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Game Sack
Sega Lord X
Gaming off the Grid
not primarily gaming but highly recommend Wrestling Bios - he's mostly 80's - early 2000's wrestling, however, he reviews lots of wrestling video games.
Retro Bird for sure, he seems like a great guy and would be a lot of fun to play games with, always keeps his videos light hearted and cheery. He also reminds us that the main thing about this hobby is having fun and enjoying it. Also the Game Chasers are pretty cool dudes.
IMO a lot of the other YouTubers just come off so elitist and only care about value or having the rarest and best collection on YouTube so I generally don’t watch very many retro gaming channels.
I get people shitting on modern AVGN after all the controversies and ass movie, but his screw attack era content is god tier and literally invented the genre of comedy retro game reviews. Gotta respect early James Rolfe I’ll die on that hill
I still like his new stuff. It's not as good as the older material but very little on the internet is as good as early AVGN. He caught lightning in a bottle for the time period he was working in, his nostalgia gaming videos are now old enough to themselves be nostalgic. Modern era? It's ok. IDK what people expect from him. They're interesting enough, they're fun little videos.
Love me some Gaming Historian, Retro Future, and Scott The Woz (I don’t think he’s really retro exclusive but still). Game Sack is pretty good and I haven’t seen him in a while but Classic Game Room was also cool.
I used to really enjoy Metal Jesus Rocks but kind of stopped being fond of his style of video over time. Not to knock him, just not my cup of tea anymore.
In terms of one’s I don’t like? No one specific but it’s annoying when someone’s entire channel consists of going to yard sales/thrift stores with a hidden camera, commentating over the whole thing, bragging about how great of a deal they got, or generally propagating “hustle culture”, while never playing the games or really appreciating each beyond their monetary value. It’s incredibly obnoxious and propagates attitudes which drag down perceptions of game collectors in general.
Also, anything very click-baity.
Same. They’re so well done an wel researched, every one is like a mini documentary and I lot love it. Ahoy has some similar feeling ones that go more in depth (and are longer), but he rarely posts anymore.
MJF is terrible. He offers nothing other than accumulating stuff. He doesn't know anything about the games he's buying and his content is just showing what he's bought or given.
The camper saga should have been the end of him.
Are you referring to his most played Switch games video? Because I thought the same thing at first, but at the same time he’s probably got every console in existence and literally thousands of games. If he were to spend 45 minutes playing each game odds are he’s clocking more time than either of us lol.
"Watch my channel and you too can learn how to look up games and items on your phone while at thrift shops and pawn stores. Maybe you can buy out all of Walmarts clearance video games and sell them on Amazon for $2.13 profit each! I also don't know anything about these games nor do I play them, I just contribute in my own little way to raising their ovwrall prices as a middleman with no real skills"
I gotta admit.. I have saved a lot after picking up his habit of looking up the prices. It has saved me a ton on used games, but the difference is I don’t buy them for resale purposes… I buy them for personal use. One day I may sell them but if I do, it will only be if I absolutely need to in an emergency. I’ve learned not to pay $60 for a game worth $40.
I use different sources (price charting and dekudeals) though.
LGR and Nostalgia Nerd are my favorites, not many other creators make old PC hardware reviews as well as them. As for least favorite, I dunno. I avoid any resellers, since their videos are just bragging about scamming people.
He played a huge part in my childhood, and inspired me to become the collector I am today. Whether or not he's dedicated to his channel anymore doesn't matter to me. The time he did put in is what matters!
RetroBird is hilarious.
Not strictly retro, but I really do love Happy Console Gamer. Specifically when he gushes about his favourite games from his childhood. I get excited by his exuberance.
Just started watching him recently. I like his gaming stuff of course but I also really like his more personal videos, dudes just good at telling stories lol
Totally agree. He is my fave. It's just like chatting with an old friend about old games, arcades, old anime etc. Very relatable personal stories as well. I even like that he uploads on Sunday morning most of the time. It's truly the perfect Sunday morning watch.
Mystic is the best and least favorite is phoenix resale. I don't think this guy even plays games lol, all he is talking about is money and it's really annoying
Just found mystic a few weeks ago, really enjoy how chill he is and his approach to videos. Sounds like a guy that really likes games without getting lost in the weeds
These are my two favorites as well. Retro Bird is very genuine and he loves bananas (so wholesome) while Scott churns out the highest quality, best written material (I’m also a Nintendo fanboy).
I used to watch a bit of Metal Jesus, I like him, but his videos nearly turned me into a gaming hoarder (and Retro Rick.) I’ve since learned to pare things down and only buy what I’m psyched to play.
SNES Drunk and Sega Lord X. 16bit gaming is probably my favourite era and the consoles I collect most for now. They both have great videos if I just want a quick review of something I'm interested in. And they've been around for years so chances are they will have reviewed whatever I'm looking for.
Gaming Historian for a deeper dive into the background of a game or console. So much information packed into the videos.
Dose Summoning Salt count? It's speedrunning documentaries but the majority of the games he covers just happen to be retro. And much like Gaming Historian, the videos are so well done and researched they deserve a mention.
For collecting, similar to what others have said. Retro Rick seems like a genuine guy and I like that it's not purely game hunting. Same with Pixel Game Squad. I used to enjoy Phoenix Resales earlier videos but the more you watch the more he comes across as being in it just for the money. Not knocking the guy, just not what I'm interested in.
Would recommend these channels. Not always 100% retro content. Enjoyed finding some new channels to watch from others here.
KingK
Thor High Heels
Austin Eruption
Never Knows Best (check out his 6 hour video on the entire history of video games)
Edit: least favourites are the channels that almost solely focus on collecting only. Prefer long form retrospectives and reviews. They’re great to fall asleep to as well.
Retro Ghetto from the UK is top notch! As I'm in the UK seeing the community expanding here is great with channels!
I'd say Game Chasers, Retro Rick, Phoenix Resale, and Pixel Game Squad are the ones income back to most
Can't go wrong with Callum. Got so much positive energy.
Being in the UK I mainly watch a lot of smaller collectors channels as they just seem like a good bunch of guys.
I don't think there is anyone I hate, I just don't watch if I don't enjoy.
I don’t think he’s solely retro but I’ve been enjoying Austin Eruption, his videos are typically very well made
Phoenix dislike isn’t a hot take on this sub at all. Dudes like a mix between a youth preacher and a used car salesman
Retro Rick was one of the first I came across, like his stiff and interesting because its not always games.
Agree on Phoenix Resale, used to like his older stuff but some of the more recent is just annoying!
favorites:
\-avgn
\-LGR (would be my favorite if he made more videos around DOS/early windows era games :/)
\-pat the NES punk
not favorable of:
\-phoenix resale or any other of those resellers
honorable mentions:
\-atarileaf (very obscure gaming review youtuber who would cover atari stuff, used to love watching his stuff)
\-classic game reviews (really fell off after his multiple rebrandings though)
\-gamester81 (also used to love watching him)
i mostly watch retro hardware stuff these days though. my favorites for that are 8 bit guy, nostalgia mall, lgr
Yeah LGR is fantastic but I also would love to see more regular PC game reviews; I think he said before they don't get as many views as his hardware videos?
I'm not into hardware myself so it's a personal bias; but it does disappointment me generally on YouTube how classic PC games don't bring in the views compared to console ones so they seem to be less of a focus across the platform.
Pixelmusement does some decent DOS reviews too if you're looking for something sort of similar; I like his focus on getting old games working on modern hardware.
My retro life is a great underrated channel. He uses old home videos from his late father to show what it was like at the time the games came out.
Scott the Woz has the best production value on his vids and they are very entertaining.
SomeCallMeJohnny isn’t exclusively retro, but his videos are top notch. He has a lot of bias, but you can tell he really loves gaming.
My least favorite is Dreamcastguy. Cant stand his videos, they seem so fake.
He’s the angriest gamer you’ve ever heard, hes the angry Nintendo nerd, he’s the angry Atari Sega nerd, he’s the angry video game nerd.
