Game anniversaries in 2026

Feb 21 The Legend of Zelda 1986 i Why it still holds upEven now, a world with secrets hidden under rocks and trees rewards looking at everything.

Mar 29 Knightmare 1986 i Why it still holds upIts constant scroll and weapon swapping still keep each stage busy.

Apr 14 The Mysterious Murasame Castle 1986 i Why it still holds upEven now, power ups are few, so you rely on your own action skills more than anything else.

Aug 15 Starflight 1986 i Why it still holds upYou still pick your own route through the galaxy, so every captain's journey differs.

Aug 17 Action Fighter 1986 i Why it still holds upThe course is still new each time, with a change of vehicle from level to level.

Sep 26 Castlevania 1986 i Why it still holds upA whip with a short delay and a running clock make every stage a careful one, and that is still the case.

Oct 15 Top Gunner 1986 Also known as Jackal i Why it still holds upA jeep with a friend riding along is still a fun arcade idea today.

Oct 30 Vampire Killer 1986 i Why it still holds upThe castle is still a maze to search and not a line to run.

Mar 7 Street Fighter II 1991 i Why it still holds upEach match still comes down to special moves and spacing between two people.

Jun 21 Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom 1991 i Why it still holds upEvery level is still a vertical space to move through, with walls to climb and pipes to hang from.

Jul 19 Final Fantasy IV 1991 i Why it still holds upCharacters with fixed roles who join and leave the party make the story and the combat change together, and that still shapes every battle today.

Aug 23 Valis IV 1991 i Why it still holds upThree characters with their own moves and spells still give the acts several ways to be played.

Nov 8 Sonic the Hedgehog 1991 i Why it still holds upA handheld game with room to explore is still worth a try for anyone curious about the series.

Nov 15 Magical Chase 1991 i Why it still holds upShops that sell health and a choice of weapons still give each run decisions to make.

Nov 21 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 1991 i Why it still holds upPlayed now, each item you win opens parts of the map you have already seen, and the second world reuses the first to give you more of it.

Dec 29 GG Aleste 1991 i Why it still holds upA ship that clears the screen when it dies still turns every loss into a last shot.

Jan 29 Duke Nukem 3D 1996 i Why it still holds upEach level is still worth poking around, with routes through ducts and sewers and objects that react when you use them.

Feb 27 Pokémon Red Version 1996 i Why it still holds upA collecting goal, a route past eight gyms and the Elite Four, and a small Kanto map that leaves things to the imagination are the reason to play it now.

Mar 9 Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars 1996 i Why it still holds upVisible enemies and timed button presses keep you acting in every turn, which is the reason to play it now.

Jun 22 Quake 1996 i Why it still holds upFull 3D levels, enemies with distinct roles and rocket jumping still make exploring and fighting feel like one thing today.

Jun 23 Super Mario 64 1996 i Why it still holds upMario controls crisply and each painting lets you pick which star to chase, so the game still feels open today.

Nov 22 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 1996 i Why it still holds upTwo sides built differently, and a power grid that doubles as a target, keep it distinct from other strategy games today.

Nov 22 Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares 1996 i Why it still holds upCustom race design, several routes to victory and ship by ship tactical combat still make each game start differently today.

Dec 14 Mario Kart 64 1996 i Why it still holds upFour player split screen in Versus and Battle on one console, with items and drift boosts keeping races open, still makes it easy to start a match today.

Mar 15 Gothic 2001 i Why it still holds upExploring without markers, in a world of rival camps, is the reason to play it now.

Jul 19 Final Fantasy X 2001 i Why it still holds upTime stops while you decide and swapping characters makes each fight a choice of who suits it, so the battles still reward planning.

Jul 25 Max Payne 2001 i Why it still holds upBullet time is why it still plays well: it sets the pace of the fights, and the average gunfight lasts only about ten seconds.

Aug 21 Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura 2001 i Why it still holds upPlay it today for a world where the same quest is solved differently by different builds.

Sep 25 Silent Hill 2 2001 i Why it still holds upThe horror is the reason to go now: it is psychological, built from the characters' regrets and fears and from a town seen through fog, rather than from monsters alone.

Oct 23 Grand Theft Auto III 2001 i Why it still holds upThe city is built as a place rather than a level: what you do is your choice, and the world carries on around you, which is why it is still worth playing today.

