The world of gaming has long been a realm of nostalgia and wonder, but in recent years, a surge in retro gaming has brought a new wave of enthusiasts to the scene. For Luke Malpass, 38, a lifelong passion for gaming has turned into a full-time job. The shelves lining his home workshop are a treasure trove of vintage gaming consoles, waiting to be restored to their former glory. “A lifetime of collecting and restoring games,” said Malpass, surveying the electronics stacked at his home in Stoke-on-Trent, England. His workshop is a veritable Aladdin’s cave, filled with components from vintage Game Boys, Sega Mega Drives, and Nintendos, each one waiting to be lovingly restored to life. The revival of retro gaming is not just about nostalgia, but also about the tactile experience of playing games on physical consoles. “Getting a box off the shelf, physically inserting a game into the console… it makes you play it more and enjoy it more,” said Malpass. This hands-on approach is a refreshing change from the online gaming world, where skills are honed over long hours of practice. “Retro gaming — just pick it up, turn it on, have an hour, have 10 minutes. It doesn’t matter. It’s instant, it’s there, and it’s pleasurable,” said Malpass, highlighting the unique benefits of retro gaming. With vintage one-player games, there’s no one to compete against, no need to worry about online connectivity, and no pressure to perform. The rise of retro gaming has been fueled by a growing demand for vintage consoles and games. Malpass estimates that he has between 50 to 150 consoles needing attention at any one time, at a cost of between £60 ($78) and several hundred pounds. His workshop is a testament to the passion of gamers like him, who are dedicated to preserving the gaming experience of the past. “I think people are always going to have a natural passion for things that they grew up with as a child,” said Malpass. “So I think we’ll always have work. It’ll evolve. And it won’t be, probably, Game Boys,” he added. The future of retro gaming may not be limited to old consoles, but it’s clear that the passion for preserving gaming history will endure. “There’s always going to be something that’s retro,” said Malpass, highlighting the enduring appeal of retro gaming. The revival of retro gaming has been recognized by the gaming industry itself. A survey organized by BAFTA, the British association that honors films, television, and video games, has voted the 1999 action game “Shenmue” as the most influential video game of all time. “Doom,” launched in 1993, and “Super Mario Bros.”, in which Mario first started trying to rescue Princess Peach way back in 1985, came in second and third place. The growing demand for retro gaming has also led to the creation of new events and markets dedicated to vintage consoles and games. The London Gaming Market, held every four months, has been attracting growing numbers of fans. Collectors and gamers sift through stacks of CD discs and old consoles, hoping to find hidden treasures. “I’m a huge ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ fan… You never know what you’re going to find when you’re out here so I’m just always on the lookout,” said Adrian, a visitor wearing a T-shirt with a Sonic image. The thrill of the hunt is a key part of the retro gaming experience, and it’s clear that the passion for vintage gaming is here to stay. “I think people were stuck at home, wanting things to do that made them remember better times because it was a lot of doom and gloom around Covid,” said Andy Brown, managing director of Replay Events and organizer of the London event. The Covid-19 pandemic marked an upturn in the return to vintage games, and it’s clear that the retro gaming community is thriving. “A study earlier this year by the US association Consumer Reports found 14 percent of Americans play on consoles made before 2000,” said Brown. The numbers are staggering, and it’s clear that the retro gaming community is a significant part of the gaming landscape. “And in September, Italian customs busted a gang smuggling counterfeit vintage video games, seizing 12,000 machines containing some of the most popular games of the 1980s and 1990s,” said Brown. The counterfeiting of vintage games is a serious issue, but it’s clear that the retro gaming community is dedicated to preserving the authenticity of classic games. The future of retro gaming looks bright, and it’s clear that the passion for preserving gaming history will endure. As Malpass said, “There’s always going to be something that’s retro.” The retro gaming revival is a testament to the power of nostalgia and the enduring appeal of classic gaming.
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