Retro gaming today might be the biggest it's ever been. In the past, the 8- and 16-bit eras were the popular booming part of retro gaming, but since then, consoles like the PS2 and GameCube are likewise in demand. Even systems like the Xbox 360 and PS3 are now considered retro due to their age.
However, hooking up a retro system to a modern gaming setup isn't always the easiest thing in the world. Many older consoles don't use HDMI but use outlets that most TVs don't even support anymore. Some systems will also require more maintenance and upkeep than others. You also want to make sure these consoles have many exclusive titles, not re-released later on for future systems.
7 PSP
A definite contender for the most underrated handheld console is the PSP. Since it's portable, most people don't need to worry about how to hook it up to a modern TV. Its exclusive library was known for being filled with remakes, but most of them were great and enough reason to buy the system. Even so, both Capcom and Konami have stellar PSP exclusives.
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops is a good entry into the series and is canon, with it being mentioned near the start of Peace Walker. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is a stellar remake of Rondo of Blood in a series already filled with excellent remakes. The Mega Man series has two great exclusive titles, Powered Up and Maverick Hunter X. Even the fourth installment in the Ghosts 'n Goblins series was exclusive to the platform.
6 Original Xbox
While the Original Xbox doesn't have as vast a library as the PS2 or GameCube, it does have several advantages. For one thing, it does look better on an HD TV when compared to a PS2. Both use component cables, but a PS2 can look downright nasty on a big-screen HD Television. The second biggest advantage is the price.
GameCube and PS2 game prices have ballooned in recent years, but Original Xbox games are still very affordable. Games like Silent Hill and Fatal Frame are more budget-friendly on Xbox than their pricey PS2 counterparts. While an Xbox 360 can play roughly half of all Original Xbox games, many have glitches that make them better to play on the original system.
5 Wii
Out of the more recent Nintendo systems, a Wii is the best for retro gaming. You can play both the stellar library of GameCube titles and Wii games in one system. Later models removed GameCube compatibility, but the most common Wiis you'll find will have GameCube support. Many of the great exclusives for both systems were not rereleased on Switch.
These are games like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Punch-Out Wii, and Eternal Darkness. A Wii doesn't look good on an HD TV, but a way to make it better is to play on a smaller screen. A large screen really blows up all the imperfections, but a smaller screen makes it more compact and less distracting.
4 NES
The NES has a great catalog of games, but the main reason it's so good to get today is its durability. Both the NES and future systems, like an Xbox 360, will require maintenance at some point, but an NES will certainly last for a heck of a lot longer than the latter. 360s and PS3s with their hot chips will undoubtedly mean they'll kick the bucket quicker than an NES.
An NES can get repaired every so often, and it might as well last forever compared to a backward-compatible PS3. Most of the quality Nintendo-owned games on the NES have been rereleased, but many third-party ones have not. Plenty of hidden gems on the system make owning one worthwhile.
3 PlayStation 2
Some will say the best option for all classic PlayStation needs is a backward-compatible PS3, but the most accessible pick for most people will be a PS2. Once again, the system will look far better on a smaller screen, with the image more compact. Most PS2 models are compatible with close to every PS1 game.
Starting with model SCPH-750XX, the amount of nonworking PS1 games increased dramatically, so best to get one of the previous ones. Both the boxy original and slim models are great options. However, the slim ones will likely last longer due to not having a pop-open disc drive, which can often cause issues in the original. The library of the PS2 might be the greatest of all time, but it can get pricey.
2 PlayStation 3
One big upside to the PS3, when compared to the Xbox 360, is the lack of true PS3 backward compatibility on newer machines. You can play PS3 titles via cloud streaming on PS5, but that's not what people are looking for. This means many great exclusives on PS3 can only be played on a PS3.
Most of the God of War series can't be played natively on a PS5, but a PS3 allows you to play the entire greek era of the franchise. Infamous 1 and 2 are also fantastic, plus the awesome Metal Gear Solid 4. Every PS3 can play PS1 games, but PS2 compatibility is only for the first few models. These early systems are great but not recommended because their too expensive and require too much maintenance for most people.
1 Xbox 360
The first system to usher in the HD revolution was the Xbox 360. Many of the console's best games are backward compatible on Xbox Series X|S, but plenty aren't. The system's a must-get for wrestling game fans, as many stellar titles are best played on it. A great quality about both the PS3, but especially the 360 is the low cost of games compared to previous generations.
One of the more expensive 360 games, Splatterhouse, is only $50. While Original Xbox backward compatibility has bugs, it is a feature on every 360 that supports half of the library. Make sure to avoid the early 360 models, as they're destined for a Red Ring of Death at some point. Get an Xbox 360 Jasper module, 360 S, or 360 E.