These Retro-Inspired Games Will Make You Love Gaming Again

[@lostsaves]

I am 100% here for this modern-retro game revolution. Makes me wanna make my own game!

[@TheRopiak]

You should! I'm still learning but almost 40 and working towards a few short games. You can do it! Just be patient with yourself it takes time I've been at it for years already as a side hobby.

[@BBKDRAGOON]

Let's do it!

[@BBKDRAGOON]

That's awesome!

[@SugeryGold]

Same! There’s so much potential and the market isn’t dominated by any one franchise because people will beat the game they are on and will look for other similar games to scratch that itch!

[@respecttheyoshi]

As someone who also loved Tacklebox, go look at Corn Kidz 64, fantastic exploration platformer with a surprising amount of depth for only having 2 main worlds. Also for a different platformer vibe, Cavern of Dreams!

[@respecttheyoshi]

Oh, if you want racing games inspired by some of the old SEGA arcade games, check out Victory Heat Rally, and Parking Garage Rally Circuit!

[@ArkAynJoel]

Been having a hard time sticking with games in recent years, but I have to shout out CrossCode. I've seen people gushing about this game, but I wasn't expecting it to completely take over my life and reignite my passion for gaming. The amount of joy it brings me makes me feel like I'm a kid again, and I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a shot!

[@CarlosDiaz-fs6cv]

Im playing it right now, and damn this game is really good. Highly recomend it to anyone.

[@MasterSynth]

CrossCode is the definition of hidden gem. Shoutout to Radical Fish and their new game Alabaster Dawn, can't wait to play it!❤

[@stevered9659]

Crosscode is an absolute GEM of a game.

[@JtothePrez]

I have the physical edition of CrossCode on PS4 but I read somewhere that the puzzles are pretty difficult and weird. I've put off playing it for that reason. I just fancy a casual playthrough without too much thinking.

[@MasterSynth]

@@JtothePrez you can change puzzle and combat difficulty through the menu so you don't have a hard time. Puzzles difficulty resides on timing of projectiles most of the time, and you can tune that down to make them super slow. So get that playstation, slap that disc into it and play the game! Don't forget to enjoy it!

[@thebobofrosses3170]

You gotta try Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. It's inspired by Jet Set Radio. It's very stylistic.

[@michael_lositsky]

And has a great storyline as well

[@Spraydowngd]

A hat in time is a nice love letter to n64 3d platformers

[@MacUser2-il2cx]

Check out a silly fan game called Yo Noid II. It's actually a really good platformer. No joke.

[@Spawn256]

Been playing emulated games from childhood instead of halo or modern freemium games. Results maximum joy.

[@TheRopiak]

Me too! What are some ones you've been playing? I got a few beat em ups and other arcade games that never made it to consoles

[@Spawn256]

@@TheRopiak pretty much all the hits on GameCube, Dreamcast, Sega Saturn and Genesis. Also trying to build PS libraries. Would love to know which beat em ups you were talking about.

[@TheRopiak]

@@Spawn256 Mostly the Gauntlet Legends games, and stuff like the DnD beat em ups and Guardian Heroes

[@BBKDRAGOON]

That's absolutely awesome, I've been playing some PCSX2 the last month and a half, older games are just the best aren't they?

[@Spawn256]

@@BBKDRAGOON Totally! Older titles have a different feel to them and they are designed with good intentions.

[@malachor5ve]

Lunistice looks great, I love short games and games that have that early ps1/n64 look

[@BBKDRAGOON]

It's SOLID

[@NeverLag]

Lunistice is one of my favorite platformers. It's so responsive. And concise. Wish there were more games like this.

[@switchiro5262]

In terms of top down Action RPGs in a retro aesthetic, I highly recommend Crosscode. Excellent Combat, Great Story (if little long) and Puzzle that make you think. Radical Fish Games (the Devs of Crosscode) is also working on a spiritual successor to it called Alabaster Dawn which isn't out yet, but the previews that they showed for it look really good

[@chrisb5717]

Definitely want to run through Dusk. Just played the Quake 2 remaster, including Quake 2 64 and MachineGames' Call of the Machine map pack. The arena fps movement does not get old!

