Across all elements of mass culture, our tendency towards nostalgia is visible everywhere. One can see our cultural pining for the 1980s across the music charts, with the likes of The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, and Drake all trading heavily on the sound of 80s floor fillers.- Contemporary Gaming
Meanwhile, artists such as PinkPantheress, Charli XCX, and Olivia Rogrido are spearheading a 90s revival with their heavy sampling of grunge, garage, and Eurodance anthems from an area that came before them. In the realm of film and TV, we see the likes of Stranger Things and the new Batman film hearkening back to bygone eras of culture, music, and fashion.
If nostalgia truly is everywhere these days, surely it is also clear in the games we play. From video games to online casino games, it’s clear that the cultural shift towards the 80s and 90s nostalgia is making its presence known. Let’s take a closer look to see exactly how this is unfolding.
Video game nostalgia
Perhaps one place where the nostalgia craze of recent years is most clear is within video games. There has always been a strong preference for the vintage in many video games, as evidenced by the likes of Bethesda’s Fallout 3 and 2K Games’ Bioshock series. However, what makes recent games stand out is the fact that they tend to have distinctly contemporary settings, with a look and feel that is designed to have uncanny evocations of another era.
A case in point here is last year’s Deathloop, probably the most critically acclaimed release of 2021. The game is a sort of ultra-violent take on Groundhog Day, where the player must continually re-live the same day until they can break free. Although set in a futuristic dystopia, the aesthetics, music, and language are cut straight out of the 1970s and 80s, complete with brown and yellow florals. Even popular online games such as Destiny now offer mods and skins that allow your avatar to dress in the iconic fashion of the era.
Meanwhile, in recent news, games such as Unpacking and Everhood take contemporary storylines and garnish them with the aesthetics of the 90s, complete with fat-backed computers and the occasional 8-bit character. In fact, a significant number of entries on the Den of Geek best games of 2021 follow this same approach, offering currently relevant themes and plotlines served up with the 80s and 90s aesthetics.
Fruit machine revival
It’s not just video games where this hybrid retro approach seems to be taking hold. If we look at online games, specifically real money casino games, then the same approach is also clear. At any online casino, online slots are usually the most popular offering,
While some popular slots such as Gonzo’s Quest offer 3D graphics and distinctly modern modes of play, others trade in heavily on the vintage roots of the genre. A notable example is the 9 Masks of Fire slot from a tribal-themed slot that has all the bells and whistles of a contemporary video slot, including immersive graphics and in-game bonus rounds. However, a major difference is that the slot reels also offer a sort of pastiche of the vintage fruit machines of the 80s, with classic symbols including bars, bells, and cherries. This fascinating breakdown by Britannica explains the cultural evolution of the fruit machine, showing how these classic slot symbols continue to resonate in the digital casino sphere.
The arcade returns- Contemporary Gaming
While the above examples show how Contemporary Gaming types of games are bringing in retro elements to a nostalgic audience, it’s also worth noting that some audiences are doing away with the contemporary altogether. This is evident in the recent surging popularity of classic arcade games, with old-school classics such as Tetris, Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong selling like hotcakes over the past couple of years.
In fact, arcade industry insiders have also observed that the sticker price for old-school arcade machines has been skyrocketing recently, as demand soars for these classics, culturally resonant forms of entertainment.- Contemporary Gaming
Part of the soaring prices of vintage arcade games can also be explained by the rise of the so-called “barcade”. These are bars that typically offer rows and rows of old-school arcade games so that you and your friends can kick back with a couple of beers and play your favorite games of yesterday.
Some of the most acclaimed barcade venues include the OG hotspot Barcade Brooklyn, as well as Coin-Op in San Deigo and Ground Kontrol in Portland, OR. By some estimates, the global value of the retro arcade game market will increase by a staggering $1.56 billion between now and 2024, which shows that our appetite for the old is not going anywhere anytime soon.
In the various forms of games that we play, our appetite for the novel seems to be waning. In its place is a turn towards the comforts of the familiar and the old-school, something that is currently being reflected across society.