Miss your old Sega Genesis? This website hosts retro video games for free

As many around the world embrace a “new normal” where social distancing measures and other precautions are integrated into our daily life (for now), the popularity of video games has become readily apparent. For example, the Nintendo Switch has gone out of stock at several retailers in Kuala Lumpur due to the possible rise in MCO-related demand—manufacturing disruptions have also played a part.

Video games, it appears, could be one of the best ways to keep oneself entertained, as many #StayAtHome to help curb the spread of COVID-19. But what if you want to relive your childhood, or you simply don’t want to cough up a pretty sum of cash for a new video game console?

Ssega.com is a website that allows you to play 16-bit retro Sega Genesis (or Sega Mega Drive) games for free, with no installations required. The way it works, the emulator is built into a flash player on the site, and you can enjoy the games directly in your web browser.

The library of games is pretty extensive, too. In the site description listed on Google’s search results, Ssega claims to have “all” titles that is available on the Sega Genesis console. This includes classic games from the nineties, including Sonic 2, Street Fighter 2, Super Mario World, and other throwbacks to an iconic age in the gaming world.

It’s worth noting that “Ssega” doesn’t actually appear to be officially affiliated with Sega. While Ssega is home to Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games only, the site makes no reference to Sega in its Terms of Service. Something else to be aware of is the legal side of things. The legality of sharing emulator-ready ROMs (game files used on emulators) has been disputed, with Nintendo reportedly bringing action against such websites back in 2018.

In any case, if you’re keen to pass some time during stay-at-home measures, the website certainly makes gaming a lot more accessible to the public. The games’ 16-bit, retro graphics are certainly a major throwback to years gone by, with the Sega Genesis console originally launched in 1988. And the library of retro titles is sure to be familiar to many, with Sega Genesis being the best-selling Sega video game console of all time, according to Guinness World Records.

If you’re more interested in the idea of actually owning a physical Genesis console, the company earlier launched the Genesis Mini, which is meant to rival Sony’s PlayStation Classic and Nintendo’s SNES Classic. It isn’t officially available in Malaysia, however, and it retails for US$79.99 (~RM344), so perhaps the built-in nature of Ssega might be a more accessible option.