We might skirt around the issue, but the older a game gets, the harder it is actually to play. Plenty of modern PCs will only accept older games from playing outright, and even the games that do run will chase away many curious players with their older design and clunkier UI.

Thankfully, we’re not at all doomed to a world where older games lie abandoned and forgotten! Sites like Steam and GOG take game preservation seriously. Older titles are rereleased to be playable on modern systems, and game developers like Nightdive ensure we don’t forget their legacy and put out remakes and remasters of old classics.

There’s never been a better time to try what people will call the golden oldies. Let’s look at the different ways that we can enjoy the classics.

Classic Rereleases

Some classic games still play pretty smoothly. While they may have aged, we shouldn’t count them out. Titles like Resident Evil 4, Final Fantasy 7, and Dead Space are still more than playable and very enjoyable for what they have to offer.

Final Fantasy 7

The only caveat to enjoying them is that these rereleases don’t always work perfectly off the bat. As old games don’t interact well with modern systems, you might find issues like missing cutscenes, weird physics, and problematic control schemes that hinder your enjoyment. Thankfully, sites like PCGamingWiki have plenty of documentation to fix these older ports. Issues in games like Dead Space can be rectified by going on their respective page fix and doing a bit of legwork.

If that’s not to your liking, you can also just get your games off GOG. GOG is a great site for game preservation, and the classic games they release often consider modern PC specs and graphics cards. Games like Classic Resident Evil’s PC port have had fixes made so they can work properly with minimal hiccups.

Resident Evil 1

Fantastic Remasters

Of course, if you want a slightly more modern take on these classic rereleases, you can always pivot to playing a remaster. Unlike a rerelease, which lets audiences play the classic game in a mostly untouched form, a remaster aims to keep the original game’s content while polishing up aspects like graphics and sound.

Courtesy of Cycu1

This means that remasters preserve the original gameplay that people love so much while upping its visual fidelity. Titles like Star Wars: Dark Forces Remastered and System Shock: Enhanced Edition have redrawn their sprites to better fit modern aspect ratios. Bigger budget remasters like Demon’s Souls have gone all the way and retooled their presentation to be something grander.

Courtesy of TerakJK

Remasters are the midpoint between wanting a slightly more modern experience and keeping the original’s gameplay in mind.

High-Quality Remakes

Of course, if that’s not scratching your itch, you can always go all-in on one of the many classic remakes currently out there. Unlike the aforementioned rereleases and remasters, remakes can reimagine their gameplay. They’re essentially a modern twist on the tried-and-tested gameplay and add new gameplay features to keep you interested.

For instance, the Resident Evil series has had some of the best remakes that one can look for. From their remake of Resident Evil 1 to their modern takes on Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4, these remakes keep the heart and soul of the original games while interpreting their message in new, interesting ways. There are new levels to play, new details to find, and new enemies to face. They don’t intentionally capture the original’s spirit - they tell the same story slightly differently.

Resident Evil 2

Other fantastic remakes include Final Fantasy 7 and Dead Space, and older remakes like Majora’s Mask 3D and Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon are still worth looking out for, provided you have the means and patience to find these rare games.

Courtesy of Goombastomp

Retro-Inspired Releases

Of course, sometimes, you want something a little different. Something a bit similar to what you already know but still completely different. Enter the retro-inspired video game! If rereleases are classics, remasters their touched up versions, and remakes entirely new games, retro-inspired combines all three. They take the classic formula of the old games, mix them up their gameplay just enough to stand out and bring with it the quality of life and smoothness you’d expect of a modern video game.

For example, retro-inspired releases are games like Bloodstained and Blasphemous, clearly harkening to the olden days of Castlevania’s dominance while bringing unique gameplay elements and modern visuals and controls that make it fun to play. They may look like a modern title, but their game’s design is still retro.

Courtesy of Giphy

At Mega Cat Studios, we love retro games and have a library of retro-inspired games that any retro lover will enjoy playing!

Are you in the mood for a fast-paced, Gradius-inspired arcade game? Check out the ZPF Team's ZPF- a brand-new SHMUP that keeps the classics' pace, intensity, and style! You may now wishlist the game now on Steam. 

ZPF

Want a different take on Pac-Man? Try JESTER, a maze-chasing adventure game that has you collecting treasure against the dying of the stage's torchlight. Inspired by the lost poem “Le fou du Roi,” your time in JESTER may be limited, but certainly not in vain. Speed of the essence, quick movement, and smart thinking are essential to win the day.

JESTER

And if you’re aiming for something more Zelda-like, give Kudzu a go! This Zelda-style adventure harkens back to the age of Game Boy games like Seiken Densetsu. With 8 different bosses to face off against, different levels to find, other tools to use, and a multitude of foes to defeat, only your quick wit and a vast array of garden tools can save your mentor’s life.

Kudzu

These are just a few of the many retro-inspired games we offer. If you ever want to play more, you can check our list of games here and subscribe to our newsletter, so you’ll never be behind on new releases!

Classic games may feel old, but thankfully, we still have many different ways to enjoy them. Old games are slowly being rereleased, and even the hardest games to find are finding their way back to more accessible storefronts like Steam and GOG. If you ever have the chance, I highly recommend you try these classic games. Together, let’s do our part in keeping video game history alive and giving everyone the opportunity to experience the old-but-gold titles that shaped the genres we know today.