10 Video Games That Only Exist Because Of Nostalgia

Give a person a choice between something familiar and something not, and they’ll always choose the former over the latter. After all, video games are an expensive hobby, which is why some people are so averse to taking chances on their purchases. They have limited funds, and want more of what they already know, because what they know makes them happy.

The most successful Kickstarter campaigns have endeavoured to revive dormant franchises, relying solely on nostalgia to fund games that otherwise wouldn’t exist. Shenmue III accumulated $2 million in under three hours, and went on to earn $6.5 million overall, and Broken Age managed to earn $3.3 million in twelve days with the help of 87,000 backers, making them two of the most successful projects in crowdfunding history.

Given a choice between something new and something old, most people would rather wallow in the past than take a chance on something new. If anything, these Kickstarter campaigns prove that nostalgia can be a lucrative commodity, and that people will pay through the nose for things they recognise from their youth. After all, we all have fond memories of our childhoods, many of which were defined to some extent by our favourite games, which is why nothing sells quite like nostalgia 

With that said, here are ten games that only exist because people wanted more of what they already had…

Released nearly a decade after the previous instalment, Tales of Monkey Island was the fifth game in the series, and was generally considered a success, both critically and commercially. In the game, players reassume the role of Guybrush Threepwood, a notorious pirate who in an attempt to rescue his wife from long-time nemesis, Captain LéChuck, unleashes a voodoo plague into the Caribbean, and is tasked with finding the elusive cure.

The game was initially praised upon its release, but was later criticised for a handful of minor shortcomings, including a weak supporting cast of forgettable characters. It was also accused by some of wallowing in previous instalments, and for making constant, irritating references to previous games. In one episode, Guybrush Threepwood even encounters his number one fan, who praises him for all his many accomplishments in past games, which comes across as more than a little irritating.

Tales of Monkey Island was also criticised for failing to evolve the formula in any meaningful way, and for simplifying many of the series’ staples, including inventory puzzles. The frequent call-backs and references only highlighted this issue further, as instead of developing the concept into something new and exciting, the game simply leeched off the legacy of the franchise, and sold itself on nostalgia alone.