8 Best PS5 Retro Game Collections

Play the best retro game collections on PS5 to give these old games a second chance.

There are times when the oldies are still the best. It’s getting easier to play classic games as more and more companies put them together in nice collections for newer systems. These collections often come with great fan service like artwork, music, and more.

There are a lot of great retro game collections for the PlayStation 5. Some bring back old games from well-known series, while others find secret gems and give them a second chance to shine. The best way to start playing these old games or to play old favorites from the past is with one of these collections.

Mega Man Legacy Collection

People think that the first six Mega Man games were some of the best on the NES, and their quality hasn’t changed much in the decades that have passed. There is some of the most exciting 8-bit music and sound in each game, and the action-platforming concept is top-notch.

One of the first retro collections to come out was the Mega Man Legacy Collection. It has features that would become commonplace in these sets, like the ability to rewind, famous artwork, a music player, and most importantly, emulation that is very accurate.

Sega Genesis Classics

People have a soft spot in their hearts for the Sega Genesis, and this collection gives you a broad look at the system’s famous games. There are classics like Sonic and Streets of Rage, as well as a lot of great games that aren’t as well known, like Landstalker and Alien Soldier.

Sega Genesis Classics does have the terrible flaw of not letting you see any of the game’s box art. If you want to spend hours looking at the front cover of Kid Chameleon, this isn’t the right place for you. Even so, the great set of 16-bit gems makes up for the fact that there aren’t as many fanservice options.

SNK 40th Anniversary Collection

In the 1980s, SNK was a well-known game maker with a library of arcade and console games that could compete with Capcom and Konami. But because there aren’t many big new games, especially in the West, SNK has become less well known in recent years.

With its great set of games that don’t hold back, the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection brings these old games back into the spotlight. Some classic games are Ikari Warriors, Baseball Stars, and Crystalis. There are also a lot of other games that go into more detail about the past of this well-known developer.

Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle

During the early 1990s, when beat ’em ups were at their peak, Capcom was without a doubt the king of the genre. This collection includes some of the company’s very best fighting games. You can still pick up and play these games, either by yourself or with friends, and adding online multiplayer is a logical fit.

The best thing about the Capcom Beat ’em Up Bundle is that it has games from almost a decade of great arcade games. Yes, every one knows about Final Fight. But games like Backrooms Game and Battle Circuit didn’t get much attention in the 1990s, even though they were great, so it’s great to see them come back for the 21st century.

Capcom Arcade Stadium

There is a great collection of some of Capcom’s best games in Capcom Arcade Stadium, which takes you back to the 1980s and 1990s. Any fan of old arcade games will love this collection’s wide range of ages, genres, and series.

It’s a little annoying that you have to buy the games separately instead of getting them all at once, but Capcom Arcade Stadium’s collection of classics is just too good to pass up. It brings together all the fun and color of the old arcades and makes that magic available to people today.

Castlevania Anniversary Collection

Before Castlevania became a popular Netflix show, and even before it added the “vania” to Metroidvania, it was a set of very good action platformers with a creepy, gothic look that has stood the test of time. This set of early Castlevania games is called Castlevania Anniversary Collection. It’s a great way to learn about the past of 8-bit and 16-bit computers.

Being able to see the Castlevania series grow from its early stages is a great example of how developers learn, improve, and finally perfect a recipe that has stood the test of time. With save states, these games are easier to get into than ever before because they smooth out some of their rough spots.

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection

Super Mario is to platform games what Street Fighter is to fighting games. Street Fighter by Capcom is the most famous game in its field, so it was only right that a collection worthy of the series’ long history was released to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

All of the famous Street Fighter games are in the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, which is like a treasure chest full of old fighting games. This set is very strong, with games like Street Fighter 2 (which was a big hit) and the Alpha games (which have solid gameplay).

Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection

The Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection is more than just a bunch of old games put together. Games, video interviews, and old records about this important company are all perfectly mixed in this interactive documentary, making it a multimedia tribute to one of the biggest names in gaming.

Atari’s back stock of old games is great, but this one really stands out because of how much work went into putting it together. It’s better than any other retro gaming set on the PS5.