Retro & Arcade Gaming: (Just like Mum used to make)

Arcade & Retro Gaming PC Play Icon

Old games never really die — they just find new homes. PC gaming has an unbroken line back to the earliest arcade machines, and in 2026 playing the classics has never been easier. GOG and Steam carry thousands of preserved titles. Emulation covers everything else. And the hardware to play them properly — arcade sticks, retro controllers, dedicated setups — is better than it’s ever been.
This is the section for people who love where games came from as much as where they’re going.

Arcade & Fight Sticks

There is nothing quite like a proper arcade stick for fighting games, beat ’em ups, and classic arcade titles. The satisfying clack of a Sanwa joystick, the crisp snap of the buttons — it changes the experience entirely. Our guide covers every budget from first-time buyers to tournament-ready hardware.

Retro Controllers

Modern controllers are designed for modern games. For retro titles the D-pad matters above everything else — and most modern controllers get it badly wrong. Our guide covers the best retro-inspired controllers available, with 8BitDo dominating for good reason.

Classic Games on PC

The PC back catalogue is enormous and most of it is still genuinely worth your time. Half-Life, Diablo II, Grim Fandango — these aren’t just historically important, they’re great games. Our guide covers the best classics available to buy and play on PC right now.

Retro Console Games

The games that made those consoles worth owning — and where to play them in 2026. Whether you’re going digital via Switch Online and PS Plus, or hunting physical copies at car boots and CEX, here’s what’s worth your time.

Retro Computers

Eight-bit beeps, rubber keys, and tape decks that took four minutes to load a game. The home computers of the 1980s shaped British gaming in ways the console market never quite did. We cover the originals worth tracking down and the modern replicas that plug straight into your TV.

Retro Consoles

From the NES to the Dreamcast, two decades of console gaming produced some of the best games ever made. Whether you want original hardware, a modern mini console, or something premium from Analogue, here’s how to approach every major machine.

Looking Back

Some games deserve more than a mention in a roundup. Once a month we go back to a game that mattered — what made it, why it still does, and where you can find it now.

*Coming up: Streets of Rage, Double Dragon, Head Over Heels, Neo Geo, Paperboy and more.*

Raspberry Pi

A tiny computer, a microSD card, and a weekend afternoon. The Raspberry Pi can become a retro gaming machine that plays thousands of classic games across dozens of systems — from the NES and SNES right through to PlayStation and Dreamcast. Our guide covers every model, the best software to use, and how to get started.

Building Your Own Arcade Cabinet

If you want to go further than a controller, a bartop arcade cabinet is one of the most satisfying builds in retro gaming. Sit it on a desk, load it with thousands of classic games, and you’ve got a machine that looks like it belongs in a 1980s chip shop. Our complete guide covers flat-pack kits, scratch builds, and everything in between.

Neo Geo

The most powerful home console of the early 1990s is back — and this time you can actually afford one. Our guide covers the history, the hardware, and everything you need to know before buying.

News & Views: Retro