The Beatles: Rock Band 2009
Why it still holds upEvery song is still a shared performance, with a band playing together in the same room.
2000s games that still hold up
Games
The Beatles: Rock Band 2009
Why it still holds upEvery song is still a shared performance, with a band playing together in the same room.
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II 2006
Why it still holds upA base you can build anywhere on the map still gives every game its own layout.
Stronghold 2001
Why it still holds upA castle that has to hold off sieges and fire alike is still as much of a challenge as the fighting today, and each one is a design problem to solve.
Gears of War 2006
Why it still holds upCover, timing and a squad to keep alive still make every firefight tense today.
ESPN NFL 2K5 2004
Why it still holds upA franchise built on weekly preparation, and a first person view of the field, still give each season a rhythm to play through today.
Skate 2 2009
Why it still holds upObjects you can move to build your own lines still make the city something to rework today.
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra 2006
Why it still holds upCombat that rewards planning a few turns ahead still keeps each battle tense today.
Zeus: Master of Olympus 2000
Why it still holds upA city where the disasters are monsters, and heroes are hired against them, still gives city building a story of its own today.
Severance: Blade of Darkness 2001
Why it still holds upEven now, four fighters with different weapons give each playthrough its own style.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly 2003
Also known as Project Zero II: Crimson Butterfly
Why it still holds upWaiting for a ghost to come close before you shoot still makes every fight a test of nerve.
Pathologic 2005
Why it still holds upA game that moves on whether or not a player keeps up is still worth meeting today.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 2002
Why it still holds upEvery scenario still gives you a park to design, and coasters you make and test yourself give each one something to build toward.
Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town 2003
Why it still holds upA routine where each day's work builds on the last still gives every season its own goals 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.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd 2007
Why it still holds upScenes you open with a door and a symbol still make each dungeon a source of story as well as combat.
SOCOM: US Navy SEALs 2002
Why it still holds upLeading a team on missions that depend on teamwork makes each one a small operation.
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror 2004
Why it still holds upA cellphone that calls other Kirbys to help, and a hub that leads to nine areas, make it easy to enjoy with friends today.
FlatOut 2 2006
Why it still holds upWrecking the car is still part of the fun, with minigames in which the driver is the projectile.
Dino Crisis 2 2000
Why it still holds upToday, points that reward fighting without being hit turn every dinosaur into a score to chase.
SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs 2003
Why it still holds upShort rounds with no respawns give each match tension.
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes 2004
Why it still holds upEvery sneak is still a matter of staying unseen, with soldiers who talk to each other and notice you by sight and sound.
Scaler 2004
Why it still holds upForms include a pterodactyl for flight and a ball for races, and giving energy to the pterodactyl unlocks upgrades such as stealth.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies 2009
Why it still holds upA hero of your own and side quests running in parallel still let you set your own pace today.
Neverwinter Nights 2 2006
Why it still holds upEvery roll is still something a Dungeons and Dragons player can read, with rules taken straight from the tabletop.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl 2007
Why it still holds upToday, a Zone where exploring decides what you carry gives each trip a reason to look further.
Beautiful Katamari 2007
Why it still holds upRolling up the world piece by piece is a goal that still works.
Hearts of Iron III 2009
Why it still holds upEvery war still has a different starting point, since any country can be yours.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village 2007
Why it still holds upWith puzzles given by the villagers and hidden in objects, every conversation is still a possible challenge today.
Call of Duty 2003
Why it still holds upThe war still has several viewpoints, across three armies and three campaigns.
OpenTTD 2004
Why it still holds upA long game of income that grows only when your network works well is still absorbing, because every route is a design problem.
Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom 2002
Why it still holds upBuilding a city up through the dynasties is a patient project that is still worth starting.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC 2006
Why it still holds upEach fight still has a moment of building toward a combined attack, with four members who can strike at once.
Burnout Paradise 2008
Why it still holds upPlayers today can still treat the whole city as an open invitation to drive anywhere in it.
NBA Live 06 2005
Why it still holds upEven now, a franchise you run across many seasons gives a single team a long story.
Shadow Complex 2009
Why it still holds upEach return to an old room still has a new purpose, in a world that opens as new tools arrive.
Mega Man Battle Network 3 White 2002
Why it still holds upBuilding a folder and drawing from it still turns every fight into a small puzzle today.
Rez 2001
Why it still holds upEach stage is still something you play as much as watch, with music that changes as you shoot.
Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood 2002
Why it still holds upToday, controlling several characters at once with limited resources makes each mission a matter of planning.
Bully 2006
Why it still holds upEven now, groups that treat you differently according to what you do give the school a social map to learn.
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! 2003
Why it still holds upA single stage is still a quick burst, across over two hundred games of a few seconds each.
Breath of Fire IV 2000
Why it still holds upEvery party member is still useful outside combat, with field skills that clear a path.
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2004
Why it still holds upBuilding a party is still a puzzle of its own, with abilities that can be shared and combined.
Punch-Out!! 2009
Why it still holds upEvery fight is still a pattern you learn, against boxers with readable tells.
428: Shibuya Scramble 2008
Why it still holds upEach choice is still a clue for another character's chapter, across stories that run in the same timeframe.
Pokémon Ruby Version 2002
Why it still holds upEven now, choosing among a move, an item and a switch gives every turn a small decision.
WarioWare: Smooth Moves 2006
Why it still holds upEach tiny challenge is still a physical one, since you hold the controller in odd positions.
Tzar: The Burden of the Crown 2000
Why it still holds upA kingdom built from crops and cows is still a place to start commanding today.