32 Retro Gaming Memes For Everyone Who Grew Up Blowing Into Cartridges
As an elder millennial, I’ve been there for the entire lifespan of modern gaming—from blowing into NES cartridges and praying they’d work, to watching games go full photorealistic with open worlds bigger than my hometown. I grew up right alongside the technology, and I’ve loved every step of the evolution.
But man, something’s changed. Somewhere along the way, the magic started getting chipped away—replaced with half-finished video games, day-one patches, endless subscriptions, and enough microtransactions to make my childhood self cry into a strategy guide.
That’s why these retro gaming memes hit so hard. They’re a reminder of a time when games felt complete, weirdly difficult, and wildly satisfying. So here’s a little blast of nostalgia for everyone who remembers when saving your progress meant writing down a code and hoping your little brother didn’t lose it.
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