There's always an urge to buy the most recent gaming consoles. And this is understandable—you want the latest hardware, features, and, of course, games. However, newer consoles shouldn't render their predecessors obsolete.
If you've missed out on a games console or consoles of a previous generation, here's why you should invest in them.
1. Each Console Occupies Its Own Space
When you buy the latest console, there's a good chance you view it as an upgrade over your previous, older one. However, this might not be the best way to look at things.
Instead of seeing new consoles as "upgrades" and old consoles as "downgrades", it's perhaps more enriching for you to view each console as its own unique item.
For example, if you're planning on getting a PS5, you could view it as an upgrade over—say—your PS3. But, there's no reason why you can't play both consoles and enjoy each in its own right—the PS3 has its own aesthetic, games library, features, and occupies its own niche. You can find value from both consoles.
This becomes more apparent the further back you go. Retro games consoles are night and day from each other, and you'll soon realize that each retro games console provides a unique experience.
2. Older Consoles Can Give You a More Intimate Experience
With each console generation, consoles are turning into all-in-one entertainment devices, capable of streaming or playing movies, TV shows, and music, browsing the web, and packing on a range of services to complement your gaming, such as PlayStation Now or Xbox Game Pass.
But not too long ago, there was a time when games consoles… just played games.
While this can sound limiting at first, what this means is that you can find a more intimate gaming experience with older consoles. You're able to focus purely on gaming without yet another notification coming up, or navigating through a user interface (UI) designed for games and other services.
With modern devices finding more ways to burn out your attention span, it can be refreshing to just start up your console and play games without any distractions.
3. You Don't Always Have to Be Online With Older Consoles
You might've noticed that when you play a digitally downloaded game, you'll need an online connection to play said game. Even if it's single-player with zero or minimal multiplayer features.
This form of data protection, called "always-on digital rights management (DRM)", has become commonplace in gaming and most other entertainment outlets. Though it's a piracy prevention measure, that still doesn't change the annoyance of always needing an internet connection for your games even when you don't play online.
Older consoles don't have this problem, mainly because digital games were less of a thing or didn't exist (not including PC games). As the vast majority of games on past consoles were physical, an always-online requirement wasn't a barrier you'd regularly find.
4. Older Games Will Feel More Like a One-Off Purchase
It's not uncommon to see modern games requiring numerous updates, including a day-one patch, or coming with season passes, downloadable content (DLC), and in-game purchases via microtransactions.
While this can sound positive, what this can often mean is that most games launch broken, buggy, or both, with content that has been purposefully cut and put behind a paywall. Like with DRM, this is a practice that's now unfortunately commonplace in gaming.
Games released before season passes, DLCs, and microtransactions became a staple did wonderful things. You got a complete game, not half a game with the rest labeled as "DLC". You could unlock content through the magic of gameplay instead of a paywall.
Even with older games requiring DLC and season passes, you can buy the "complete/GOTY edition" of a game that should include most (if not all) content, and should be the best performing version of that game.
From retro to a few years old, older games are simply more complete than current releases.
5. Older Consoles Have Their Own Nostalgia and Charm
As we've discussed, each console occupies its own space. And with that, each has its own charm and nostalgic value.
Maybe you sold your PS2 and miss those days of playing it as a kid or in college with your friends. Or perhaps you never got the chance to try out a retro console, and you want to see what all the was fuss was about. It's worth your time to pick up an older console for those reasons alone.
Older consoles allow you to recapture a moment in time in a way that modern consoles running retro games might not replicate.
6. Older Consoles and Their Games Are Likely to Cost Less
If you go a generation or two back, it would surprise you to see how much cheaper consoles and their games are when compared to modern offerings.
Let's get a few caveats out of the way: certain consoles and games could cost a lot due to their limited and hard-to-find stock. So, in this case, older consoles and their games will cost more than modern consoles. Also, if you're looking to buy an older console brand new, that could fetch a high price—as those are very rare.
Oftentimes, however, you should find many older games and consoles a lot cheaper in retro games stores or second-hand stores. And, with the price of modern games potentially rising to $ 70, you'll get more value for money if you choose to play a few generations behind.
7. Older Consoles Will Have Their Own Unique Games Library
With each console comes its own unique games library.
Though you can pick up a bunch of older games on current-gen consoles via digital downloads, not every past-generation title is going to be available to buy, nor will these digital versions look and play exactly the same as they originally did.
Some might argue that this is for the better, as these games now have a modern facelift, which is perfectly valid. But, if you're keen to experience the expansive games libraries of multiple consoles, the best way is to settle on which console to start with and dive right in.
8. There's No Pressure for You to Buy the Latest Games
New games, new consoles, new features. All of these fuel one thing: hype.
While you can enjoy the anticipation and excitement of a new game or console at its peak, a key downside to hype and demand is fear of missing out (FOMO): you must play the most recent Call of Duty or FIFA, or play Horizon Forbidden West the moment it comes out.
Older consoles remove this pressure and allow you to enjoy the console and its games for what they are.
You can pick what you want to play, and when you want to play it, without this irrational fear or pressure forcing you to make rash decisions. This allows you to enjoy each game at your own pace.
Each Games Console Generation Is Worth Exploring
If you're looking to buy a new console, there's plenty of reason to look at one of a previous generation. Besides the slew of generation-exclusive games, you'll appreciate the charm and unique experience each console brings. And, with that, you'll gain a greater understanding and appreciation of games.
There's something special in each console generation, and it's worth your time to see what each has to offer.
