Love them or hate them you can’t help but acknowledge thatgames have changed a lot over the years. The technology they’re built on and played on has come on in leaps and bounds. Games we know and love have transformed into staggeringly beautiful works of art.
We’ve collected a gallery of images to show you how amazing video games are and just how far they’ve come. Which of these did you play and are still playing now?
The Sims (2000) vs The Sims 4: StrangerVille (2019)
If you’ve ever found your life a little dull and wanted some escapism, then The Sims was the perfect outlet. Why live your own mundane 9-5 life when you could force some little pixel people to do it instead.
Having small computer people do your every bidding was always hilarious and The Sims is still as popular as ever, only a lot better looking, but no less bonkers.
SimCity (1989) vs SimCity 6 (2016)
Like The Sims, SimCity was a great bit of escapism, putting God-like powers in your hands to create and craft life and living for computer-generated people.
Top-down views have been replaced by sprawling Metropolis empires and magnificent skyscrapers.
Mortal Kombat (1992) vs Mortal Kombat 11 (2019)
When it comes to beat ‘em ups, Mortal Kombat has always been the goriest, most grotesque and over-the-top fighter around.
Graphical enhancements over the years have only made that shock value more impressive and sometimes more hilarious.
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) vs Halo 5: Guardians (2015)
Halo sure has evolved over the years (see what we did there?).
The classic console shooter has often been one of the main reasons to buy anXbox, if you ever needed one.
Thegames are also on PC now too, which is cool. The graphics are bound to be even more interesting when that happens. EvenHalo 5: Guardianslooked amazing, 14 years makes quite a difference it seems.
The Elder Scrolls: Arena (1994) vs The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
Elder Scrolls is certainly another classic RPG series and it’s fair to say thatThe Elder Scrolls VIis one of the most hotly anticipated games.
What amazes us though is not only how far the series has come, but how Skyrim was released eight years ago. Where does the time go? We’re not even sure we fully completed the game properly, never mind all the different versions that have come since.
Mafia (2002) vs Mafia Definitive Edition (2020)
In 20202K Games unleashedMafia Trilogy and Mafia Definitive Edition. Remastered versions of the classic Mafia games.
The updated versions of the games show how far visuals have come and certainly have us excited for the future of these games.
Battlefield 1942 (2002) vs Battlefield V (2018)
We have some brilliant hazy memories of the original outing of the Battlefield franchise.
Back in those days, you could play against bots if your internet wasn’t up to the challenge of online multiplayer and there were all sorts of fun to be hand on land and in the air too.
Now with cutting-edge graphics,ray tracing, destructive environments and more,Battlefield sure has come a long way.
Super Mario Bros. (1985) vs Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
Nintendomight not necessarily be known for making the most cutting-edge games when it comes to graphics, but that doesn’t mean Mario hasn’t come a long way.
The original Super Mario Bros. was much loved back in 1985 onthe original Nintendo Entertainment System, now in the modern era, you can take Mario games with you wherever you are thanks to the Nintendo Switch. Things are a lot prettier too! We lovedSuper Mario Odysseywhen we reviewed it in 2017 and more and more Mario games are popping up all the time.
The Legend of Zelda (1986) vs The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild (2017)
As you might imagine, there are going to be a few top-down games on this list that have transformed into fully-fledged vast open worlds seen from a new perspective as the years have passed.
The Legend of Zelda has been a firm Nintendo favourite for decades. You’ll find plenty of older gamers with a soft spot in their heart for the original games and the newest iterations are even more popular withBreath of the Wildstealing the show in 2017.
Grand Theft Auto (1997) vs GTA V (2013)
According to The Guinness World Records 2008 and 2009, the original GTA games were seen as the most controversial games in video game history.
Despite being top-down, the original GTA was seen as unnecessarily violent and vulgar. Not much has changed, but then neither has the popularity.
Over the years, GTA has evolved into a bigger and better sandbox, open-world experience with even more criminal enterprise to enjoy.GTA Vwas released in 2013 to critical acclaim, but when it came to PC a couple of years later it also opened the visuals up to an even bigger overhaul withgraphics modsto make the world of San Andreas even more stunning.
