Antstream, the ‘Netflix of retro-games’, has snared Space Invaders, Rastan, and Operation Wolf

Think gaming was better when it was all chunky pixels and exploding barrels? Then check out Antstream (£9.99 per month). Like a Netflix for retro-games, it’s packed full of classic titles – from SNK’s seminal Metal Slug to obscure but pixel-perfect 8-bit fare like Wizball. From this March, the service takes another step towards retro heaven through a deal with Taito that brings Space Invaders, Operation Wolf and more to the platform. If you’ve not tried Antstream yet, it eschews the fiddly nature of more traditional retro-gaming – emulators; micro-consoles; swearing at a C2N or dusty cart when an original fails to load – by streaming titles to a PC, Mac, Xbox One or Android device. Beyond playing old favourites and making new discoveries, you can take on challenges and leaderboards, and try multiple versions of many titles – handy if you used to breathe ZX Spectrum, but wouldn’t cross the street to chuck a bottle of water at a C64 if it happened to be on fire.

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.