They're all good.

In terms of software, it will always be the 90s, that's a no-brainer.

Regarding hardware, the 90s was the most painful decade. Especially in the plug & pray days before USB and when hardware developed so quickly that your brand new PC was already outdated once you dragged it out of the store. The Weimar Hyperinflation had nothing on it.
Also, having to carry around entire PCs to your friend's house because internet was not available / too slow / too expensive.

Ah yeah, I don't miss those low-tech days at all..

Hi awalterj!
It has been years since the last time I saw you here, welcome back!

1936-1945
best period for a hoi game

They are, and aren't. I don't believe innovation necessarily has to be something completely new; rather, it can expand upon a previous formula or take it in a different direction. I don't want to put words in your mouth but given some of what you say later in your post (like there not being truly new inventions, Telltale Games leading to Life is Strange, etc), it seems you may agree with that sort of definition.

So to answer your question, indies could expand upon ideas already existing in a way that satisfies both "being innovative" and "catering to my personal preferences" . If someone likes me seeks an immersive world, in theory, an indie game could find a way to make their gameworld more immersive in a way that hadn't been done before (or hadn't been done in such depth/such a way/etc).

My impression, fair or not, is that most indie developers are not seeking to make that type of an impact. Which is fine, but leaves me feeling a bit left out. I don't like the AAA developers/publishers, but I don't have to take any indie game someone puts out either. In the rush for the gaming world to set up the conflict between "evil AAAs" and "noble innovative indies", somehow the fact got left out that "neither" can be a valid option too.


The classic CRPGs...Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, Planescape Torment, Fallout, etc. Almost feel like it is cheating to say Daggerfall since it's bigger than games released decades later (though maybe that illustrates my point as well). Cult classic RPGs like Arx Fatalis, Inquisitor.

Really I would include games with various lore/mystery/fleshed out atmosphere, even beyond RPGs:
For example, the classic Tomb Raiders feel like an immersive world to me, in addition to being a sizeable length for what they are (particularly the 3rd installment). Mafia 1 (from 2002) is more immersive and surely has more content than all but a small portion of indie games.

Arguments could be made for fighting games such as the classic Mortal Kombats and Pray for Death, which I think gets us much closer to where many modern indie games would be in terms of content/immersion in their universe.

I am probably bowing out but I appreciate the discussion and hope the food for thought is interesting.

I see, fair enough.

Hm, so apart from Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Age of Decadence, you didn't like any of the other indie, AA or AAA RPGs of the 2010+? Pillars of Eternity series, Tyranny, Wasteland 2, Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Divinity 2: Ego Draconis, Divinity: Original Sin series, Dragon Age: Origins, Drakensang: The River of Time, Dragon's Dogma, Shadowrun trilogy, Witcher 3, Sword Coast Legends, Torment: Tides of Numenera, Disco Elysium, UnderRail, Avadon series, Serpent in the Staglands, or even Elex, Two Worlds 2, Mars: War Logs, Technomancer, Game of Thrones RPG, etc.? And on top of that, although not commercial releases, there are also the total conversions Nehrim and Enderal, which turn Oblivion and Skyrim into more immersive RPGs. Not saying that all those games are perfect in any way, just seems odd to me that someone who liked what you listed above would not be interested in any of these. IMO, it hasn't been such a bad decade for immersive RPGs with lore and exploration ...

And if you liked Mafia, how about Sleeping Dogs? Maybe I'm totally off and don't quite get what you're looking for, but I thought the city was pretty immersive. And like I said, Subnautica as well. Prey is supposed to be a very good immersive sim. There's Dishonored, too. Ghost of A Tale? Bioshock Infinite was not a great shooter, but rich in atmosphere and storytelling/lore. The fighting games made me think of Zeno Clash, though that's 2009 already. But the decades are a pretty arbitrary distinction anyway, heh. ;)

That being said, I wouldn't mind more immersive exploration games like Arx Fatalis, Tomb Raider, Severance: Blade of Darkness etc. either. I guess Dark Souls qualifies, if only it wouldn't have such annoying mechanics and bosses. XD

I'm not surprised to see many putting the 90's as number one. I can totally understand this.
However, the lack of appreciation for 2000-2009 is a little surprising. I think that's because of the audience we have here at GOG and the types of games people here tend to play.

No one has mentioned sports or racing games. 2000-2009 was killer good for these games. I play many sports and racing games and they are almost all from the 2000-2009 era. When you include the many great games also from other genres, the decade can't be beat for me.

From 2000 onwards, both software and hardware were exciting. I still remember installing my 4200Ti GPU. I could look at the big heatsink and fan all day long! lol

End of the decade did start falling apart but the early to mid 2000's especially were sensational!

Was there a lack of appreciation? From what I've seen it is the second favorite decade for most, isn't it?


Not that surprising, if you've followed "least favorite genre" threads on the GOG forums. IIRC those two were mentioned by a lot of users. Just not very popular here, in general, I fear.

Good to see you, too! Great to see a familiar member still being around these parts. Not entirely sure what I'm doing here as I'm still doing the game purchasing abstinence thing but I've been feeling a bit nostalgic lately. Especially about the 90s because (hardware problems aside) life was simple back then, just had to walk the family dog once a day and do my homework. Meaning the 90s aren't just my favourite gaming decade for the games themselves but the non-gaming related circumstances.

2000s were garbage. anyone saying otherwise is a degenerate.

I thought many said they didn't like the 2000's.

No, I haven't followed any other threads here but just from this thread alone got the vibe they weren't popular.
Each to their own. I like sports and racing sims and they play a big part in the reason the 2000's were big for me.
If you don't like them, I can understand the 90's as a prime choice.

It's all gaming. It's all entertainment. It all should be fun.

2010-2019
2000-2009
1990-1999
1980-1989

I am one of the few people that believes that gaming has gotten progressively better over the years. DRM and whiny unpleasable gamers aside, the industry has just gotten better and better.