From dusty game cartridges to Pokemon packs: Retro gaming makes a comeback

Saturday, 27 June 2026

Demand for retro video games, trading cards and collectables is booming in Christchurch, fuelling growth in the city’s gaming scene and drawing in both nostalgic adults and a new generation of collectors.

At the centre of the trend is retailer Appleby Games, which recently opened a store at Avonhead Mall. Owner Steve Ayers said demand had exceeded expectations.

“We knew it was going to be busy, but we just didn’t know it was going to be that busy,” Ayers said.

The shop now employs eight staff and has become one of the South Island’s largest specialist retro gaming stores. Ayers said there had been “barely a quiet moment” since opening earlier this month, with steady walk-in traffic alongside strong online sales.

Appleby Gamesopened a store at Avonhead Mall at the beginning of June. Owner Steve Ayers said demand had exceeded expectations.

He said the resurgence is being driven largely by nostalgia, as gamers return to the consoles, cartridges and titles they grew up with — from Pokemon-era handhelds to classic PlayStation favourites.

“Nostalgia is one of the most powerful human emotions. People reconnect with things from their childhood and all those memories come flooding back,” he said.

The appeal is not just limited to long-time collectors.

Steve Ayers, owner of Appleby Games, with Soundwave the Transformer, the 'gold nugget' of his personal collection.

Parents are increasingly introducing their children to the games they played growing up, while younger gamers are discovering older titles for the first time — often alongside physical game discs, cartridges and even boxed collections that can be displayed, traded or resold.

“If you buy the physical version, you can play it and then sell it again,” Ayers said.

Trading cards are also a major driver of growth, with interest in Pokemon and other trading card games surging. Collectors are chasing rare cards, sealed booster packs and complete sets, with the ritual of opening a pack still central to the appeal.

The resurgence is being driven largely by nostalgia, as gamers seek out the consoles, games and collectables they grew up with.

“It is that excitement of opening a pack and hoping to find something special,” he said.

Ayers said the closure of all of New Zealand’s 38 EB Games stores in January had reshaped the local market, leaving fewer dedicated physical gaming retailers in Christchurch and strengthening demand for specialist stores such as his.

The new ‘bar’ for communities

The broader boom is also being felt beyond traditional game retailers, with hobby stores increasingly becoming part of the same ecosystem.

Hobby Lords chief executive Liam O’Neill said trading card games had helped turn hobby stores into social spaces where customers gather to play, compete and connect through organised events and tournaments.

O’Neill said many customers were not just shopping, but spending hours in-store taking part in games.

A limited edition Pokemon Game Boy game.

“People can buy some cards, buy a deck, or sit down and play with people they have no idea [who they are] and make friends,” he said.

“It’s kind of like the new bar. People form communities and the communities talk to each other all the time. They make friends, they help each other out.”

Hobby Lords, which is headquartered in Dunedin, has expanded rapidly across New Zealand, with South Island outlets in Christchurch, Timaru, Invercargill and Wānaka, and has also opened a store in Malaysia as part of its overseas growth.

Liam O’Neill, boss of Hobby Lords, says families are increasingly interested in playing games, as they encourage reading, maths and social interaction.

O’Neill said demand had increased sharply in recent years, with trading card stores often busy most nights of the week as both casual and competitive players take part.

“It’s been getting exponentially bigger in the last couple of years. Demand is massively outstripping supply,” he said.

Hobby Lords stores regularly host events for popular titles including Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering and One Piece, attracting players ranging from families and students to professionals.

Families are also increasingly taking part, with parents using trading card games as a way to encourage reading, maths and social interaction.

“They come in and they get a game that they’re super interested in, and they’re not realising they’re doing secret homework. It’s reading, it’s maths … and it’s social ability with talking with others and playing games together.”

O’Neill said the boom was also encouraging new entrants into the market, with pop-up stores testing demand for trading cards and collectables before committing to permanent operations.

“There’s a few here and there … they have been testing the market to see if they want to open up a legitimate, proper operation.”