Thousands of retro games are available to download from Gamulator, yet some people play the same old games time and time again. If you are the kind of gamer looking for something fresh, something different that will reignite your passion for retro gaming, you have come to the right place. We have scoured the extensive retro gaming library and unearthed 10 hidden gems that every retro gamer should fire up at least once in their lives. Are you ready to embark on a journey of discovery? Yes? Then let's go!
Emulators have advanced dramatically in recent years, with powerful and reliable emulators now available for a wide range of consoles, computers, and mobile devices.You don't need a state-of-the-art smartphone to run any of these games; if your device can run the BetUS mobile app, it should run any of these 10 retro classics. Download them at your leisure, take them with you, and play some underrated titles while on the go.
The original EarthBound, a quirky role-playing game (RPG), was released on the Super Nintendo (SNES) in 1994 and immediately gained a cult following. Although the game sold poorly in the United States, it was well-received by Japanese audiences.
EarthBound features memorable characters, offbeat humor, and a unique setting in Eagleland (a parody of the United States), offering an experience unlike any other. The game's main character, Ness, appeared as a playable character in the Super Smash Bros. series, shining new light on EarthBound and introducing the game to fresh sets of eyes.
Legendary developers Square Enix created Vagrant Story for the original PlayStation, releasing it in February 2000. Vagrant Story is a solo action role-playing game widely regarded as one of the best video game titles ever. Expect a world of intricate puzzles and a fantastic soundtrack, but be prepared for a challenge because the combat system is rather complicated.
Skies of Arcadia is another RPG you must play if you get the chance. Developed by Overworks and published by Sega for the Dreamcast, it is often regarded as one of the best games for the Dreamcast despite its limited commercial performance.
You mainly control Vyse, a sky pirate who explores forgotten worlds and engages in exciting ship-to-ship battles. This is all part of a world brimming with charming characters, innovative gameplay, and a thoroughly engaging story.
Dozens of games released on the Nintendo GameCube became classics, and Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is one of them. Released in June 2002 to universal acclaim, it sold fewer than 500,000 copies worldwide despite being near perfection.
It was the first-ever Nintendo game to receive an M rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board due to its psychological horror theme. The game is incredibly clever, with its sanity meter playing tricks on you throughout your journey, leaving you questioning what is real and not in ways you never thought possible.
Panzer Dragoon Saga was released on the Sega Saturn in 1998, and it was so large that the game was on four discs at launch! Sega poured most of its resources into Panzer Dragoon Saga to compete with Final Fantasy VI on the PlayStation, believing the console with the best RPG would win the console war. However, sales were poor, and Final Fantasy VI sold almost 10 million copies.
Although it was not the commercial success Sega had hoped for, Panzer Dragoon Saga was arguably the best game for the Saturn. The title features eye-popping graphics (for the time), immersive sounds and music, and a strategic battle system that sets it apart from similar games.
The Legend of Dragoon was released for PlayStation in December 1999 after three years of development and a team of over 100! Japan Studio pumped $16 million into the project, a vast sum in 1999. Unfortunately, the game only sold 1.3 million copies worldwide, much lower than anticipated, although it did gain a cult following.
Most review outlets praised the game's cinematic presentation and excellent storyline spanning four discs. However, those same reviewers compared The Legend of Dragoon to the Final Fantasy series, and it fell short in that respect. That said, it is a hidden, underplayed treasure that deserves to be experienced by every emulator user.
Japanese video game developers are renowned for their innovative thinking, and they did plenty of that with Jet Set Radio on the Dreamcast. You control a gang member sporting inline skates who traverses the streets of Tokyo, tagging graffiti wherever you can and taking on rival gangs.
Jet Set Radio was well-received on the Dreamcast but less on the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The game will be revived with a fully open-world format for the current generation of consoles, so grab this timeless classic before trying the new state-of-the-art version!
Shadow Hearts: Covenant is the second entry in the Shadow Hearts series, taking place in 1915 at the heart of World War I. However, the game uses elements of Lovecraftian horror and alternative history and does so seamlessly.
You battle supernatural forces as you attempt to uncover a sinister conspiracy. The dark setting and characters are not to everyone's taste, but Shadow Hearts: Covenant is perfect for those who want a more serious narrative for your games.
Psychonauts is a platform game that Double Fine Productions developed for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows PC in April 2005. Majesco Entertainment's financial difficulties almost prevented the game from being published, but boy, are we glad it did launch because it is excellent.
Psychonauts won the Best Screenplay at the British Academy Video Games Awards in 2006, a year after being voted the Best Original Game at the E3 Game Critics Awards.
Retro gamers are likely still playing Lost Odyssey in its original format because it was released on Xbox 360 in December 2007. Japanese magazine Famitsu awarded the game 36/40, with all four of its critics giving It a 9.
However, the game was not as well received outside of Japan. While its breathtaking graphics were lauded, the game's long loading times and old-school gameplay mechanics saw Western reviewers give Lost Odyssey lower yet still favorable scores.