If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. It’s always worth revisiting the classics, and there’s no shortage of retro consoles and emulators to enable that. The is more niche than we’re used to, however, and that’s what makes it so intriguing.
The 8-bit retro replica console has dropped to $102 ($18 off) at in a limited-quantity opportunity that’s nearly halfway claimed. The Atari 400 Mini is a replica of the retro brand’s first home gaming console. It comes with 25 classic titles with the ability to add more, and with 720p resolution via HDMI, you don’t need to salvage an old CRT from the junkyard for your nostalgic kick.
The Atari 400 was one of the brand’s first home consoles and computers, noted for the inclusion of a keyboard alongside its iconic joystick. It launched in 1979, which probably explains why I haven’t heard of most of the games in the lineup (my feet touched the planet in 1988). , , , and ring a bell for me, and I’ve even played a few of them over the years, but there are more in the list of 25 that I was simply too late for (you can find a ).
It supports not just Atari 400 games but also emulates titles that launched afterward up to the Atari 5200. If you want more games, you can use one of the console’s five USB ports to sideload extras using a flash drive, provided you have digital copies of them. That port is also where you plug in the classic joystick that comes with it or keyboards, controllers, and .