Chrono Trigger 1995Why it still holds upAreas hardly overstay their welcome and the puzzles are challenging without being frustrating, which is why the pacing holds up today.The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 1998Why it still holds upThe dungeons keep it worth playing now, with an ocarina whose melodies open the way and a lock on that keeps fights under control.Super Mario World 1990Why it still holds upExploring the world map pays off as much as the levels, with red spots that lead to secret routes, so it is still worth playing today.The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 1991Why 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.Super Metroid 1994Why it still holds upThe world is still the reason to go back today, made to be explored from its silent, empty start.
Final Fantasy VII 1997Why it still holds upThe Materia and the size of the world still give you plenty to get into.
Why it still holds upSeeing and being seen are still the whole game today, and an art style that works with the hardware's limits keeps it looking and playing well.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 1997Why 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.
Half-Life 1998Why it still holds upThe story told without cutscenes keeps it fresh to play now, and its soldiers still change how a gunfight plays.
Super Mario 64 1996Why it still holds upMario still controls crisply today, and each painting lets you pick which star to chase, so the game feels open.
StarCraft 1998Why it still holds upEach race plays differently and none has an innate advantage, which is why it still plays well today.EarthBound 1994Also known as Mother 2Why it still holds upIt still respects your time, with visible enemies and that slow HP drain, and its humour gets wackier as you go.Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 1995Why it still holds upOpen levels that use height, and a difficulty that builds steadily, keep it enjoyable to play now.Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge 1991Why it still holds upThe humour and the dialogue are the reason to play it now, with a lot of people to talk to and puzzles spread over a set of islands.
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis 1992Why it still holds upThe three paths give it three routes through one story, which is why it still holds up today, in a tone close to the films.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 1995Why it still holds upThe art and the countdown that replaces a health bar make it worth playing today, with pastel colours, large backdrops and expressive sprites.
Day of the Tentacle 1993Why it still holds upIts comic writing and voice acting are the reason to play it now, since in the CD version every line of dialogue is spoken.
System Shock 2 1999Why it still holds upThe skill system and the atmosphere keep it worth playing now, since you build your character through choices aboard a ship that feels lived in.
Planescape: Torment 1999Why it still holds upThe writing and the companions are still the reason to play it today, since your stats and what you say keep opening options in conversation.
Why it still holds upIts deliberate pace is why it still plays well: it scales so that players of any skill can choose the speed they are comfortable with.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1992Why it still holds upThe reason to go back is level design that rewards speed without giving up exploration.
Pokémon Silver Version 1999Why it still holds upA world that runs on its own clock, with a second full region after the first, is the reason to go back to it now.The Secret of Monkey Island 1990Why it still holds upIt stays playable because its puzzles avoid dead ends and deaths, and because the dialogue is still witty.Sid Meier's Civilization 1991Why it still holds upEvery turn is still a small decision about research, building or war today, and the order you choose shapes the whole run.
Why it still holds upIts level design and its atmosphere are why it is worth playing now: each maze is a place you learn, and the claustrophobic rooms keep the pace fast.
Why it still holds upA build that counts in every conversation and every fight is still the reason to play it today.
Pokémon Gold Version 1999Why it still holds upTwo regions on one cartridge keep the adventure going past the first Elite Four, and that is the reason to play it today.Donkey Kong Country 1994Why it still holds upLevels that keep changing how you move, with vines, barrels, mine carts and animals, and a difficulty that rises steadily, are the reason to play it now.Pokémon Blue Version 1996Why it still holds upThe loop of catching, training and battling is simple enough to pick up now, and the version differences make trading with friends part of the design.GoldenEye 007 1997Why it still holds upOpen levels with objectives that change by difficulty, plus the multiplayer, still hold it up today.
Doom II: Hell on Earth 1994Why it still holds upEach map is a place to explore, with its own layout, secrets and mix of enemies, and the three settings give each stretch its own look.
Grim Fandango 1998Why it still holds upPlay it now for a Day of the Dead inspired afterlife styled as film noir, in a game where you cannot get stuck.
