Frequently asked questions
Everything you might want to know about newold.games.
An indie game (short for "independent game") is a game made by an individual or a small studio without the financial backing of a large publisher. Because the developers fund and control their own work, indie games tend to be more experimental, personal and distinctive than big-budget "AAA" titles.
On newold.games we flag these with an Indie badge. We list them as alternatives because independent developers are often the ones keeping a classic genre alive - a small team lovingly recreating the spirit of an old favourite. Think of games like Celeste, Stardew Valley, Hollow Knight or DUSK.
It is a spectrum rather than a strict rule: some "indie" studios have grown large, and some publisher-backed games feel indie in spirit. We use the label for games that are clearly independently developed.
It is a ranked catalogue of the most-played classic games, each paired with modern ways to play something similar today - official remasters, faithful remakes, spiritual successors, indie gems and free open-source engines - along with the devices they run on and what they cost.
For every classic we look for the best current options: a remaster or re-release of the original, a modern remake, a spiritual successor in the same genre, and where one exists, an independent game in the same spirit. Signed-in members can also suggest their own alternatives.
Alternatives are ranked by a blended score that leans on community votes first, then factors like how many platforms it runs on and a few quality signals. The exact recipe is deliberately kept simple and behind the scenes - the goal is just that the options people rate highest float to the top.
Each alternative shows a check for every device it runs on: PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch. A grey cross means it is not available there.
For alternatives sold on Steam we show an indicative Steam Deck compatibility rating - Verified, Playable, Unsupported or Untested - so you know how well it runs on Valve's handheld. Non-Steam alternatives have no badge.
Prices are indicative, shown in euros, and can change with sales and regional differences. We also flag whether something is free, paid, or has in-app purchases. Always check the store for the current price.
Once you have a (free) account you can vote for a classic game and for the alternatives you like. You get one vote per game and one per alternative, and your votes help shape the ranking.
Signed-in members can add an alternative to any game via the "Add an alternative" button on a game page. New classic games are added by the site's admin.
Screenshots of the classic games come from Wikipedia (licensed game media), and screenshots of the modern alternatives come from the Steam store. They are indicative and belong to their respective rights holders.
Still have a question? Read more about the project.