Best Things About Gaming Right Now

Summary

Graphics across games are consistently fantastic in this era, making it a delight for contemporary gamers.
Video game narratives have evolved to the point where they rival storytelling in other popular media, like films and television.
Many video game genres are now refined and smooth due to past trial and error, providing a more enjoyable experience for players.

Navigating the contemporary gaming world can sometimes be challenging due to rising costs, studio shutdowns, abandoned projects, and persistent monetization in newly launched games. This situation often leads to a great deal of discontent among players regarding the industry’s current state, as it might seem that things are constantly deteriorating.

Indeed, while there’s no denying that the gaming world has its challenges, it’s also crucial to focus on the bright side. Just like previous eras, today’s gaming scene has its drawbacks, but what makes 2025 special is the abundance of reasons why gaming thrives today. It’s essential not to overlook the problems in the industry, but let’s take a moment to appreciate the many benefits that modern-day gaming offers. So, we’ll be discussing some fantastic aspects of being a gamer in the current era.

Peak Graphical Fidelity

Video Games Have Never Looked Better

Back in the day, around 10 to 15 years ago, the marketing focus for games primarily revolved around their graphics. The graphical quality of a video game was considered the ultimate factor defining its prestige within gaming circles. Any game that showcased top-notch visuals was instantly deemed a must-have, regardless of whether the actual gameplay was enjoyable or not.

Currently, video game graphics have reached a stage where they’re consistently impressive across various art styles and genres. While there are still advancements being made, these improvements are often small compared to the significant leaps of the past. This isn’t a bad thing; instead, it means that most games boast high-quality graphics. In today’s era of gaming, visuals are less likely to be a deciding factor when choosing a game because they are generally excellent. Instead, other aspects like gameplay, story, and innovation tend to attract players more.

Strong Narratives

Video Games Now Rival The Writing In Film, Television, And Novels

Early video games often had difficulty establishing their narrative flow. Compared to standouts like System Shock and Chrono Trigger, there were numerous examples where games such as Duke Nukem and Mortal Kombat lacked substance in their storytelling. Instead of focusing on intricate plotlines or character growth, these titles usually presented a story merely to tick the box, exerting little effort towards their development.

The persistent calls from gamers over an extended period have finally encouraged game developers to prioritize storytelling in video games. Initially, it took some time for these developers to master crafting narratives where players had significant control, rather than passively watching events unfold. Nevertheless, while some games still overlook their storylines, it’s now quite common to see numerous releases each year boasting compelling narratives. Remarkably, the finest of these games have even produced stories that rival those from film, television, and literature in terms of quality.

Established Controls And Systems

Genres Are No Longer Janky By Nature

It wasn’t until much later that different types of video games, other than first-person shooters (FPS) and real-time strategy (RTS) games on personal computers, truly solidified their bases. Console FPS games utilized the controller bumpers for “Shoot” and “Aim Down Sights” for years, while third-person shooters were often seen as clumsy and disorganized until the arrival of Gears of War. As for third-person melee combat, it was severely lacking, with the only option being “Hold down Square/B to hit repeatedly.

Over time, numerous flaws have been addressed and refined through trial and error, leading to a solid foundation in FPS controls on consoles. Third-person shooters today feature consistent mechanics that enhance the naturalness of using cover and adjusting the environment for aiming purposes. FromSoftware has essentially paved the way for delivering exceptional third-person melee combat experiences. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg, as improvements in genres like RTS games on consoles and space combat have also been substantial. Unless a developer is intent on creating a brand new genre or revolutionizing the industry norm, they now have a well-established blueprint for any genre they choose to develop, making it simpler for players to quickly adapt and enjoy their games with ease.

Auteurism

Choosing Studios, Not Consoles

In essence, the console wars were a significant topic among gamers for many years, where the console chosen often determined the games people would buy. For instance, “PlayStation offers Uncharted,” to which the response might be, “Xbox has Halo,” or “Nintendo boasts Smash,” followed by “That’s interesting, PC offers World of Warcraft.” In summary, rather than focusing on who was creating the games, the discussion often revolved around which platforms were capable of running them.

Today, the competition between console brands is gradually fading into the background, as more exclusives from companies like Xbox are becoming available on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles. Instead, gamers are increasingly valuing the studios behind their favorite games. Studios such as FromSoftware, CD Projekt Red, Naughty Dog, Supergiant, Sucker Punch, Insomniac, and others have earned such a strong reputation for producing high-quality games that they effectively have free reign to create whatever they wish, knowing that players will trust them to deliver a good game. Other studios, like Bloober Team, Larian, Team Ninja, and PlatinumGames, are working hard to establish themselves at this same elite level. It’s heartening to see these talented creators getting the recognition they deserve for their excellent work, rather than just being linked to the consoles that initially acquired their intellectual properties. Embracing and supporting these skilled developers will help ensure the gaming industry continues to produce top-notch content.

Community

Online Groups Help Make Solo Players Feel Welcome

During the PS2 and PS3 era, the internet was in its lawless frontier stage, where finding a reliable game walkthrough for difficult games was often tough, and locating other gamers playing the same titles was a roll of the dice. Players frequently found themselves at risk of falling victim to scams rather than consistently connecting with trustworthy gaming companions outside their friend circle.

Video game communities often spring up prior to their release, and they persist even after the game launches. These communities, such as those for “Dead by Daylight,” “Warframe,” or “Apex Legends,” are typically very inviting to new players and eager to assist them in understanding the current game mechanics (meta). Casual games like “Minecraft” have numerous communities tailored to various playstyles. For example, if you wish to create an intriguing town, there’s a community for that. If you’d like to investigate the latest update, you’ll find a group for that as well. Ready to join an existing server? You’re more than welcome! It’s become far simpler for solo gamers to engage with online games compared to just a decade ago, and while gaming has had a history of being unfriendly to beginners, it is now common to encounter helpful strangers in most games today.

Second Chances

Games Can Recover From Rough Launches

In the realm of video games, reviews hold significant influence. A single negative review might not sink a game, but a pattern of poor reviews can lead to a new release struggling and potentially failing even before its official release. This is a regrettable aspect of the gaming industry, where players often find themselves overwhelmed due to limited time or resources to try out every game, thus becoming selective with their purchases. For many games to sell well at launch, they need to be positively received by critics.

A new development has arisen where games initially released in poor condition or laden with microtransactions can now respond to player criticism and improve. Previously, such games might have been doomed, but today, developers have a limited period to address the issues and even turn them into beloved titles. Games like No Man’s Sky, Cyberpunk 2077, and Final Fantasy 14 are prime examples of this transformation. This trend is becoming increasingly common in gaming as it allows major studios to rectify their mistakes and update their games regularly, which can lead to increased success and more developers adopting similar practices.

Returning Classics

Remakes And New Entries Are Bringing Old Franchises Back Into The Spotlight

In simpler terms, these vintage video games from the past were instrumental in shaping the gaming industry and served as a learning ground for younger players. However, if we’re being honest, the majority of them have not held up over time. You might notice outdated visuals, awkward controls, peculiar camera perspectives, poorly constructed stories, questionable voice acting, among other issues. There are numerous factors that contribute to this, and while some gamers still hold onto their nostalgia for these games, many now prefer modern titles to the retro experiences, although there certainly are exceptions.

As a dedicated gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the modern gaming industry’s revival of some of my cherished classic series. For instance, the remakes of the Resident Evil franchise have been nothing short of phenomenal, often surpassing the originals in every aspect and gaining massive popularity among fans. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth didn’t just offer a refreshed visual experience; they expanded upon the original game, weaving a broader narrative that almost feels like a sequel trilogy rather than a simple remake.

Exciting times are ahead for us in 2025 with the release of Ninja Gaiden 4, and there’s an upcoming remake of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, which promises to revitalize the classic samurai survival horror series for a new generation of gamers. This revival not only gives veteran players like myself a chance to relish in a more polished version of our beloved childhood games but also introduces these timeless titles to newcomers, reminding them of their enduring popularity during their heyday.

Quality Adaptations

Video Game Movies And TV Shows Are No Longer Soulless Cash Grabs

Back in the day, most video game adaptations were really lackluster. Sure, some had their moments – the first Silent Hill movie was decent, and the Resident Evil films had their appeal – but they didn’t quite capture the essence of what made the games great. In other words, they weren’t really good adaptations.

Despite their flaws, these movies were often better than many of the other video game adaptations at the time, so they got a bit of a free pass. But things have definitely improved since then.

Over the years, video game adaptations have significantly improved, moving from animated series like Arcane, Castlevania, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, to live-action adaptations such as The Last of Us and Fallout, and even feature-length movies like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy. Nowadays, gamers don’t cringe at the thought of their beloved games being turned into a movie or TV show because many of these adaptations are made by gamers who have grown up to become filmmakers, ensuring they appreciate and respect the original content. On other occasions, production studios recognize the financial potential in high-quality video game adaptations. Although not all adaptations are successful, it was once nearly inevitable that a video game adaptation would lack soul and miss the essence of the games they were inspired by. Today, however, this is no longer true for many adaptations; instead, they often enhance the original content, acting as companions to the source material rather than mere copies.

2025-08-23 00:06