[@BBKDRAGOON]

It's really good, the movement in particular will resonate since you just played through Quake 2

[@Professor_Utonium_]

Check out AMID EVIL as well

[@lusterlessnova3199]

Crosscode! An action RPG set in an MMO. Story is good, puzzles are challenging, combat is fun.

[@bardknight]

These are the games that really do it for me these days. "Triple A" stuff rarely excites me anymore (except Astro Bot).

[@cybr774]

I got lunistice and dusk and I'm glad I did. I've enjoyed going through lunistice, very casual time spent. Currently playing Dusk and it's a blast! i already love the doom games and I feel right at home. Thank you so much for sharing these games!

[@newyearstudios]

I cannot express how much I enjoyed Lunistice and am excited to play The Big Catch Tacklebox. These games are just fun.

[@Pro-gressive]

Try Prodeus if you haven't already. Very good shooter.

[@BBKDRAGOON]

thanks for the suggestion!

[@evermillcreek]

Thanks, Lunistice looks like an awesome thrill ride 🤩 Big Catch also looks exciting! Love 3D platformers with tight gameplay ✨

[@eggsngaming]

Definitely check out Signalis if you like PS1 era aesthetics. Great survival horror game.

[@superammo8525]

I’ve been really enjoying Quake 2 Remastered lately. It’s my first Quake game and I’m finding it fun just mindlessly shooting baddies. Plus the gunplay is great considering its age.

[@BBKDRAGOON]

I want to check that out, that sounds awesome!

[@superammo8525]

@@BBKDRAGOON It’s definitely worth the price. $10 for the original campaign, 3 dlc packs, the Nintendo 64 version of the campaign, and multiplayer.

[@MerkhVision]

Great video! Thanks for introducing me to these awesome looking games! These types of games are right up my alley! Im espedially intrigued by The Big Catch!

[@Cloud92390]

Astrobot just gave me that I’m sitting on the floor playing ps1/ps2 again feeling

[@gabrieldiaspedroso6195]

One that fits in that kind of vibe is "Pseudoregalia", a platform game in N64 style, with a bunch of movement mechanics. The game is also a miracle for speedrunners, because you can take some shortcuts using precising jumps (the pace of the game can be really fast if you are good enough, don't get me wrong the game is not that difficult)

[@TheRopiak]

Also for games I've been playing the remake of Tony Hawk Pro Skate 1 and 2 are really fun in free skate mode esp. Also NBA Jam I've been playing on my xbox via the digital x360 version. I'm trying to find more games that are 'just fun' without a lot of baggage lately.

[@BBKDRAGOON]

THPS such a great series

[@rupel190]

"I love these short games that are just really incredible experiences" I love these short games that are just really incredible experiences too!

[@HeadPats4Peter]

Wargroove definitely is like Advance Wars. Just like Athena Crisis (early access since Mar 2024)

[@ymotle]

Crow Country another great retro game paying homage to the survival horror genre

[@SamuelxShaban]

Two retro-style games by the same studio that i think are super underrated are Donut Dodo and Sir Lovelot. Such a joy to play and barely anyone knows about them.

[@imraanakollo-arenz1449]

With more and more 3D indie platformers coming out (Spark the electric jester 2 and 3, rolling rascal, Lunistice, Penny's Big Breakaway, Big Catch) I feel like we're starting to see just how influential the Adventure era of Sonic games was.

[@TheRetroDen]

All of these look astonishing, great recommendations

[@Flibbertigibb3t]

This is the first time I've seen someone compare a game to Advance Wars instead of Fire Emblem

[@rymanjones3]

my personal fav 2d platformer is Shovel Knight and the adjacent included games. First digital game i owned back in the wiiu days, still love that game. Can't wait to get it on pc and beat it again and beat the other games (full-fledged titles with some villains as the main characters, all really good games and really good soundtracks)

[@saynotop2w]

Exactly the same vibe I got with Lunaitice. It's an Adventure era Sonic game with less focus on item collection and more on platforming and movement.