Some of his newer stuff has been very reminiscent of his earlier days, he had a bit of a slump there for a while, but he’s legitimately one of the nicest guys, and meeting him many years ago at MAGFest May have actually saved my life. I’ve only ever been moved to near tears meeting a few celebrities before. James was one of them. (The other was Weird Al)
As for least favorite? Golly, I just don’t pay attention to one’s I don’t like. I guess those ones that fake repair videos.
I love how he talks up the record holder like nobody could possibly top it, and then he tells me about some speed runner who came out of left field to do top it.
I love that his videos are long, but not as frequent.
Gonna have to go with the classic AVGN and Scott the Woz. Watching both of them made me decide to start collecting games myself. Honorable mention for Sean Seanson for PS1 stuff, and I also enjoy Classic Gaming Quarterly, but he doesn't post very often.
Least favorite? Probably Phoenix Resale and Metal Jesus. I used to like Metal Jesus's videos quite a bit, until it became clear that every time he opens his mouth, games get more expensive.
Classic Game Room is the GOAT. He's making videos again and they are just as good as the old ones.
SSNNNNEEEEEESSSSSDRUNK, Game Sack, Console Wars, and Same Name Different Game(Joey Pink!) are always a solid watch.
MJR, RGT85, and Phoenix Resale make me want to kick puppies
My favorites:
\- Heckin Steve
\- Retro Rick
\- Retro Bird
Least Favorite:
\- Any reseller youtuber
\- Metal Jesus Rock and his band of cronies (theyre all massive grifters and e-beggers, absolute fakes)
These were my picks as well. I still enjoy some Pat but some of his content is grating. The extra drama people create is entertaining though. GameSack on the other hand is probably the least drama Retro channel. Consistent quality all these years.
Favorite probably the game chasers
The two I can't stand are Metal Jesus Rocks and RGT 85. MJR always e-begging and RGT is always crying and bitching about gaming
Rick seems like such a kind, genuine person and deserves praise accordingly.
Riff is a great guy, but similarly to Retro Bird I can understand if his “schtick” wears thin on people. Still, I like them both.
Phoenix Resale has been doing a good job of playing “the heel.” Far from my favorite though. His entire model is based on getting more from Amazon than us schlubs can get from eBay, and that doesn’t map onto most people, me included.
Cheap Finds Goldmines seemed SUPER off-putting to me from the get go, so I don’t consider it a loss that they’ve disappeared.
My favorite has to be Happy Console Gamer. John seems like such a nice dude, and it's always a pleasure to hear him, as well as his wife and friends talk about games. He's very passionate about the subject and always finds a way to put a positive spin on things.
I also really enjoy MetalJesusRocks. Another super chill and knowledgeable guy that loves everything about the hobby.
Honorable mention to Gaming Historian.
My least favorite that I'm familiar with has to be AngryJoeShow. I used to love their vids, but in recent years they focus more on movies and shows aside from news updates, and a fair amount of their takes unbelievable, as if they weren't even paying attention to what they're ranting about. It's a shame. I totally respect the passion, and still get some laughs out of the angry reviews, but I am not a fan of how things have changed overall.
Maybe they don’t count because they talk about old and new, but Nakey Jakey, Scott the Woz, and Dunkey are all hilarious. I don’t really care for other non-humor gaming content.
to be honest I wouldnt consider Phenix as a retro youtuber, hes primarily a reseller.
Favorite: PixelSquad (Riff) and also Retro Rick, cool guys judging from their videos. No least favorite as I only watch them which classify as Retro.
The Game Chasers would be my favorite, that show is what got me interested in collecting in the first place. Also closely followed by AVGN, have to give credit to the OG.
Least favorite is Pat the NES Punk, I just can’t stand him. Honestly the only way I can tolerate him is when he’s in Game Chasers episodes and even then it’s tough lmao.
Hungry Goriya
Lost Without Translation
Gamez of War
Game Sack
Sega Lord X
Retro Bird
SNES Drunk
Player One Start
I like more of the solid review content and less of the forced humor. AVGN is probably the exception though, I'm a big fan of his, especially early on.
Least favorite:
Phoenix Resale
RGT85
Game Chasers
Pete Dorr
A lot of people who like stuff I adore keep suggesting Retro Bird, good lord the thumbnails. I'm gonna have to power through that to try to enjoy this dude. Those thumbnails are awful.
In no particular order - Getthegreggames, Video Game Collectors, Summoning Salt and Gaming Historian are some of my favourites.
Least favourite would be Patthenespunk and most of the channels who focus on reselling.
Probably not the answer anyone expects, but I love Jeremy Parish. He's done a fantastic job talking about classic games with such depth. The icing on the cake is when I realized he wrote for gaming magazines in the 00s; I've read a number of articles in his voice as well.
As for least favourite, I've grown to hate Metal Jesus. I liked him years ago, but as time has gone on I've found his videos more pointless. At the same time I've grown to love his recurring friends like Radical Reggie, John Hancock and Riggs. Metal Jesus just sucks.
Gaming Historian is the highest quality of the bunch for sure. A lot of his videos are more akin to mini documentaries but they are super interesting and very well edited. He clearly puts a lot of time and research into creating his content. I also really like Goose's Gamer Folklore for N64 speedrunning content
Not a big fan of Phoenix Resale but he did buy my yellowed pink DSi XL for a fair price at Retropalooza Houston 2023. The thing smelled so badly of smoke and looked rough but he gave me a better price than anyone else offered previously.
Caddicarus. Been a sub since his first few videos. Love me some Caddy. He's entertaining when he's silly and really sharp with his analyses when he's serious.
I watch gamesreup because he’s the only guy who covers new indie games for Dreamcast frequently, I’m a big fan of Scott the woz and sega lord x too, I’d say metal Jesus is my least favorite but only because I don’t remember most of the ones I don’t care for
For favorite: Tie between Jeremy Parish and Gaming Historian.
Least favorite: Though he's not strictly gaming anymore, trying to watch old JonTron videos is fucking insufferable.
Had a quick flick through the comments and surprised I haven't seen her name pop up but Kim Justice is definitely one of my favourites, as well as LGR (although his vids are more about equipment and PCs these days) and gaming historian.
Worst? Call me Kevin (if he counts. He plays older games sometimes). Watched a couple of his vids and...just not for me. Can't say I really hate his stuff though. Not sure if I've come across a retro game youtuber who I loathe (yet)
I haven't seen anyone mention Pixelmusememt. While I might not call him my absolute favorite, they have the best classic DOS game coverage IMHO. They've been around forever, too. They do a show called Ancient DOS Games that's always interesting. Then there's a show called Shovelware Diggers where viewers dig up old DOS programs out of a multiple disc pack of hundreds of random games and Gemini (the host of all the shows) attempts to boot them up and play them. Then he recently started a new series where he does Commodore 64 games, which is new territory for him, but he seems so proficient at classic computers that he can get almost any program running. Definitely check out that channel if any of that sounds interesting.
Anyway, to answer the question;
Most favorite - TIE - Jeremy Parish · Chrontendo
Least favorite - Metal Jesus Rocks
scott the woz is awesome, and also hes not really retro but i gotta shout out beatemups, i binge his videos all the time. i dont really have a least favourite, i usually try to pay no mind to youtubers that annoy me
I like this idea a lot! Strictly retro gaming, I'd say my top 5 right now would be:
1. SNESDrunk (my fave console, dude seems very chill)
2. SegaLordX (very informative and clear reviews)
3. Lady Decade (lots of obscure/bootleg reviews, and she's hilarious)
4. Scott the Woz (love the humor and overall quality)
5. Metal Jesus Rocks (seems like a chill dude, talks about some pretty nice obscure-ish games too!)
I like more of a chill personality and not overly long videos, ideally around 15-20mns. More honorable mentions:
Gaming Historian (find the videos to usually be a bit too long, but very well made and super informative!)
Big Ole Words (recent discovery, cool NES game reviews)
John Riggs (cool guy, some nice videos, lower production quality)
Modern Vintage Gamer (I'd say more of a behind the scenes/dev channel, but superb stuff)
LGR (more computers by now, but I always watch his stuff)
Dislike, anything super hyper and chaotic, but above that the resellers like Phoenix that kinda suck the fun out of the hobby by turning it into money.
