Mother 3 2006Why 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.
Halo 3 2007Why it still holds upCo op for up to four and a map editor for your own multiplayer maps are the reason to play it now.
Why it still holds upPlay it now for an ink painting look and a brush that keeps opening up old areas of the world.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2007Why it still holds upWhat it still offers is a tight campaign followed by a multiplayer loop of leveling and class building made to be replayed.
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow 2003Why it still holds upIts castle opens up as you gain abilities and its soul system offers many ways to fight, which keeps it worth playing now.
Gothic 2001Why it still holds upExploring without markers, in a world of rival camps, is the reason to play it now.
Paper Mario 2000Why 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.
Star Wars: Battlefront II 2005Why it still holds upGround, space and hero battles in one game, and the space battles in particular, are the reason to play it now.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 2000Why it still holds upA focused score chase of two minute runs and chained tricks, with parks of your own to build, is still the reason to play it today.Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2005Why it still holds upPursuits that keep escalating, and a Blacklist to climb, are the reason to play it now.
Why it still holds upDaily life, relationships and dungeon fighting feed each other, so choices outside the tower matter inside it, and that is the reason to play it now.
Perfect Dark 2000Why it still holds upMissions built on objectives, and a large multiplayer toolkit, still give it more depth than a straight shooter today.Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones 2004Why it still holds upToday it still offers polished mechanics, three difficulty levels and a branching route with choices between battles.
Braid 2008Why it still holds upOne idea, rewinding time, with a fresh rule in each world, makes every mistake part of solving the puzzle, and that is the reason to play it now.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 2009Why it still holds upTwo linked layers of play, Bowser outside and the brothers inside, each affecting the other, are the reason to play it now.Demon's Souls 2009Why 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.
Why it still holds upPhotography, stealth, hovercraft racing, melee and exploration are mixed so that no single mechanic wears out, and that is the reason to play it now.
Why it still holds upToday it is still a satirical Liberty City full of radio, TV and side activities, with a story of conflicting choices.
Metroid: Zero Mission 2004Why it still holds upIts map still reads clearly: areas linked by doors and elevators and opened by power ups, with statues pointing the way.
Halo 2 2004Why it still holds upTight controls and weapons that each cost something still carry the campaign today.
Ico 2001Why it still holds upNo HUD, a distant camera and one relationship between two characters still make it feel unlike later, larger games.The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap 2004Why it still holds upShrinking turns the same places into two scales, and that still makes its level design work today.
Why it still holds upGrowing your cities toward one of five different victories still carries the game today.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory 2005Why it still holds upStealth built on light and sound that you manage yourself, against guards who react to what you disturb, is still the reason to play it today.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 2007Why it still holds upAiming with a pointer rather than auto aim still puts the shooting in your own hands today.
Why it still holds upCover that changes how safe a squad is, and morale that breaks under heavy weapons, still make each soldier worth protecting today.
Silent Hill 3 2003Why 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.
Halo: Combat Evolved 2001Why it still holds upWith two weapon slots and vehicles you can drive, every weapon you pick up is still a choice that shapes the next fight today.
Why it still holds upOne idea, a sticky ball that grows, drives every stage, so the scale of the rooms keeps changing, and that still keeps it fresh today.
Need for Speed: Underground 2 2004Why it still holds upAn open city to drive between races, and tuning deep enough to include a dyno, still give it a shape of its own today.Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening 2005Why it still holds upFour combat styles and four weapons to switch between on the fly, paired with a style meter that climbs through combo ranks, still give the combat something to aim for today.Banjo-Tooie 2000Why it still holds upJiggies unlock new worlds, so backtracking is a major part of the challenge, and a duo that can split up still makes that backtracking its main puzzle today.Metroid Fusion 2002Why it still holds upA mission based layout with a pursuer always close still keeps its six hours moving today.
Why it still holds upControl points that supply resources and unlock units still tie each fight to where you hold the map today.
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 2004Why it still holds upCrossing between two worlds, one of which wears her down away from safe zones, still makes every route a puzzle today.
Call of Duty 2 2005Why it still holds upRegenerating health and checkpoints still make each firefight quick to retry today.
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy 2003Why it still holds upBuilding your own lightsaber and choosing light or dark skills still give a second run a different shape today.
Counter-Strike 2000Why it still holds upWith no respawn and weapons bought with money from wins, losses and kills, each round is still a team decision about what to buy today.
Fire Emblem 2003Why it still holds upWith early chapters that introduce each idea alongside the story, and losses that are permanent, every move still matters today.
Fable 2004Why it still holds upA character whose look and reputation follow good and evil acts still makes those choices visible today.
Need for Speed: Underground 2003Why it still holds upWith tuning unlocked through story races and Style Points earned by drifting and shortcuts, the garage and the road still feed each other 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.
