Turns out you yearn for the return of PC Gamer’s two favourite genres just as much as we do
PC Gamer conducted a community poll asking readers which deceased or declining game genres they would most like to see revived. The survey revealed strong nostalgia among PC gamers for two classic genre categories that defined the platform’s golden era in the 1990s and 2000s.
According to the poll results, the two most popular responses involved genres described colloquially as “stack boxes” and “send little guys to battle,” pointing to player appetite for puzzle-based games and strategy titles respectively. These genres are characterized by the publication as quintessentially PC gaming experiences that shaped the platform’s identity during their heyday but have largely faded from mainstream production in recent years.
The survey highlights a broader pattern in gaming where genres cycle through periods of popularity and dormancy before experiencing nostalgic revivals. PC Gamer notes that some genres remain “dead” for longer periods than others, with their extended absence being felt most acutely by dedicated fans who grew up with these experiences. The strong response to the poll suggests there exists a viable player base eager for new entries or revivals within these neglected genre spaces.