Hello, my fellow tech enthusiasts! Today, I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind lately: the abundance of old games that have been released this year. As someone who loves both technology and humor, I find myself drawn to these classic titles that I grew up with. From remakes to retro collections, it’s been a wave of nostalgia that I’ve been happy to ride.

Now, I know that these types of releases are nothing new. However, what’s different this year is the sheer quantity of classic games being released. Two of the biggest blockbusters so far this year, Dead Space and Resident Evil 4, are remakes of titles from over a decade ago. These games are slick and beautiful updates that fit in perfectly with modern big-budget releases. But what makes them so appealing is their simplicity. There are no open worlds full of endless quests or live service elements to keep you coming back. These games were made in a different time with different expectations.

Recently, I’ve found myself immersed in old games more than ever before. Capcom released a collection of the Mega Man Battle Network games, a series I always meant to play but never got around to. Nintendo launched its remake of the first two Advance Wars games, a series I dearly missed. Square Enix brought its “pixel remaster” collection of the first six Final Fantasy games to the Switch and PlayStation. And let’s not forget about replaying the 2D Metroid games and their 3D successor or playing too much Tetris via Nintendo Switch Online.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been some great new games released this year too. I’ve enjoyed Wild Hearts, Season: A Letter to the Future, and the new episode of Coffee Talk. Modern games can still be great. However, they can also be a lot of work, frequently designed to be all-consuming experiences that get their hooks in you and don’t let go.

Old games, on the other hand, have a simplicity and focus that I often find missing from their modern-day counterparts. Whether it’s an elaborate remaster like RE4 or simply putting the opera scene from Final Fantasy VI on my PS5, these games give me the feeling of a singular, complete journey I’m meant to play from beginning to end. Playing – and, in many cases, replaying – these games has been an exercise in reminding myself what can be so great about the medium.

The biggest modern releases tend to imitate each other to the point that they can be indistinguishable from one another. This is what makes a lot of indie releases so exciting and, similarly, what has led me back to all of these new versions of old games. So, it’s good news for me that this trend shows no sign of stopping.

So there you have it, my fellow tech enthusiasts. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the never-ending barrage of new games, take a step back and dive into some old classics. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy them!