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What We Found in the Vault

The Mystery Bottom Port under an original Nintendo NES Console

Nintendo Hardware Guide – What Are the Bottom Ports on N64 & NES?

Uncover the mystery behind Nintendo’s unused expansion ports and how they evolved from the NES to the Wii era of...

quality nintendo nes circle seal vs oval seal

Nintendo Seal of Quality: Complete History & NES Label Variants

Learn about Nintendo Seal of Quality variants on NES cartridges, from the original black/gold seal to white/gold...

Top 10 retro video game consoles featuring logos from Sega, NES, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and TurboGrafx-16.

Nostalgia Ranked: The 10 Best Retro Gaming Consoles

From pixelated adventures to unforgettable boss battles, retro gaming connects generations through nostalgia and...

Family playing Nintendo NES together with Super Mario Bros on screen – smiling kids and parents enjoying a retro gaming experience

Parent Pick: The Best NES Games for Kids – Fun, Easy & Family-Friendly Classics

Back in the 80s, we were glued to our Nintendo consoles while our parents wondered what was so exciting about little...

Fake Pokémon Crystal Game Boy Color cartridge with incorrect label art and 'It's a Fake' warning overlay.

Pokemon Crystal Real vs Fake: How to Authenticate Cartridges

Retro gaming can be tricky, especially for collectors. If you’ve picked up a Pokémon Crystal cartridge, you need to...

Exploring the authenticity of Pokémon GBA games: A guide to spotting fake and counterfeit cartridges.

Pokemon Emerald Real vs Fake: How to Spot Authentic Cartridges

Fake Pokémon games have become increasingly common in the used gaming market in recent years. Updated November -2025...

PlayStation 1 vs Nintendo 64 console comparison – retro gaming console wars graphic from The Old School Game Vault

PS1 vs N64: Which Console Left the Better Retro Gaming Legacy?

This article compares the PS1 and N64, concluding that the PS1 won the legacy war, but the N64 remains the better...

Cartoon of Superman blowing into a Nintendo NES cartridge with a "Busted" stamp and the phrase "blow me" – referencing the retro gaming myth about cartridge blowing

Quick Answer – Does Blowing Into NES Cartridges Actually Work?

If you grew up with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), chances are you’ve blown into a game cartridge more...

Luigi looking shocked with text overlay saying "Terrible NES Games" – humorous retro-style image referencing bad Nintendo titles

Quick Answer: 5 Terrible Nintendo NES Games That Should Never Be Played

Skip these stinkers unless you're collecting for comedy—or enjoy suffering. Skip these stinkers unless you're...

Sega DreamCast Console Review by The Old School Game Vault

Retro Console Review: Sega Dreamcast – Why It’s One of the Best

The Sega Dreamcast is often considered one of the most innovative retro gaming consoles of all time—and here at The...