Recent Industry Headlines Have Sent Players Back To Some Of Gaming's Most Beloved Experiences

With how loaded the launch schedule has been already this year, it's not hard to see why some players are focusing their attention on the hottest, newest, trendiest games, but there are still plenty of us out here that are spending the time this year revisiting a handful of classics!

There are plenty of reasons we think these games are suddenly popular once again, but no matter why fans are going back to these classic video games again, we're fully on board! There's always lots to enjoy with a visit back to an old favorite, no matter what it is!

God Of War

Release Date

March 22, 2005 (Greek Era)

April 20, 2018 (Norse Era)

Genre(s)

Action, Adventure

Developer

Santa Monica Studio

With a massive surge in retro gaming with contentious pending changes to how we get our games on PlayStation, this exclusive series has seen quite the resurgence in popularity lately. Whether you're back at it on your PS2 with the original series or are running around with Boy in the later ones, there's plenty of replay value in God of War.

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We imagine this surge might come from the June 2026 announcement of God of War: Laufey, an upcoming title staring Atreus' mother Laufey as she navigates the underworld of the gods in a game that runs concurrent to the events of the 2018 title. It'll launch sometime in 2027, leaving you plenty of time to go back and enjoy the originals.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Release Date

May 18, 2015

Genre(s)

ARPG

Developer

CD Projekt Red

Whether you're craving a dark journey back across the Continent, are trying to get one of the game's other endings, or you're just fancying a good game of GWENT, there are plenty of reasons to jump back into the boots of Geralt of Rivia as you play back through The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

We're still waiting on the fifth and final season of the live-action Netflix adaptation of the game, but while we do, there's plenty to do back on the Continent, especially if you've never gotten to enjoy either of the DLC packs for the hit 2015 title.

Undertale

Release Date

September 15, 2015

Genre(s)

RPG, Action, Adventure

Developer

Toby Fox

What began back in 2015 with a little indie game about a child who's fallen into the Underground and must fight their way back to the surface in classic RPG style has become one of the most beloved titles in its genre. There are a few ways to experience the story of Undertale, but no matter how you choose to, we definitely recommend that you do.

With the fifth and final episode of the game's parallel title, Deltarune, finally out now, you'll want to catch up and play through Undertale before diving in. Refresh your memory before you get into the next game in this wonderfully bizarre RPG series with a run back through the original game.

Final Fantasy 7

Release Date

January 31, 1997 (Original)

April 10, 2020 (Remake)

Genre(s)

JRPG, Action, Adventure

Developer

Square Enix

We don't really believe there's a wrong time to start playing the Final Fantasy series, nor do we believe there's really a wrong entry in it to enjoy playing as your first, but we've seen quite an uptick in popularity lately for the older titles in the series.

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Final Fantasy 7 is an easy pick as the favorite in this behemoth JRPG series, and with a few different ways to experience the story of Cloud Strife nowadays, there's never been an easier time to start playing. With news that Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will launch in 2027, players are taking the time to refresh their memories of the earlier games before then.

Dave The Diver

Release Date

June 28, 2023

Genre(s)

Adventure, Simulation

Developer(s)

Mintrocket and Nexon

If you're looking for a fun way to stay nautical this summer and beat the heat we're experiencing all around the world, then it's the perfect time to check out Dave the Diver, a brilliant 2023 title combining the action-adventure you're looking for in an underwater game with the cozy enjoyment of managing the sushi restaurant that makes meals out of your catches.

Whether it's a desire for a fun summer game or because the In the Jungle DLC launched on June 18 of this year to ditch the Blue Hole and take Dave's adventures out into the jungle, there's never been a better time to check out this casually quirky management sim.

Escape The Backrooms

Release Date

October 23, 2025

Genre(s)

Survival Horror, Action

Developers

FancyGames and Blackbird Interactive

After spending a couple of years in early access, Escape the Backrooms formally launched last autumn to massive acclaim, allowing fans of the niche YouTube horror series The Backrooms a chance to, well, Escape from them themselves. The liminal space horror saw massive popularity while it was in early access, so the full release was well-received.

It's seeing so many people diving back in again because of the popularity of the box-office hit adaptation of the series onto the silver screen with The Backrooms breaking box office records during its theatrical run.

Cyberpunk 2077

Release Date

December 10, 2020

Genre(s)

RPG

Developer

CD Projekt Red

Even if you didn't play Cyberpunk 2077 back on release (which might have been the right move, given how many updates its received since then), you definitely saw Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand, a rugged rock star on the run whose biochip is implanted into your head back then.

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With the finished version getting the love it more than deserved, the Netflix animated series following the game's universe recently being announced for a second season, and a project announced that brings said animated series into a live-action world starring the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners actor Zach Aguilar as Martinez himself, the surge in player count lately isn't too hard to explain.

Genshin Impact

Release Date

September 28, 2020

Genre(s)

ARPG

Developer

HoYoverse

Explore the wonderous open world of Teyvat in Genshin Impact, one of the more popular of the gacha games on the market at the moment. You'll pull for new characters on the gacha banners and assemble teams of four based on their elemental affinities, weapon types, buffs or debuffs, and so much more, all the while meeting a cast of characters you won't soon forget.

The game launched in 2020 and has expanded rapidly since, with the seventh and final main region of Teyvat unlocking later this summer. We'll be heading into the wintry wonderland of Snezhnaya, the land of Cryo, for the first time after hearing so much about it and the Tsaritsa that rules it throughout the game so far.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Release Date

October 27, 2002

Genre(s)

Action, Adventure, Shooter

Developer

Rockstar North

While it's the fourth main game in the Grand Theft Auto series overall, Vice City was one of the earliest open-world entries in the iconic action-adventure titles. You'll play as Tommy Vercetti in this Miami-inspired city, building a criminal empire we hope to see get explored more in a later titlle.

Though there's never a bad time to dive back into an older favorite, we definitely know why Vice City is seeing such an uptick lately - it's because Grand Theft Auto 6 is finally launching in November, and with the long-awaited title also set in Vice City, players around the world are heading back to prepare for their time there come this fall.

Persona 5 Royal

Release Date

March 31, 2020

Genre(s)

JRPG

Developer

Atlus

Persona 5 Royal brought the Persona series that'd long been beloved overseas to the West in a mainstream way, following the story of Joker as he spends a year on probation in Tokyo after he tries to prevent an assault in progress by a powerful leader. Team up with friends to explore creative dungeons and take on corrupt Shadow versions of the rulers to steal their heart and make them repent for their sins.

Whether it's because Atlus has finally announced that Persona 6 is on the way at long last, because we're getting Persona 4 Revival in a few months, or because Netflix only recently said that they'll be doing a live-action adaptation of the series, it's no secret why one of the best JRPGs of all time is seeing such a resurgence in popularity these days!

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