Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic 2003
Why it still holds upThe choices it keeps handing you, which spheres to research and which heroes to hire, are still its draw today.
2000s games that still hold up
Games
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic 2003
Why it still holds upThe choices it keeps handing you, which spheres to research and which heroes to hire, are still its draw today.
SimCity 4 2003
Why it still holds upGrowing a region one segment at a time is a long project that remains absorbing today.
The Blackwell Legacy 2006
Why it still holds upA small, character driven mystery is still a good way to spend an evening.
Battlefield 1942 2002
Mushihimesama 2004
Why it still holds upA range of modes that runs from newcomers to experts still lets anyone find how much bullet hell they can take.
Meteos 2005
Why it still holds upBlocks launched before the stack fills the screen still make every round a test of speed today.
Pirates of the Caribbean 2003
Why it still holds upRunning your own ship and crew across those islands is still an appealing way to spend time at sea today.
Legacy of Kain: Defiance 2003
Why it still holds upTwo heroes who fight in different ways still give a reason to play it through again today.
Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer 2000
Why it still holds upThe dragon is still one of your five, the thing the others usually fight.
Twisted Metal: Black 2001
Why it still holds upAnother run is still worth it for the different special weapon each driver gives, which gives each character its own way to fight.
World in Conflict 2007
Why it still holds upBecause every unit needs careful use, battles reward tactics for anyone who sits down to play now.
Ys Origin 2006
Why it still holds upA run takes roughly six to eight hours, short enough to fit all three characters in now.
Xanadu Next 2005
Why it still holds upA knight bound to an island with one way out gives the exploration a purpose.
Condemned: Criminal Origins 2005
Why it still holds upEach fight is still decided by what the place hands you.
Rhythm Tengoku 2006
Why it still holds upShort stages that each ask for one clear rhythm are easy to start today.
F-Zero GX 2003
Why it still holds upRacing thirty machines on tracks you learn by heart is still a test of nerve today.
The Settlers: Fourth Edition 2001
Why it still holds upA settlement that has to feed its own army is still a patient challenge to take on.
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2009
Why it still holds upAnyone after a long adventure built on traditional puzzles will find a full one here today.
Dawn of Discovery 2009
Also known as Anno 1404
Why it still holds upTwo halves of a world that depend on each other's goods still make every new street part of a longer chain.
SSX Tricky 2001
Why it still holds upThemed tracks and an uber trick system that turns trick chains into boost still give each run something to chase today.
Harvest Moon 3 GBC 2000
Why it still holds upCrops and animals worked around the days the ferry runs still give the week a rhythm today.
Left 4 Dead 2008
Why it still holds upFour survivors who depend on each other, in runs that keep changing, still make a good team to join today.
Ground Control 2000
Why it still holds upTroop choice matters so much that each battle rewards planning, as it does for anyone who plays now.
The Settlers II: 10th Anniversary 2006
Why it still holds upRoads and their flags are still the whole economy, and placing one well is the game.
Onimusha: Warlords 2001
Why it still holds upAnyone curious about samurai tales with a supernatural twist can still find a distinct one here.
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection 2005
Why it still holds upThe Tekken 5 cast plus three newcomers is still there to play today.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant 2004
Why it still holds upA journey across a continent at war still gives the road from town to town a flavor of its own today.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles 2007
Why it still holds upA remake that keeps its stages and adds routes is still a good reason to go back to the vampire hunting.
Tomb Raider Starring Lara Croft 2000
Why it still holds upGrabbing ledges and leaping gaps in a side view still turns each tomb into a careful climb.
Beat Hazard 2009
Why it still holds upA shooter that plays along with your own music still makes a record collection something to fight through today.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness 2007
Why it still holds upHaving a test pick your Pokémon is a hook that works for new players today.
Mega Man Battle Network 2 2001
Why it still holds upShaping your own set of chips is still what it rewards today.
Ys: The Oath in Felghana 2005
Why it still holds upThe bosses are still patterns to learn, in fights that are fast.
Metal Slug 5 2003
Why it still holds upSliding under fire in a fast side-scroller is a pleasure that has held up well even now.
Command & Conquer: Generals 2003
Why it still holds upA match built on three very different sides is still worth a try.
Divine Divinity 2002
Why it still holds upEvery class can grow in any direction, so a second character today can play out very differently.
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy 2001
Why it still holds upOne big connected world to explore is still on offer here today.
Dragon Warrior Monsters 2: Cobi's Journey 2001
Why it still holds upA second version with its own monsters gives a reason to swap with a friend.
Suikoden III 2002
Why it still holds upBecause no recruit can be lost for good, collecting the whole cast is still a calm goal beside the story.
Wizardry 8 2001
Why it still holds upBuilding a party of your own is the heart of the game, and the invitation to do so is still open.
Icewind Dale 2000
Why it still holds upThere is still room to plan every battle, with a party of six you build yourself and fights you can pause.
Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 2005
Why it still holds upIt is where the story of the original cast continues, and a way to play the Original Generation line on the Game Boy Advance today.
Tony Hawk's Underground 2003
Why it still holds upA trick line you build yourself is still satisfying to land.
Amplitude 2003
Why it still holds upCapturing tracks to free your hands still gives each song a rhythm of its own.
Power Stone 2 2000
Why it still holds upIt still carries a group, with four players, stages that change and objects to grab.
Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend 2003
Why it still holds upA martial arts movie on a handheld still keeps each fight cinematic.
Duke Nukem Advance 2002
Why it still holds upTen hours of Duke on a handheld still make a full portable shooter.