Suikoden II 1998Why it still holds upA huge recruitable cast, each with a place in battles or the castle, ties war strategy, party combat and base building into one loop, and that is the reason to play it now.
Pokémon Red Version 1996Why it still holds upA journey past eight gyms with a collection to complete along the way is still the reason to play it today.Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars 1996Why it still holds upVisible enemies and timed button presses keep you acting in every turn, which is the reason to play it now.Banjo-Kazooie 1998Why it still holds upWith every world a themed space full of different tasks, the collecting stays varied, and that is still the reason to play it today.Tekken 3 1997Why it still holds upWhat holds up today is smooth controls and distinct movesets.Sid Meier's Civilization II 1996Why it still holds upA full sweep of history, where every city and every advance is your choice, still makes it worth playing today.
Baldur's Gate 1998Why it still holds upDeep tabletop rules that run themselves let you make tactical decisions rather than handle the math, and that is why it is still worth playing.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 1993Why it still holds upIts world still opens as you find items, with dungeons built around them, and that structure keeps it fresh today.
Why it still holds upPrecise controls and bosses with distinct movement patterns, where beating one changes how you fight the others, make it worth playing now.
Star Fox 64 1997Why it still holds upRoutes that branch and medals to earn still give a short campaign reasons to replay today.
Diablo 1996Why it still holds upClick to act real time combat over randomly generated dungeons, built around finding better items, still endures.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 1996Why it still holds upTwo sides built differently, and a power grid that doubles as a target, keep it distinct from other strategy games today.
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty 1992Why it still holds upIt was not the first real time strategy game but the archetypal one, which established the format, and the harvest, build and attack loop it set out is still the template later games followed.
Chrono Trigger 1995
Why it still holds upAreas hardly overstay their welcome and the puzzles are challenging without being frustrating, which is why the pacing holds up today.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 1998
Why it still holds upThe dungeons keep it worth playing now, with an ocarina whose melodies open the way and a lock on that keeps fights under control.
Super Mario World 1990
Why it still holds upExploring the world map pays off as much as the levels, with red spots that lead to secret routes, so it is still worth playing today.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 1991
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.
Super Metroid 1994
Why it still holds upThe world is still the reason to go back today, made to be explored from its silent, empty start.
Final Fantasy VII 1997
Why it still holds upThe Materia and the size of the world still give you plenty to get into.
Metal Gear Solid 1998
Why it still holds upSeeing and being seen are still the whole game today, and an art style that works with the hardware's limits keeps it looking and playing well.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 1997
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.
Half-Life 1998
Why it still holds upThe story told without cutscenes keeps it fresh to play now, and its soldiers still change how a gunfight plays.
Super Mario 64 1996
Why it still holds upMario still controls crisply today, and each painting lets you pick which star to chase, so the game feels open.
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia 1999
Why it still holds upYou still manage armies, towns and mines on the map and then fight on the hex grid, and those two layers make it worth playing today.
Fallout 2 1998
Why it still holds upThere are so many branching paths that it takes a long time to see everything, which is the reason to play it now.
Final Fantasy III 1994
Also known as Final Fantasy VI
Why it still holds upPlaying it now means choosing your party: with fourteen characters, each with abilities of their own, who you bring is up to you.
StarCraft 1998
Why it still holds upEach race plays differently and none has an innate advantage, which is why it still plays well today.
EarthBound 1994
Also known as Mother 2
Why it still holds upIt still respects your time, with visible enemies and that slow HP drain, and its humour gets wackier as you go.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 1995
Why it still holds upOpen levels that use height, and a difficulty that builds steadily, keep it enjoyable to play now.
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge 1991
Why it still holds upThe humour and the dialogue are the reason to play it now, with a lot of people to talk to and puzzles spread over a set of islands.
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis 1992
Why it still holds upThe three paths give it three routes through one story, which is why it still holds up today, in a tone close to the films.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 1995
Why it still holds upThe art and the countdown that replaces a health bar make it worth playing today, with pastel colours, large backdrops and expressive sprites.
