Why Do People Still Buy Retro Games?

We are living in a time where ownership is becoming increasingly vague, and its definition is often altered and buried within pages of digital agreements which, let’s be real, many do not even bother to read. But just because these games are considered “old” does not mean that their concepts are outdated, or that the games of yesteryear are unplayable. Digital “ownership,” or as I like to call, “renter-ship,” is simply an agreement for you, the consumer, to pay full price for a game, and the online shop will allow you to use it as long as they decide to keep it listed and not ported to a subscription service. I would know, I have had 7 digital licenses, or “games” as you would consider them, yanked from me due to them being delisted, or ported over to a subscription service. It is a nasty business.

We all know well that Sony has decided to part ways with producing physical media, likely because it helps them curb costs and increase profits, as well as increase their margin on games sold. To be fair, deep down, we all knew this was coming, it just happened sooner than we all would have liked. For many of you, no disc means “no buy.” In that case, your gaming career is not over. In fact, you have a backlog of games to play that spans generations of authentic creativity! Here is a list of reasons why so many gamers around the world are supporting retro and boycotting digital.

1. Nostalgia – Yes, the urge to embrace the familiar comfort of childhood memories is a big part of the surge in retro popularity. Many of you can remember that Christmas when your parents got you a Nintendo 64, or your single parent worked hard to bring you your very first Nintendo DS. These memories are precious and carry a lot of weight. We remember these games through the lens of a time when there was no pressure to perform, or spreadsheets to work on. However, the hype is not just nostalgia, the games themselves were fun! Playing Diddy Kong Racing with your friends is just as fun today as it was back then. Fighting your friends in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 – still an absolute blast, and potentially a way to start actual fights.

2. Originality – Many of the games nowadays are safe, they are AAA studios making shooters, racing games, and RPGs that we all know and love. Listen, COD is cool, but have you ever tried a one-hit-and-you’re-dead fighting game called Bushido Blade? Or how about the dream simulator on PS1, LSD? Or if you were a big fan of going to the movies, the countless movie adaptations to home console like Van Helsing or The Warriors? If you have rhythm, what about the unique style of the Parappa The Rapper games? When the home console first came out decades ago, companies were trying everything and anything that came to their mind. Even when the home console first came out is nothing compared to the wild creativity of the 90s when 3D gaming first hit the consumer market – developers went absolutely nuts working on unique games, playstyles, genres, and art styles. The crude comedy of Rare’s Conker’s Bad Fur Day, the thoughtfully crafted RPGs of the PS1 era such as Xenogears, Suikoden, Vagrant Story, and Alundra, or the eerie atmosphere of early survival horror games such as Clock Tower, or Silent Hill – all of these titles were huge additions to their respective genre.

3. Collectability – Some parts of retro gaming have become known as a collector’s market. Retro gaming is a finite hobby, as there are only so many copies of each game in existence, and some game prices have seen tremendous and consistent increases over the years. Some complete-in-box PS2 games can well exceed one thousand dollars due to a mixture of rarity and demand!

There is so much to talk about when dissecting the nature of the retro game market, as there are many influences which drive its patterns. Ultimately, the primary reason why everyone should look to the gaming industry’s past is to revisit a bountiful backlog of unique games to play. If you, like many others, are starting to feel increasingly bored with the same old AAA studios churning out slop with microtransactions and empty sandboxes, it is time for you to take a journey in the past and explore the myriad of unique and authentic games which paved the way for the gaming industry as a whole.

Whether you go back to the fun platformers and turn-based games on Game Boy Advance or revisit the classic fighting games of the PlayStation era, you can truly never exhaust the enormous libraries supported on those consoles. We are here to support you on your retro journey, every step of the way! Our commitment to retro gaming is unchanged – delivering carefully cleaned and tested products to you, preserving retro gaming for all to enjoy for many more years. Browse our latest retro game arrivals