* easy to play to put all in.
* hard to master to take a lot of quarter to completed
For that the arcades are so fun and challenging
jdspinkpanther
Lol cause theyre complete games with great stories that most incomplete games borrow from.
Stewman_Magoo
Because modern gaming has turned into a fucking nightmare?
BrendanIrish
Article summary:
* Retro video games and aesthetics are becoming popular among younger generations, not just gen X and older millennials.
* Pop culture is embracing retro gaming sounds, visuals, and experiences both online and in real life.
* On platforms like TikTok and YouTube, retro gaming content has seen a significant increase in views and uploads.
* The allure of retro gaming for millennials like Kingsley Ellis is primarily nostalgia-driven, particularly regarding old gaming hardware and peripherals.
* Gen Z and gen Alpha are also fascinated by retro tech, evident in various cultural trends and consumer behaviors.
* The charm of retro devices fosters a “hack and discover” mentality, offering longer-term satisfaction compared to modern tech.
* Video game soundtracks and graphics are finding new life in artistic contexts, contributing to a positive recontextualization of gaming.
* Actors and dancers are mimicking NPCs from retro games, adding a contemporary twist to nostalgic elements.
* For some, the appeal of older games lies in their comfort and simplicity, providing stress relief and mental escape.
* Retro gaming may offer a sense of stability and comfort amidst technological advances and AI anxiety.
* Retro games hold cultural significance and are viewed as a piece of history by enthusiasts like Gabi.
Notafuzzycat
Modern gaming is ass. So they turn to finished games.
Someguyu4get
Some of us are trying to get back to a time better than today…..
Short_poster
Two words. Micro transactions.
The420Turtle
no way, are you saying people enjoy complete games that aren’t trying to syphon their wallets through manipulation and addiction?
immigrantsmurfo
As others have said, a lot of this comes from the fact that the modern gaming industry is worse than it’s ever been and is in a state of greed that I haven’t really seen in any other industry.
You pay £60 for a brand new game from a AAA developer and publisher. It’s filled with bugs, the content isn’t all that was promised, it’s full of greedy microtransactions, it’s a live service so it’s 8 hours long so they can drag content out over the next 2 years.
There are so few appealing prospects in AAA gaming anymore. The developers and publishers traded every single ounce of goodwill they had built up for years just to make shareholders happy and sure, the line will go up for a while but eventually people are going to get fed up and the line will go down and down and they won’t know how to pivot because all the talented creatives will have left to start indie studios and all that will be left is a bunch of cretins in expensive suits throwing any old shit at the door in the hopes that something sticks and it won’t.
nessfalco
This is a non-story. It’s the same as every other generation that likes retro (nostalgic in this case) stuff. It isn’t like Gen Z is buying Ataris. They are getting Gameboy Advances and Wiis, which are what they had when they were kids. This is just regular old nostalgia for their younger years, AKA the early 2000s.
farbekrieg
in an attempt to make games a 2nd reverse job that demands constant hrs and money for minimal hits of dopamine have really turned a lot of AAA gaming into a not fun experience
in addition older games are
cheap, 5-30$ for a game that might not require bleeding edge tech makes the game and hardware to run it easily accessible
you can skip all the crap games and just get the good ones, even if there are only a handful of good games per with over 50 years to pull from you should have a lot of options
complete, you own them and dont need to be online constantly and bombarded with upsales
genres that have fallen out of favor with big publishers are fun and worth experiencing.
DongKonga
Because while good games still exist they are among a sea of unfinished AAA garbage full of microtransactions and predatory game models
SufficientBloop
I’m happy to hear the younger generation is getting more into retro gaming. There are a lot of great retro games they may be missing out on.
ExcitingInstance7874
Because it’s better than live service trash
shrlytmpl
Probably cause they’re the only games that aren’t metroidvania rogue-likes with souls-like mechanics, battle royales, or cluttered with battle passes.
bah_nan_kah
Because years later the consoles are still working unlike modern current and last gen consoles that die a few months in.
RosieQParker
Because Final Fantasy VI didn’t charge you a buck for a friggin Phoenix Down.
ZBoss65
Because I can actually afford the hardware to run them…
Jigsaw-Complex
It’s the same reason that streaming numbers show people tend to watch older/complete shows more than anything else: it’s a finished and polished product that is a known good.
In the specific sense for games: older games tend to not have micro transactions, FOMO, battle basses, etc.
Talanock
Several AAA games fall on their face and everyone in this thread is acting like games are done and over with, while ignoring the thousands of indie and AA games that are still amazing.
SpaceWindrunner
Older games are still fun, and gaming has become a very expensive hobby if you want to keep upgrading often.
But I’ve seen younger people calling games like Mass Effect retro…
blasterbrewmaster
I like to think it’s three factors:
1. Their parents raised them into it. I plan on doing this with my daughter once she’s old enough to pick up a controller and play.
2. AAA games have, for more than a decade, been way too focused on either the cinematic or the online multiplayer and forget to focus on the pure fun. Retro games were literally designed around being fun and enticing, especially quarter munchers which were meant to get you tied into the machine and pump more quarters in to keep playing
3. games have become so overly burdened with extra costs just to get the complete package. Why not spend $5-20 of money for a complete experience vs. being forced to spend $100-$300 for a single game’s “complete experience”
#3 in particular is a part of this whole “you will own nothing and be happy” mantra that WEF businesses have been pushing. Set aside the conspiracy theory crap for this, it’s a business model all these companies are trying to force on us that no one wants, because it gives them “endless growth” is what they believe. I think people are getting more back into retro BECAUSE of this, going back to stuff that just worked and doesn’t require them to fork out money monthly just to enjoy. Why wouldn’t customers want an experience that works for them rather than some CEO?
DeafGuy
There’s a huge library of games at this point in history. It’s easy to emulate old stuff and social media can really pull in a lot of newcomers to the older stuff.
It’s awesome and sad at the same. Modern stuff is hit or miss, miss mostly IMO.
Pearson94
Same reason why in high school I watched a bunch of older movies from before I was born. This doesn’t seem like a complicated question.
Cyanoblamin
Old games were designed to be fun enough to sell. New games are designed to get the player to buy micro transactions.
IronbloodPrime
No microtransactions, no need for a constant online connection, no online service to pay for, generally don’t need to worry about hackers/griefers, and no FOMO.
zgillet
Because they have parents.
the_ssotf
Because most of them are finished
RandomBadPerson
Because the games are completed and they work. Pretty simple criteria but AAA can’t do it with 9 figure budgets.
Darkhallows27
Because Arcades are fucking awesome and I want them back
Geologist-Living
Because we do not want erase history and make a false history and want to see where games came from
dachshundfanboy8000
because modern gaming is an unenjoyable mess
stevenbrotzel91
Because they didn’t grow up with it
amyaltare
i dont see why anyone would care about how old a game is when playing it, in full honesty. i’m only 20, but if it runs on my computer i’ll give it a shot. most of my favorite games are older than me.
shinoff2183
I like it. It’s nice to not see some more that don’t cry about graphics all the time. There’s great games from every Gen going back to nes.
ChungusCoffee
Because it is clear games used to be made for the sake of it being a game rather than a store front
EvilBridgeTroll
The gap is wide of enough where they’ve legit never touched any of this shit.
Piemaster113
Cuz more modern games like modern games journalism is more about pushing an agenda than actually gaming.
Obility
“Younger gamers are discovering **retro accessories such as the Wii Fit Balance Board** through TikTok. Photograph: Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press”
I almost turned to dust on the spot.
splash_43
modern games suck. that’s why. older games were released in a finished, WORKING state. they weren’t these broken hunks of crap that they MIGHT patch later, but first they gotta focus on the most important part, monetization! can’t have cool content, gotta focus on them cosmetics, can’t have anything good since they need to milk it for all it’s damned worth
Hank_lliH
(Clears throat) we hate micro transactions
Also I’m 31 lol but I know many younger people hate how the game industry is now and hear us older folks talk about “back in my day games came out fully finished”
Senzafane
Because they’re fun and don’t try to squeeze every single cent out of you at every possible opportunity.
KittiesOnAcid
Got into Shmups last year and it has been an absolute blast. CAVE is now one of my favorite developers all time. Anyone reading this should check out Mushihimesama and Dodonpachi Resurrection if you don’t know what I’m talking about!
jfoss1
They’re different, they’re fun, they’re (sometimes) cheap. There are lots of reasons. I’ve been gaming for 30 years and while I love modern games (or some of them). Recent years have become stale as many studios are chasing trends rather than taking risks to find a new fun idea. Sometimes you just have to go back to old classics for a breath of fresh air. For multiple reasons, I’ve been going back and finishing games that I already have and some of these are a breath of fresh air. Admittedly I never finished Final Fantasy 7 and am working on it now. I have a new found appreciation for it.
