Nostalgia has always been a big pull factor when it comes to gaming. If you’re like me and you’ve been gaming for a long time, the early memories of the first games you played are embedded into you at this point.

Gaming nostalgia is something that pops into my head a lot lately. I was having a conversation with someone recently about some of our favourite games and why we liked them so much.

Even after all these years it’s crazy to reminisce and remember such minor details after all this time, trivial things that should have no place in my brain at all (I remember small details from video games but can’t find the remote I saw just a second ago, true story!)

Retro gaming has become a big part of gaming culture in the last decade or more aswell . There are even dedicated shops for buying some of the old consoles and games, from the Sega Mega Drive to Nintendo consoles and everything in between.

The nostalgia factor is a big pull for a lot of people in the scene now. Some may even tell you that they only play the old games and refuse to buy now consoles – each to their own!

Even if you scroll through TikTok you’ll see gamers live streaming old games. Tonight I came across a guy who was streaming Spyro the Dragon – the first game I got for my Playstation 1.

But is it a problem to be stuck in the past to that extent? Personally, I don’t think so. While some may view it as not being able to ‘let go’ of the past, I see it is people keeping their cherished memories close by.

We all have that ‘security blanket’ in our lives, that thing we tend to go back to when we need to take a breather. For some it’s an old video game, for some it may be their favourite TV show on repeat (Friends is always on in our house), it could even be the same meal you’ve eaten every week since you were 5 years old.

To me, nostalgic gaming and dipping into the past is the equivalent of a “coffee break” as an adult. We’ve all had those moments, where things get a little hectic, work hasn’t exactly been paradise, and life in general seems to be out to get you. What do you do? Take a break.

“nostalgic gaming and dipping into the past is the equivalent of a ‘coffee break’ as an adult

Those dipping back into old games are doing just that. Sometimes starting something new just seems so unappealing, that sticking with what we know is the most logical decision at the time – and that’s perfectly fine.

There’s probably a lot of psychological reasons why we do this, but to put it in a nutshell it’s probably just a way to cope. We all need something like that in our lives, we’re all just trying to cope.

It doesn’t even have to be something from your childhood that you go back to. Maybe it’s something you played, watched or read that just caused that ‘spark’ in you and stayed with you a long time after.

If you play multiplayer games regularly this might resonate with you on another level. Sometimes you don’t want the stress of a Warzone lobby (shoutout to Paddy, Benny, Rob, Jamie and Cliff who always manage to make it good craic anyway!).

Sometimes you just want something comfortable, something you’re familiar with, something that eases the end of the day.

The best thing about nostalgia like that is that we can share it too. I mentioned Friends earlier – believe it or not my two and a half year old daughter hums and sings along to Friends theme tune, which is both strange and wonderful for me to see.

I look forward to the day where I can share some of my favourite movies with her, some of the stories I remember from growing up, and even some of the video games I loved. If she doesn’t like them then so be it – at least I’ll have tried!

The point I’m trying to make that whether it’s a video game or a stuffed animal we all have that thing that helps us shut everything out for a little while.

The things we cling to more than likely have a deeper meaning, perhaps even without us realising sometimes. We hold onto these things because they bind us to great memories, no less than the songs we have on repeat on Spotify.

The day Metal Gear Solid gets a remake or remaster I’ll more than likely cry tears of joy, and I won’t even be ashamed to say it! So go enjoy your “coffee break”, whatever it is.