The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings 2011
Why it still holds upChoices with delayed consequences, and build choices that change how you fight, are the reasons to play it today.
2010s adventure games that still hold up
Somewhere to get to, and plenty in the way
Games
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings 2011
Why it still holds upChoices with delayed consequences, and build choices that change how you fight, are the reasons to play it today.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain 2015
Why it still holds upWhat it still offers is a big sandbox where you choose how each infiltration goes, and where the base, the soldiers and the weapons you research feed into the next mission.
Alien: Isolation 2014
Why it still holds upA creature driven by systems rather than scripts still turns every room into a risk today.
Shovel Knight 2014
Why it still holds upEasy to learn platforming with modern ideas of risk and reward, on an 8 bit look, is still why it is worth playing today.
Cuphead 2017
Why it still holds upBoss fights built on learning patterns, in that style, are still the reason to play it today.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception 2011
Why it still holds upIts set pieces blend climbing, shooting and escape in single sequences rather than separate modes, and that is why it is still worth playing now.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony 2017
Why it still holds upIf you play it now, it is for the investigate then argue structure, with the trial as the core system.
Dishonored 2 2016
Why it still holds upLevels with many routes let a stealth run, a lethal run and a power mixing run all work, which keeps it worth replaying today.
The Cat Lady 2012
Why it still holds upA tense, atmospheric adventure whose dialogue choices change what you see later is the reason to play it now.
Tales from the Borderlands 2014
Why it still holds upWriting and voice acting that balance comedy against drama in varied scenarios are the reason to play it now.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth 2014
Why it still holds upItem combinations that differ every run, from a large library to unlock, keep giving it new runs today.
Bayonetta 2 2014
Why it still holds upFast combat built on dodging and combos, with varied set pieces and challenge portals, is the reason to play it now.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard 2017
Why it still holds upPlay it now for the anxiety that builds in one confined location with limited vision.
Lisa: The Painful 2014
Why it still holds upResources and party members are scarce and can be lost, so the systems push the same way as the story, and that is the reason to play it now.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim 2019
Why it still holds upThe way its story is told is the reason to play it now: you choose whose chapter comes next and put the mystery together as you go.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice 2017
Why it still holds upPlay it now for sound that places voices around you and visuals that distort to convey the character's state.
Far Cry 3 2012
Why it still holds upFive core systems, sneaking, shooting, driving, exploring and hunting, all feed the same leveling system, so the same encounter plays out differently depending on stealth, firepower and wildlife, and that is the reason to play it now.
South Park: The Stick of Truth 2014
Why it still holds upIt is built as a playable episode of the show, with the town explored as a real map and every fight framed as the kids' fantasy game, and that is the reason to play it now.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses 2019
Why it still holds upA school calendar that shapes who fights for you, and how, still gives its tactical battles weight today.
The Stanley Parable 2013
Why it still holds upA narrator who reacts to whatever you try makes experimenting the whole game, and that is why it is worth playing today.
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag 2013
Why it still holds upThe open sea gives a loop distinct from the city based games, which makes it worth sailing today.
What Remains of Edith Finch 2017
Why it still holds upEach short story uses a different way of playing, so no two scenarios feel alike even now.
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward 2012
Why it still holds upRevisiting choices so that information from one route opens another still drives the game now.
The Wolf Among Us 2013
Why it still holds upIt is a detective story built on conversation choices rather than reflexes, and that is why it is worth playing now.
Slay the Spire 2019
Why it still holds upShort runs where every choice of card or route changes the deck, and visible enemy intent turns every turn into a puzzle, keep it replayable today.
Mount & Blade: Warband 2010
Why it still holds upWith no set objective, you can still decide whether to be a mercenary, a vassal or a ruler.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch 2011
Why it still holds upA long adventure built around collecting and training familiars still stands up today.
Life Is Strange 2015
Why it still holds upBecause the rewind lets you test a choice before you commit to it, you can still experiment inside a game of choices and consequences today.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective 2010
Why it still holds upEach puzzle is still one chain of small object changes inside a fixed room, with a mystery plot pulling it along.
Shadow of the Colossus 2018
Why it still holds upAn empty world with a single task each time, where every colossus is its own climbing puzzle, keeps it worth playing now.
Control 2019
Why it still holds upEach of its shifting, brutalist rooms leads to a fight, and powers on cooldowns beside a weapon that changes form still keep those fights moving today.
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood 2010
Why it still holds upRecruits to call in, a city you invest in and kills you can chain still make Rome a place you build up as you fight today.
Monster Hunter: World 2018
Why it still holds upA hunt is a loop of tracking, fighting and crafting in living ecosystems, and that loop still carries the game today.
Titanfall 2 2016
Why it still holds upLevels with several routes, and a Titan you swap into at the push of a button, still give five hours plenty of variety today.
CrossCode 2018
Why it still holds upFights and puzzles built from the same launch still give its dungeons two kinds of challenge today.
Mark of the Ninja 2012
Why it still holds upWith every sound and sight line shown, stealth is still a matter of planning today.
Metro Exodus 2019
Why it still holds upChoosing how to approach each objective, between open areas and linear stretches, still gives it room to play your way today.
Divinity: Original Sin 2014
Why it still holds upProblems with several solutions, in fights and out of them, still make it worth playing today.
The Banner Saga 2 2016
Why it still holds upUnits that play differently, such as the charging Horseborn and the support focused Ravens, on a grid where position decides fights, still reward planning today.
Subnautica 2018
Why it still holds upAs you go deeper the sea grows more dangerous, and upgrades such as a submarine give you a reason to keep exploring, which still drives the descent today.
Dragon Age: Inquisition 2014
Why it still holds upRegions full of optional content, with the story opened by what you do in them, still let you set your own pace today.
Dead Cells 2018
Why it still holds upRuns that change inside a template you come to know still pull you into one more today.
Detroit: Become Human 2018
Why it still holds upA flowchart that shows what you missed, and choices that change which scenes open, still give a replay a reason today.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2010
Why it still holds upClear roles for the AI party and rewards for exploring still make both fights and wandering worth the time today.
Sonic Mania 2017
Why it still holds upMomentum based movement and three characters with different abilities still give each stage different routes today.
Terraria 2011
Why it still holds upA fresh world that keeps opening new areas, items and characters as you advance still makes exploring, digging and crafting pay off today.
Bastion 2011
Why it still holds upA narrator who reacts to your path, loadout and retries, and idols that adjust the difficulty, still keep every system answering you today.
Spelunky 2012
Why it still holds upSince every run generates new layouts, success depends on learning the game's rules rather than memorizing a route, and that still asks for attention today.