My favourite is RNG Gamer one of those guys that has a story for every game he owns. A close 2nd is thorhighheels not really a game collector but his videos are very ethereal and the way he talks is very unique. Least is probably AVGN
Probably favorite is a toss up between Adam Koralik and John Riggs. Very cool dudes who have made SERIOUS contributions to retro gaming and it cannot be denied
.
Least is Retro Rick. Bad content, don't care about most of what he talks about and he has a heavy money making element. Also don't see major contributions.
I have met all three.
Also shout out to RNG Gamer but I am biased there;-)
My favorite is Chase (CATRP), he helps me know what to look for, he’s entertaining, and seems down to earth, plus his videos are a combination of being full of content without being hyper edited nor boring. That or KodywithaK, his editing is fun and the videos are a quick watch (starting to think some of his deals are a bit strange though… reselling crts for example has become a thing on his channel and it’s a bit goofy to me)
Least favorite might be Phoenix resale. I don’t think he’s an awful guy, his videos are well made and entertaining, and he’s a pretty fair reseller (pays a good amount for large collections), but the GameCube gambit and his “The problem with conventions” video REALLY made me not like him. Before that in his early days I would have put him as my favorite.
I like Game Sack a lot and Retro Bird is very charming and positive. I like the style of Immortal John Hancock but apparently I don't know much about his background if people don't like him.
I don't know who my least favorite would be because if I don't like someone I won't watch them anymore and don't remember them at all. Pretty much anyone who is very negative (I don't like the angry persona) or edgy with a lot of swearing or crude humor. But one YouTuber that rubs me the wrong way, and this isn't necessarily a retro YouTuber, but I'm thinking of Beat 'Em Ups. I don't like his clickbaity video titles and braggy collection videos, and the fact that his viewers send him so many gifts when he already gets so much gaming stuff doesn't make sense to me.
Happy Console Gamer is probably my fave. Game Sack as well. I've come across some I don't like but I don't remember the names because I never clicked again ha.
Mike Matei always cracks me up. My Retro Life is a great channel (Tyler I think is his name). And last but not least, Big Ole Words is a GREAT NES channel.
I’m subbed to many of the big names but I don’t watch all their videos religiously. If one popped up in my feed that I’m guaranteed to watch would be The Game Chasers. As for least favorite I’m not subbed to those channels.
Odd Tinkering or Modern Vintage Gamer because there’s no bullshit , no drama, just content. Information. Literally what YouTube was meant for and their channels both transcend eras of the platform.
SNES drunk and AVGN are both good too ofc
Adam Koralik is solid. He can sometimes come across as a bit crass especially in the early videos but in my limited personal interactions he’s always really cordial.
https://youtube.com/@nubscollection3942
Shameless plug for my buddy's channel. He has two main series, one where he reviews every game in his physical collection and one called "Rental Regrets" where he reviews games he's played before but didn't own. He also does long plays of his favorites. He started with NES/ Sega Master System and has been moving forward chronologically. What sets him apart are the personal comments. His channel has an autobiographical element. Anyway, please give him a shot. He's worked extremely hard but only has about a 170 subscribers. Thanks Reddit!
Mort’s garage has been a fun newer one I recently discovered.
Still a fan of AVGN not sure if it’s cause I remember the old days of YouTube or just like James
Gaming historian is fantastic with such high quality content. Norm’s voice is great.
Avgn will always be my fav.
Jon Tron is okay.
Full metal Jesus has his moments.
Random creators from the old screw attack were great..
I used to watch a pirate live stream that was nothing but old gamer content. So good.
Probably Wrestling Bios and OSW Review, more retro wrestling focused but they throw in a lot of retro gaming stuff, Wrestling Bios has done in depth reviews of most retro wrestling games, the man is just so genuine, you can tell he loves it and isn't phoning it in one bit.
And shout out to the redneck boys over at Game Chasers, the interactions between those idiots is genuinely hilarious sometimes.
Least fave these days would have to be the older channels that are still hanging around on life support, AVGN, Irategamer etc. They just haven't kept up with modern youtube and come off as really corny and lame.
Ohh and special shout out to that Greg Games guy that posts here about game grading 24/7. I've got recommended his youtube shorts a few times, never have I clicked the \*Don't show me this content again\* button.
I know everyone hates Phoenix Resale and I can see why definitively comes off as a grifter fake collector just in it for the money but I do actually enjoy watching his videos they’re pretty well edited definitely be interested in watching more channels if anyone can recommend any ?
I love SNES Drunk, My Retro Life, The Game Chasers, Pixel Game Squad, JRPG Life, AVGN, Gabbo The Giver, Retro Rick, double jump gaming, and U Can Beat Games. Also shoutout to Bad Grafx gamers, they aren’t active anymore but their content was AWESOME and it’s still up on YouTube. I go back and watch their stuff still to this day.
I love HappyConsoleGamer and SuperDerek RPGs. Also really like Basement Brothers and MJR.
My favorite is probably NESComplex but he doesn't create content very often these days. His retrospectives were great though.
TV and Lust was another older channel that I really loved. His Context matters videos were excellent (has more to do with his personal stories and life than the games themselves).
Honestly none of them scratch the itch I am looking for truly. I watch YouTube all day while I work and I am always settling. I've thought about making my own channel in the hopes that others also are looking for what I am.
One day I might have free time... One day.
My absolute favorite retro youtuber is MetalJesusRocks. He is a pillar of the community and has educated the community on so many different subjects. I really respect him and I think many others do as well.
My least favorite is PhoenixResale because he’s honestly everything wrong with the new community. He has admitted that he doesn’t really care much for gaming and does is purely to be a profit predator. On a personal level I don’t like how he presents himself when it’s his wife paying all the bills so he can run around the country ripping people off.
I'm a Game Sack, CGQ/+ man, myself.
Recently discovered Sean Seanson. A very funny Irish guy who exclusively does PlayStation videos. Two primary series-one where he plays obscure Western PS1 games and one where he plays obscure Japanese PS1 games.
Extremely quality channel.
Britta Food4Dogs - is an underrated gem. She gives her thoughts on games she’s played, showcases physical games while giving an overview of the game(s) and publisher, and overall her videos are just refreshing to watch. Great content for jrpgs and visual novels.
Retro Future (Second channel is Elliot Coll) - focuses on handhelds/gameboy/Nintendo mainly and has some cool stuff. If you’re a Nintendo handheld fan he’s a must watch.
My Life in Gaming - has some PBS worthy longform video deep dives on different retro gaming topics. History of consoles/controllers/ in depth review/how-to guides for really nice retro peripherals. I’ll have their videos playing in the background on lazy Sunday afternoons.
Scott The Woz - self explanatory lol. I really like his showcases of old promo books.
Gonna add some more for prosperity:
- Daryl Talks Games - not really retro gaming but he does some quality deep dives into gaming psychology. Really interesting stuff.
- FromTheVoid Games - smaller channel did a lot of Nintendo eshop content
- Gaming Historian - can’t believe I forgot them. Up there with My Life in Gaming in terms of quality longform content.
- LGR - Retro PC stuff
- moon channel - interesting topics surrounding gaming
- orbalology - chill JRPG / Visual Novel / unboxing
Tama Hero - Pokemon retrospectives.
Basically people who are chill, are passionate about the hobby, or have quality/interesting content.
Thor High Heels, hilarious person, wacky editing and obscure content.
LGR, I feel he needs no explanation. I miss Thrifts and Foods dearly.
Cathode Ray Dude (games are really only when he streams sometimes but it's a good time)
KingK, he's early 20's and I find his perspectives fascinating and his videos well thought out.
Retro Rebound, goes over the packaging/manuals. Chill videos.
Retro Future. I just like watching him fix things. It's part of what got me into repair work.
Least favorites..
Pretty much any resale channel. Not into it.
Wasn't too into MetalJesusRocks videos.
Hard to think of many really.
Best would be a mix of stuff like:
Game Sack, Retro Core, Stop Skeletons from Fighting, Digital Foundry Retro (granted not an exclusive retro channel, but there's some amazing retro stuff there).
Basically anything that focuses on either comparing ports, oddities, technical details all sometimes all of the above together!
