Hands up, who has a partner/friend/relative who is into gizmos and games? Do you know someone who is nostalgic about gaming and likes retro games as it reminds them of their childhood? For me, that person is my husband. He, however married a technophobe who knows nothing about this genre they call retro gaming. So what do I do when I have to buy him a gift? (I have to buy him lots –  birthdays/anniversaries/celebrations/father’s day). Well I research and listen very carefully to things he’s interested in. I also try to give myself plenty of time. Anyway, I wanted to share my ideas with everyone like me (the ones who want to buy awesome techie/gaming gifts, but not sure where to start. I am getting my hubby to help me with this as I feel his knowledge is far superior on this subject. So let us begin with Gift Ideas for the Retro Gamer.

My hubby is the type of person who loves playing computer games, and loves retro gaming and gadgets. If you want gift ideas for this type of person, then read on.

Games Consoles

 My other half is very fond of retro games consoles as he owned quite a few in his younger years. So last year I bought him a mini SNES – super Nintendo entertainment system. The original SNES was very popular in the 90’s and was one of the best-selling consoles of its time. It featured many popular games e.g. Street Fighter II, Super Mario Bros and Super Mario Cart to name a few. So if you’ve ever heard your other half go on about how awesome these were when they were growing up, then this present is a good one to go for.  My husband has a few consoles in his collection now (see above photos). There are lots of different ones on the market and most cost around the same. This is an amazing Gift Idea for the Retro gamer. 

2. Raspberry Pi 3 

Raspberry Pi 3

If the person you’re buying a gift for is into building computers, has some technical knowledge and likes retro games then the next present is definitely a winner. This gift is also very reasonably priced so it won’t cost you the Earth. Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ (this is the latest version) is a perfect gift for computer enthusiasts. 

It is relatively inexpensive, with the bare bones version coming in at about £35. The operating system required for gaming – Retro Pi – is easily available online, and there are tons of tutorials out there to guide you through installation. Once setup, it is easy to download and transfer your favourite games onto the Pi; there are a host of websites with a huge catalogue of available games for every retro console imaginable. All you need to finish it off is a pair of retro game controllers (also available on eBay/Amazon for as little as £5.99) and away you go!

  3. Game Boy Mug

Want Gift Ideas for a retro gamer that don’t break the budget? Retro merchandise is a super easy gift to buy and can be very low cost. What kind of games is your recipient into? Pacman, Street Fighter, Super Mario – the list is endless. You can pick up so many mugs, key rings, mobile phone cases and so much more. 

4. Comic Con

 If you want to join in the fun and embrace (the dark side) culture of retro gaming yourself you can book various experiences. One of the gifts I recently gave to someone was tickets to Comic-con (this took place in November 2018 in London). I was also going to attend this event but could not make it. However, you can attend with the person you’re gifting. Comic-con is about all things gaming be it current or retro. There are lots of people who attend these events every year and you also get celebrities attending too. Paul Bettany made an appearance in 2018. 

The date for this years Comic-con is 24th-26th May 2019 at London Excel. if you do decide to buy these, I would recommend paying extra and buying the priority tickets. I know someone who went and they reported back that they were glad to buy they bought priority tickets as they didn’t have to wait in the long queues. 

5. Bar top arcade

 Finally, I saved the best and the more expensive present till last. This is retro gold. A bar top gaming arcade. Before you buy this as a gift, you have to be sure your recipient is going to like it as it does cost a lot but also ensure that they have room for this as it takes up a lot of space (It’s roughly the size of a mini fridge). But if you do have the budget, then this is an awesome gift to buy. Prices on these can vary, so do shop around. I bought one for £400.00. If this is something you’re looking to buy, then you need to make sure it is good quality. 

I can’t stress enough though; this is an expensive present. Only buy if you can afford it. It’s the thought and effort put into the present that is valuable, not the price. 

So, there you have it, my take on gifts for the retro gamer. I’m not a gamer myself and don’t have much knowledge on the subject, but I do feel that these gift ideas are great for all budgets and will be loved by those who like retro gaming. 

Want more gift ideas for him? Check out my Father’s Day Gift Guide with lots of great gift ideas for all types on men. 

If you have any questions/comments or just want to ask more about a particular product, please feel free to contact me. 

Love, 

Gift Goonie