Best Retro Games Under $20

Affordable Retro Gaming: Quality Without Premium Prices

Retro game collecting is frequently discussed in terms of its most expensive targets: Earthbound, Suikoden II, Panzer Dragoon Saga, sealed NES games at graded auction. But the most historically significant and most playable retro games are often not the most expensive. The 16-bit era’s first-party franchises, the PS1’s major third-party releases, and the Sega Genesis library offer excellent games at prices that haven’t inflated the way the SNES RPG tier or the rarest NES cartridges have.

The affordable tier of retro collecting — games under $20 loose — contains more hours of quality gaming per dollar than any other tier. Many of the games listed below are among the best on their platforms.

The Genesis Tier: Most Affordable Quality

The Sega Genesis library is the most affordable 16-bit collecting tier. Streets of Rage 2 loose: $15–$25. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 loose: $5–$12. Golden Axe loose: $5–$10. Contra: Hard Corps loose: $15–$25. Gunstar Heroes loose: $25–$40 (the upper end of the affordable tier).

The Genesis library’s affordability reflects its commercial history: the Genesis sold 30 million units worldwide, producing sufficient copies that common titles remain plentiful. The lack of Battery-backed save memory in most Genesis cartridges means cartridges age better than those with batteries (no dead save batteries to worry about).

PS1: The $5–$20 Tier

The PlayStation 1’s major first-party and third-party releases are among the most affordable retro collecting available. Crash Bandicoot loose: $10–$20. Spyro the Dragon loose: $10–$20. Final Fantasy VII loose (black label): $25–$40. Resident Evil 2 loose: $15–$30. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater loose: $10–$20. Metal Gear Solid loose: $15–$30.

The PS1’s distinctive black discs (compared to the typical silver) and the GH (Greatest Hits) re-releases that reduced prices and increased availability make the platform’s major titles accessible. The GH versions are functionally identical to the original releases for gameplay purposes; collectors prefer black-label originals, but GH versions play identically.

NES: Common Titles Stay Affordable

NES collecting has inflated significantly since 2018, but the most common titles remain affordable. Super Mario Bros. (cart only): $10–$20. Contra (cart only): $15–$25. Mega Man 2 (cart only): $15–$25. Castlevania (cart only): $15–$25. Tecmo Super Bowl (cart only): $10–$20.

The NES’s five-pin connector and 30-year-old capacitors mean cartridges should be cleaned before play. A $5 isopropyl alcohol cleaning kit and a cotton swab restore most carts to working condition. NES games without battery-backed saves (which is most of them) don’t have save battery issues.

Digital Alternatives: Free and Low-Cost

For players who don’t need physical media:

• Nintendo Switch Online includes NES and SNES games with subscription ($20/year for basic)
• PS1 games are available on PS3 PSN store (requires PS3 hardware) and on PS4/PS5 classics
• Genesis games are available on Steam (Sega Genesis Classics, $30 for 50+ games)
• GOG.com offers several classic PC games that defined 1990s gaming

The case for physical media: screen accuracy, save state independence, the tactile experience of original hardware. The case for digital: cost, convenience, no hardware maintenance. Both approaches let players engage with retro game history; the choice is personal.