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What We Found in the Vault

Pixelated collage of classic NES shmup box art featuring Gun Nac, Star Soldier, and The Guardian Legend with retro Nintendo branding and explosions in space.

Retro NES Shmup Rankings: 10 Must-Play Shoot ’Em Ups from the 8-Bit Era

Explore the best of 8-bit gaming with our NES blog collection—featuring classic game reviews, collector tips, and top...

1990 World Championships

Retro Recap: Nintendo 1990 World Championships – A Definitive Look Then and Now

Step back in time to 1990, when the world of gaming was about to be forever changed. Step back in time to 1990, when...

CRT TV showing Duck Hunt dog, target, and NES Zapper – explaining how NES light guns worked

Retro Tech Guide – Why Light Guns Don’t Work on Modern TVs

This article explains why classic light guns like the NES Zapper only work on CRT TVs and how modern tech struggles...

The 10 Best NES RPGs – Dragon Warrior, Final Fantasy, and More on Nintendo Entertainment System

Top 10 NES RPGs of All Time – Classic 8-Bit Role-Playing Games You Must Play

For many retro gamers, the Nintendo Entertainment System was where our love of role-playing games (RPGs) began. For...

Famous video game characters including Mario, Sonic, Pac-Man, Lara Croft, Spyro, and Ryu – iconic gaming mascots from different eras

Why Retro Gaming Is So Popular – 10 Reasons It’s Back in a Big Way

Discover how retro games shaped gaming history with their unique challenges, design choices, and difficulty compared...

1990 Handheld Console of the Nintendo Game Boy and Games

90s Handheld Consoles: Ranking the Best Portable Gaming Systems

Discover the top handheld gaming consoles of the 1990s and their lasting impact on portable play. Key takeaways from...

Sony PlayStation Vita handheld console promotional image with Uncharted: Golden Abyss gameplay and slogan Never Stop Playing

Buying a PlayStation Vita in 2025 – The Complete Retro Gamer’s Guide

Explore our PlayStation Vita guides, reviews, and tips to help you get the most out of Sony’s powerful handheld...

Visual Guide for Identifying Counterfeit Pokémon DS Games

Collector's Guide: How to Spot Fake Pokémon DS Games – Real vs Counterfeit

I popped in a Pokémon DS game that wouldn’t load. The pins looked clean, so I started to suspect it might be a fake....

Pile of NES cartridges with bold red text overlay reading "Collector's Guide to Fake Video Games.

Counterfeit Guide – Video Game Reproductions & Homebrew Explained

As the retro video game market continues to surge, so does the risk—counterfeit games, reproduction cartridges, and...

Colorful 90s-style graphic with bold retro lettering saying 'Back to the 90s', surrounded by nostalgic icons like a cassette tape, high-top sneaker, and pixel shapes – evoking the era of classic Legend of Zelda SNES and Game Boy games

The Legend of Zelda: Complete Guide to Every 90s Game

The Legend of Zelda is one of the most iconic video game series of all time. With over 51 million copies sold during...