The Resurgence of Classic Gaming: What We Actually Want to See Return

Videogames, much like any other facet of the pop culture zeitgeist, tend to move in distinct cycles. Genres rise and fall in fashion as saturation exhausts players on one style, only for those same communities to grow deeply nostalgic for it a decade later. However, some genres seem to stay dead a little longer than others. As their absence stretches across the years, the longing felt by their most dedicated fans becomes increasingly palpable.

Last week, we asked the PC Gamer community which dead or dying genre you most want to see make a comeback. The results were telling, highlighting a clear divide between the nostalgic desire for classic mechanics and the current state of modern gaming.

RTS and Immersive Sims Lead the Charge

Unsurprisingly, the two most PC-centric styles that defined the '90s and 2000s claimed the top spots. The poll results were incredibly tight, with RTS games and immersive sims taking first and second place respectively.

  • RTS Games: 29% of voters
  • Immersive Sims: 28% of voters

The margin between them was negligible, with less than 30 votes separating the two giants. This closeness reflects a shared frustration among veteran PC gamers: these genres defined an era, and their current lack of prominence is felt heavily by those who grew up with them.

The RTS Renaissance That Never Was

The PC Gamer team has perhaps been a little too confident in the return of the real-time strategy (RTS) genre over the years. To be fair, there was a moment when it looked promising. Back in 2022, Fraser Brown looked ahead at titles like Homeworld 3, Sins of a Solar Empire 2, and Company of Heroes 3 with a delighted twinkle in his eye, proclaiming that "real-time strategy is back from the brink of death."

Unfortunately, two years and a handful of disappointing launches later, that optimism has faded. The genre's attempt at a renaissance has largely fallen flat, leaving many of us right there with you in our yearning for a triumphant RTS return.

The Elusive Immersive Sim

Then there are our beloved immersive simulators. It is a genre that very few developers seem to dive into these days, despite half of the PC Gamer team constantly banging on about how cool they are.

For those of us who haven't been "immsim-pilled," the yearning isn't quite as visceral as it is for the die-hard fans. However, even those of us who desperately want more turn-based RPGs in our lives can understand the desire for games that defined your early years with the hobby. The immersive sim offers a depth of player agency that is rare in modern gaming, and its absence is missed.

Other Genes Craving a Comeback

While RTS and immersive sims dominated the headlines, the poll revealed other strong desires within the community:

  • MMOs (16%): You could argue that MMOs are not truly a dying breed, with World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy 14, and Guild Wars 2 pumping out expansions regularly. However, when so many newcomers try to enter the ring and falter, it is clear they are not yet at their potential peak.
  • Point-and-Click Adventures (11%): A solid showing for this classic adventure style.
  • Text Adventures: Surprisingly, a handful of voters wanted to see the return of text adventures. While a niche appeal, there is a unique charm to narrative-driven games that rely purely on imagination.
  • Beat-'em-ups: This was an understandable answer, reflecting the enduring fun of cooperative brawlers.
  • Peripheral-Dependent Games: Some voters wanted more games that require expensive peripherals like plastic guitars or flight sticks. While we love the hardware, we might prefer they don't clutter up our already tiny apartments.

What Do You Want to See Next?

Whether you voted in the original poll or not, now is your chance to drop into the comments and tell us exactly what you want to see from these once-dominating genres. Are you hoping for a specific RTS title? An immersive sim that captures the magic of Deus Ex or System Shock?

Or maybe there is a completely different type of videogame you'd like to see come back, which we'd love to hear about. The cycle of pop culture is turning again; the question is, what genre will define the next decade?

If you're already itching to share more of your opinions, check out our latest poll regarding which game you want to see hitting the silver screen next, following the release of Mortal Kombat 2 and a slew of other videogame movie adaptations this year.