Diablo II 2000
Why it still holds upThe item system keeps it worth replaying now: tiers, sockets and the Cube allow so many builds that two characters are rarely built alike.
2000s action games that still hold up
Brawling, fighting, and never quite standing still
Games
Diablo II 2000
Why it still holds upThe item system keeps it worth replaying now: tiers, sockets and the Cube allow so many builds that two characters are rarely built alike.
Super Smash Bros. Melee 2001
Why it still holds upFast, physics driven fighting that is easy to pick up and frantic with four players keeps it played today.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 2002
Why it still holds upA whole city built on one decade and its music still makes every drive part of the same setting, which is the reason to play it now.
Mafia 2002
Why it still holds upThe period setting is why it is worth playing now: Lost Heaven is modelled on 1930s American cities, and the missions move between chases, races and shootouts.
Batman: Arkham Asylum 2009
Why it still holds upFighting, gadgets and character joined into one game about being Batman still make it play well today.
God of War II 2007
Why it still holds upIt holds up now because combat, platforming and puzzles are designed as one adventure.
God of War 2005
Why it still holds upFluid combat, broken up by puzzles and platforming, still keeps it worth playing 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.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! 2003
Why it still holds upPosition weighted items keep races close, and the pairing system gives many combinations today.
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes 2000
Why it still holds upTeams of three with a call in assist and a snapback that forces a switch still turn each match into a puzzle of who is on screen today.
Oni 2001
Why it still holds upYou still get fights that favor your fists over scarce ammunition, and each encounter is a hand to hand duel.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl 2008
Why it still holds upA damage percentage that decides who flies off, with four control schemes, still makes a match easy to start today.
Bayonetta 2009
Why it still holds upA dodge rewarded with a slow moment to strike, and a grade at the end of each fight, still give a reason to fight every battle better today.
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within 2004
Why it still holds upA rewind that undoes a fatal mistake, and portals between two eras, let you recover from a wrong jump and plan a route, so the acrobatics are easy to retry today.
Space Rangers 2: Dominators 2004
Why it still holds upThe main goal can be ignored for exploration, trade and side quests, so a new game can still be played your own way today.
Ikaruga 2001
Why it still holds upEven now, a single polarity switch that turns bullets from danger into ammunition makes every screen a puzzle of order and timing.
Guilty Gear X2 #Reload 2003
Why it still holds upThe fighting system is why it is worth playing now: each character plays differently, and the same gauges turn every exchange into a choice between attacking, defending and cancelling.
Elasto Mania 2000
Why it still holds upA bike that springs over the terrain still makes every level a puzzle of route and balance today.
SoulCalibur II 2002
Why it still holds upEach exchange is a read of what your opponent will try, since the guard system answers each height of attack, and that keeps it worth playing today.
Severance: Blade of Darkness 2001
Why it still holds upEven now, four fighters with different weapons give each playthrough its own style.
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.
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.
Muramasa: The Demon Blade 2009
Why it still holds upThe journey still has a look of its own, drawn by hand and inspired by Japanese art.
Mega Man Zero 3 2004
Why it still holds upZero still has a reason to aim in every direction, with a rod that doubles as a pogo stick.
Tekken 5 2005
Why it still holds upMoves that slip past low attacks still give each match a layer of tactics today, with a fighter dressed your own way.
Tekken 6 2007
Why it still holds upEven now, Rage that turns a losing position into a threat keeps matches open until the last hit.
Devil May Cry 2001
Why it still holds upBeing judged on how well you fight, not only on whether you win, still turns every encounter into a performance.
Ninja Gaiden II 2008
Why it still holds upWounded enemies who turn desperate still make every kill matter today.
Metal Slug 3 2000
Why it still holds upA run still has more than one shape, because a level that forks lets you pick a harder or an easier route.
Super Stardust HD 2007
Why it still holds upHigh scores keep a quick shooter worth another run, even now.
The Warriors 2005
Why it still holds upA gang you fight alongside in every mission still makes every brawl feel like a crew effort.
God Hand 2006
Why it still holds upEvery fighter you build is still your own, with over a hundred moves to choose from.
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies 2001
Why it still holds upFlying through 18 missions is still a straightforward run for anyone who likes arcade style flight today.
Def Jam: Fight for NY 2004
Why it still holds upBrawls where the room fights back are an easy pick for a night with friends now.
Mega Man Zero 2002
Why it still holds upEach stage still counts, since you roam a hub and failed missions stay failed.
Ninja Gaiden 2004
Why it still holds upFights that punish careless play still make blocking and evading something you learn today.
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001 2001
Why it still holds upA team built from two fighting traditions, balanced by how strong each member is, still gives a reason to try it today.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2001
Why it still holds upFighting through dungeons with a friendly build choice makes for a pleasant evening now.
Dead or Alive 4 2005
Why it still holds upGood timing is rewarded in every match, so a quick fight is still easy to enjoy.
Mega Man Zero 2 2003
Why it still holds upYou can still set up Zero your own way, with buttons you assign and elves that unlock your health tanks.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny 2002
Why it still holds upAttacking at the exact moment an enemy lunges still makes every duel a matter of timing.
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.
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.
Xanadu Next 2005
Why it still holds upA knight bound to an island with one way out gives the exploration a purpose.
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.
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.
Divine Divinity 2002
Why it still holds upEvery class can grow in any direction, so a second character today can play out very differently.
A lot of this page is fighting in three dimensions at full speed: long combos, a camera that keeps up and enemies that punish standing still. Fighting games and a handful of two dimensional shooters sit alongside.