[@brandonespinoza9279]

Spooky’s Jump Scare Mansion (HD Renovation), is quite a gem that I really enjoyed it as there’s this KZbinr named Ryan Jay, and he’s all about that game that he does lots of play through of it mainly through endless mode into the point where you can find tons of game, breaking glitches, like there are glitches that you would find in school game and the entirety of creation is pretty much the what it means to make a modern retro game where it’s supposed to look like graphically like from that would say like late 80s and 90s with the way that it’s simply looks especially like even one person that pretty much makes everything pixel looks it look look more like or even like ES game but basically in the first person

[@dokvald]

Looking at giving The Big Catch Tacklebox a go. Played Lunastice all the way through several times, absolutely incredible game.

[@ErosMorelli]

I'm happy I found this channel 🙂

[@tr1co0]

+1 for Lunistice. Such a gem!

[@menti5013]

my steam library is filled with modern retro games as a guy who grew up on call of duty and continued to play it up until recently that and halo never played any thing else I was burned out on games but these modern retro games on steam have lit a spark once more for me and have gotten me into other genre of games like 3D platformers I use to hate on them a lot saying they were boring and unfun but I kept a open mind and played A Hat in Time what a banger that game is but it is all thanks to your videos

[@light819]

A short hike is a well known game. Northern Journey is one I always feel the need to shout out as well. As far as retro its a bit more modern with more of a ps2 era vibe compared to ps1 but it is a lowpoly fever dream of an adventure. And to top it all off the game was made entirely by one guy (except the game engine) he even made the soundtrack himself.

[@MoistPancakes]

I recently picked up azure striker gunvolt on Nintendo switch and it’s been a blast! Kind of reignited my passion for gaming a bit

[@yothazme2]

Loddlenaut just came out and is fantastic- has a retro filter, but I don't think I'd say the gameplay is *quite* as retro inspired, but still incredibly satisfying. It's a sort of meeting of Subnautica (but cozy), power washer sim, the chao garden from sonic adventure 2, and a little bit of insaniquarium. It's very much worth your time and is currently half off for a mere $10. Neverlooted dungeon feels like someone made a single player dark and darker mod for half life 2. It's graphics are more simplistic than retro, but it has the same feeling of gameplay first, graphics to support. Allows you to be incredibly creative with how you tackle any given obstacle in the dungeon- chuck a mushroom at a trap to activate it early, throw a stone slab into a pit of spikes to protect yourself, stack boxes from throughout the level to get a secret item or into an area early... very freedom oriented with nice level design. So far it's just a short demo, but super worth playing. A monster's expedition might be a must if you like puzzle games, especially so if you have any fondness for sokobon games. Second probably only to steven sausage roll in the Sokobon world, Monster's expedition has some truly incredible level design that pushes that mind expanding feeling you get when the puzzle finally clicks. Smushi Come Home is one you've probably already talked about, but has that retro filter and design. Very cozy and pretty short and sweet you play as a mushroom taken from home and must make your way back while helping out a host of characters, collecting gems, and getting upgrades and skins along the way. Big cozy. Backpack Hero has cute graphics and is basically if the resident evil 4 inventory system was a roguelike puzzle battler. It has a story mode where you can build up a town to help keep a feeling of progress between runs and lots of characters with unique ways to play to unlock. Storyteller is another puzzle game with a unique mechanic where you place scenes and characters into those scenes in a book to manipulate a story into being told the way you want. You have to learn how characters interact with each other and the environment and how to change that behavior. It can be deceptively devious and has some wonderful humor. Very creative. Sheepy: a short adventure is a short adventure about a sheep. Gorgeous graphics, great story, engaging platforming. Not much to say other than it's worth checking out especially at free.99 Antichamber is another puzzle game I feel like anyone with a deep love for puzzles or secrets just has to play. vaguely reminiscent of portal in design (not writing, there's no dialogue), you'll get lost in a labyrinthine, non-euclidean world of oddities and perplexity. Especially mind blowing at the time when non-euclidean geometry was near unheard of, but still incredibly mind melting to this day. Has a phenomenal soundscape, and honestly I just think about this game like every single week. Created by one man. Stunning visuals. I really can't recommend this enough to anyone who enjoys puzzles. I'll go ahead and stop there, lol but these are some rarer games from what I've played lately-ish. Hope someone gives one a chance and ends up loving it, sorry if a bunch of these have already been covered on the channel

[@anthonyvellantevdog]

One game I’d like to shout out that kinda fits this vibe for me is Signalis if you are into horror games. Reminds me of early PS1/ PS2 horror games with a crt filter built into the game to give me that retro vibe for me and it’s a very fun game too!

