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.
Classic point-and-click adventures that still hold up
Talk to everyone, pick up everything, think about it after
Games
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.
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.
The Walking Dead 2012
Why it still holds upA story built around one relationship is why it still plays well: the voice acting carries it, and the choices come under time pressure.
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.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony 2017
Why it still holds upIf you play it now, it is for the investigate then argue structure, with the trial as the core system.
The Cat Lady 2012
Why it still holds upA tense, atmospheric adventure whose dialogue choices change what you see later is the reason to play it now.
Tales from the Borderlands 2014
Why it still holds upWriting and voice acting that balance comedy against drama in varied scenarios are the reason to play it now.
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.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations 2004
Why it still holds upThe whole game rests on one loop, spotting the contradiction between testimony and evidence, and that is why it is worth playing today.
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward 2012
Why it still holds upRevisiting choices so that information from one route opens another still drives the game now.
The Wolf Among Us 2013
Why it still holds upIt is a detective story built on conversation choices rather than reflexes, and that is why it is worth playing now.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective 2010
Why it still holds upEach puzzle is still one chain of small object changes inside a fixed room, with a mystery plot pulling it along.
The Curse of Monkey Island 1997
Why it still holds upA simplified interface and a hard mode option still make its puzzles easy to approach today.
Monument Valley II 2017
Why it still holds upSingle screen perspective puzzles with simple touch controls, and a new idea in every level instead of a reused one, still keep each screen worth solving today.
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 1993
Why it still holds upChoosing exactly what to ask each person, one day at a time, still makes the investigation a slow puzzle of listening today.
Where to start if you have never played one of these: sharp writing, characters you will want to hear more from, and a story that keeps pulling you forward.