RetroGaming

My suggestion might seem sacrelige, but hear me out.

If you want something to actually use that is convenient, a mini PC that emulates them all is far better than genuine hardware. Kinda like how I will always say that driving a replica of an expensive car is better than driving a real one out on the road. Set up takes a lot longer, but in the long run it is far cheaper and much more convenient.

• modern TV compatible output
• modern CRT shaders very closely approximate actual CRT look especially at 4k with HDR (I have real CRTs to compare, and they do look similar)
• you dont have to unplug and plug in multiple consoles, wearing out the tv input port when you want to change consoles
• only takes up one tv input port
• some games can run at better framerates than the original hardware could handle, giving a more consistent experience
• no physical space lost to game boxes and multiple unused console accessories
• expandable storage to include all games from each console's library
• can play handheld games on a TV without needing overpriced genuine hardware like the GameBoy Player for the GameCube ($75+ is ridiculous)
• you get to play games you will literally never be able to thanks to speculative buyers and collectors making the real thing too expensive (~$1,000 USD for Panzer Dragoon Saga NTSC should be illegal)

You could potentially invest in console themed controllers, so the inputs match the controller you are holding. Sure, the integrated graphics might not be good enough to PS3 on some older ones, but it's hard to beat that at ~$150 USD for up to 6th gen. Lots of genuine hardware now is that price or more thanks to speculative buying and "collectors" ruining the hobby for people that actually want to play the games instead of just hoarding them.

You can install an ssd on a ps2 and load more than half of its library onto it. Last year I paid $70 for a used ps2 at a flea market so they’re definitely still out there

I would suggest getting a Wii, but not for playing the games. Softmod it (pretty trivial) and install CleanRip.

Then just start collecting Wii and GameCube games, rip them to USB/SD card, and play them on PC with Dolphin. Use just about any PC compatible controller for GameCube games, and you can pair the Wii controller over Bluetooth for Wii games.

Last I checked Wiis are pretty cheap, and the GC and Wii library has a lot of real gems.

Ps2. Plenty of games, it's still the most popular system made.

Add the network adapter and a hard drive and you can use real hardware to play the games, or store your games on the network and skip the hard drive.

Or use a USB if you want. No hard mods required.

Can't help with pricing, but as far as variety and quality of games, the SNES dominates. We play ROMs at home, and despite having pretty much every game for every system, the SNES gets the most play hands down.

I play Gameboy advance all the time. And the Nintendo DS and DS lite can play GBA games for an even bigger library. Both you can find for around $40. Also flashcarts for DS is very cheap, I think around $15. GBA carts are around $30 I think.

The first gen PS3. You get three consoles in one with the backwards compatibility.

Original Switches are getting more affordable now but the 3DS is a solid console that still holds up today.

Also, the PS3 is awesome, games are dirt cheap right now.

Honestly PS2 or the next gen up, PS3 and 360.

Lots of variety and great games for rock bottom prices. PS2 is starting to get up there are discs fail and systems ware down. But due to being the best selling system of all time. It’s be a while until it’s crazy.

Another option is to look around and buy local. Who knows what you’ll find for cheap.

Might be an unpopular opinion (but that's what makes it cheap): An Xbox One.

It's got a fairly sizeable library at 3,067 titles and a backwards compatible list with 632 games from Xbox 360 and 63 original Xbox titles. So you have plenty of choice depending on your gaming tastes.

It's the last generation, so many stores will be clearing out the old inventory at a discount. Popular titles like Mass Effect Trilogy or Borderlands Handsome Collection will be a great value for the money. If those are your style.

You have options, since you still need different consoles if you are really into videogames, but PS3 is the single most valuable in my opinion:

• It can't be always decently emulated on PC
• Exclusives still today (mostly japanese)
• Games need space so they are best to buy retail, they are cheap and on bluray (great durability over time)
• You probably already have a 1080p display, so it works well on it.
• You can play movies and cd audio on it, so a great companion to every desktop PC
• Also eventually hackable if you prefer
• It's so cheap to buy

PS3. Really easy to mod (not that simple on super slim models, make sure you dont get that), can run both PS2 and PS1 games natively, loading games externally / backing up your games is really easy. Can emulate weaker consoles like SNES/NES/Genesis just fine with Retroarch. It also has a lot of banger games for its era, and works as a 1080p Blu-Ray player.

The SNES was my favourite console. Huge game library, still looks great on a oled or crt screen.

However, a modded handheld could play all those games and more such as a vita.

Could also put a pi in a portable case.

My friends and I still have a huge stack of original xboxes we fixed up and modded to sell back in the day in storage, since fixing RROD issues was pretty simple but people just threw them out making it an easy way to turn a quick buck.

Nintendo DS lite is cheap and good. You can get them from Japan off of eBay and get colors that are Japan exclusive. Sometimes you can buy them as 'not working' and it just needs a battery or just the buttons need to be cleaned. Just don't buy one that needs a new top screen as they're hard to replace and cost too much compared to just buying a different one. You can get flash carts for them for cheap and load every game onto an SD card.

I like the miyoo mini plus myself. But officially the 3ds is a fun console :)

I think we're entering/in the nostalgia wave for the 7th generation consoles (Xbox 360/PS3/Wii) so prices for those might rise while prices for 6th gen (OG Xbox/PS2/Gamecube) might fall.

8th gen (Xbox One/PS4/Switch) is probably more accessible/plentifull both used and new still.

If you want something modern then I would recommend an Xbox One S (or a One X if you can find it cheap enough) because of the backwards compatability with pevious consoles and a lot of games are dirt cheap nowadays. Also as a bluray player or streaming stuff if you want that too.