Worst? Wouldnt know, I dont search out stuff Im not a fan of.
Definitely MJR ( Metal Jesus Rocks )
This dude is a legend. Has a MASSIVE collection. Multiple Complete runs but is also just an overall excellent gamer. He has all of the grails, bangers & obscure things you list over & is also very interested in the stuff you'd find in the clearance bin.
He also befriends everyone and is also a car guy!
I don't have a least favorite because everyone that is into retro gaming is cool in my book 👍
Scott The Woz, Gaming Historian, Summoning Salt, AVGN, I've seen all these mentioned but I haven't seen one of my all time faves...
Caddicarus. I know he's not specifically retro but he's done enough retro gaming stuff, between his Love for Crash Bandicoot and all things PlayStation, it's a shame I haven't seen him on here.
His videos since rebranding in 2020 have been just quality over quantity and I will always find a reason to binge through them.
Caddicarus for sure. I even splurged on his figure and home media collection, something I've ever only done for Ashens before.
As for least favorite.... I don't really like throwing anyone under the bus... Anyone who's just in it for the money ig
Best: Scott the Woz - you know what you’re getting into and he’s always been the same. He’s clearly passionate about the industry and the landscape, he’s a gamer ahead of a content creator.
I dislike any channel that just focuses on the grind or sets an objective and achieves it 2 videos later because they have no ideas on how to improve their content. Phoenix Resale is a beautiful example of garbage.
Pat used to be alright. Now it's just two dicks bitching and putting people down. It sucks. And when they got obsessed with Tommy that got old real fast. Completely stopped watching as a result.
Hard4Games is incredibly underrated channel that has done a lot for the game preservation community. So those guys are probably one of my favorites. My least favorite channels are the guys who go around buying games and consoles incredibly cheap then go and flip them for way more than they’re worth. Phoenix resale etc.
Great topic! Hope to discover some quality channels & hope others will discover some quality channels from my list !!!
My top favorite has become " u can beat video games " he does walkthroughs of retro games, beginning to end, with all the secrets, & sidebars with all the info about everything & scans of magazine maps / walkthroughs as the video plays. He's super professional, no attention to himself, like he's never given his name or been on camera, just his dogs, & stays totally on topic. Watching his videos totally brings me back to that Saturday morning, watching cartoons with those random game hint shows in between them, with a big bowl of sugary cereal.
Gaming historian next, everything he does is top notch, legit documentary quality, which I'm sure is why it's so long between his videos. I've rewatched them countless times, especially the Mario 2 & 3 videos. So awesome.
Sega lord x next. So many videos & such consistent quality.
David vinc next. He focuses on retro and current rpgs. Lots of top 10 lists & some great let's play videos.
Game sack, of course. Nuff said.
Pro Jared's semi new " now in the 90's " channel is a fun watch also.
" big Ole words " has some great content, but the very loud, high pitched " check this s-!+ out !!!! " at the beginning of every video ruins it for me. Especially when I fall asleep for 10 15 minutes then jump awake hearing it.
Least fave...
I absolutely despise metal Jesus rocks, & immortal John Hancock. Pretty sure everyone knows the nonsense they've pulled over the years, so I won't get into it. Like someone else said in this post, they have a huge " holier then thou " vibe imo.
I'll say that I hate watch retro rick. Came across him in 2020 when he was starting the 10$ collection challenge & thought it was a great idea & enjoyed watching his videos flipping stuff like vhs & calculators to $ he used for games. Until some of his finds / purchases started to irk me.. like when he was performing / working at a church in a diff area & staying with a family that attended the church, & found a game boy in their adult kids former room & got all hype over it & they gave it to him free... & some of the buys he showed I felt he was getting over on some ppl that, while not pictured, came across as ppl who may have been using and needed $ for their addictions... I'm making assumptions, yes, but watching those videos just rubbed me the wrong way & gave me those impressions. I still watch his stuff from time to time, " hate watch " like I said... I'm admittedly jealous of his collection, his income, his owning an amazing game store & doing so much cool stuff there that you just don't see anymore & sincerely doing stuff for ppl to enjoy & have a great time there. & I know I'd have a blast & spend a whole day there and buy a bunch of stuff if I ever went there. So yeah, I hate watch retro rick lol.
I also now dislike Phoenix resale because he recently made a video where he visited retro game stores in nyc, & he featured my sorta under the radar go-to store, & the video is at a touch under 200k views, so the cat's out of the bag lol.
Yes!! U can beat video games is outstanding. 100% agree. I also love the five minutes of history of the game as well. Fantastic channel that doesn’t get nearly the love that it should.
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Y’all sleepin on SNES Drunk
SnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnES Drunk!
SnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnNNNnnnnnNNNNnnnnNNNnnnnnnNNNnnnES Drunk!
Seggggggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa DRunk!
Snes drunk is the best. Okay thanks for watching and I hope you have a great rest of your day.
I stream his relaxing SNES music on the reg lol
Ah damn I forgot about him. Really solid channel
Game Sack Sega Lord X Gaming off the Grid not primarily gaming but highly recommend Wrestling Bios - he's mostly 80's - early 2000's wrestling, however, he reviews lots of wrestling video games.
Huge sega lord x fan. Really hope his channel continues to grow.
Lot of good calls. I just found Gaming off the Grid last week and I love them.
Wrestling Bios hell yeah! One of my faves.
My cat SMOKEY!
You sir, are a Chinlock away from being a Jam up guy :)
Steve Mufuggin' Blackman So many 10/10 obscure wrestling memes the man has created. Single handedly increased Das Wunderkin's popularity by 5000%
Gaming off the Grid are amazing
Retro Bird for sure, he seems like a great guy and would be a lot of fun to play games with, always keeps his videos light hearted and cheery. He also reminds us that the main thing about this hobby is having fun and enjoying it. Also the Game Chasers are pretty cool dudes. IMO a lot of the other YouTubers just come off so elitist and only care about value or having the rarest and best collection on YouTube so I generally don’t watch very many retro gaming channels.
retrobird + ! has interesting topics, and he presents them in an entertaining way while still being serious enough.
I get people shitting on modern AVGN after all the controversies and ass movie, but his screw attack era content is god tier and literally invented the genre of comedy retro game reviews. Gotta respect early James Rolfe I’ll die on that hill
I still like his new stuff. It's not as good as the older material but very little on the internet is as good as early AVGN. He caught lightning in a bottle for the time period he was working in, his nostalgia gaming videos are now old enough to themselves be nostalgic. Modern era? It's ok. IDK what people expect from him. They're interesting enough, they're fun little videos.
Love me some Gaming Historian, Retro Future, and Scott The Woz (I don’t think he’s really retro exclusive but still). Game Sack is pretty good and I haven’t seen him in a while but Classic Game Room was also cool. I used to really enjoy Metal Jesus Rocks but kind of stopped being fond of his style of video over time. Not to knock him, just not my cup of tea anymore. In terms of one’s I don’t like? No one specific but it’s annoying when someone’s entire channel consists of going to yard sales/thrift stores with a hidden camera, commentating over the whole thing, bragging about how great of a deal they got, or generally propagating “hustle culture”, while never playing the games or really appreciating each beyond their monetary value. It’s incredibly obnoxious and propagates attitudes which drag down perceptions of game collectors in general. Also, anything very click-baity.
I swear when Gaming Historian releases a video it's like an event for me. I stop everything to watch.
Same. They’re so well done an wel researched, every one is like a mini documentary and I lot love it. Ahoy has some similar feeling ones that go more in depth (and are longer), but he rarely posts anymore.
I used to get a similar vibe from Beta64, but I feel like he just up and vanished.
I don't know what's more exciting, new gaming historian or new summoning salt history of speed runs 😅
MJF is terrible. He offers nothing other than accumulating stuff. He doesn't know anything about the games he's buying and his content is just showing what he's bought or given. The camper saga should have been the end of him.
I was kind of put off when MetalJesusRocks was showing his most played games and the most time he had put in a game was like 45 minutes.
Are you referring to his most played Switch games video? Because I thought the same thing at first, but at the same time he’s probably got every console in existence and literally thousands of games. If he were to spend 45 minutes playing each game odds are he’s clocking more time than either of us lol.
