Vaporwave: The Definitive Video Games

The vaporwave experience is interactive as well as audio-visual. Many games have been claimed by the vaporwave dynasty as influential relics and a few have even been borne directly from it. From the violent tendencies of Hotline Miami (2012) to the relaxing ambience of Islands: Non-Places (2016), the aesthetic has dripped into video game designs across the board. Whilst some of the influences fall more clearly into the realms of synthwave, or retrowave, the aesthetics can certainly be appreciated by those of the vaporous style of wave.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

The most famous game that stands (unbeknownst to its developers at the time) arm in arm with vaporwave is the classic Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002). You cruise around a city based on 1986 Miami in stolen cars of the era, blasting the radio packed with 80’s classics. Floral shirts, lo-rez beach sunsets and night-time drives are of course included. Devolver Digital produced a pixelated gore-fest complete with nostalgic trips to the video store and local pizzeria back in 2012.

The hit game, Hotline Miami, is retro in every way except its release date (though I suppose it’s only a matter of time before that is too). In an interview for Eurogamer with game creators Dennis Wedin and Jonatan “Cactus” Söderström, Wedin tells us that “[Drive]…