Nostalgialistic: What’s in a name

May 9, 2026 - 17:31

The first video game I remember actually playing is Pokémon FireRed. I did not play it particularly well. I mostly restarted and played through the first hour or so of the game over and over. The furthest I ever got was Cinnabar Island, about 60% of the game. The thing that excited me then was the simple joy of discovery. Each new route, each wild Pokémon encounter, felt like a small adventure. I did not care about completing the Pokédex or beating the Elite Four. I just wanted to see what was around the next corner. That sense of wonder is something that sticks with you.

Years later, I still think about those early sessions. The pixelated graphics, the chiptune music, the way the game felt both simple and vast. It was not about being good at the game. It was about the feeling of being lost in a world that was mine to explore. That is what nostalgia is, really. Not just remembering a game, but remembering the person you were when you played it. And for me, that person was a kid who did not need to finish anything to have fun.