Are you a child of the 80s or 90s who grew up playing console games? Do you miss the nostalgia of playing your favorite games on your old consoles? Well, you’re in luck! With the advancement in technology, the games you loved as a kid are now available on your iPhone. Here are the top console games you can play on your iPhone in 2023:
Super Mario Bros.
Oh, the memories!
It’s hard to believe that this game, credited in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling video game of all time, is over two decades old. The evil Bowser has kidnaped the princess. Mario and his brother Luigi must set forth to rescue her. The controls are simple: A to jump, hold B to run. Two available powerups: a mushroom that made Mario taller and stronger, thus allowing him to take a second hit before losing a life, and a fire flower that gives him the ability to shoot flaming balls at Koopa Troopas, Goombas, and those pesky sharp-toothed flowers that climbed out of the giant green pipes.
The excitement of discovering hidden warp zones, the frustration of losing all our lives on a challenging level, and the joy of finally rescuing the princess.
Playing Super Mario Bros. again as an adult can be a cathartic experience. It is a fun pastime and a way to reconnect with our childhood and relive some of our happiest memories. It’s a game that has stood the test of time and will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.
Donkey Kong 64
K. Rool has kidnapped the Kongs! Can Donkey Kong rescue his friends, reclaim the Golden Bananas and save his homeland from certain doom? Donkey Kong 64 was published by Nintendo in 1999. The first game in the Donkey Kong series to feature 3D graphics was released on the Nintendo 64 and later ported to the Game Boy Color and Advance.
DK64 towers above similar action games. Its graphics, sound, and gameplay were praised by many. However, some reviewers found it to be too complex and repetitive.
Playing DK64 now is like revisiting an old friend. It’s one of those rare games that makes you remember why you liked video games so much.
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime is an excellent example of how classic video game franchises can be revived and re-imagined.
How can we not cherish this game, which proved to be the perfect bridge between 2D and 3D Metroid? Moreover, many retro game lovers consider Metroid Prime the killer app for the Nintendo Gamecube.
The first-person action-adventure game features the famous bounty hunter Samus Aran. The game has a unique gameplay style that combines exploration, puzzle-solving, and shooting, so perfectly tuned and refined, continuously evolving and clever that you’ll keep playing and playing.
Atmospheric music (many critics cite it as one of the best video game soundtracks of all time), breathtaking visuals, and engaging enemies will make this one adventure you’ll never forget.
Pokemon Fire Red
Pokémon Red and Blue were released for the Game Boy in 1999, kicking off a phenomenon that has continued to grow. The original games have been remade as Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. The gameplay might seem old-fashioned, but no one can deny it’s still just as addictive.
The Pokemon Fire Red’s world is cute and kid-friendly, filled with hundreds of colorful creatures, each with a clever name and a distinct combination of traits and abilities. The game’s turn-based battles are simple in execution, but there’s genuine complexity in the balance between different types of Pokemon. Catching can be a challenging, consistently tense, and exciting process.
Pokemon Fire Red is considered one of the best games in the series, and it’s still worth playing today. The game has a variety of Pokemon to catch, train, and battle with. Its blend of exploration, strategy, and collection makes it a must-play for any fan of the series or the RPG genre.
FireRed will feel familiar if you’ve played any Pokémon games before, and it will be entertaining for players of all ages.
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure is a classic 3D platformer released for the Sega Dreamcast 1998.
This game keeps the retro look and feel of classic 2D platformers while also capturing the feeling of speed that comes with newer games.
In the game, Sonic and his friends fight against Dr. Robotnik (Eggman) and Chaos, a water-based God of Destruction. Each character has their own agenda—the flashback sequences help explain why they’re in this situation!
The vast, detailed environments exude the visual style that made the Sonic games some of the best-looking on the Genesis.
Fans of the Sonic series will be pleased with Sonic Adventure — it is faithful to the spirit of the original games.
The Legend of Zelda — Ocarina Of Time
The Legend of Zelda series has produced many incredible games over the years. Whether you’re curious to check out Hyrule for the first time or have been a Link fan for years, it is always worth choosing a retro gaming classic.
Whenever you play it, you get a good old nostalgic feeling. The Legend of Zelda — Ocarina Of Time has one of the greatest stories of all time for a video game and was one of the first to create its own sort of universe.
The Legend of Zelda was among the first 3D environment games where you can see in all 360 degrees (after Mario 64). The characters feel like real people, and the visuals are stunning. The gameplay is also fun—and that’s what matters most! There are puzzles in every game, but they’re tricky enough to be challenging without being impossible for beginners.
Furthermore, people are still discovering new secrets about the game and posting in-depth theories about its hidden meanings.
The game has a variety of puzzles, dungeons, and enemies that make it a challenging and engaging experience.
How to play console games on your iPhone?
Several retro game emulators are available for iOS, including GBA4iOS, Happy Chick, Provenance, and RetroArch.
These emulators allow users to play classic games from consoles such as Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, SNES, and more on their iOS devices.
If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and want to play console games on it, here’s what you can do:
- Download the emulator app from BuildStore
- Download your favorite console game ROMs — the digital copy of console games.
- Open the emulator app and load your ROM files!
- Enjoy playing your favorite console games on your iOS device!
Emulators allow you to play games from the early 90s on your iPhone today. Some emulators also come with hacks for specific games, which would enable players to unlock unique content that wasn’t initially available. There’s no need to carry around a bulky console or TV set-up, as all you need is an iPhone, an emulator app, and ROMs of all your fav apps.
Join BuildStore and re-experience your most incredible childhood memories!