Retrogaming is another trend within retrocomputing: the fascination with games created for outdated computer systems. Usually these systems – game consoles, home computers and arcade slot machines. Players who are into retrogaming are called retrogamers. The game takes place either on the original equipment or on modern equipment – through emulation or using ported versions of the original games. Games from the 1980s are often associated with specific authors, and often retro-gamers are guided in their choice of games for a particular developer of the game.

The retrogaming subculture also affects the music of old games. At the time of their creation, as a rule, the ability to play ready-made compositions were limited, so melodies were synthesized directly during the game; writing music for games at the time involved not only composing, but also programming.

For modern game consoles, compilations of old games were produced, either ported or with a built-in emulator. Such compilations usually include games from one publisher; in particular, there are compilations with games from Taito, Midway, Namco. Each compilation contains 10-30 games. Creators of modern consoles provide the opportunity to purchase older games through online services such as Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade, and the PlayStation Store. The British company Alien8 has licensed about 600 retro games over the past few years and is now releasing them for PC, GBA and Wii with a licensed emulator.

A plug-and-play class system – such as the C64 Direct-to-TV and Atari Flashback – usually consists of a small device that replicates or emulates an obsolete system, and includes a few (10-30) games, with no expansion allowed. At the end of 2007 the Sega Mega Drive Handheld was released, containing a fixed set of 20 games.