The young people of today, or Millennials if you like, are all about virtual reality, smartphones, and instant gratification. Surprisingly, it appears that they’re not quite as obsessed with these advanced products as you may think. A lot of games that many considered outdated or retro are making a comeback thanks to this demographic. Here are four games that have made a comeback in recent years and appeal to today’s youth.
SNES
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System was released in 1990, and at the time it was the dream of every kid to own one. With classic games like Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Final Fantasy, and Zelda, there were hours of fun to be had, and at 16 bits, it was the most advanced technology available at the time. Now, even though Nintendo has a new offering called the Nintendo Switch, and there are a number of advanced consoles, Millennials still want to get their hands on the old SNES, and a quick eBay search will prove that they’re willing to pay good money for it too. It’s pretty amazing that something that was cool thirty years ago is still so sought after today.
Bingo
In the past, bingo was dominated by middle-aged people who occupied the bingo halls of old and used the occasion as more of a social event that a serious game. But as the number of bingo halls has decreased massively (there were 600 in the UK in 2008 and that dropped to 380 by 2014 according to figures gathered by Full Fact UK), bingo has in fact relocated to the online world. First started in 1996 but truly showing its potential in more recent years, online bingo is in fact helping the game to stage a comeback, and is not only bringing back loyal players from the bingo halls but also youngsters who seek some instant lottery action. Online providers like Mecca Bingo are appealing to younger audiences too, by updating their bingo calls, while others offer chat and other social elements to satisfy the Millennial appetite for social interaction.
Board Games
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When computer games and especially home consoles came about, many thought that they would render board games like Monopoly, Risk and Scrabble obsolete. Instead, going out and playing board games is actually considered a trendy pastime these days. The new craze is board game cafes, which are frequented mainly by twenty to forty-year-olds. The idea is simple: meet friends, buy coffee and snacks, and settle in for hours of tabletop based pleasure. These retro social locations can now be found in major US cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Denver. It’s big across the globe too, with 200 cafes located in Beijing alone.
Pokémon
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Pokémon was absolutely huge in the ’90s, with the original Gameboy games that sprouted a massive franchise which included comic books, an animated TV series, and other merchandise such as trading cards and toys. When Niantic brought out Pokémon Go for iOS and Android last year and gave people the opportunity to go out and catch Pokémon in real life, it understandably attracted players who were nostalgic about the games of old. But it also brought in a whole new generation of users, with 46% of players aged between 18 and 29.
Due to all these games enjoying a renaissance with a whole new generation, it makes you wonder what else could soon make a comeback. Rubik’s Cubes are once again fairly prevalent, and there are rumours of a Tetris movie in the pipeline. How about a return of pogo sticks or milk caps?
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