Throwback Games to Take You Back in Time

Take a journey back in time to the days when phones had cords attached to them, TVs were giant boxes, and YouTube didn’t even exist. While games have come a long way, there are some classics that stand the test of time.

Why Even Play These Games?

A lot of games from back in the day have a certain kind of charm to them. While games today have superior graphics and better game mechanics for the most part, the overall simplicity of throwback games is something that appeals to most people once they actually give it a shot.

Take Pong for example. It’s one of the simplest games you can possibly play, and there have been countless versions of it released for almost 50 years. The objective is to get the ball past the other player and make sure the ball doesn’t make it past your side. Despite its simplicity, this is one of the most engaging games there is, and most people could spend hours playing it if they had the time.

Another great reason to play throwback games is they tend to just have a different style and feel to them. In the same way that music varies throughout the decades, games do as well. For example, games like Snake and Retro Space Blaster have a certain nostalgia that is hard to replicate in modern video games. It gives the games a sort of whimsy and fun vibe to them that a lot of people find enjoyable in games. Along with this, retro music will transport you to a time when games weren’t so detailed and complicated. These games didn’t have 1,000 levels, complicated upgrade trees, or shoehorned battle passes to keep you coming back. They were meant to be fun for the sake of having fun or conquering a tough challenge, and there’s something very gratifying about that. Here is a list of the four throwback games you really can’t miss on CoolMath.

Retro Ping Pong

Retro Ping Pong is a simple concept – get the ball past your opponent before they get the ball past you. This game requires extreme anticipation as well as good reactions, as your opponent will try and bounce the ball off of walls to confuse you.

One good strategy is to try to bounce the ball off of the walls so your opponent has to try and predict where the ball will bounce off of.

Snake

Snake came out all the way back in 1997, and it has been a fan favorite ever since. The goal is to gobble up as many blocks as possible. However, the more blocks you gobble up, the bigger you become. Eventually, it will become harder to maneuver around the map and eat blocks due to your size. This game requires reactions and planning, as it can be easy to run into your own snakes’ tail and end up having to restart from the beginning.

It’s a good idea to hug the edge of the wall as you play, so when your tail gets long you can take up a lot of space on the perimeter, which will leave room in the middle where you can gobble up more squares. This will prove to be important in the long run.

Retro Space Blaster

In Retro Space Blaster, players are flying a spaceship and are meant to complete tasks such as protecting a kitten in space, or avoiding a black hole while trying to take down a fleet of asteroids. Retro Space Blasters takes real skills and coordination to play, but once you get the hang of it, it can be a lot of fun!

4 In A Row

4 In a Row is a classic game that requires both skill and strategy, while also having an extremely simple layout. The objective is to connect four pieces in any direction before your opponent does. While this may sound easy, the game requires a lot of skill. Players must think ahead several moves to beat their opponent, as one mistake could lead to defeat.

A couple of tips – pay attention to what your opponent is up to just as much as what you are doing. Keep on the lookout for three dots in a row either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Defense is just as important as offense. Along with this, try and dominate the middle of the grid. More pieces in the middle will give you more opportunities to connect 4 pieces in a row.

These are just a few examples of great throwback games that Coolmath Games has to offer. Search around our classic games playlist here to explore other games that will take you back in time!