Young People Try Linus' Favorite Childhood PC Games
0 up · 0 down · 0 ratings
Promos
Take the first step toward adventure with Vessi. Visit vessi.com to keep your travels comfortable and dry. Explore confidently and enjoy 15% off your first pair at checkout! Protect your data and get $20 off on your Hetzner Cloud! htznr.li Video Games have changed. We all have TONS of core memories of gaming as a kid: taking turns at a desktop with a friend, saving up the budget and buying a game with my own money - or pulling an all-nighter to unlock that last secret character …but can I TRUST my memories? Were games really better when I was coming up, or do kids today have it better- even with all their loot boxes, giant downloads, and horse armour? Are console and PC games the same? We’re putting nostalgia to the ultimate test and bringing in some fresh eyes to help me shatter my rose colored glasses: 8 young people will be playing some of the games that shaped Linus into the Gamer you see standing before you today. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com ► GET OUR MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► GET A VPN: piavpn.com ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 1:40 Game 1 - DinoPark Tycoon 7:45 Game 2 - Tie Fighter 11:56 Game 3 - Road Rash 16:51 Game 4 - Civilization 2: Test of Time 22:01 Game 5 - Warcraft 3
The video opens with Linus describing how video games shaped his childhood and the memories around saving up for titles, sharing how nostalgia is being tested by bringing in eight young people to try his favorite childhood PC games. He frames the experiment as a way to see whether memories match reality in today’s era of large downloads, loot boxes, and modern convenience. The crew then dives into the first game, Dino Park Tycoon, where the players quickly realize the game’s brutal but earnest early design and the need to manage money, dinos, and park layout with limited documentation. Their initial struggles give way to moments of humor as they learn the mechanics, discuss upgrade paths, and debate how to judge a game that feels difficult by today’s standards. Throughout, the participants comment on how UI, manuals, and the pressure of building a successful virtual business differ from modern user experiences, highlighting both the charm and the friction of early computer games. By the end of the segment, several players express a surprising fondness for the challenge and the sense of accomplishment that comes from slowly mastering a dated title. Linus finishes the segment noting that nostalgia can be a gateway to appreciating the historical context of these games while recognizing how far game design has come since then.
Topics · gaming · nostalgia · technology · education
Questions answered
- Why do viewers think Road Rash and similar titles resonated with a generation, and what keeps them memorable today?
- Viewers credit the soundtrack, vibrant arcade-style action, mechanical simplicity, and the social aspect of sharing a screen and turning a few dollars into a park or a race win as lasting memories that feel distinct from today’s open-world, highly polished experiences.
- What is the main critique about Civ 2: Test of Time in this video, and how do the players respond to it?
- The main critique is the heavy UI complexity and lack of tutorial guidance, which leaves players feeling overwhelmed. Respondents acknowledge the game's depth and historical importance but note the steep learning curve makes casual play challenging.