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Classic RPGs that still hold up

Somebody to become, and a long while to become them

98 games · page 2 of 3

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2004 Why it still holds upThe clan you choose changes what you can do and say, so a second run in the same city plays differently, and that is why it is still worth playing today.
Mother 3 2006 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.
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.
Gothic 2001 Why it still holds upExploring without markers, in a world of rival camps, is the reason to play it now.
Paper Mario 2000 Why it still holds upPartner choice and timing keep every battle engaged in a streamlined role playing formula, and that is why it is worth playing now.
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.
Demon's Souls 2009 Why it still holds upLarge, distinct and believably connected areas, and careful stamina based fights with gradual improvement as the core loop, are 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.
South Park: The Stick of Truth 2014 Why it still holds upIt is built as a playable episode of the show, with the town explored as a real map and every fight framed as the kids' fantasy game, and that is the reason to play it now.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses 2019 Why it still holds upA school calendar that shapes who fights for you, and how, still gives its tactical battles weight 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.
Cyberpunk 2077 2020 Why it still holds upA dense city of side jobs, taken on in whichever way you built your character, is still the draw in its updated form.
Demon's Souls 2020 Why it still holds upAreas whose enemies, traps and bosses stay put still reward learning each one today.
Slay the Spire 2019 Why it still holds upShort runs where every choice of card or route changes the deck, and visible enemy intent turns every turn into a puzzle, keep it replayable today.
Diablo 1996 Why it still holds upClick to act real time combat over randomly generated dungeons, built around finding better items, still endures.
Fire Emblem Awakening 2012 Why it still holds upGrid tactics in which unit relationships change combat results, with permadeath as an option, are why it still plays well.
CrossCode 2018 Why it still holds upFights and puzzles built from the same launch still give its dungeons two kinds of challenge today.
Final Fantasy Tactics 1997 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.
Xenogears 1998 Why it still holds upDeathblow combos built by saving Action Points, and mech battles that run on fuel, still give its combat two different rhythms today.
Fire Emblem 2003 Why it still holds upWith early chapters that introduce each idea alongside the story, and losses that are permanent, every move still matters today.
Fable 2004 Why it still holds upA character whose look and reputation follow good and evil acts still makes those choices visible today.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga 2003 Why it still holds upBecause each brother has a button and presses are timed, every turn of battle still involves timing as well as choosing today.
Pokémon FireRed Version 2004 Why it still holds upCollecting badges toward the Elite Four, with battles and capture in between, still gives the adventure a clear shape today.
Final Fantasy XII 2006 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.
The Banner Saga 2 2016 Why it still holds upUnits that play differently, such as the charging Horseborn and the support focused Ravens, on a grid where position decides fights, still reward planning today.
Kingdom Hearts 2002 Why it still holds upSimple controls and a structure of self contained worlds, each with its own sub story, still make it easy to pick up and repeat today.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2010 Why it still holds upClear roles for the AI party and rewards for exploring still make both fights and wandering worth the time today.
Chrono Cross 1999 Why it still holds upGrowth that comes from bosses instead of grinding, and a stamina bar for each action, still keep every battle worth thinking about today.
Skies of Arcadia 2000 Why it still holds upA blank sky map that you fill in by flying between islands still gives exploration a sense of discovery today.

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