PlayThings

But videogames aren’t just data or code. They’re also things.

And we think that to really understand the past, present and future of videogames, we need to remember those things – all those consoles, computers, cartridges, cassettes, collectibles (and other things that don’t begin with ‘c’).

That’s why we have spent years carefully collecting and curating (and doing other things that don’t begin with ‘c’) a vast array of physical objects that help to tell the story of how videogames are made; how they’re bought, sold and marketed; and, perhaps most importantly, how they’re played and played with.

Come and explore some of our unique, one-of-a-kind objects like the wonderful Nintendo Entertainment System console signed by its creator Masayuki Uemura, or the legendary Glitch Pokémon ‘MissingNo.’ lovingly recreated by a fan in Hama Beads!

Marvel at some of our collection of development and test machines on which your favourite games were made. Gaze longingly at systems, controllers and software you never knew existed and bathe in the nostalgic glow of computers, consoles and handhelds you once played on every day.

There are almost 300 objects on display at the National Videogame Museum, here are just a few of them…