How RetroRising Works

Content Sourcing

RetroRising aggregates content from multiple sources and presents it through a unified, structured interface. Content is not user-generated in the traditional sense; it is sourced from established retro gaming creators and organised editorially.

Video Content

Videos on RetroRising are sourced from YouTube channels that specialise in retro gaming. These include channels producing:

• Longplays — full, unedited playthroughs of classic games, typically without commentary
• Speedruns — timed playthroughs attempting to complete games as quickly as possible
• Reviews and retrospectives — editorial analysis of games, often covering historical context and cultural impact
• Let's Plays — commentary-driven playthroughs
• Comparison videos — cross-platform or regional version comparisons

Channels are selected based on content quality, specialisation in retro gaming, and consistency. Each video (called a "clip" internally) is associated with the specific game and platform it covers, enabling structured browsing.

Game Database

The game database is built using data from IGDB (Internet Games Database), a comprehensive game database maintained by Twitch. Game entries include titles, platform versions, release years, genres, and cover artwork. Each game entry in RetroRising is linked to its associated video content, enabling users to move directly from a game's page to available video coverage of that title.

Discovery System

RetroRising uses a tag-based discovery system. Every game and video clip is tagged across multiple dimensions:

• Platform tags — NES, SNES, Mega Drive, PlayStation, N64, Game Boy, Atari, Amiga, ZX Spectrum, etc.
• Genre tags — platformer, JRPG, beat-em-up, shoot-em-up, puzzle, adventure, sports, racing, etc.
• Era tags — decade-based groupings (1980s, 1990s, early 2000s)
• Bit-era tags — 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit
• Theme tags — based on game content (e.g., sci-fi, horror, fantasy, licensed IP)

The tag system allows users to explore retro gaming content across multiple axes simultaneously. A user can browse all 16-bit JRPGs, or all 1990s platformers, or all Mega Drive games with co-op — without needing to know specific titles in advance. This is the core discovery mechanism that differentiates RetroRising from search-driven platforms.

TV Mode and Scheduled Content

RetroRising features a "TV mode" that presents curated video content on a rotating schedule, similar to a television broadcast schedule. Users can tune in to the current programme without selecting specific content, replicating the passive viewing experience of watching a retro gaming TV channel. The schedule rotates through content from different platforms and genres across the day.

User Interactions

Registered users on RetroRising can:

• Nostalgia markers — tag games they remember playing, want to play, or have completed
• Clip favourites — save specific video clips to a personal library
• Comments — leave comments on games, clips, and channels
• Tag browsing history — the platform tracks browsing context to improve suggestions

An account is not required to browse the platform. Registration unlocks personal tracking and community features.

Platform Coverage

RetroRising covers games from the following systems (representative list, not exhaustive):