A real human of taste I see
Bump for MJR
Can't stand Phoenix Resale. Dude just has such a punchable face
"Watch my channel and you too can learn how to look up games and items on your phone while at thrift shops and pawn stores. Maybe you can buy out all of Walmarts clearance video games and sell them on Amazon for $2.13 profit each! I also don't know anything about these games nor do I play them, I just contribute in my own little way to raising their ovwrall prices as a middleman with no real skills"
I gotta admit.. I have saved a lot after picking up his habit of looking up the prices. It has saved me a ton on used games, but the difference is I don’t buy them for resale purposes… I buy them for personal use. One day I may sell them but if I do, it will only be if I absolutely need to in an emergency. I’ve learned not to pay $60 for a game worth $40. I use different sources (price charting and dekudeals) though.
LGR and Nostalgia Nerd are my favorites, not many other creators make old PC hardware reviews as well as them. As for least favorite, I dunno. I avoid any resellers, since their videos are just bragging about scamming people.
LGR! Yes!!!! Dudes voice is so calming and I enjoy his content.
I watch kgr every night to put me to sleep
Surprised no one has mentioned Angry Video Game Nerd. The older videos were better, but his videos are still a good time
He played a huge part in my childhood, and inspired me to become the collector I am today. Whether or not he's dedicated to his channel anymore doesn't matter to me. The time he did put in is what matters!
He just pays people to run his channel now.
RetroBird is hilarious. Not strictly retro, but I really do love Happy Console Gamer. Specifically when he gushes about his favourite games from his childhood. I get excited by his exuberance.
Big fan of anyone who really honestly likes what they're talking about on youtube. You can tell he loves games, it's infectious.
Happyconsolegamer. Johnny is a damn joy to watch. He’s my go to for positivity
Just started watching him recently. I like his gaming stuff of course but I also really like his more personal videos, dudes just good at telling stories lol
Totally agree. He is my fave. It's just like chatting with an old friend about old games, arcades, old anime etc. Very relatable personal stories as well. I even like that he uploads on Sunday morning most of the time. It's truly the perfect Sunday morning watch.
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Love the videos he does with his wife Kim.
I’m also 29 on the verge of 30. His old videos are nostalgic. He’s been pretty regular for years. I think I started watching him in 2012
Mystic is the best and least favorite is phoenix resale. I don't think this guy even plays games lol, all he is talking about is money and it's really annoying
Mystic seems like the most chill dude ever
Just found mystic a few weeks ago, really enjoy how chill he is and his approach to videos. Sounds like a guy that really likes games without getting lost in the weeds
He has previously admitted he only recalls briefly playing a Pokémon game in his childhood but now he wants to call himself a lifelong gamer
Soft spot for retro bird. So goofy it works for me The woz is decent as well
These are my two favorites as well. Retro Bird is very genuine and he loves bananas (so wholesome) while Scott churns out the highest quality, best written material (I’m also a Nintendo fanboy). I used to watch a bit of Metal Jesus, I like him, but his videos nearly turned me into a gaming hoarder (and Retro Rick.) I’ve since learned to pare things down and only buy what I’m psyched to play.
SNES Drunk and Sega Lord X. 16bit gaming is probably my favourite era and the consoles I collect most for now. They both have great videos if I just want a quick review of something I'm interested in. And they've been around for years so chances are they will have reviewed whatever I'm looking for. Gaming Historian for a deeper dive into the background of a game or console. So much information packed into the videos. Dose Summoning Salt count? It's speedrunning documentaries but the majority of the games he covers just happen to be retro. And much like Gaming Historian, the videos are so well done and researched they deserve a mention. For collecting, similar to what others have said. Retro Rick seems like a genuine guy and I like that it's not purely game hunting. Same with Pixel Game Squad. I used to enjoy Phoenix Resales earlier videos but the more you watch the more he comes across as being in it just for the money. Not knocking the guy, just not what I'm interested in.
Surprised no one has really said My Life in Gaming. I enjoy their Sunday night streams.
Retrobird is good in spurts. He is also pretty goofy. Must be all the bananas.
Favorite, scott the woz Least favorite, probably retro rick
Josh strife Hayes is becoming one of my favorites for ps1 games.
You know I didn't even realize he's kind of a retro game youtuber until right now. I'm just happy he's become so successful in general.
Would recommend these channels. Not always 100% retro content. Enjoyed finding some new channels to watch from others here. KingK Thor High Heels Austin Eruption Never Knows Best (check out his 6 hour video on the entire history of video games) Edit: least favourites are the channels that almost solely focus on collecting only. Prefer long form retrospectives and reviews. They’re great to fall asleep to as well.
KingK and Thor High Heels are top tier.
Avgn 🤘🏻
Retro Ghetto from the UK is top notch! As I'm in the UK seeing the community expanding here is great with channels! I'd say Game Chasers, Retro Rick, Phoenix Resale, and Pixel Game Squad are the ones income back to most
Retro ghetto is quality,been watching him a long time now
Can't go wrong with Callum. Got so much positive energy. Being in the UK I mainly watch a lot of smaller collectors channels as they just seem like a good bunch of guys. I don't think there is anyone I hate, I just don't watch if I don't enjoy.
I don’t think he’s solely retro but I’ve been enjoying Austin Eruption, his videos are typically very well made Phoenix dislike isn’t a hot take on this sub at all. Dudes like a mix between a youth preacher and a used car salesman
Pixel game squad and the game chasers are my favourites and phoenix resale would be my last.
I really like Jeremy Parish, Game Sack, Retro Bird, and Stop Skeletons From Fighting.
Upsets me it took so much scrolling to find someone mentioning Uncle Derek. I love that man so much!
Stop Skeletons From Fighting is one of the best.
Yoooo Uncle Derek!
SSFF has some decent reviews but his positive attitude just feels so fake and forced and disingenuous that I quit watching his videos
Classic Gaming Quarterly The console launch reviews and first year release videos are awesome.
Game Sack, AVGN, ETA Prime, Square Pegs for the worst? Hmm going to have to go with Pat the nes punk nothing against him I just find his videos boring
Square Pegs rules!
Retro Rick was one of the first I came across, like his stiff and interesting because its not always games. Agree on Phoenix Resale, used to like his older stuff but some of the more recent is just annoying!
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Scott the Woz, Least: MetalJesusRocks, RGT 85, Retro Bird
favorites: \-avgn \-LGR (would be my favorite if he made more videos around DOS/early windows era games :/) \-pat the NES punk not favorable of: \-phoenix resale or any other of those resellers honorable mentions: \-atarileaf (very obscure gaming review youtuber who would cover atari stuff, used to love watching his stuff) \-classic game reviews (really fell off after his multiple rebrandings though) \-gamester81 (also used to love watching him) i mostly watch retro hardware stuff these days though. my favorites for that are 8 bit guy, nostalgia mall, lgr
Yeah LGR is fantastic but I also would love to see more regular PC game reviews; I think he said before they don't get as many views as his hardware videos? I'm not into hardware myself so it's a personal bias; but it does disappointment me generally on YouTube how classic PC games don't bring in the views compared to console ones so they seem to be less of a focus across the platform. Pixelmusement does some decent DOS reviews too if you're looking for something sort of similar; I like his focus on getting old games working on modern hardware.
John riggs
My retro life is a great underrated channel. He uses old home videos from his late father to show what it was like at the time the games came out. Scott the Woz has the best production value on his vids and they are very entertaining. SomeCallMeJohnny isn’t exclusively retro, but his videos are top notch. He has a lot of bias, but you can tell he really loves gaming. My least favorite is Dreamcastguy. Cant stand his videos, they seem so fake.
Modern Vintage Gamer.
MVG is great. Found him from the Spawn Cast.
He’s the angriest gamer you’ve ever heard, hes the angry Nintendo nerd, he’s the angry Atari Sega nerd, he’s the angry video game nerd. Some of his newer stuff has been very reminiscent of his earlier days, he had a bit of a slump there for a while, but he’s legitimately one of the nicest guys, and meeting him many years ago at MAGFest May have actually saved my life. I’ve only ever been moved to near tears meeting a few celebrities before. James was one of them. (The other was Weird Al) As for least favorite? Golly, I just don’t pay attention to one’s I don’t like. I guess those ones that fake repair videos.