Nov 13 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty 2001 i Why it still holds upLights, glass, steam and fruit are all tools against those squads, so the environment keeps its part in the stealth today.

Nov 21 Super Smash Bros. Melee 2001 i Why it still holds upFast, physics driven fighting that is easy to pick up and frantic with four players keeps it played today.

Mar 16 Final Fantasy XII 2006 i Why it still holds upGambits, which let you program how each character fights, still make combat a matter of setup as much as input today.

Mar 20 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 2006 i Why it still holds upIt is worth playing today for a world that treats the main quest as optional and puts side content throughout.

Apr 20 Mother 3 2006 i Why it still holds upEvery fight asks for timed input and not only menu choices, and the story of a family and a changing village mixes humor and grief, which makes it worth the effort today.

Apr 20 Ōkami 2006 i Why it still holds upPlay it now for an ink painting look and a brush that keeps opening up old areas of the world.

May 26 Hitman: Blood Money 2006 i Why it still holds upEach mission is an open space with several ways to reach the target, and a payout that rewards doing it cleanly still invites a second try today.

Jul 13 Persona 3 2006 i Why it still holds upDaily life, relationships and dungeon fighting feed each other, so choices outside the tower matter inside it, and that is the reason to play it now.

Nov 10 Medieval II: Total War 2006 i Why it still holds upA turn based campaign over a whole medieval map, with battles you fight yourself in real time, keeps it worth playing today.

Nov 19 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess 2006 i Why it still holds upNine dungeons with distinct themes and tools, joined by a large overworld, and two ways of moving and fighting in one adventure, are why it is worth playing now.

Jan 25 Dead Space 2 2011 i Why it still holds upIts atmosphere is why it still works: the lighting and the sound design keep you on edge from start to finish.

Apr 18 Portal 2 2011 i Why it still holds upA few simple tools that combine keep producing new puzzles, and the writing and characters carry them, so it still plays well today.

May 17 The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings 2011 i Why it still holds upChoices with delayed consequences, and build choices that change how you fight, are the reasons to play it today.

Jun 16 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D 2011 i Why it still holds upIts dungeons still make a good case for playing today, a mix of puzzle rooms and mazes that test your memory, with controls that suit the 3DS.

Sep 22 Dark Souls 2011 i Why it still holds upPlayed now, exploring still pays: it turns up items, shortcuts and hidden areas, and the slow, precise combat almost never ends in a cheap death.

Oct 18 Batman: Arkham City 2011 i Why it still holds upEach enemy type asks for a different answer and gliding between fights keeps the pace up, which keeps it worth playing today.

Nov 1 Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception 2011 i Why it still holds upIts set pieces blend climbing, shooting and escape in single sequences rather than separate modes, and that is why it is still worth playing now.

Nov 11 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 2011 i Why it still holds upToday the freedom still carries it: after a linear introduction you can go anywhere, and side quests range from short errands to adventures as long as the main story.

Feb 26 Stardew Valley 2016 i Why it still holds upThe relaxed pacing is why it is worth playing now: it asks for motivation and not urgency, missing a townsperson's timer has no real consequence, and the town feels alive.

Mar 24 Dark Souls III 2016 i Why it still holds upWith weapons, stats and spells that combine into many ways to fight, it gives you a lot to try now, and its bosses come with orchestral music and haunting choirs.

May 10 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End 2016 i Why it still holds upYou would play it today for the traversal and the performances, since climbing carries much of the game and the dialogue and acting carry a personal story.

May 13 Doom 2016 i Why it still holds upIts combat is why it is worth playing now: it never asks you to hide, since health and ammunition come from killing up close, so the game keeps you moving forward.

Jun 29 Inside 2016 i Why it still holds upThe puzzles are why it still plays well: they are natural obstacles that make sense in the context of the game, and the wordless boy is expressive enough to carry it.

Sep 15 Persona 5 2016 i Why it still holds upEven now it stands out for its style and structure, since a year of school becomes a rhythm of days, dungeons and people.

Oct 28 Titanfall 2 2016 i Why it still holds upLevels with several routes, and a Titan you swap into at the push of a button, still give five hours plenty of variety today.

Nov 11 Dishonored 2 2016 i Why it still holds upLevels with many routes let a stealth run, a lethal run and a power mixing run all work, which keeps it worth replaying today.