5 Things Retro Games Do Better Than Modern Games

22 Nov 5 Things Retro Games Do Better Than Modern Games

Video games have evolved with new technologies and audiences. While most aspects of gaming have advanced, there are a few areas where it feels like we’ve taken a step back. There are certain things that, on average, retro games simply did better.

1. Releasing a Complete Game
Nowadays, thanks to the internet and the ability to patch games post-release, it’s common for developers to launch unfinished games. The pressure to meet release dates and generate revenue often outweighs the desire to release a polished, complete product. Not that all retro games were perfect!

Games released on cartridges and discs could also have bugs or quality issues, but because fixing these would be costly and challenging, there was a strong incentive to get it right the first time and only fix minor bugs in later editions.

Honestly, the issue is so severe today that it’s hard to recommend anyone buy a game at launch, as you’re often paying the highest price for the worst version of the game. It’s a nightmare for physical game collectors when a game requires a day-one patch just to be in good playable condition.

2. Playing Offline
For decades, game developers and platform owners have pushed for always-online systems. Players have resisted, but the push has been relentless. Fortunately, on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, it’s still possible to have a fully offline experience, but even some single-player games or single-player components of online games need that connection back to the server.

I don’t mind games having online features, but when there are online requirements that make no sense, it’s incredibly frustrating. It’s not just about having internet access; these services also go down from time to time. It doesn’t matter if you have internet when there’s nothing to connect to!

3. Finishing Over a Weekend
I fondly remember renting *Metal Gear Solid* on a Friday and returning it Monday morning before school, having completed the entire game. Similarly, a friend and I rented *Resident Evil 2* with our pocket money and, sleepless, played through the entire game over a weekend. I enjoy long games as much as anyone, but I definitely miss having more games that take just a weekend or two to finish, especially now as an adult with maybe 10 hours in a given week to play. So many modern games are enjoyable, but it feels like they never end!

4. Focusing on Gameplay
What is a game? The exact definition is debatable, but some “games” today stray so far from the core concept and structure of a game that it’s hard to see them as video games at all. Without a central game structure or gameplay loop, some titles are little more than digital toys or interactive movies. Even modern games that are true games at their core are often overloaded with theme-park elements that 90% of the time don’t feel like gameplay.

This can make it hard to enjoy many modern games because I’m here for satisfying, engaging gameplay, accented with some story and interesting scenes, maybe.

Instead, I might get a CG movie peppered with a bit of gameplay or spend my time collecting useless items to craft other useless things just to reach the truly fun part, and it feels like that misses the whole point of video games.

5. Having an Ending!
Games are best when they have a beginning, middle, and end. I enjoy games that offer a complete experience, but that’s not what the modern gaming economy seems to demand. This is somewhat related to games being too long, but at least many of those games eventually end. I’m not just talking about live-service games designed to go on forever. Even single-player games sometimes become a kind of offline live-service game, with randomly generated missions and a constant stream of new content.