When I started playing retro games again, I got curious about what was driving others to play them as well. Yes, for many, nostalgia is a meaningful part of their enjoyment, but this is only one piece of the pie. Somehow though, many of the articles I have read wanted to peg the retro gaming phenomenon to this. Sure, a lot of players who grew up on these games may be reliving a golden period of their lives by revisiting experiences that were an important part of those times. However, to say that nostalgia is the key is to miss what’s actually going on.
So let’s hit the nostalgia thing first, to get it out of the way. Old-school video gaming can evoke a strong, wistful feeling in people who played these games “back in the day.” The experience combines a sense of comfort with some escapism, bringing back all sorts of positive thoughts and emotions that are enjoyable for the player. It’s like thumbing through old memories, with each taking us on a little journey in the Wayback machine to an idealized remembrance of our earlier years.
Yep. That can be a part of it, but there is a lot more. Let’s explore that now.
retrogamesstart.com
https://retrogamestart.com/answers/why-retro-video-gaming-so-popular-its-much-more-than-nostalgia