The Last of Us 2013
Why it still holds upThe fights still come down to that scarcity today, and retreating to come back from another angle is often the way through, in levels open enough to improvise in.
Classic horror games that still hold up
The ones you end up playing with the lights on
Games
The Last of Us 2013
Why it still holds upThe fights still come down to that scarcity today, and retreating to come back from another angle is often the way through, in levels open enough to improvise in.
The Last of Us Part II 2020
Why it still holds upFights that leave many ways open, from sneaking through to setting groups against each other or shooting your way out, are still worth playing for today.
Silent Hill 2 2001
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.
Resident Evil 4 2005
Why it still holds upThe game escalates steadily, and muted colours keep its places oppressive, so the pacing still keeps its grip today.
Resident Evil 2 2019
Why it still holds upPlayed today it keeps the tension through scarcity: ammunition is short, zombies need their heads destroyed to stay down, and a first run takes about eight hours.
Dead Space 2 2011
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.
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.
Dead Space 2008
Why it still holds upBecause the interface is in the world and the game never pauses, the Ishimura never lets you step away, which keeps it tense today.
Resident Evil 2002
Why it still holds upAmmo, inventory and saves are scarce, so you keep deciding what to fight, what to carry and when to backtrack, and that tension is the reason to play it now.
Alien: Isolation 2014
Why it still holds upA creature driven by systems rather than scripts still turns every room into a risk today.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard 2017
Why it still holds upPlay it now for the anxiety that builds in one confined location with limited vision.
Resident Evil Village 2021
Why it still holds upPlayed now, the variety carries it: every section brings its own enemies, puzzles and boss.
Silent Hill 1999
Why it still holds upWhat you see and hear is limited to a flashlight, a radio and the fog and darkness of the town, and that is why it is worth playing now.
Resident Evil 2 1998
Why it still holds upScarce ammo and limited saves force routing decisions, and four scenarios retell one story, which is the reason to play it now.
Silent Hill 3 2003
Why it still holds upA flashlight, a radio that crackles near monsters and an Otherworld that changes around Heather still make the horror a matter of sight and sound today.
Metro Exodus 2019
Why it still holds upChoosing how to approach each objective, between open areas and linear stretches, still gives it room to play your way today.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem 2002
Why it still holds upIts sanity effects tie tension to how you fight, and three antagonist paths still give a replay something new today.
Resident Evil Code: Veronica X 2000
Why it still holds upSparse ammunition and limited saves still make each room a risk to enter.
These give you less than you need and leave the spending to you. When ammunition, health and a moment to breathe are all scarce, every choice costs something, and that is where most of the fear comes from.