The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 1998
Why it still holds upThe dungeons keep it worth playing now, with an ocarina whose melodies open the way and a lock on that keeps fights under control.
1990s adventure games that still hold up
Somewhere to get to, and plenty in the way
Games
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 1998
Why it still holds upThe dungeons keep it worth playing now, with an ocarina whose melodies open the way and a lock on that keeps fights under control.
Super Mario World 1990
Why it still holds upExploring the world map pays off as much as the levels, with red spots that lead to secret routes, so it is still worth playing today.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 1991
Why it still holds upPlayed now, each item you win opens parts of the map you have already seen, and the second world reuses the first to give you more of it.
Super Metroid 1994
Why it still holds upThe world is still the reason to go back today, made to be explored from its silent, empty start.
Final Fantasy VII 1997
Why it still holds upThe Materia and the size of the world still give you plenty to get into.
Metal Gear Solid 1998
Why it still holds upSeeing and being seen are still the whole game today, and an art style that works with the hardware's limits keeps it looking and playing well.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 1997
Why it still holds upExploring the castle is still the draw: it is full of hidden rooms and secrets, and each new ability opens somewhere that was closed.
Half-Life 1998
Why it still holds upThe story told without cutscenes keeps it fresh to play now, and its soldiers still change how a gunfight plays.
Super Mario 64 1996
Why it still holds upMario still controls crisply today, and each painting lets you pick which star to chase, so the game feels open.
Final Fantasy III 1994
Also known as Final Fantasy VI
Why it still holds upPlaying it now means choosing your party: with fourteen characters, each with abilities of their own, who you bring is up to you.
EarthBound 1994
Also known as Mother 2
Why it still holds upIt still respects your time, with visible enemies and that slow HP drain, and its humour gets wackier as you go.
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge 1991
Why it still holds upThe humour and the dialogue are the reason to play it now, with a lot of people to talk to and puzzles spread over a set of islands.
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis 1992
Why it still holds upThe three paths give it three routes through one story, which is why it still holds up today, in a tone close to the films.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 1995
Why it still holds upThe art and the countdown that replaces a health bar make it worth playing today, with pastel colours, large backdrops and expressive sprites.
Day of the Tentacle 1993
Why it still holds upIts comic writing and voice acting are the reason to play it now, since in the CD version every line of dialogue is spoken.
Pokémon Silver Version 1999
Why it still holds upA world that runs on its own clock, with a second full region after the first, is the reason to go back to it now.
The Secret of Monkey Island 1990
Why it still holds upIt stays playable because its puzzles avoid dead ends and deaths, and because the dialogue is still witty.
Pokémon Gold Version 1999
Why it still holds upTwo regions on one cartridge keep the adventure going past the first Elite Four, and that is the reason to play it today.
Pokémon Blue Version 1996
Why it still holds upThe loop of catching, training and battling is simple enough to pick up now, and the version differences make trading with friends part of the design.
Grim Fandango 1998
Why it still holds upPlay it now for a Day of the Dead inspired afterlife styled as film noir, in a game where you cannot get stuck.
Pokémon Red Version 1996
Why it still holds upA journey past eight gyms with a collection to complete along the way is still the reason to play it today.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars 1996
Why it still holds upVisible enemies and timed button presses keep you acting in every turn, which is the reason to play it now.
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.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 1993
Why it still holds upIts world still opens as you find items, with dungeons built around them, and that structure keeps it fresh today.
Mega Man X 1993
Why it still holds upPrecise controls and bosses with distinct movement patterns, where beating one changes how you fight the others, make it worth playing now.
The Curse of Monkey Island 1997
Why it still holds upA simplified interface and a hard mode option still make its puzzles easy to approach today.
Silent Hill 1999
Why it still holds upWhat you see and hear is limited to a flashlight, a radio and the fog and darkness of the town, and that is why it is worth playing now.
Resident Evil 2 1998
Why it still holds upScarce ammo and limited saves force routing decisions, and four scenarios retell one story, which is the reason to play it now.
Thief: The Dark Project 1998
Why it still holds upLight, shadow and sound still decide whether a guard notices you today.
Crash Bandicoot: Warped 1998
Why it still holds upPlatforming, vehicles and time travel levels share one hub, which still gives it variety today.
Terranigma 1995
Why it still holds upBecause the world is rebuilt as you progress, its towns and dungeons change with Ark's actions, and quick controls keep it easy to pick up today.
Shenmue 1999
Why it still holds upA Yokosuka where characters have their own models, voices and routines, and shops and buses keep schedules, still invites exploring today.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back 1997
Why it still holds upHub rooms that save, and let you leave a hard stage and come back, still make it easy to approach today.
Out of This World 1991
Also known as Another World
Why it still holds upBecause everything is learned from the world, with checkpoints close together to keep instant deaths manageable, it still teaches itself as you play today.
Sam & Max Hit the Road 1993
Why it still holds upPuzzles that ask you to collect items and combine them with scattered objects, in a tourist trap setting that cannot dead end, still let you explore at your own pace today.
Final Fantasy IV 1991
Why it still holds upCharacters with fixed roles who join and leave the party make the story and the combat change together, and that still shapes every battle today.
Chrono Cross 1999
Why it still holds upGrowth that comes from bosses instead of grinding, and a stamina bar for each action, still keep every battle worth thinking about today.
Final Fantasy VIII 1999
Why it still holds upJunction and Draw give deep, customizable character building, and Triple Triad ties into progression, which still makes each build your own today.
The Longest Journey 1999
Why it still holds upThe slow pace of an adventure still suits clues that come from conversations and places, as each puzzle is a matter of paying attention.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 1994
Why it still holds upA second player who flies and swims as Tails shares the same stages, so it is still a game for two.
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together 1995
Why it still holds upA story that branches, fought with an army where every unit's weight counts, still makes a campaign worth playing again today.
The Neverhood 1996
Why it still holds upA puzzle is a matter of what Klaymen can do in the room you are in, which is simple to follow now.
Secret of Mana 1993
Why it still holds upA party that fights beside you, alone or with friends, and a menu that pauses the action still keep fights simple to manage today.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1992
Why it still holds upRings you can win back and acts built around a ride give it a pace of its own, and six hidden emeralds still give a reason to search every act.
Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror 1997
Why it still holds upDescriptions on a right click, and conversation trees that give hints, still tell you what to try next.
Full Throttle 1995
Why it still holds upOne menu for every action, and dialogue where you pick the answer, still keep the adventure easy to get into today.
Jurassic Park 1993
Why it still holds upA hunt that makes its biggest dinosaur something to dodge, not to shoot, still gives each level some tension today.
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 1993
Why it still holds upChoosing exactly what to ask each person, one day at a time, still makes the investigation a slow puzzle of listening today.
Many of these are generous: a map with secrets tucked into the corners, a story that takes its time and characters worth talking to twice. Few explain everything, and that is part of the pleasure.