La-Mulana 2011
Why it still holds upThe pits still punish a guess and reward the one who reads the walls first.
Adventure games that still hold up
Somewhere to get to, and plenty in the way
Games
La-Mulana 2011
Why it still holds upThe pits still punish a guess and reward the one who reads the walls first.
Final Fantasy V 1992
Why it still holds upChoosing a job for each party member still shapes every fight today.
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis 2001
Why it still holds upThere is still plenty to plan with an army that grows from six units into dozens.
Guild Wars 2 2012
Mad Father 2012
Why it still holds upA girl alone in a house of secrets still gives the horror a personal angle.
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru 1992
Why it still holds upBattles decided by your stats still make the gear in every chest the thing to look for.
Curse of the Azure Bonds 1989
Why it still holds upA party carried over from earlier games, or built fresh at a higher level, still keeps a long campaign personal today.
Seaman 1999
Why it still holds upA pet that talks back still keeps every visit different.
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! 1999
Also known as Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer
Why it still holds upCollecting talismans and orbs keeps its goals clear, which still helps today.
Wizorb 2011
Why it still holds upThere are more than 60 levels, and anyone who wants an absorbing afternoon of bricks and spells has a reason to play it today.
Treasure Island Dizzy 1988
Why it still holds upCollecting items and thinking about where to use them is the heart of it, and it is still a good puzzle to try.
Touhou Koumakyou: The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil 2002
Why it still holds upTwo characters with different weapons still make each run its own.
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time 2009
Why it still holds upSolving puzzles with your own recorded copies is a mechanic that is still worth trying.
Rakuen 2017
Why it still holds upA story about music and friends still makes a gentle game to play.
Tomb Raider II 1997
Why it still holds upA trip from the Great Wall to Venice is a tour that still draws a returning player.
Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament 2002
Why it still holds upControls and level design that never feel unfair make it a straightforward platformer to pick up now.
Second Sight 2004
Why it still holds upPsychic powers include throwing enemies and taking control of their minds, but the power bar drains quickly, which still pushes you toward weapons.
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire 2003
Why it still holds upForgiving saves and a long list of Pokémon to catch still make it an easy way into pinball.
Shivers 1995
Why it still holds upThe one slot still makes every capture a trip across the haunted museum with your hands full.
Fantasy World Dizzy 1989
Why it still holds upEach screen is still a small test of thinking and surviving at once, with puzzles and hazards in balance.
The Mysterious Murasame Castle 1986
Why it still holds upEven now, power ups are few, so you rely on your own action skills more than anything else.
Final Fantasy Adventure 1991
Also known as Mystic Quest
Why it still holds upFighting, shopping and solving dungeon puzzles, with a save at any point, still make a compact adventure.
Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time 1999
Why it still holds upEras opened by the clocks you find, crossed with a full set of cartoon moves, still make it easy to follow today.
Octopath Traveler 2018
Why it still holds upEight stories and a party you assemble let you decide the order of your journey, and that freedom still shapes how you play.
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones 2005
Why it still holds upWall-running through a palace is a movement that is still worth practicing.
Survival Kids 1999
Why it still holds upMaking what you need from what you find, and learning what lasts, still gives the island its pace today.
Last Ninja 2: Back with a Vengeance 1988
Why it still holds upExploring screen by screen in an isometric view is still a distinct way to play now.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble 1994
Why it still holds upThe pace is slower than on the 16 bit consoles, which leaves time to look for hidden areas today.
Metal Slug 6 2006
Why it still holds upCarrying two weapons still gives every shootout more tactical choices.
VectorMan 1995
Why it still holds upLevels with several paths and secret passages still reward looking around.
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division 1998
Why it still holds upIt is still easy to pick up, since two kinds of combat share one set of controls.
Luigi's Mansion 2001
Why it still holds upEvery ghost is still a small two step puzzle, stunned with the flashlight and then sucked up.
Astérix 1991
Why it still holds upTwo heroes with their own strengths, and hidden corners to find, still give it room for a second run.
Sally Face 2016
Why it still holds upGoing back to a place in a later timeline to see what changed gives each location a story of its own today.
Ys: Wanderers from Ys 1989
Why it still holds upA side-scrolling quest with Adol is still worth a look today.
Wasteland 1988
Why it still holds upA visit to its ruined America is worth making, and the trip holds up today.
Golf Story 2017
Why it still holds upSide quests on every course and a swing you tune with experience still keep each round varied.
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos 1990
Why it still holds upWalls to climb, clones to call and attacks to throw still give each stage a few tools to work with today.
Legend of Grimrock 2012
Why it still holds upA dungeon you can choose to map by hand still rewards anyone who tries it today.
Finding Paradise 2017
Why it still holds upA story led game that asks for patience still rewards it with feeling.
Yakuza 3 2009
Why it still holds upOver 600 substories beside a main story of about twelve hours still give it a lot to wander off into.
2064: Read Only Memories 2015
Why it still holds upA robot friend who learns to feel still gives the mystery its heart today.
Until Dawn 2015
Why it still holds upChoices that decide who lives still make it worth playing again today.
Dune 1992
Why it still holds upA planet to manage and a story to follow still make it an unusual game to explore.
Dragon Quest Builders 2016
Why it still holds upTowns that grow with every room you add still give each chapter something to build toward.
The Legend of Kyrandia 2: The Hand of Fate 1993
Why it still holds upThe cauldron still makes the answer a potion you have to work out how to brew.