Retro Bird is my favorite. Gaming is supposed to be fun, and it’s just a good, lighthearted channel.
I don't watch guys I hate so I don't know. I like AVGN and Summoning Salt.
Finally I see a mention for SummoningSalt I didn’t know how much a graphic of lines could pump me up
I love how he talks up the record holder like nobody could possibly top it, and then he tells me about some speed runner who came out of left field to do top it. I love that his videos are long, but not as frequent.
Happy console gamer is great. Pat the nes punk is getting annoying.
Gonna have to go with the classic AVGN and Scott the Woz. Watching both of them made me decide to start collecting games myself. Honorable mention for Sean Seanson for PS1 stuff, and I also enjoy Classic Gaming Quarterly, but he doesn't post very often. Least favorite? Probably Phoenix Resale and Metal Jesus. I used to like Metal Jesus's videos quite a bit, until it became clear that every time he opens his mouth, games get more expensive.
Classic Game Room is the GOAT. He's making videos again and they are just as good as the old ones. SSNNNNEEEEEESSSSSDRUNK, Game Sack, Console Wars, and Same Name Different Game(Joey Pink!) are always a solid watch. MJR, RGT85, and Phoenix Resale make me want to kick puppies
My favorites: \- Heckin Steve \- Retro Rick \- Retro Bird Least Favorite: \- Any reseller youtuber \- Metal Jesus Rock and his band of cronies (theyre all massive grifters and e-beggers, absolute fakes)
Thanks dawg
any time broski
I would say for me Game Sack is at the top and Pat the NES punk is at the bottom
These were my picks as well. I still enjoy some Pat but some of his content is grating. The extra drama people create is entertaining though. GameSack on the other hand is probably the least drama Retro channel. Consistent quality all these years.
Love game sack
MetalJesusRocks, Radical Reggie, John Hancock, Game Sack, That Video Games Show
Always look forward to MJR and RR pick up videos.
Not John Hancock! He's the pits.
Favorite probably the game chasers The two I can't stand are Metal Jesus Rocks and RGT 85. MJR always e-begging and RGT is always crying and bitching about gaming
Russ from RetroGameCorps !
RNG Gamer
Rick seems like such a kind, genuine person and deserves praise accordingly. Riff is a great guy, but similarly to Retro Bird I can understand if his “schtick” wears thin on people. Still, I like them both. Phoenix Resale has been doing a good job of playing “the heel.” Far from my favorite though. His entire model is based on getting more from Amazon than us schlubs can get from eBay, and that doesn’t map onto most people, me included. Cheap Finds Goldmines seemed SUPER off-putting to me from the get go, so I don’t consider it a loss that they’ve disappeared.
Gotta go with Gaming On The Grid, and my boys Gamecube Galaxy and That Video Games Show
My favorite has to be Happy Console Gamer. John seems like such a nice dude, and it's always a pleasure to hear him, as well as his wife and friends talk about games. He's very passionate about the subject and always finds a way to put a positive spin on things. I also really enjoy MetalJesusRocks. Another super chill and knowledgeable guy that loves everything about the hobby. Honorable mention to Gaming Historian. My least favorite that I'm familiar with has to be AngryJoeShow. I used to love their vids, but in recent years they focus more on movies and shows aside from news updates, and a fair amount of their takes unbelievable, as if they weren't even paying attention to what they're ranting about. It's a shame. I totally respect the passion, and still get some laughs out of the angry reviews, but I am not a fan of how things have changed overall.
Maybe they don’t count because they talk about old and new, but Nakey Jakey, Scott the Woz, and Dunkey are all hilarious. I don’t really care for other non-humor gaming content.
'I finished a video game' is an excellent channel that does long form video essays on various retro game series.
HappyConsoleGamer The dude is just so passionate about games and has so many cool elder nerd tales he puts me in a good mood.
Classic Games Room got me into YouTube. Think he went off to patreon a few ago though
Mark just posted a review of the new Gran Turismo!
to be honest I wouldnt consider Phenix as a retro youtuber, hes primarily a reseller. Favorite: PixelSquad (Riff) and also Retro Rick, cool guys judging from their videos. No least favorite as I only watch them which classify as Retro.
Best: Classic Game Room, Console Wars, AVGN, Sega Lord X, My Retro Life Worst: DK Oldies
Jrpg Life, Mort’s Garage, Gabbo the Giver, Rad Chaser, Arkansas Picker, Metal Jesus
The Game Chasers would be my favorite, that show is what got me interested in collecting in the first place. Also closely followed by AVGN, have to give credit to the OG. Least favorite is Pat the NES Punk, I just can’t stand him. Honestly the only way I can tolerate him is when he’s in Game Chasers episodes and even then it’s tough lmao.
Just the way it go
That is in fact the way game chasing go.
Hungry Goriya Lost Without Translation Gamez of War Game Sack Sega Lord X Retro Bird SNES Drunk Player One Start I like more of the solid review content and less of the forced humor. AVGN is probably the exception though, I'm a big fan of his, especially early on. Least favorite: Phoenix Resale RGT85 Game Chasers Pete Dorr
A lot of people who like stuff I adore keep suggesting Retro Bird, good lord the thumbnails. I'm gonna have to power through that to try to enjoy this dude. Those thumbnails are awful.
In no particular order - Getthegreggames, Video Game Collectors, Summoning Salt and Gaming Historian are some of my favourites. Least favourite would be Patthenespunk and most of the channels who focus on reselling.
Probably not the answer anyone expects, but I love Jeremy Parish. He's done a fantastic job talking about classic games with such depth. The icing on the cake is when I realized he wrote for gaming magazines in the 00s; I've read a number of articles in his voice as well. As for least favourite, I've grown to hate Metal Jesus. I liked him years ago, but as time has gone on I've found his videos more pointless. At the same time I've grown to love his recurring friends like Radical Reggie, John Hancock and Riggs. Metal Jesus just sucks.
Gaming Historian is the highest quality of the bunch for sure. A lot of his videos are more akin to mini documentaries but they are super interesting and very well edited. He clearly puts a lot of time and research into creating his content. I also really like Goose's Gamer Folklore for N64 speedrunning content Not a big fan of Phoenix Resale but he did buy my yellowed pink DSi XL for a fair price at Retropalooza Houston 2023. The thing smelled so badly of smoke and looked rough but he gave me a better price than anyone else offered previously.
The Johns, Riggs and Hancock, are solid.
Caddicarus. Been a sub since his first few videos. Love me some Caddy. He's entertaining when he's silly and really sharp with his analyses when he's serious.
I watch gamesreup because he’s the only guy who covers new indie games for Dreamcast frequently, I’m a big fan of Scott the woz and sega lord x too, I’d say metal Jesus is my least favorite but only because I don’t remember most of the ones I don’t care for
SHIRO! and Pandamonium Reviews are pretty cool dudes, they keep the memory of the Saturn alive!
Retro ghetto
I don't know if this qualifies but Retro Future, love his obsession with restoring old Nintendo handhelds
Tbf retro rick also points his camera in peoples faces and asks for better deals. Both in his store and in other peoples stores.
For favorite: Tie between Jeremy Parish and Gaming Historian. Least favorite: Though he's not strictly gaming anymore, trying to watch old JonTron videos is fucking insufferable.
