Why we love retro gaming
Retro gaming brings nostalgia and joy, but do classic games always live up to our memories? Discover the pros and pitfalls of replaying old favourites.
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Why we love retro gaming – even when the games don’t always hold up
There’s a certain magic to retro gaming. It’s more than just revisiting pixelated graphics or chiptune soundtracks. It’s a direct line to our childhoods, to simpler times when a wired controller and a weekend off school were all we needed.
Whether it’s dusting off your old PS1 to replay Crash Bandicoot, or firing up an emulator for a blast of Streets of Rage, retro gaming taps into something deeper than gameplay. It’s nostalgia, comfort, and often a reminder of who we were when we first picked up a controller.
But as much as we love diving back into the classics, it’s fair to admit something: not all of them hold up.
Nostalgia vs reality
You remember a game being incredible. A soundtrack that slapped. A final boss that pushed you to your limits. But then you boot it up in 2024 and… oof. The camera’s fighting you at every turn, the controls are stiffer than you remembered, and the graphics haven’t aged gracefully.
That’s the tricky part of retro gaming. Our memories are rose-tinted, polished by time and emotion. Games that once blew our minds now feel dated. Not necessarily bad — just different.
But that doesn’t take away from their value. If anything, it highlights just how far gaming has come. Early 3D titles like Tomb Raider, GoldenEye 007, or Resident Evil were revolutionary at the time. Playing them now shows us what they pioneered — even if the tank controls are borderline unforgivable.
Why we still come back
There’s a reason retro gaming is thriving. It’s not just about the games — it’s about the feelings they invoke. That sense of wonder from discovering a hidden level, the frustration of a near-miss on Sonic the Hedgehog, the satisfaction of blowing the dust out of a cartridge and watching it boot up like magic.
And with platforms like Gamers Delight, finding those old favourites has never been easier. Whether you're hunting for a GameCube classic, building a retro collection, or trading in games you no longer play, there’s real value in preserving and replaying gaming history.
Retro gaming also offers something modern games often lack — simplicity. No 100GB downloads. No endless updates. Just put the disc in (or cartridge, if you’re old-school), and you’re off.
When retro gaming disappoints – and why that’s okay
Let’s face it, though. Some games really don’t age well. Mechanics that were “cutting-edge” back in the day might feel clunky now. And sometimes you revisit a childhood favourite only to realise you were better off remembering it fondly than replaying it.
But even that disappointment is part of the charm. Retro gaming isn’t always about flawless experiences — it’s about rediscovery. About seeing the roots of the industry. About understanding how the things we loved evolved into the massive titles we enjoy today.
Retro gaming is more than a trend. It’s a time capsule. It gives us a way to reconnect with the past, to share old favourites with new generations, and to appreciate how far gaming has come.
Sure, not every game holds up. Some mechanics feel ancient, some graphics look rough, and some nostalgia just can’t be recaptured. But for every rough edge, there’s a moment of joy, a spark of memory, and a reason we keep going back.
So whether you’re revisiting your childhood favourites or picking up classics you missed the first time around, retro gaming is still worth every minute — even if your thumbs aren’t quite as quick as they used to be.
Pick up all of your old favourites today at Gamers Delight! And if we’ve too many games to pick from, why not pick a nice little surprise with our Mystery Disc, Mystery Box Level 1, or Mystery Box Level 2. To see what kind of things are inside, grab a coffee and watch this short video review from our friends at FULLSYNC after they bought their first Mystery Box from us: