Forgotten Gems: Why Two Gamers Are Taking a Year Off Modern Gaming
0Remember when games came complete right out of the box? When stunning single-player experiences ruled the day? When you could pick up nearly any title and be blown away by its creativity? We're taking a deliberate step back from today's gaming landscape to revisit what many consider the golden era of console gaming – the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 generation.
After finding ourselves increasingly disillusioned with modern gaming trends, we've decided to embark on a year-long journey through the seventh console generation, playing one standout game each month. We've compiled extensive lists of acclaimed titles we somehow missed the first time around – from Mass Effect to Dead Space, Sleeping Dogs to Bayonetta – alongside beloved classics we're eager to revisit like Red Dead Redemption and Burnout Paradise.
What makes this challenge particularly exciting is how accessible this generation remains today. The hardware connects seamlessly to modern displays, the games themselves cost just a few dollars each, and the experiences still hold up remarkably well. Our first monthly selection is GTA 4, a game that many consider the pinnacle of Rockstar's storytelling with its immersive Liberty City setting and nuanced narrative.
We're amazed by how many influential titles from this era we overlooked despite considering ourselves serious gamers. This journey isn't just about nostalgia—it's about experiencing these formative games that shaped what gaming would become. The seventh generation represented a perfect balance of technical capability and creative freedom, delivering expansive worlds and compelling stories without the homogeneous design that often characterizes today's AAA landscape.
Join us each month as we explore these classics! We've created a dedicated Discord channel where you can play along with us, comparing notes and experiences as we work through these defining games. Whether you're revisiting favorites or experiencing these influential titles for the first time, there's never been a better moment to rediscover what made the PS3 and Xbox 360 era so special.