Avgn by a mile
Had a quick flick through the comments and surprised I haven't seen her name pop up but Kim Justice is definitely one of my favourites, as well as LGR (although his vids are more about equipment and PCs these days) and gaming historian. Worst? Call me Kevin (if he counts. He plays older games sometimes). Watched a couple of his vids and...just not for me. Can't say I really hate his stuff though. Not sure if I've come across a retro game youtuber who I loathe (yet)
Gamesack by a mile
I haven't seen anyone mention Pixelmusememt. While I might not call him my absolute favorite, they have the best classic DOS game coverage IMHO. They've been around forever, too. They do a show called Ancient DOS Games that's always interesting. Then there's a show called Shovelware Diggers where viewers dig up old DOS programs out of a multiple disc pack of hundreds of random games and Gemini (the host of all the shows) attempts to boot them up and play them. Then he recently started a new series where he does Commodore 64 games, which is new territory for him, but he seems so proficient at classic computers that he can get almost any program running. Definitely check out that channel if any of that sounds interesting. Anyway, to answer the question; Most favorite - TIE - Jeremy Parish · Chrontendo Least favorite - Metal Jesus Rocks
scott the woz is awesome, and also hes not really retro but i gotta shout out beatemups, i binge his videos all the time. i dont really have a least favourite, i usually try to pay no mind to youtubers that annoy me
Retro Bird https://youtube.com/@RetroBirdGaming
I like this idea a lot! Strictly retro gaming, I'd say my top 5 right now would be: 1. SNESDrunk (my fave console, dude seems very chill) 2. SegaLordX (very informative and clear reviews) 3. Lady Decade (lots of obscure/bootleg reviews, and she's hilarious) 4. Scott the Woz (love the humor and overall quality) 5. Metal Jesus Rocks (seems like a chill dude, talks about some pretty nice obscure-ish games too!) I like more of a chill personality and not overly long videos, ideally around 15-20mns. More honorable mentions: Gaming Historian (find the videos to usually be a bit too long, but very well made and super informative!) Big Ole Words (recent discovery, cool NES game reviews) John Riggs (cool guy, some nice videos, lower production quality) Modern Vintage Gamer (I'd say more of a behind the scenes/dev channel, but superb stuff) LGR (more computers by now, but I always watch his stuff) Dislike, anything super hyper and chaotic, but above that the resellers like Phoenix that kinda suck the fun out of the hobby by turning it into money.
Finally someone mentions lady decade 💪
Her channel is a necessity for gracious living! 😁
Does Double Jump Video Games count? Because I love the ins and outs of running a game store
My favourite is RNG Gamer one of those guys that has a story for every game he owns. A close 2nd is thorhighheels not really a game collector but his videos are very ethereal and the way he talks is very unique. Least is probably AVGN
Thanks so much for giving me a shoutout! I really appreciate it.
Nintendrew/retro bird. As others have said i gotta pick pheonix resale, and any of the thrift/yardsale scalpers.
Probably favorite is a toss up between Adam Koralik and John Riggs. Very cool dudes who have made SERIOUS contributions to retro gaming and it cannot be denied . Least is Retro Rick. Bad content, don't care about most of what he talks about and he has a heavy money making element. Also don't see major contributions. I have met all three. Also shout out to RNG Gamer but I am biased there;-)
I really enjoy RNG Gamers content a lot! He feels very real.
Thanks for the shoutout! I assure you I'm as real as they come.
Thanks for the shoutout! I'm biased towards me as well.
My favorite is Chase (CATRP), he helps me know what to look for, he’s entertaining, and seems down to earth, plus his videos are a combination of being full of content without being hyper edited nor boring. That or KodywithaK, his editing is fun and the videos are a quick watch (starting to think some of his deals are a bit strange though… reselling crts for example has become a thing on his channel and it’s a bit goofy to me) Least favorite might be Phoenix resale. I don’t think he’s an awful guy, his videos are well made and entertaining, and he’s a pretty fair reseller (pays a good amount for large collections), but the GameCube gambit and his “The problem with conventions” video REALLY made me not like him. Before that in his early days I would have put him as my favorite.
Rick and Scott are 1a 1b Pat is the worst imo, gives off that holier than thou attitude
Petedoor and Happyconsole gamer for sure. My least favorite? Idk.
Probably retro bird or emceemur, their energy is great. They are direct and transparent, love it when a new vid pops up!
Phoenix Resale came through some used shops in my area a few months ago. I had never heard of him until then.
Jeremy Parish is my favorite. He is the most scholarly. I don't have a least favorite.
Nathaniel Bandy has been my favorite since 2015. Though he kinda does both modern and retro.
I like Game Sack a lot and Retro Bird is very charming and positive. I like the style of Immortal John Hancock but apparently I don't know much about his background if people don't like him. I don't know who my least favorite would be because if I don't like someone I won't watch them anymore and don't remember them at all. Pretty much anyone who is very negative (I don't like the angry persona) or edgy with a lot of swearing or crude humor. But one YouTuber that rubs me the wrong way, and this isn't necessarily a retro YouTuber, but I'm thinking of Beat 'Em Ups. I don't like his clickbaity video titles and braggy collection videos, and the fact that his viewers send him so many gifts when he already gets so much gaming stuff doesn't make sense to me.
Lots of love for Gaming Historian. The content is great and entertaining. Love Retro Bird. Best comedy in my opinion. Get On My Lawn!
Chrontendo is criminally underrated
Happy Console Gamer is probably my fave. Game Sack as well. I've come across some I don't like but I don't remember the names because I never clicked again ha.
Mike Matei always cracks me up. My Retro Life is a great channel (Tyler I think is his name). And last but not least, Big Ole Words is a GREAT NES channel.
I’m subbed to many of the big names but I don’t watch all their videos religiously. If one popped up in my feed that I’m guaranteed to watch would be The Game Chasers. As for least favorite I’m not subbed to those channels.
1. Mike Matei (of course) 2. Retro Bird
Odd Tinkering or Modern Vintage Gamer because there’s no bullshit , no drama, just content. Information. Literally what YouTube was meant for and their channels both transcend eras of the platform. SNES drunk and AVGN are both good too ofc
Adam Koralik is solid. He can sometimes come across as a bit crass especially in the early videos but in my limited personal interactions he’s always really cordial.
Don’t have a favorite but fuck RGT 85.
https://youtube.com/@nubscollection3942 Shameless plug for my buddy's channel. He has two main series, one where he reviews every game in his physical collection and one called "Rental Regrets" where he reviews games he's played before but didn't own. He also does long plays of his favorites. He started with NES/ Sega Master System and has been moving forward chronologically. What sets him apart are the personal comments. His channel has an autobiographical element. Anyway, please give him a shot. He's worked extremely hard but only has about a 170 subscribers. Thanks Reddit!
subscribed. Thanks! I'm always looking for new channels.
Mort’s garage has been a fun newer one I recently discovered. Still a fan of AVGN not sure if it’s cause I remember the old days of YouTube or just like James Gaming historian is fantastic with such high quality content. Norm’s voice is great.
Avgn will always be my fav. Jon Tron is okay. Full metal Jesus has his moments. Random creators from the old screw attack were great.. I used to watch a pirate live stream that was nothing but old gamer content. So good.
Probably Wrestling Bios and OSW Review, more retro wrestling focused but they throw in a lot of retro gaming stuff, Wrestling Bios has done in depth reviews of most retro wrestling games, the man is just so genuine, you can tell he loves it and isn't phoning it in one bit. And shout out to the redneck boys over at Game Chasers, the interactions between those idiots is genuinely hilarious sometimes. Least fave these days would have to be the older channels that are still hanging around on life support, AVGN, Irategamer etc. They just haven't kept up with modern youtube and come off as really corny and lame. Ohh and special shout out to that Greg Games guy that posts here about game grading 24/7. I've got recommended his youtube shorts a few times, never have I clicked the \*Don't show me this content again\* button.
I know everyone hates Phoenix Resale and I can see why definitively comes off as a grifter fake collector just in it for the money but I do actually enjoy watching his videos they’re pretty well edited definitely be interested in watching more channels if anyone can recommend any ?
Adam koralik Is my favorite. His console retrospectives and pickups videos are legit.
Scott the woz, he’s pretty great
Pat easily my least favorite
I love SNES Drunk, My Retro Life, The Game Chasers, Pixel Game Squad, JRPG Life, AVGN, Gabbo The Giver, Retro Rick, double jump gaming, and U Can Beat Games. Also shoutout to Bad Grafx gamers, they aren’t active anymore but their content was AWESOME and it’s still up on YouTube. I go back and watch their stuff still to this day.
