I have definitely bonded with people over video games. Playing them together, or playing them apart but doing so physically side by side, talking about them… most social groups I’ve been, even when they were not formed around gaming at all, went and made a Minecraft server for us to play together. I think it is telling that the fastest way to get me to open a game and start playing is if my other friends are playing. I am younger than your generation, though, so I’m definitely not helping your argument for retro games specifically.

Online play has helped a lot for when I am physically separated from friends. Just hop in a game and voice chat, and play together anyways.