[@wyler6909]

can't wait to try all of these.

[@StrikerTheHedgefox]

I really recommend Freedom Planet 2, it's an extremely polished 2D platformer that evokes games like Sonic, Rocket Knight, and Gunstar Heroes.

[@davidas5049]

Love your channel man, thx 😊

[@travesty-studios]

Great looking recommendations, I will likely try to check out each of these. FTL is the only one I knew about and always been interested, but never committed.

[@SugeryGold]

The retro renaissance makes me wanna get a crt tv to see what some of these games would look like

[@ehalt2]

I 100%ed New Super Lucky's Tale. It's an amazing platformer that feels like high quality stuff from way back. Highly recommend

[@G-03]

Play Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. It's amazing

[@bhwaaaHannah]

You should check out Wavetale! It's a short game as well unfortunately, but it feels so smooth just gliding over the water, going fast and getting to higher places with combo's. And I love the soundtrack, very calming. Also love the art style and the worldbuilding, but that's my taste ofcourse.

[@TooN94]

PS1 games styles are such a incredible gems, I love so much when developers choose PS1 games styles instead of usual graphics nowadays.

[@ItzSilentFox]

Warside is a advance wars inspired game that will be coming to all platforms and will be having a demo next month, but the game is looking awesome!

[@ModdedTalent]

Cool games! Definitely gonna check some out! I would recommend Nuclear Throne (one of my favorite twin stick shooters, sooo fun!) and N++, an amazing 2D platformer, easy to learn but difficult to master. Both games are super cheap and have endless hours of gameplay!

[@Drowzycoffee]

dude, love the recommendations

[@morbuskobold4233]

Super Cloudbuilt is very underrated for its movement. Simple yet addictive and full of content.

[@NekoBoyOfficial]

The indie scene is giving AAA studios a run for their money.

[@zukinu12skinnyp4]

Just watched the incredible TV show so I’ve been going back and playing the old 360 era fallout games. 3 and new Vegas. Never played either before. And I’ve been having a great time

[@loopo8940]

I'm really looking forward to playing FUMES. It looks like a lot of fun, and it reminds me of the good old days of Twisted Metal.

[@AlchemistZephyr]

Vividlope is a cute arcade puzzle game to try. I got it in a Steam bundle with another game I haven't played yet.

[@N7Null]

Check out Ultrakill, Amid Evil, Ion Fury, Turbo Overkill, Mullet Madjack, Cultic and Penny's Big Breakaway for more old school goodness.

[@L3RK]

The Sam's Club kiosk was a deepcut

[@ThatBlackGuy1337]

If you like Dusk, then youll love Selaco. Its kinda a mix of FEAR, Quake with elements of Doom 3

[@GoodnightwithGlomstad]

Luniistice is arguably what a Sonic game couldve been on the Saturn. People forget Shenmue ran on the Saturn.

[@gabrieldiaspedroso6195]

A game for megaman fans: Gravity Circuit, the game is beautiful with incredible SFX. It's a fast game and plays all the time with our nostalgia.

[@Rpodnee]

I'm still playing Super smash bros Melee after all these years. Slippi makes online matchmaking a breeze!

[@cqllel5186]

Played Wargroove today. It's a decent game. I've S ranked errything up to Act 5 Mission 1 so far. Completed erry puzzle. It's amazing on my Steam Deck OLED, especially when it lasts up to 10h+ from full charge (with powertools plugin and 45fps cap) Other "retro" games I've been enjoying is Octopath Traveler. I'm waiting for Dragon Quest 1-3 remakes. They remade Trails in the Sky, which I just completed back in July on my SD OLED

[@albertb4460]

Wonderful list! Big fan of all the games showed, looking to play them on the legion go!

