10 Best Retro Gaming Computers, Ranked

There was a time when most people would say they played
Nowadays, computer gaming is a dominant way for players to satisfy their gaming itch, thanks to factors like availability and backward compatibility. However,
even in the glory days of console gaming, video games were more than plentiful on personal computers
. For anyone interested in retro computing, it’s just a matter of what choice of ancient microcomputers can be used to play certain retro video games.
10
The Coleco Adam Is ColecoVision as a Computer
It’s a Literal Gaming Computer
Close
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Coleco Adam
Circa Oct. 1983
Circa Jan. 1985
95,000
The Coleco Adam is a home computer developed by Coleco, the same company behind the innovative ColecoVision console. Despite this connection, the Coleco Adam is often forgotten by the general public. One reason for its obscurity is poor sales, driven by technical issues that plagued the system. Among these was
a flaw in the Adam’s power supply, which caused it to erase data
from any given cassette tape.
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Still, the Coleco Adam is not a bad computer for playing certain retro video games. In addition to running the
Donkey Kong
and
Donkey Kong Jr.
, both of which are solid arcade ports for their time.
9
TI-99/4A Is a Secret 16-Bit Powerhouse
It’s Not an 8-Bit Computer
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A
Circa June 1981
Circa March 1984
2.8 million
Texas Instruments is a company best known today for its calculators, but in the early 1980s, it was strong with its TI-99/4A home computer.
The TI-99/4A was the first 16-bit home computer
, although it didn’t present itself as that; at first glance, it looked like any other 8-bit microcomputer of the day. It was, at least, a very complex home computer for its day, which made it somewhat difficult to program games and applications.
That said, the TI-99/4A has loads of good games under its belt that actually take advantage of the computer’s hardware. For example, games like
Donkey Kong
and
Pole Position
come dangerously close to resembling their original arcade counterparts. Texas Instruments even released unique versions of popular arcade games for the TI-99/4A. A shining example would be
Munchman
, a
Pac-Man
clone that has the player create a chain pattern instead of eating pellets.
8
The ZX Spectrum Is Just Colorful
An Inexpensive Computer With a Luxurious Library
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Sinclair ZX Spectrum
April 23, 1982
Circa 1992
5 million
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit home computer developed by Sinclair, an electronics company best known for producing inexpensive home computers of this caliber. While not Sinclair’s cheapest computer, the ZX Spectrum still has the hallmarks of a budget microcomputer. The computer’s cheapness only became more apparent with time, with the hardware’s graphics and sound capabilities not quite reaching the standards of the system’s newest video games.
​​​​​​​That said,
the ZX Spectrum’s affordability made it popular with the masses
, resulting in a flood of video games for the platform, even if many offered a compromised experience. In addition to expected arcade ports like
Pac-Man
and
Donkey Kong
, the ZX Spectrum boasted a slew of original titles, with the
Miner Willy
series being among the most famous.
7
The Atari 400 Brought Computer Games to the Home
After All, It Was Made by Atari
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Atari 400
Circa Nov. 1979
Jan. 1, 1992
4 million
Atari is a company known for its beloved video games,
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Unsurprisingly, beyond the usual home economy programs, the Atari 400 had a strong library of video games. Some arcade ports, such as
Pac-Man
and
Donkey Kong
, were far superior to their Atari 2600 counterparts.
The Atari 400 also featured original titles like
Eastern Front
and
Zone X
. While it may not be as well-remembered as the Atari 2600, the Atari 400 remains a great choice for retro gaming enthusiasts.
6
The Commodore VIC-20 Is Fair Game
It Was a Commodore 64 Before the Commodore 64
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Commodore VIC-20
Circa 1980
Circa Jan. 1985
2.5 million
The Commodore VIC-20 was not Commodore’s first home computer, but it was the company’s first widely successful one. As the direct predecessor to the Commodore 64, the VIC-20 served as a precursor in many ways. This ranged from its hardware, including graphics and sound, to its operating system, which was only slightly less advanced than that of the Commodore 64.
