Retro Gaming Week 2025: Rediscover Classic Video Games With How-To Geek

The video game industry has come a long way from the likes of Pong and Space Invaders, with modern games boasting photorealistic graphics and complex narratives. But while the games of today are brilliant, that doesn’t mean we should overlook the past.

At How-To Geek, we’re dedicating an entire week to retro gaming, from July 21 to 27. Whether you prefer the pixelated charms of retro consoles or just want a burst of nostalgia, join us as we dive into the joys of old-school gaming.

Retro Gaming Is More Popular Than Ever

You might have grown up with classic video games, or perhaps you’re discovering them for the first time. Whatever the case, retro gaming is more popular than it has ever been. Here’s why:

• Low entry requirements: With big-name new releases costing $70 and requiring high-end hardware, turning to older games is an affordable way to have a great time. That doesn’t just mean the arcade classics—the 2010s were longer ago than you think, and many of those games are still amazing. Arguably, the best games aren’t new.
• Emulators aren’t necessary: You don’t need to fiddle around with emulators to play retro games. Many subscription services, like Xbox Game Pass and Nintendo Switch Online, have classics available. They don’t have everything, though; there are plenty of GameCube games that should be added to NSO, for example.
• Remasters lead to rediscovery: Many games are being remastered and remade. Sometimes they let you switch to the classic experience on the fly, so you can compare the before and after. Unfortunately, not every game remake is worthwhile, but that can push people towards digging out the original.

Retro Gaming Week on How-To Geek

We have guides, recommendations, and retrospectives coming up in Retro Gaming Week. We’ll be rounding up the best classic point-and-click games, showing you how to turn NES games 3D, documenting our experience replacing old controllers, and much more.

To stay on top of our coverage, visit our Retro Gaming hub. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to get updates delivered straight to your inbox, alongside our usual expert reporting year-round.