Atari 2600 Game System ad Source

 Do you want to play old school games on your smartphone?

This guest post shares four apps that you can use to play your favorite retro games.

Games You Won’t Believe You Can Play on Your Phone: Taking it Old School

The top three gaming consoles of all time (Wii, Playstation and PS2) have each sold over 100 million units. Since 1977, over 30 million Ataris have been sold, according to Examiner.com.

Gaming represents a long-term investment of both time and money, but since the ’70s developments in technology have moved many of these games from our TV stands to our fingertips — literally. Old-school gamers now own iPhones, Blackberrys or Android phones, and developers have created apps for these smartphones that emulate classic game systems.

Atari800 (Blackberry)

Photo of a Atari800 by moparx via Flickr

For true lovers of the classics and Blackberry owners, the Atari800 emulator allows you to play Atari games on certain Blackberry devices. Though the program is free, it’s not available through the traditional app store (Blackberry World). As a result, it’s best to go in with a little technical knowledge or ask a friend to help you get the emulator and associated ROMS going. You can even play the best-selling Atari game of all time — the legendary “PacMan.”

Here are the most popular Atari games you can play

• Space Invaders
• Kaboom!
• River Raid
• Adventure
• Atlantis
• Missile Command
• Pitfall!
• Pac-Man

Link: http://atari800.sourceforge.net/

My Boy! (Android)

Photo of a GameBoy simulator by FHKE via Flickr

This GameBoy Advance simulator is Android exclusive, but it touts a fully functional free version on its download page. A paid version makes it easier to save and allows you to use the “tilting” mechanisms of smartphones to play everything from Golden Sun to Mario vs. Donkey Kong. As in all emulators, the games are downloaded separately as ROMS, and the selection depends on which titles have been converted.

Here are the most popular Gameboy Advance games

• Pokemon FireRed
• Pokemon Emerald
• Final Fantasy 1 + 2: Dawn of Souls
• Pokemon Sapphire
• Dragon Ball Z: Buu’s Fury
• Pokemon Ruby
• Yu-Gi-Oh! World Wide Edition
• Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fastemulator.gbafree&hl=en

SNES8X (Windows 8)

The developers behind SNES8X originally created a web-based computer emulator of the Super Nintendo system. This program has been adapted into a free Windows Phone app. The controls are more difficult to adapt to than those of an original handheld system, but the graphics are sharp and the nostalgia is strong. After a short download, you can sit down with “Batman Forever” and get your 1995 on.

Photo of a Super Nintendo system by YO Pictureve via Wikimedia Commons

Here are the most popular Super Nintendo games

• Super Mario World
• Donkey Kong Country
• Super Mario Kart
• Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
• Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
• Street Fighter II Turbo
• Star Fox
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Link: http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/snes8x/d0c894c3-67a3-47e0-95df-405fb8eb9e25

GameBoy Color A.D.

As you might expect from its title, this cross-platform emulator allows you to play GameBoy Color games on almost any smartphone. It can even be synced with a WiiMote for the full controller experience —though you will admittedly sacrifice portability. A bonus is the ability to fast forward through cut scenes and dragging conversations with Professor Oak in “Pokemon Silver Version.”

Photo of the GameBoy Color by Darolu via Wikimedia Commons

Here are the most popular GameBoy Color games you can play

• Tetris
• Pokémon Gold and Silver
• Super Mario Land
• Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
• Pokémon Yellow
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
• Kirby’s Dream Land
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons

Link: http://www.explusalpha.com/home/gbc-emu

Android Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bslapps1.gbc

DONKEY.BAS

Whether you’re too cool for mainstream systems or games like JewelQuest or looking for a simpler alternative to all those cards and coins, the first-ever game created for PC is now available on your iPhone. For only 99 cents you can play a game that, according to Leawo.com, was co-written by Bill Gates himself.

Game play is simple — a donkey and a speeding car avoid one another (or not) on a two-lane road. It’s appropriate that this prehistoric predecessor to “Angry Birds” is now available on the same platform. Pixeled animals beware.

Link: http://xvision.me/

iOS Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/donkey.bas/id496795223?mt=8

About the Author

Annie Friedman

Annie isn’t your typical girl gamer. She went to school for graphic design and teaches yoga on the side, but her true passion ignites when there’s a controller in her hand.
 

What old school game would you like to play again? Have you tried any of these game emulators?

Please use the buttons below to tell your friends about this post. Click on the links to follow us for free by Email, RSS and follow us on Twitter @thegeektwins and like us on Facebook

Follow @Thegeektwins