[@batarnakdekosse1312]

Insane list, subbed Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom is CRAZY TAXI x MARIO 64, its so goddamn good

[@strtfghtr88]

Picked up Shadow of the Ninja Reborn. Awesome remake to an NES classic!

[@Mezurashii5]

I recently finished En Garde!, which is the first game to actually do anything fun with the Arkham combat system. Great presentation, light-hearted vibe, well crafted campaign that never slows down for a second. The last boss is complete ass, but other than that it's perfect. It is for me what Hi-Fi Rush is for every games journalist currently alive. Also beat Tails of Iron, which is wayy better than I expected from seeing footage of it. It's kind of a soulslike - animation focused combat with dodging, parrying, blocking, heavy and light attacks, but strips away everything people dislike about the genre, like the stamina system and stressful exploration. Trepang2 is super short, but it's a fun time. You're put in small arenas with very lethal enemies you should have no chance against, but you're always meant to either be in slow-mo, killing enemies before they can react, or invisible, juking the AI and singling out enemies to kill and replenish the bullet time gauge. Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is the real Quake 2 in my eyes. The gameplay is fun, though not world class - but the levels feel like the LDs started mapping when Quake came out and just never stopped. Truly masterful stuff. Roboquest is the first game to actually figure out how to make roguelite elements fun - there's no randomness in levels, and instead you're encouraged to take different paths through challenges and quests that require you to visit different places with different equipment, in a certain order, or whatever else. You also heal through combat, so it doesn't feel like a run is just the game constantly wearing you down 1 health point at a time. And all that is combined with gameplay that I can only describe as "Borderlands, but good".

[@VitorMach]

Also try Cavern of Dreams, and the Toree series. Oh yes, and of course Pseudoregalia.

[@irish-rx9343]

might have to try dusk that looks super fun also, would recommend wargroove 2 if you haven't tried it. me and some friends have gotten a lot of hours out of some 2v2s lol

[@Brutetank]

If I may; I'd like to add a few retro look games that are currently either out, demo or coming 'soon' Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom (out) DoubleShake (coming soon) Fumes (Demo/coming soon) Mohrta (coming soon) Dread Delusion(out)

[@lucashaywardmusic578]

yooka laylee is great if you loved banjo kazooie. there's even an unlockable filter that makes the graphics n64 style with low poly and a crt filter

[@SpikeSpoogle]

Definitely check out Super Kiwi 64. It's extremely extremely short, $3, and absolutely nails the N64 look and feel. I've gone through it quite a few times.

[@سليمسلمان-د1ف]

You're amazing man

[@willburley]

Heh I know exactly what you mean about the Sams Club demo kiosk. We had BJ's Wholesale here and it was the same thing, there was a PS1 setup and I think I beat all of Crash Bandicoot 1 and all of Spyro 1 over a summer of shopping trips.

[@dinbly]

Today i 100% completed Lunacid and now i wish there were like 5 of them for me to play

[@chozochiefxiii3298]

Just waiting for the indie character action game scene to fully bloom.

[@noino1]

ive been playing goatsim for the first time in many many years again, and also playing the deadlock playtest which im absolutely loving ! you should 100% check it out if you havent already !

[@TheRopiak]

FTL is such a good pick this game is so much fun. I wish other games used this concept.

[@BBKDRAGOON]

Infinitely replayable, and such a simple yet genius concept. Thank you for watching and for the comment

[@TheRopiak]

@@BBKDRAGOON Totally agree, there's so much strategy but also a lot of in the moment thinking. Love your videos ofc!

[@BALI409]

i'd also recommend counter strike source with mods. there are hundreds of quality mods that turn it into a crisp modern looking shooter. playing offline is fun,chill ,without grind

[@TheSassMachine]

I highly recommend checking out Ultrakill

[@sidking2]

Yellow taxi goes vroom is a super neat retro platformer, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!

[@ricardo9nl]

Thank you for putting the spotlight on these retro indie games. And the comment section is also very helpful. Does anyone know good retro 2d platformers with 90s vibes. I like Pizza Tower and Antonblast but the Warioland mechanics are putting me off.