Day of the Tentacle 1993
Why it still holds upIts comic writing and voice acting are the reason to play it now, since in the CD version every line of dialogue is spoken.
System Shock 2 1999
Why it still holds upThe skill system and the atmosphere keep it worth playing now, since you build your character through choices aboard a ship that feels lived in.
Planescape: Torment 1999
Why it still holds upThe writing and the companions are still the reason to play it today, since your stats and what you say keep opening options in conversation.
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 1999
Why it still holds upIts deliberate pace is why it still plays well: it scales so that players of any skill can choose the speed they are comfortable with.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1992
Why it still holds upThe reason to go back is level design that rewards speed without giving up exploration.
Pokémon Silver Version 1999
Why it still holds upA world that runs on its own clock, with a second full region after the first, is the reason to go back to it now.
The Secret of Monkey Island 1990
Why it still holds upIt stays playable because its puzzles avoid dead ends and deaths, and because the dialogue is still witty.
Sid Meier's Civilization 1991
Why it still holds upEvery turn is still a small decision about research, building or war today, and the order you choose shapes the whole run.
Doom 1993
Why it still holds upIts level design and its atmosphere are why it is worth playing now: each maze is a place you learn, and the claustrophobic rooms keep the pace fast.
Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game 1997
Why it still holds upA build that counts in every conversation and every fight is still the reason to play it today.
Pokémon Gold Version 1999
Why it still holds upTwo regions on one cartridge keep the adventure going past the first Elite Four, and that is the reason to play it today.
Donkey Kong Country 1994
Why it still holds upLevels that keep changing how you move, with vines, barrels, mine carts and animals, and a difficulty that rises steadily, are the reason to play it now.
Pokémon Blue Version 1996
Why it still holds upThe loop of catching, training and battling is simple enough to pick up now, and the version differences make trading with friends part of the design.
GoldenEye 007 1997
Why it still holds upOpen levels with objectives that change by difficulty, plus the multiplayer, still hold it up today.
Doom II: Hell on Earth 1994
Why it still holds upEach map is a place to explore, with its own layout, secrets and mix of enemies, and the three settings give each stretch its own look.
Grim Fandango 1998
Why it still holds upPlay it now for a Day of the Dead inspired afterlife styled as film noir, in a game where you cannot get stuck.
Suikoden II 1998
Why it still holds upA huge recruitable cast, each with a place in battles or the castle, ties war strategy, party combat and base building into one loop, and that is the reason to play it now.
Pokémon Red Version 1996
Why it still holds upA journey past eight gyms with a collection to complete along the way is still the reason to play it today.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars 1996
Why it still holds upVisible enemies and timed button presses keep you acting in every turn, which is the reason to play it now.
Banjo-Kazooie 1998
Why it still holds upWith every world a themed space full of different tasks, the collecting stays varied, and that is still the reason to play it today.
Tekken 3 1997
Why it still holds upWhat holds up today is smooth controls and distinct movesets.
Sid Meier's Civilization II 1996
Why it still holds upA full sweep of history, where every city and every advance is your choice, still makes it worth playing today.
Baldur's Gate 1998
Why it still holds upDeep tabletop rules that run themselves let you make tactical decisions rather than handle the math, and that is why it is still worth playing.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 1993
Why it still holds upIts world still opens as you find items, with dungeons built around them, and that structure keeps it fresh today.
Mega Man X 1993
Why it still holds upPrecise controls and bosses with distinct movement patterns, where beating one changes how you fight the others, make it worth playing now.
Star Fox 64 1997
Why it still holds upRoutes that branch and medals to earn still give a short campaign reasons to replay today.
Diablo 1996
Why it still holds upClick to act real time combat over randomly generated dungeons, built around finding better items, still endures.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 1996
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.
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty 1992
Why it still holds upIt was not the first real time strategy game but the archetypal one, which established the format, and the harvest, build and attack loop it set out is still the template later games followed.