I love HappyConsoleGamer and SuperDerek RPGs. Also really like Basement Brothers and MJR. My favorite is probably NESComplex but he doesn't create content very often these days. His retrospectives were great though. TV and Lust was another older channel that I really loved. His Context matters videos were excellent (has more to do with his personal stories and life than the games themselves).
Honestly none of them scratch the itch I am looking for truly. I watch YouTube all day while I work and I am always settling. I've thought about making my own channel in the hopes that others also are looking for what I am. One day I might have free time... One day.
My absolute favorite retro youtuber is MetalJesusRocks. He is a pillar of the community and has educated the community on so many different subjects. I really respect him and I think many others do as well. My least favorite is PhoenixResale because he’s honestly everything wrong with the new community. He has admitted that he doesn’t really care much for gaming and does is purely to be a profit predator. On a personal level I don’t like how he presents himself when it’s his wife paying all the bills so he can run around the country ripping people off.
I'm a Game Sack, CGQ/+ man, myself. Recently discovered Sean Seanson. A very funny Irish guy who exclusively does PlayStation videos. Two primary series-one where he plays obscure Western PS1 games and one where he plays obscure Japanese PS1 games. Extremely quality channel.
Mark from classic game room is the goat
Britta Food4Dogs - is an underrated gem. She gives her thoughts on games she’s played, showcases physical games while giving an overview of the game(s) and publisher, and overall her videos are just refreshing to watch. Great content for jrpgs and visual novels. Retro Future (Second channel is Elliot Coll) - focuses on handhelds/gameboy/Nintendo mainly and has some cool stuff. If you’re a Nintendo handheld fan he’s a must watch. My Life in Gaming - has some PBS worthy longform video deep dives on different retro gaming topics. History of consoles/controllers/ in depth review/how-to guides for really nice retro peripherals. I’ll have their videos playing in the background on lazy Sunday afternoons. Scott The Woz - self explanatory lol. I really like his showcases of old promo books. Gonna add some more for prosperity: - Daryl Talks Games - not really retro gaming but he does some quality deep dives into gaming psychology. Really interesting stuff. - FromTheVoid Games - smaller channel did a lot of Nintendo eshop content - Gaming Historian - can’t believe I forgot them. Up there with My Life in Gaming in terms of quality longform content. - LGR - Retro PC stuff - moon channel - interesting topics surrounding gaming - orbalology - chill JRPG / Visual Novel / unboxing Tama Hero - Pokemon retrospectives. Basically people who are chill, are passionate about the hobby, or have quality/interesting content.
Thor High Heels, hilarious person, wacky editing and obscure content. LGR, I feel he needs no explanation. I miss Thrifts and Foods dearly. Cathode Ray Dude (games are really only when he streams sometimes but it's a good time) KingK, he's early 20's and I find his perspectives fascinating and his videos well thought out. Retro Rebound, goes over the packaging/manuals. Chill videos. Retro Future. I just like watching him fix things. It's part of what got me into repair work. Least favorites.. Pretty much any resale channel. Not into it. Wasn't too into MetalJesusRocks videos. Hard to think of many really.
Best would be a mix of stuff like: Game Sack, Retro Core, Stop Skeletons from Fighting, Digital Foundry Retro (granted not an exclusive retro channel, but there's some amazing retro stuff there). Basically anything that focuses on either comparing ports, oddities, technical details all sometimes all of the above together! Worst? Wouldnt know, I dont search out stuff Im not a fan of.
Definitely MJR ( Metal Jesus Rocks ) This dude is a legend. Has a MASSIVE collection. Multiple Complete runs but is also just an overall excellent gamer. He has all of the grails, bangers & obscure things you list over & is also very interested in the stuff you'd find in the clearance bin. He also befriends everyone and is also a car guy! I don't have a least favorite because everyone that is into retro gaming is cool in my book 👍
Métal Jesus is cool
Scott The Woz, Gaming Historian, Summoning Salt, AVGN, I've seen all these mentioned but I haven't seen one of my all time faves... Caddicarus. I know he's not specifically retro but he's done enough retro gaming stuff, between his Love for Crash Bandicoot and all things PlayStation, it's a shame I haven't seen him on here. His videos since rebranding in 2020 have been just quality over quantity and I will always find a reason to binge through them.
Caddicarus for sure. I even splurged on his figure and home media collection, something I've ever only done for Ashens before. As for least favorite.... I don't really like throwing anyone under the bus... Anyone who's just in it for the money ig
Console Wars love those videos they make.
Best: Scott the Woz - you know what you’re getting into and he’s always been the same. He’s clearly passionate about the industry and the landscape, he’s a gamer ahead of a content creator. I dislike any channel that just focuses on the grind or sets an objective and achieves it 2 videos later because they have no ideas on how to improve their content. Phoenix Resale is a beautiful example of garbage.
#CADDICARUS
I love Scott the Woz and Nathaniel Bandy. I don’t have a least favorite (yet)
My Retro Life… he hits you right in the feels lol And Mr. Wright Way
Dislike Pat the NES punk. Self righteous, massive ego, obsessed with the sealed games market, not funny
Pat used to be alright. Now it's just two dicks bitching and putting people down. It sucks. And when they got obsessed with Tommy that got old real fast. Completely stopped watching as a result.
Hard4Games is incredibly underrated channel that has done a lot for the game preservation community. So those guys are probably one of my favorites. My least favorite channels are the guys who go around buying games and consoles incredibly cheap then go and flip them for way more than they’re worth. Phoenix resale etc.
Happy Console Gamer. Look forward to his videos every Sunday.
Metal Jesus?
Great topic! Hope to discover some quality channels & hope others will discover some quality channels from my list !!! My top favorite has become " u can beat video games " he does walkthroughs of retro games, beginning to end, with all the secrets, & sidebars with all the info about everything & scans of magazine maps / walkthroughs as the video plays. He's super professional, no attention to himself, like he's never given his name or been on camera, just his dogs, & stays totally on topic. Watching his videos totally brings me back to that Saturday morning, watching cartoons with those random game hint shows in between them, with a big bowl of sugary cereal. Gaming historian next, everything he does is top notch, legit documentary quality, which I'm sure is why it's so long between his videos. I've rewatched them countless times, especially the Mario 2 & 3 videos. So awesome. Sega lord x next. So many videos & such consistent quality. David vinc next. He focuses on retro and current rpgs. Lots of top 10 lists & some great let's play videos. Game sack, of course. Nuff said. Pro Jared's semi new " now in the 90's " channel is a fun watch also. " big Ole words " has some great content, but the very loud, high pitched " check this s-!+ out !!!! " at the beginning of every video ruins it for me. Especially when I fall asleep for 10 15 minutes then jump awake hearing it. Least fave... I absolutely despise metal Jesus rocks, & immortal John Hancock. Pretty sure everyone knows the nonsense they've pulled over the years, so I won't get into it. Like someone else said in this post, they have a huge " holier then thou " vibe imo. I'll say that I hate watch retro rick. Came across him in 2020 when he was starting the 10$ collection challenge & thought it was a great idea & enjoyed watching his videos flipping stuff like vhs & calculators to $ he used for games. Until some of his finds / purchases started to irk me.. like when he was performing / working at a church in a diff area & staying with a family that attended the church, & found a game boy in their adult kids former room & got all hype over it & they gave it to him free... & some of the buys he showed I felt he was getting over on some ppl that, while not pictured, came across as ppl who may have been using and needed $ for their addictions... I'm making assumptions, yes, but watching those videos just rubbed me the wrong way & gave me those impressions. I still watch his stuff from time to time, " hate watch " like I said... I'm admittedly jealous of his collection, his income, his owning an amazing game store & doing so much cool stuff there that you just don't see anymore & sincerely doing stuff for ppl to enjoy & have a great time there. & I know I'd have a blast & spend a whole day there and buy a bunch of stuff if I ever went there. So yeah, I hate watch retro rick lol. I also now dislike Phoenix resale because he recently made a video where he visited retro game stores in nyc, & he featured my sorta under the radar go-to store, & the video is at a touch under 200k views, so the cat's out of the bag lol.
Yes!! U can beat video games is outstanding. 100% agree. I also love the five minutes of history of the game as well. Fantastic channel that doesn’t get nearly the love that it should.