[@jurtheorc8117]

90s vibes... There's a hand-drawn 2D metroidvania by name of Cookie Cutter that has a lot of inspirations of cartoons, anime, manga and music from before the 2000s (and a bit of the early 2000s). Fair warning that it may get quite out-there. There's the action platformer Decline's Drops, the upcoming Kraino Rebirth on kickstarter... Double Shake and Ruffy & the Riverside have 3D environments with characters looking like 2D cutouts, and Double Shake seems to have its inspirations somewhere between Tombi/Tomba, Mischief Makers and Klonoa.

[@ricardo9nl]

@@jurtheorc8117 Great stuff! I will check it out.

[@thesagaofblitz]

Bro, monster sanctuary is pokemon but with highly customizable pokemon and rare drops to catch them ie eggs for better performance in battles. It's wild

[@Majorlydevilish]

I know I'm a month late to the party but I want to to get this game out there. An indie game I've been playing recently, although not necessarily Retro inspired So I don't get the Kudos, Is Spark the Electric Jester 3. Its High speed 3D platformer inspired by the likes of Sonic adventure 1, 2 and the 3D sonic games before colours. It also has an easy to understand but really fun combat system that allows you to pull off some DMC like combos if you put in the time to learn. Levels are super fun too. Spark the electric jester 3 gives me Sense of style, exploration and just overall feeling That I haven't really gotten from Sonic games since unleashed, and if you're a fan of SOnic adventure 1 or 2, or just a fan of those older 3D sonic games in general, I highly recommend it.

[@sirmatic2776]

Anyone know the retro horror survival shooter game at 0:24? Game wasn't listed and wanted to check it out

[@daveybabey]

Compound Fracture

[@Kesvalk]

low poly 3d platformers are my fetish, had a blast with pseudoregalia some weeks ago and just finished spark the electric jester 3, so the big catch and lunistice looks exactly what i want right now. all hail indie games, made with passion, by gamers for gamers.

[@ruggerprogavlar8866]

Highly recommend sananbi, retro pixel platforming with a deep story , from the makers of lies of p

[@Fluiby]

Dust an elysian tail is an amazing game I played through it on my switch.

[@BBKDRAGOON]

Yo right on, actually there is a clip from Dust in the first 10 seconds of the video!

[@Fluiby]

@@BBKDRAGOON lol I know yeah it's so good and the storyline is deep and rich with lore.

[@Youtubin20]

Disillusion is a littke rpg maker game that's completely drenched in being out there. Dungeon crawly in a old MS style. Definitely not for everyone, not exactly fitting the criteria, but I wanted to shout it out anyway. They're also working on a sequel(?) too that looks a lot like early 3d pc adventure games.

[@Waffletigercat]

I have played all of these. Lunistice and DUSK are really fun. The Big Catch: Tacklebox was okay; I like the core concept and the visual style, but I think some of its movement mechanics felt awkward and a few of the jumps were overly tight. Wargroove and FTL just weren't really for me.

[@saynotop2w]

can I suggest you Blood and Bacon? It's an arcade inspired score attack fps that you might call a boomer shooter even though the spirit of it probably goes even older

[@LittleBigHood]

A hat in time

[@joshfoustcommunity8928]

Does any of these games have a physical release? If any of them do, please list them!

[@MinishMilly]

If you like dusk, you probably also like ultrakill, if you dont already know that one

[@strxwb3rrynat]

if youre looking for a zelda-like expereicne with devil may cry type combat you should check out carters quest, i played it with a friend of mine and we really liked the stlye of it :) its still in development but for what is out right now id say its REALLY worth it!!!

[@RaiderAtlas_1]

you should check out octopath traveler 1 and 2! they are on gamepass and all consoles i believe! its a jrpg with 8 stories about 8 travelers!

[@MacUser2-il2cx]

Slayers X is a great retro style FPS game.

[@Blissful6393]

Play Aurascope, really fun platformer with great momentum

[@SugeryGold]

Idk if you’ve played cross code but that games fire