're getting into retro gaming

Sixty licensed games including Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Castlevania: Bloodlines, and Shinobi III, with HDMI output built in. No CRT hunting, no upscaler needed. It's how you test whether collecting clicks for you before investing in original hardware and proper cables.

Eighty classic Atari 2600 and 7800 games in one box, including Centipede, Missile Command, and Adventure. The Atari era is where collecting started for many people, and under $40 this is the cheapest possible entry into the hobby. Paddle controllers for Breakout are included.

Accepts original cartridges from NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance and outputs HDMI to your TV. The Swiss Army knife for a mixed collection. Buy original carts at thrift stores and garage sales and play them all on one box without hunting for a CRT.

Connects wirelessly to SNES, Switch, Android, and PC via Bluetooth, or wired via USB. The D-pad quality matches the original SNES pad, the build quality is excellent, and one controller covers your entire collection. The default choice for any retro setup.

The smallest Bluetooth gamepad 8BitDo makes, under $25, connecting to everything the SN30 Pro+ does. It's the travel controller and the backup for a guest. Not ergonomic for marathon sessions, but perfect for casual play.

Plugs into your SNES Classic Mini and lets it accept any 8BitDo or DualShock 3/4 wireless controller. One tiny dongle and your Mini takes wireless input, freeing you from a four-foot cable. Essential once you have the Mini set up for dedicated couch play.

A single cable that plugs into an original SNES and outputs HDMI directly. No external box, no power supply, no configuration. Image quality beats generic composite adapters because it taps the console's RGB signal, and it costs under $30. The no-friction first display upgrade for SNES collectors.

If you have a composite-output console (yellow/red/white cables) and just want to play on a modern TV without spending much, this does the job. Image quality is noticeably softer than the Pound cable, but it works with every retro console ever made. Under $20.

The most accessible RetroTink upscaler and a genuine step up from both composite adapters and console-specific HDMI cables. Accepts composite, S-Video, and component input from any retro console and outputs clean 480p/720p/1080p. Simple setup: plug in, select your input, play. The standard recommendation for collectors who want real image quality without complex configuration.

99.9% purity IPA is the gold standard for cleaning cartridge contacts, PCBs, and controller ports. Evaporates completely, leaves no residue, and is safe for all retro hardware. Apply with a cotton swab, let dry 30 seconds, and you're done. Buy one bottle and clean everything you find.

When IPA alone isn't enough, DeoxIT is the next step. It chemically removes oxidation from metal contacts and leaves a thin protective film that prevents re-oxidation. The go-to for stubborn controller ports, cartridge connectors, and power jacks that still misbehave after a proper IPA cleaning.

Includes cleaning cards and fluid designed specifically for retro cartridge contacts. The cleaning card reaches the full contact strip width in NES, SNES, and Genesis carts better than a cotton swab can. Good kit if you want everything assembled for you rather than sourcing IPA and swabs separately.