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The classics that still hold up

The ones almost everyone agrees on

349 games · page 5 of 8

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.
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.
Factorio 2020 Why it still holds upThe factory is still what makes it worth playing now: every machine's output feeds the next, and there is always a part to rebuild bigger.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 2021 Why it still holds upThe arsenal and the rifts, which move you between worlds in seconds in the middle of a fight or a set piece, make it a shooter worth picking up today.
Metroid: Zero Mission 2004 Why it still holds upIts map still reads clearly: areas linked by doors and elevators and opened by power ups, with statues pointing the way.
Tekken 3 1997 Why it still holds upWhat holds up today is smooth controls and distinct movesets.
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.
Super Mario Bros. 1985 Why it still holds upLevel design, enemy placement and precise physics, with a difficulty that ramps steadily, are why it still plays well.
The Stanley Parable 2013 Why it still holds upA narrator who reacts to whatever you try makes experimenting the whole game, and that is why it is worth playing today.
Halo: Reach 2010 Why it still holds upA campaign of large battles, with modes to build and survive in after it, still gives you ways to keep 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.
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.
God of War 2005 Why it still holds upFluid combat, broken up by puzzles and platforming, still keeps it worth playing today.
Demon's Souls 2020 Why it still holds upAreas whose enemies, traps and bosses stay put still reward learning each one today.
Halo 2 2004 Why it still holds upTight controls and weapons that each cost something still carry the campaign today.
Ico 2001 Why it still holds upNo HUD, a distant camera and one relationship between two characters still make it feel unlike later, larger games.
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.
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.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf 2012 Why it still holds upA slow daily rhythm tied to the real calendar, with the town itself as the thing you build, still sets its pace.
Super Mario 3D World 2013 Why it still holds upShort, varied levels with a steady difficulty ramp, and characters whose abilities matter, still make it worth playing 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.
Shadow of the Colossus 2018 Why it still holds upAn empty world with a single task each time, where every colossus is its own climbing puzzle, keeps it worth playing now.

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