Video game compilation

A video game compilation is a type of product bundling in which different video games are available for purchase as a special collection.^[1] They are often stored on the same physical media or digital package, making use of menu interfaces that allow players to select the game they want to play.^[2] They are a form of video game preservation.

Don't Buy This is a compilation for the ZX Spectrum.

History

The concept of video game compilations dates back to the 1980s and early 1990s, when publishers began bundling multiple games onto single cartridges or discs. Early examples include:

• Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
• Codemasters' unlicensed Quattro series for NES and Sega systems
• Action 52 (1991), an infamous NES cartridge featuring 52 games, noted for its poor quality ^[3]

During the 1990s, compilations became increasingly popular on PCs and home consoles. Titles like Microsoft Arcade (1993), Atari 2600 Action Pack (1995), and Namco Museum for the PlayStation offered accessible ways to revisit retro classics. In arcades, Capcom’s Three Wonders (1991) bundled three games in one cabinet.

In the 2010s and 2020s, compilations experienced a resurgence due to the growing popularity of retro gaming. Newer examples include:

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection
• Irem Collection
• Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga

Types

Arcade and Retro Collections

These focus on emulated versions of arcade and console classics. Examples include:

• Namco Museum series
• Taito Legends
• Sega Smash Pack

Franchise Collections

These compile entries from a single series or publisher:

• Super Mario All-Stars (1993) for the SNES, featuring remakes of NES Mario titles with enhanced graphics and sound ^[4]
• Mega Man: The Wily Wars (1994) for the Sega Genesis, featuring remakes of the first three Mega Man games and a new bonus stage ^[5]

Minigame Compilations

These consist of smaller, themed games bundled together:

• Mario Party series
• Wii Sports
• Deca Sports

Enhanced Anthologies

Modern compilations often include historical content, interviews, rewind features, or concept art:

• Rare Replay (2015) for Xbox One, featuring 30 titles across multiple generations with extra content ^[6]
• Tetris Forever (2024) — collections that double as interactive documentaries ^[7]
• Atari Vault (2016), offering dozens of arcade titles with enhanced features and museum-like presentation ^[8]

Preservation

Game compilations play a vital role in video game preservation. They:

• Provide access to titles no longer available on modern systems
• Include archival material, developer interviews, and commentary (e.g., Rare Replay, Digital Eclipse anthologies)
• Support historical analysis by maintaining original versions alongside remastered ones

Organizations like the Video Game History Foundation and studios such as Digital Eclipse are key in developing compilations that act as playable museums.

Compilations by Publisher

Nintendo

• Super Mario All-Stars
• Game & Watch Gallery series
• NES Classic Series for Game Boy Advance

Sega

• Mega Man: The Wily Wars (licensed from Capcom)
• Sega Genesis Classics
• Sonic Mega Collection

Capcom

• Capcom Classics Collection
• Mega Man Legacy Collection series
• Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection

Atari

• Atari Vault
• Atari Flashback Classics

Bandai Namco

• Namco Museum series
• Pac-Man Museum

Reception

Reception to video game compilations has varied widely depending on the quality of emulation, content selection, and added features.

• Rare Replay was praised for its historical value and bonus content. It holds a score of 84/100 on Metacritic. ^[9]

• Atari Vault received generally favorable reviews for bringing back arcade classics with modern usability. ^[10]

• Action 52 is often cited as one of the worst compilations ever released, due to poor gameplay and bugs. ^[11]

Notable Examples

Title	Platforms	Year	Notable Features
Super Mario All-Stars	SNES, Wii	1993	Remakes of four NES Mario games; enhanced visuals; included The Lost Levels
Mega Man: The Wily Wars	Sega Genesis	1994	Remakes of MM1–3; bonus stage "Wily Tower"
Rare Replay	Xbox One	2015	30 games, emulated platforms, behind-the-scenes content
Atari Vault	PC	2016	Emulated arcade classics; save states; historical material
Tetris Forever	Multi-platform	2024	Interactive historical showcase of Tetris variants

See also

• Retro gaming
• Video game preservation
• Video game emulator
• History of video games

Further reading

• "The Best Retro Game Compilations" – IGN Features (2023)
• "Digital Eclipse and the Art of Game Preservation" – Gamasutra (2022)
• "The History of Mario All-Stars" – Nintendo Life
• Reddit threads: r/retrogaming, r/gamepreservation