NES, SNES, Genesis or PlayStation? Which Classic Console to Start With

By · October 17, 2026 · 6 min read

If you're new to retro games, or coming back after years away, "which console should I start with?" is a good first question. Each classic system has its own personality, and the right one depends on what you enjoy playing today. Here's a quick, honest comparison of the four most popular starting points, plus a couple of handhelds.

NES (1985): short, hard and iconic

The NES is where a huge number of game series started, from Super Mario Bros. to The Legend of Zelda and Metroid. Games are short and often very hard, because they were designed to last. Start here if you love simple, tight games you can play in a lunch break, and don't mind dying a lot. The best NES games is a good shopping list.

Super NES (1991): the most beloved library

For many people the SNES is the high point of 2D games. It has platformers like Super Mario World, adventures like A Link to the Past, and some of the most celebrated RPGs ever made, including Chrono Trigger. Games are more forgiving than on the NES, and many save your progress. Start here if you want the broadest, safest introduction to retro gaming.

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive (1989): speed and attitude

The Genesis was Sega's answer to Nintendo, built around fast action and arcade-style games. Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Streets of Rage 2 and Gunstar Heroes show what it did best. Start here if you like action, brawlers and two-player games more than long adventures.

PlayStation (1995): the jump to 3D

The original PlayStation brought cinematic 3D games into living rooms. It's the home of Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2 and Symphony of the Night. Early 3D can feel rough today, with blocky visuals and awkward cameras, but the best games hold up. Start here if you want story-driven games and don't mind some dated controls.

Handhelds: Game Boy and Game Boy Advance

Handheld games were often designed for short sessions, which makes them perfect for modern life. The original Game Boy has Pokémon and Link's Awakening. The Game Boy Advance is almost a pocket Super NES, with excellent platformers, RPGs and strategy games like Advance Wars.

Our recommendation

If you genuinely can't decide, start with the Super NES. It has the widest range of excellent, approachable games, and it's the console most likely to make you fall in love with retro gaming. Then follow your taste: more action leads to the Genesis, more story leads to the PlayStation, and more challenge leads back to the NES.

Or skip the decision entirely and let the Matrix pick a game for you from any console.

Not sure what to play? Let the Matrix pick

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