Modern Retro Games – Between Nostalgia and Design Philosophy

In recent years, many indie game developers have returned to the aesthetics and design of earlier eras in video game history. Demakes, classic RPGs, platformers, and puzzlers, immersive sims, 'boomer shooters', and the like have witnessed a surge in popularity, both in terms of production and reception. What is behind this trend? Is it an appeal to the cyclical trend of nostalgia also seen in other media? A pragmatic reuse of less resource-demanding game aesthetics? Or are fundamental aspects of game design that have faded away in the AAA industry being rediscovered by indie developers? We have invited multimedia artist and game designer Jay Tholen (Dropsy 2015, Hypnospace Outlaw 2019) and Prof. Gundolf S. Freyermuth of the Cologne Game Lab to discuss these trends in game design and how they relate to their own work, the relationship between design and research, and the increasing prominence of metamediality in gaming.