There are games that earn almost mythical status not because they’re masterpieces, but because they’re hard to find. Maybe they were only released in Japan, maybe they were stuck on a dead console, or maybe only a few thousand physical copies ever existed.
But then—BOOM—one day, it’s on Steam for $19.99, and anyone with a half-decent laptop can play it.
The Question:When a game's entire vibe is tied to its rarity, does something get lost when it suddenly becomes accessible?
Think about it:
The aura of exclusivity is gone.
The niche community that “got it” before everyone else… now has to share it with the masses.
That weird, slightly broken game people once spent $300 for on eBay? Now it’s in everyone’s backlog.
And honestly, I get both sides. On one hand, it’s amazing that more people get to experience a game that was once locked away. On the other hand, it kind of… flattens the mystique.
Some Examples:
Rule of Rose
Panzer Dragoon Saga
P.T. (if it ever got a remake)
Cave Story (pre-Steam era)
Haunting Ground
Or even the early Fire Emblem games before they got official localization
Let’s Talk:
Do you think re-releases "ruin" the specialness of rare games?
Is the value in the game itself or in its rarity?
Have you ever been excited for a rare game re-release… only to feel it wasn’t the same?
There’s something weirdly beautiful about games lost in time. But maybe letting more people play them is even more beautiful. Curious where you all stand.