10 Video Games That Only Exist Because Of Nostalgia

Originally codenamed 'Double Fine Adventure' on kickstarter, Broken Age managed to raise over $3.5 million within its first month, making it one of the most successful crowdfunded projects in history. In fact, the game was so successful that it’s actually been credited with helping to establish Kickstarter as a viable funding alternative for smaller companies, such as inXile Entertainment, Big Finish Games, and Pinkerton Road Studios.

Upon its release, Broken Age was received positively, and while the game received some criticism on account of its puzzle design, it was praised extensively for its writing. In the game, players take on the separate roles of Vella and Shay, two loners who occupy vastly different worlds, seemingly disconnected from one another. The gameplay involves switching between each character and solving environmental puzzles, utilising various objects found throughout the game in order to progress through each area.

As previously mentioned, Broken Age was originally entitled 'Double Fine Adventure', and was funded before it had even been given a proper name. People weren’t intrigued by the story, or the characters or the premise: they were excited by the prospect of revisiting their childhoods, and getting the opportunity to play a classic point-and-click adventure game designed by none other than the legendary Tim Schafer himself.

The game itself turned out wonderfully, and was generally considered a huge success; the story was delightful and the characters were fascinating, as you would expect. However, those factors didn’t really have anything to do with the game’s eventual success. After all, Broken Age was funded before it even began. It represented the promise of some genuine nostalgia, and people bought into that promise hook, line, and sinker.