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What We Found in the Vault

Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon GBA cartridge with review overlay – Tactical RPG review by The Old School Game Vault.

Tactical Throwback – Shining Force GBA Review & Classic RPG Fun

Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is a classic turn-based strategy RPG on GBA that still holds up with...

Image of Mario jumping with text that reads 'The Best 90s Mario Games

90s Mario Ranking: The 5 Best Super Mario Games of the Decade

The 1990s gave us some of the most iconic Mario games across the NES, SNES, and N64. Relive the top 90s Mario...

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...

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

GameBoy Guide: How to Tell if Pokémon Crystal Is Real vs Fake Game

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

The Legend of Zelda Oracle series logo – Game Boy Color puzzle and action adventure games

Interconnected Gameplay – What It Is and Does It Work?

Explore how interconnected games link progress, story, and rewards across titles — from Mass Effect’s mobile tie-ins...

Red Dead Redemption PS3 box art – Regular vs Game of the Year vs Greatest Hits versions

Game Labels Explained – Black Label vs Greatest Hits & Player’s Choice

This guide breaks down the differences between Black Label, Greatest Hits, Player’s Choice, and other game...

Contra NES title screen – iconic run-and-gun shooter with 2-player co-op and classic 8-bit action

8-Bit Spotlight – Contra NES Review: Consider Yourself a Hero!

Contra for the NES isn’t just a game—it’s a pulse-pounding trip down memory lane, bringing back the run-and-gun...

Super Mario Bros. 3 NES title screen – iconic platformer that revolutionized the Mario franchise.

8-Bit Spotlight – Super Mario Bros. 3 NES Review: A Timeless Classic

Few games in long-running franchises manage to truly reinvent the formula — and in a legacy series like Mario,...