Games turning 30 in 2027

Jan 7 Tibia 1997

Jan 31 Final Fantasy VII 1997 i Why it still holds upThe Materia and the size of the world still give you plenty to get into.

Feb 28 Super Bomberman 5 1997 i Why it still holds upRoutes that change which bosses you meet, and a battle mode with this many characters, are still reason enough to come back to it.

Mar 6 Magic: The Gathering 1997 i Why it still holds upBuilding a deck from the cards won on the road gives a card game a journey to follow, and that still holds today.

Mar 7 Blood 1997 i Why it still holds upA weapon with two modes to try on every enemy still makes each fight a small experiment.

Mar 14 Bushido Blade 1997 i Why it still holds upOne strike that can end a fight still makes every exchange a risk.

Mar 20 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 1997 i Why it still holds upExploring the castle is still the draw: it is full of hidden rooms and secrets, and each new ability opens somewhere that was closed.

Mar 21 Blast Corps 1997 i Why it still holds upEvery stage still asks you to work out which machine to use and when to swap it.

Mar 28 Theme Hospital 1997 i Why it still holds upEvery room that has to be placed, staffed and researched makes each hospital a plan to carry out today.

Apr 7 Outlaws 1997 i Why it still holds upThe hardest level still forces a different style of play.

Apr 11 Alundra 1997 i Why it still holds upThere is no fixed path from one dungeon to the next, so you still never know what you will be asked to do next.

Apr 25 Tobal 2 1997 i Why it still holds upA Quest Mode with dungeons and a town, and a roster that grows with captured monsters, still gives it more to do than the ring fights.

Apr 27 Star Fox 64 1997 i Why it still holds upBranching routes and medals give reasons to replay a short campaign, which is why it is worth playing today.

May 13 Shadow Warrior 1997 i Why it still holds upVehicles to drive, ladders to climb and a katana or a sticky bomb to choose from still give each level things to try.

May 30 Ace Combat 2 1997 i Why it still holds upA hangar to fill and branching missions are still a good reason to take off.

Jun 13 Carmageddon 1997 i Why it still holds upNow, three ways to win a race still give a player a choice of play.

Jun 20 Final Fantasy Tactics 1997 i Why it still holds upJobs that unlock abilities and a Charge Time that decides who acts still make every battle a puzzle of order and class today.

Jun 27 Dungeon Keeper 1997 i Why it still holds upIndirect control of creatures that have to be paid, trained and kept content means the dungeon is still run rather than commanded today.

Jul 3 Disney's Hercules Action Game 1997 i Why it still holds upA short set of levels with varied weapons still makes it quick to try.

Jul 28 The King of Fighters '97 1997 i Why it still holds upChoosing a style before a match still makes the fight a matter of how you want to play.

Aug 1 Mega Man X4 1997 i Why it still holds upA choice between a long range buster and a sword with no ammo makes each stage a different problem, so a second playthrough feels new even now.

Aug 1 Moto Racer 1997 i Why it still holds upThe two bikes still change the machine with the ground under it.

Aug 11 Tetrisphere 1997 i Why it still holds upA sphere to dig into makes it a puzzle game unlike most Tetris.

Aug 23 GoldenEye 007 1997 i Why it still holds upOpen levels with objectives that change by difficulty, plus the multiplayer, still hold it up today.

Sep 3 Imperialism 1997 i Why it still holds upThe transport screen still sets an empire's limit at how much it can carry.

Sep 11 Mortal Kombat 4 1997 i Why it still holds upThe weapons still put something sharp in every fighter's hands, in a fight that stays on a line.

Sep 18 Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee 1997 i Why it still holds upIt still plays as a careful puzzle platformer: rescued Mudokons follow your commands and checkpoints are the only saves.

Sep 24 Ultima Online 1997

Oct 9 Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II 1997 i Why it still holds upChoosing which kind of power to grow still gives each run a shape of its own.

Oct 10 Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game 1997 i Why it still holds upA build that matters in every conversation, and combat you plan rather than react to, are the reasons to play it today.

Oct 13 Age of Empires 1997 i Why it still holds upFinite trees, four resources and buildings to place still turn each match into a city planning problem today.

Oct 31 Riven: The Sequel to Myst 1997 i Why it still holds upA vaguely explained goal and cursors that tell you what a click will do still make exploring each place a matter of observing.

Nov 6 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back 1997 i Why it still holds upHub rooms that save, and let you leave a hard stage and come back, still make it easy to approach today.

Nov 7 Myth: The Fallen Lords 1997 i Why it still holds upThe army you start with is still the army you have, so each battle comes down to keeping it alive.

Nov 20 Einhänder 1997 i Why it still holds upToday, weapons taken from defeated enemies make each wave a choice of what to carry.

Nov 21 Tomb Raider II 1997 i Why it still holds upA trip from the Great Wall to Venice is a tour that still draws a returning player.

Nov 21 Diddy Kong Racing 1997 i Why it still holds upRacing in three kinds of vehicle across five worlds is a reason to try it again now.

Dec 9 Quake II 1997 i Why it still holds upToday the campaign gives you a structure that is clear to follow, with mission objectives and a hub to move between large levels.

Dec 11 Klonoa: Door to Phantomile 1997 i Why it still holds upEvery fight still has a second use, with a grabbed enemy that is both weapon and springboard.

Dec 18 Grandia 1997 i Why it still holds upTrying new gear is still a reason to explore, since skills grow with use.

Dec 19 Harvest Moon GB 1997 i Why it still holds upA small farm and a simple daily routine still make a relaxed, short session.

Dec 23 Gran Turismo 1997 i Why it still holds upA progression of licenses, credits and tuning, on top of physics built first, still blends arcade and simulation racing today.

Dec 25 Tomba! 1997 Also known as Tombi! i Why it still holds upThe tasks handed out as you go still give the island a reason to keep exploring.