Why Modern Video Games Suck
(a rant)
Last night I posted a video on YT about why modern video games suck. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcJtx8QR7nY
I normally don’t cross-promote my videos like this, but I wanted to add a bit of clarification in text form.
The tl;dr is simply this - modern games are no longer driven by fun as the primary driver of revenue. That is why they suck.
There are a few exceptions to my rant that are worth noting. Nintendo still makes games based on the idea that they are fun enough for you to pay $60 to play. Zelda, Mario, etc. are still fun games with a sane prince tag. Indie games often are forced to focus on fun or at least an interesting aesthetic to get noticed and drive sales. And a few big titles like Helldivers 2 manage to focus more on fun than cleaning out your wallet.
Those are more the exceptions than the rule at this point. Almost everything else coming out wants to be a live service/battle pass/microtransaction/loot box/casino/ad machine.
Even features that used to be core to many games - in person multiplayer, couch co-op… literally playing games with your friends in person is kind of rare on any system than Nintendo. Older games used to always come with a two or four person mode if it made sense for the game/genre. I used to go over to my friends house and play games WITH THEM all the time.
Now we are stuck with online only multiplayer. Which is fine, but it’s not the same. Sure, it’s convenient to be able to squad up with friends and voice chat. It’s not the same experience as going to a friends house and hanging out together all afternoon while playing Goldeneye or Halo.
And this isn’t just nostalgia talking.
There are tons of video essays and rants that also feel that new video games just aren’t as fun as they used to be. I’m not the first or last person to rant about this.
The fact is the shameless chasing of revenue at any cost - even if it makes the product or service worse is happening even outside of video games. Movies are less about entertaining customers and more about pushing propaganda (probably to secure funding). Everything is adding virtual tip jars, even for things that make no sense to add a tip. More products and services have monthly subscriptions even if they make no sense.
It’s everywhere.
But there is a way out. Stop giving them your money.
Play old games. There are thousands of older games that are fun. Find the gold in your Steam backlog.
If you do buy a new game, don’t pre-order. Don’t buy the $200 “collectors edition” bundle full of optional DLC and plastic toys. Wait for reviews from real gamers who played the game (not paid reviewers at IGN).
Support Nintendo and indie games who still value your time and respect your purchasing choices (at least a little).
If enough gamers do this, we might get more fun games at sensible prices. It won’t fix everything, but it’d be a good start.
Oh and one more thing you could do…
Make your own games that are designed to be fun.
Anyone could do that, even you!
-Brian