Like the Commodore 64,
the VIC-20 featured an extensive library of video games
. This included arcade ports like
Donkey Kong
and
Pac-Man
, which, while not as polished as some other home computer versions, were welcome additions to the system’s offerings. The VIC-20 also had numerous original titles in its library, such as text adventures like
The Count
and action-packed shooters like
Gridrunner
.
5
The Apple IIGS Is a Superior Apple II
Apple’s Most Powerful Non-Macintosh Computer
Close
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Apple IIGS
Sept. 15, 1986
Dec. 4, 1992
1.5 million
The Apple IIGS was the last computer in the Apple II series
and also the most powerful. It was soon supplanted by the Macintosh as Apple’s premier home computer, marking the beginning of a modern age for the storied technology company. However, the Apple IIGS proved to be more powerful in several ways compared to the Macintosh computers of its time.
The Apple IIGS’s power is demonstrated by its solid video game library. While many of its titles were ports of other home computer games, they are still worth exploring. For instance,
The Immortal
made the most of the Apple IIGS’s advanced hardware.
4
The Atari ST Has a Load of Great Titles
It Is a Truly Underrated Retro Gaming Computer
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Atari ST
Circa June 1985
Circa 1993
2.1 million
The Atari ST is not a name for any specific home computer; rather, it is the name of Atari’s final line of home computers popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Thanks to the computer’s external sound capabilities, the Atari ST served as a peripheral for amateur and professional musicians. Elsewhere, the Atari ST was widely used for desktop publishing and computer-aided design.
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Meanwhile, when it comes to video gaming, the Atari ST is no slouch. The computer proved popular for game developers due to its relatively low cost, leading to a myriad of games being produced for the platform first.
The most iconic game on the Atari ST is
Dungeon Master
, a fun role-playing game known for its impressive 3D graphics and great sound design.
3
The Amiga Was Just Built for Games
Gaming Wasn’t Even the Amiga’s Primary Purpose
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Commodore / Escom Amiga
July 23, 1985
Circa 1996
5 million
The Amiga is a line of home computers initially developed by Commodore before changing hands to Escom. The Amiga computers were the most powerful machines of their day, but multiple marketing mishaps were its doom. In North America, Commodore was uncertain exactly how to market the Amiga, with the machines eventually serving peripheral uses in professional video production and anything else unrelated to the computers’ intended purposes.
Among its various uses, the Amiga gained particular popularity in Europe for its strength in video gaming. With its extensive library of games,
the Amiga often felt like a video game console in its own right
, offering platformers like
Zool
and strategy games like
Defender of the Crown
. If nothing else, the Amiga is a good option for retro gaming.
2
The Apple II Takes a Bite Into Gaming
The Most Popular Computer of Its Day Could Game
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Apple II
Circa June 1977
Circa May 1979
4.75 million
The Apple II was Apple’s first widely successful home computer and the most iconic home computer of the 1970s. For many in older age groups, including Generation X, it was likely the first computer they ever used.
It helped that the Apple II was largely prevalent in schools
, giving young students of the day a taste of the future.
Unsurprisingly, given the Apple II’s monstrous success, a flurry of video games made their way to the schoolhouse’s favorite computer. One of the most iconic video games on the Apple II is
The Oregon Trail
, a simple yet effective strategy game in which the player travels from Missouri to Oregon with limited supplies. Games like
The Oregon Trail
were just as popular with educators as the Apple II itself.
1
The Commodore 64 Is the Ultimate Retro Computer
It’s All About Those 8-Bit Video Games
Close
Computer
Launched
Discontinued
Sales (Units)
Commodore 64
Circa Aug. 1982
Circa April 1994
17 million
The Commodore 64 is by far the best-selling home computer of the 1980s, barring any other computers such as those from IBM. More likely than not, the Commodore 64 found its way to millions of homes throughout the world. The Commodore 64 was so beloved that it managed to coexist with its more powerful successors, including the Amiga computers that were supposed to usurp the Commodore 64.​​​​​​​
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Part of the Commodore 64’s wild success was its vast video game library
, which made it the ultimate retro home computer for retro video games. Whether it be sports titles like
International Soccer
, platforming games like
Jumpman
, puzzle games like
The Goonies
, or something in between those, the Commodore 64 didn’t just have a little something for everyone; it had it all.