Era can be defined as a console generation, a decade, one specific year, whatever you want. I’d encourage you to give a list of your favourite games from the generation of choice and why it was the best to you. Nostalgia is a totally viable reason too.
I’ll go first. For me, the 360 era is my GOAT. As someone in their 20s, I grew up with the 360 so nostalgia is definitely a big factor. But on top of that, I still feel like the games during that time were some of the best we’ve had. 2011 alone was a fantastic year, with Dark Souls, Skyrim, Portal 2 and many more great games. I was going to list out my favourite games from 2005-2013 but I love so many it would be far too long of a post.
I’d love to hear some of you talk about your favourite time period of games too, whether it’s agreeing with my choice or giving different opinions
Okay, below the "=" is my previous answer but I admit it was against the spirit of the post so let me think. I choose the years from the launch of EverQuest to Shadows of Luclin. I consider EverQuest to be the greatest MMO ever made. So my answer is 1999-2002.
To this day I STILL play servers locked at the 2002 version of EverQuest. It's very populated. That should tell you something.
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Got my first console in 89. First PC in 99.
My choice is current year, because it encompasses every year before and the amount of emulator projects is greater than it's ever been.
I can make any system from history with a Saturday of effort.
Plus all the indie games that capture the retro feel. Idk, gaming is in a great spot if you don't bother with big studios.
The ability to play all that old stuff is a thing of beauty and seems to be getting stronger, both in practice and as a general concept within the industry, with each passing year. It's great!
I like your updated answer! I’m surprised and impressed EverQuest is still populated. That’s awesome. I had a couple friends from college who would play it, and that wasn’t too long ago for me
EQ Live is still populated. But the version I play is called p99, it's a free to play passion project by former players who took the source and run their own custom servers.
The most popular custom servers just happen to be the ones locked at 2002.
pQuarm is the new kid on the block. A server that will lock at PoP.
The community is the best of any MMO I've ever played. If people find out you are new, it's not guaranteed, but likely benefactors will find gear to donate to you. Largely because the game is HARD. It's old school MMO. No hand holding. Press the wrong button and attack your own city guard. Hail the wrong demigod and they kill you for bothering them. Dying is often a huge deal (not at first). All that said, difficulty like that breeds community, and the community is like no other game that exists.
DM me and I'll either be a guide for you or direct you to some friends of mine who can recommend starter guilds and such for you. I know quite a few players on p99Green and pQuarm.