SirKenneth17
I’m replaying banjo kazooie and if I’m being honest it really needs a battle pass. /s
foh242
Because modern games suck.
Modern games are made to move a stock ticker,
Retro games were made to be the best game they could be.
47 Comments
Cause they are fun?
All arcade are made around two ideas:
* easy to play to put all in.
* hard to master to take a lot of quarter to completed
For that the arcades are so fun and challenging
Lol cause theyre complete games with great stories that most incomplete games borrow from.
Because modern gaming has turned into a fucking nightmare?
Article summary:
* Retro video games and aesthetics are becoming popular among younger generations, not just gen X and older millennials.
* Pop culture is embracing retro gaming sounds, visuals, and experiences both online and in real life.
* On platforms like TikTok and YouTube, retro gaming content has seen a significant increase in views and uploads.
* The allure of retro gaming for millennials like Kingsley Ellis is primarily nostalgia-driven, particularly regarding old gaming hardware and peripherals.
* Gen Z and gen Alpha are also fascinated by retro tech, evident in various cultural trends and consumer behaviors.
* The charm of retro devices fosters a “hack and discover” mentality, offering longer-term satisfaction compared to modern tech.
* Video game soundtracks and graphics are finding new life in artistic contexts, contributing to a positive recontextualization of gaming.
* Actors and dancers are mimicking NPCs from retro games, adding a contemporary twist to nostalgic elements.
* For some, the appeal of older games lies in their comfort and simplicity, providing stress relief and mental escape.
* Retro gaming may offer a sense of stability and comfort amidst technological advances and AI anxiety.
* Retro games hold cultural significance and are viewed as a piece of history by enthusiasts like Gabi.
Modern gaming is ass. So they turn to finished games.
Some of us are trying to get back to a time better than today…..
Two words. Micro transactions.
no way, are you saying people enjoy complete games that aren’t trying to syphon their wallets through manipulation and addiction?
As others have said, a lot of this comes from the fact that the modern gaming industry is worse than it’s ever been and is in a state of greed that I haven’t really seen in any other industry.
You pay £60 for a brand new game from a AAA developer and publisher. It’s filled with bugs, the content isn’t all that was promised, it’s full of greedy microtransactions, it’s a live service so it’s 8 hours long so they can drag content out over the next 2 years.
There are so few appealing prospects in AAA gaming anymore. The developers and publishers traded every single ounce of goodwill they had built up for years just to make shareholders happy and sure, the line will go up for a while but eventually people are going to get fed up and the line will go down and down and they won’t know how to pivot because all the talented creatives will have left to start indie studios and all that will be left is a bunch of cretins in expensive suits throwing any old shit at the door in the hopes that something sticks and it won’t.
This is a non-story. It’s the same as every other generation that likes retro (nostalgic in this case) stuff. It isn’t like Gen Z is buying Ataris. They are getting Gameboy Advances and Wiis, which are what they had when they were kids. This is just regular old nostalgia for their younger years, AKA the early 2000s.
in an attempt to make games a 2nd reverse job that demands constant hrs and money for minimal hits of dopamine have really turned a lot of AAA gaming into a not fun experience
in addition older games are
cheap, 5-30$ for a game that might not require bleeding edge tech makes the game and hardware to run it easily accessible
you can skip all the crap games and just get the good ones, even if there are only a handful of good games per with over 50 years to pull from you should have a lot of options
complete, you own them and dont need to be online constantly and bombarded with upsales
genres that have fallen out of favor with big publishers are fun and worth experiencing.
Because while good games still exist they are among a sea of unfinished AAA garbage full of microtransactions and predatory game models
I’m happy to hear the younger generation is getting more into retro gaming. There are a lot of great retro games they may be missing out on.
Because it’s better than live service trash
Probably cause they’re the only games that aren’t metroidvania rogue-likes with souls-like mechanics, battle royales, or cluttered with battle passes.
Because years later the consoles are still working unlike modern current and last gen consoles that die a few months in.
Because Final Fantasy VI didn’t charge you a buck for a friggin Phoenix Down.
Because I can actually afford the hardware to run them…
It’s the same reason that streaming numbers show people tend to watch older/complete shows more than anything else: it’s a finished and polished product that is a known good.
