10 games have seen renewed interest due to recent gaming news

With how busy the launch schedule has already been this year, it's not hard to see why some gamers are focusing their attention on the hottest, latest and trendiest games, but there are still plenty of us out there who are spending time revisiting a handful of classics this year!

There are many reasons why we think these games are suddenly popular again, but regardless of why fans are returning to these classic video games again, we're totally on point! Visiting an old favorite is always a lot of fun, no matter what it is!

God of War

With the massive rise in retro gaming and the questionable pending changes to how we get our games on PlayStation, this exclusive series has seen quite a resurgence in popularity recently. Whether you're going back to it on your PS2 with the original series, or running around with Boy in the later series, there's plenty of replay value in God of War.

We imagine this increase could come from the June 2026 announcement of God of War: Laufey, an upcoming title that follows Atreus' mother Laufey as she navigates the underworld of the gods in a game that runs parallel to the events of the 2018 title. It launches sometime in 2027, giving you plenty of time to go back and enjoy the originals.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Whether you're longing for a dark journey back across the continent, trying to get one of the game's other endings, or just in the mood for a good game of GWENT, there are plenty of reasons to step into Geralt of Rivia's shoes again when playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

We're still waiting for the fifth and final season of Netflix's live-action adaptation of the game, but while we do, there's plenty to do on the continent, especially if you've never enjoyed one of the DLC packs for the hit 2015 title.

Undertale

What started in 2015 as a small indie game about a kid who fell underground and has to fight his way back to the surface in classic RPG style has become one of the most popular titles in its genre. There are several ways to experience the story of Undertale, but no matter which way you choose, we definitely recommend it.

With the fifth and final episode of the game's parallel title, Deltarune, now finally out, you'll want to catch up and play a game of Undertale before diving into the game. Refresh your memory before taking on the next game in this wonderfully bizarre RPG series by playing through the original game.

Final Fantasy VII

We really don't think there's a bad time to start playing the Final Fantasy series, nor do we think there's a really bad entry in it to enjoy first, but we've seen quite a bit of a surge in popularity of older titles in the series lately.

Final Fantasy 7 is an easy pick as a favorite in this huge JRPG series, and with several different ways to experience Cloud Strife's story these days, it's never been easier to start playing. With the news that Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will launch in 2027, gamers have taken the time to refresh their memories of the previous games.

Dave the Diver

If you're looking for a fun way to stay at sea this summer and beat the heat we're experiencing around the world, then it's the perfect time to check out Dave the Diver, a brilliant title from 2023 that combines the action-adventure you're looking for in an underwater game with the pleasant satisfaction of managing a sushi restaurant that prepares food from your catches.

Whether it's the desire for a fun summer game or because the In the Jungle DLC launched on June 18th this year to dig up the Blue Hole and take Dave's adventures into the jungle, there's never been a better time to check out this casually quirky management sim.

Escape The Backrooms

After spending a few years in early access, Escape the Backrooms officially launched last fall to great fanfare, giving fans of YouTube's niche horror series The Backrooms a chance to escape them themselves. The liminal space horror saw huge popularity when it was in early access, so the full release was well received.

Thanks to the popularity of the silver screen adaptation of the series, with The Backrooms breaking box office records during its theatrical release, so many people are seeing it.

Cyberpunk 2077

CD Projekt Red

Even if you didn't play Cyberpunk 2077 when it was released (which might have been the right move, given how many updates it's received since then), you've definitely seen Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand, a badass rock star on the run whose biochip has been implanted in your head.

With the finished version getting the love it more than deserves, a Netflix animated series based on the game's universe recently announced for a second season, and an announced project bringing said animated series into the world of live-action with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners actor Zach Aguilar as Martinez himself, the surge in player numbers lately isn't that hard to explain.

Genshin Impact

Explore the amazing open world of Teyvat in Genshin Impact, one of the most popular gacha games on the market today. You'll search for new characters on gacha banners and form teams of four based on their elemental affinity, weapon types, buffs or debuffs, and more, all while meeting a variety of characters you'll never forget.

The game launched in 2020 and has expanded rapidly since then, with the seventh and final main area of ​​Teyvat unlocking later this summer. We head to the winter wonderland of Snezhnaya, the land of Cryo, for the first time after hearing so much about it and the Tsaritsa who rules it throughout the game so far.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Although it is the fourth main game in the Grand Theft Auto series overall, Vice City was one of the first open-ended games in the cult action-adventure titles. In this Miami-inspired city, you'll play as Tommy Vercetti and build a criminal empire that we hope to explore more in a later title.

While there's never a bad time to dive back into an older favorite, we definitely know why Vice City has been seeing such an upswing lately – it's because Grand Theft Auto 6 is finally out in November, and with the long-awaited title also set in Vice City, gamers from all over the world are returning to prepare for their time come this fall.

Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Royal brought the Persona series, long loved overseas, to the West in a mainstream way, following the story of the Joker, who spends a year on probation in Tokyo after trying to prevent an ongoing attack by a powerful leader. Team up with friends to explore creative dungeons and take on the corrupt Shadow versions of the overlords to steal their hearts and make them repent for their sins.

Whether it's because Atlus finally announced that Persona 6 is finally on its way, because we're getting Persona 4 Revival in a few months, or because Netflix just recently said they'll be doing a live-action adaptation of the series, it's no secret why one of the best JRPGs of all time is experiencing such a surge in popularity these days!