If you count the 8 bit era from the release of the Famicom in 1983 and the end of the 16 bit era at the release of the PlayStation in 1995, that’s 12 years. The first deliberately retro style game I can remember playing was Mega man 9, released in 2008, and games made in the style of the 2D classics of yore are still being pumped out today, 17 years later.

And because someone is going to mention it, yes I know there were other consoles and computers before the NES/Famicom. The first console my family owned was an Atari 2600, wood grain and all, but there are far fewer modern games reminiscent of that style.