In the specific sense for games: older games tend to not have micro transactions, FOMO, battle basses, etc.
Several AAA games fall on their face and everyone in this thread is acting like games are done and over with, while ignoring the thousands of indie and AA games that are still amazing.
Older games are still fun, and gaming has become a very expensive hobby if you want to keep upgrading often.
But I’ve seen younger people calling games like Mass Effect retro…
I like to think it’s three factors:
1. Their parents raised them into it. I plan on doing this with my daughter once she’s old enough to pick up a controller and play.
2. AAA games have, for more than a decade, been way too focused on either the cinematic or the online multiplayer and forget to focus on the pure fun. Retro games were literally designed around being fun and enticing, especially quarter munchers which were meant to get you tied into the machine and pump more quarters in to keep playing
3. games have become so overly burdened with extra costs just to get the complete package. Why not spend $5-20 of money for a complete experience vs. being forced to spend $100-$300 for a single game’s “complete experience”
#3 in particular is a part of this whole “you will own nothing and be happy” mantra that WEF businesses have been pushing. Set aside the conspiracy theory crap for this, it’s a business model all these companies are trying to force on us that no one wants, because it gives them “endless growth” is what they believe. I think people are getting more back into retro BECAUSE of this, going back to stuff that just worked and doesn’t require them to fork out money monthly just to enjoy. Why wouldn’t customers want an experience that works for them rather than some CEO?
There’s a huge library of games at this point in history. It’s easy to emulate old stuff and social media can really pull in a lot of newcomers to the older stuff.
It’s awesome and sad at the same. Modern stuff is hit or miss, miss mostly IMO.
Same reason why in high school I watched a bunch of older movies from before I was born. This doesn’t seem like a complicated question.
Old games were designed to be fun enough to sell. New games are designed to get the player to buy micro transactions.
No microtransactions, no need for a constant online connection, no online service to pay for, generally don’t need to worry about hackers/griefers, and no FOMO.
Because they have parents.
Because most of them are finished
Because the games are completed and they work. Pretty simple criteria but AAA can’t do it with 9 figure budgets.
Because Arcades are fucking awesome and I want them back
Because we do not want erase history and make a false history and want to see where games came from
because modern gaming is an unenjoyable mess
Because they didn’t grow up with it
i dont see why anyone would care about how old a game is when playing it, in full honesty. i’m only 20, but if it runs on my computer i’ll give it a shot. most of my favorite games are older than me.
I like it. It’s nice to not see some more that don’t cry about graphics all the time. There’s great games from every Gen going back to nes.
Because it is clear games used to be made for the sake of it being a game rather than a store front
The gap is wide of enough where they’ve legit never touched any of this shit.
Cuz more modern games like modern games journalism is more about pushing an agenda than actually gaming.
“Younger gamers are discovering **retro accessories such as the Wii Fit Balance Board** through TikTok. Photograph: Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press”
I almost turned to dust on the spot.
modern games suck. that’s why. older games were released in a finished, WORKING state. they weren’t these broken hunks of crap that they MIGHT patch later, but first they gotta focus on the most important part, monetization! can’t have cool content, gotta focus on them cosmetics, can’t have anything good since they need to milk it for all it’s damned worth
(Clears throat) we hate micro transactions
Also I’m 31 lol but I know many younger people hate how the game industry is now and hear us older folks talk about “back in my day games came out fully finished”
Because they’re fun and don’t try to squeeze every single cent out of you at every possible opportunity.
Got into Shmups last year and it has been an absolute blast. CAVE is now one of my favorite developers all time. Anyone reading this should check out Mushihimesama and Dodonpachi Resurrection if you don’t know what I’m talking about!
They’re different, they’re fun, they’re (sometimes) cheap. There are lots of reasons. I’ve been gaming for 30 years and while I love modern games (or some of them). Recent years have become stale as many studios are chasing trends rather than taking risks to find a new fun idea. Sometimes you just have to go back to old classics for a breath of fresh air. For multiple reasons, I’ve been going back and finishing games that I already have and some of these are a breath of fresh air. Admittedly I never finished Final Fantasy 7 and am working on it now. I have a new found appreciation for it.
I’m replaying banjo kazooie and if I’m being honest it really needs a battle pass. /s
Because modern games suck.
Modern games are made to move a stock ticker,
Retro games were made to be the best game they could be.