Halo 3 2007
Why it still holds upCo op for up to four and a map editor for your own multiplayer maps are the reason to play it now.
Ōkami 2006
Why it still holds upPlay it now for an ink painting look and a brush that keeps opening up old areas of the world.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2007
Why it still holds upWhat it still offers is a tight campaign followed by a multiplayer loop of leveling and class building made to be replayed.
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow 2003
Why it still holds upIts castle opens up as you gain abilities and its soul system offers many ways to fight, which keeps it worth playing now.
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.
Star Wars: Battlefront II 2005
Why it still holds upGround, space and hero battles in one game, and the space battles in particular, are the reason to play it now.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 2000
Why it still holds upA focused score chase of two minute runs and chained tricks, with parks of your own to build, is still the reason to play it today.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2005
Why it still holds upPursuits that keep escalating, and a Blacklist to climb, are the reason to play it now.
Persona 3 2006
Why it still holds upDaily life, relationships and dungeon fighting feed each other, so choices outside the tower matter inside it, and that is the reason to play it now.
Perfect Dark 2000
Why it still holds upMissions built on objectives, and a large multiplayer toolkit, still give it more depth than a straight shooter today.
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones 2004
Why it still holds upToday it still offers polished mechanics, three difficulty levels and a branching route with choices between battles.
Braid 2008
Why it still holds upOne idea, rewinding time, with a fresh rule in each world, makes every mistake part of solving the puzzle, and that is the reason to play it now.
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.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 2009
Why it still holds upTwo linked layers of play, Bowser outside and the brothers inside, each affecting the other, are 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.
Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura 2001
Why it still holds upA world where the same quest is solved differently by different builds is still the reason to play it today.
Beyond Good & Evil 2003
Why it still holds upPhotography, stealth, hovercraft racing, melee and exploration are mixed so that no single mechanic wears out, and that is the reason to play it now.
Grand Theft Auto IV 2008
Why it still holds upToday it is still a satirical Liberty City full of radio, TV and side activities, with a story of conflicting choices.
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.
Fallout 3 2008
Why it still holds upIf you play it now, it is for an open world whose exploration is optional and whose quests respond to different approaches.
Medieval II: Total War 2006
Why it still holds upA turn based campaign over a whole medieval map, with battles you fight yourself in real time, keeps it worth playing today.
World of Warcraft 2004
God of War 2005
Why it still holds upFluid combat, broken up by puzzles and platforming, still keeps it worth playing 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.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap 2004
Why it still holds upShrinking turns the same places into two scales, and that still makes its level design work today.
Sid Meier's Civilization IV 2005
Why it still holds upGrowing your cities toward one of five different victories still carries the game today.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory 2005
Why it still holds upStealth built on light and sound that you manage yourself, against guards who react to what you disturb, is still the reason to play it today.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 2007
Why it still holds upAiming with a pointer rather than auto aim still puts the shooting in your own hands today.
Tales of Symphonia 2003
Why it still holds upReal time combat with a shared team gauge and AI party members you can customize is the reason to play it now.
Company of Heroes 2006
Why it still holds upCover that changes how safe a squad is, and morale that breaks under heavy weapons, still make each soldier worth protecting today.
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.
Halo: Combat Evolved 2001
Why it still holds upWith two weapon slots and vehicles you can drive, every weapon you pick up is still a choice that shapes the next fight today.
Katamari Damacy 2004
Why it still holds upOne idea, a sticky ball that grows, drives every stage, so the scale of the rooms keeps changing, and that still keeps it fresh today.
Need for Speed: Underground 2 2004
Why it still holds upAn open city to drive between races, and tuning deep enough to include a dyno, still give it a shape of its own today.
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening 2005
Why it still holds upFour combat styles and four weapons to switch between on the fly, paired with a style meter that climbs through combo ranks, still give the combat something to aim for today.
Banjo-Tooie 2000
Why it still holds upJiggies unlock new worlds, so backtracking is a major part of the challenge, and a duo that can split up still makes that backtracking its main puzzle today.
Metroid Fusion 2002
Why it still holds upA mission based layout with a pursuer always close still keeps its six hours moving today.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2004
Why it still holds upControl points that supply resources and unlock units still tie each fight to where you hold the map today.
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 2004
Why it still holds upCrossing between two worlds, one of which wears her down away from safe zones, still makes every route a puzzle today.
Call of Duty 2 2005
Why it still holds upRegenerating health and checkpoints still make each firefight quick to retry today.
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy 2003
Why it still holds upBuilding your own lightsaber and choosing light or dark skills still give a second run a different shape today.
Counter-Strike 2000
Why it still holds upWith no respawn and weapons bought with money from wins, losses and kills, each round is still a team decision about what to buy 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.
Need for Speed: Underground 2003
Why it still holds upWith tuning unlocked through story races and Style Points earned by drifting and shortcuts, the garage and the road still feed each other today.