Don't think that's actually true, though. Edit: top selling games of 2023. Pretty sure the idea that "old games were higher quality" is a example of a cognitive bias, too. I say this as someone that's been gaming since the 80s.
I think it's like old songs, you remember the good ones, discuss them with people, and preserve them. The crap from then is mostly forgotten, so it only appears that they were all great.
Agreed. I loved and still love Megaman X. Just replayed it recently and it's remarkably short. I recall it costing near $70 when we got it. People would be rioting if such a short linear game came out at that price point today, which is why it's bundled with 3 other games for $20 now.
The people who are vocal and discuss games on the internet are a small fraction of the population that actually buys games. Doesn't mean there isn't a market for that stuff. Gaming market is bigger than it's ever been. Direct delivery makes it incredibly easy for small indie devs to get their games out there. But that's not the stuff that's making the most money