Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis 2001
Why it still holds upOn foot and vehicle combat in one continuous game, with squad orders and a mission editor, still gives a mission many ways to play today.
2000s shooters that still hold up
From cover, from the hip, and from a side-scrolling jet
Games
Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis 2001
Why it still holds upOn foot and vehicle combat in one continuous game, with squad orders and a mission editor, still gives a mission many ways to play today.
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay 2004
Why it still holds upFists and shadows, with guns held back, still give the escape its own tension 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.
Cave Story 2004
Why it still holds upWeapons that lose levels when you are hit still make every fight about avoiding damage today.
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect 2005
Why it still holds upWith the campaign, its unlockable modes and a level maker together, there is still far more to play here today than the story alone.
Mega Man ZX Advent 2007
Why it still holds upBringing the right form to each new boss, from forms taken off the last ones, still gives it variety 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.
The Operative: No One Lives Forever 2000
Why it still holds upMissions open to sneaking or to fighting, with humour throughout, still suit more than one way of playing today.
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 2006
Why it still holds upEverything in one package means you can still start flying without collecting the expansions one by one.
Star Wars: Republic Commando 2005
Why it still holds upSquadmates you can order and revive give each fight a team feel, which a first mission still shows.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 2009
Why it still holds upEvery gunfight is still a rhythm of peeking and hiding, since health returns when you take cover.
Unreal Tournament 2003 2002
Why it still holds upWith friends or bots, a quick match is easy to set up, and that is still the case.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow 2004
Why it still holds upEach stealth section today has a few more ways to play, with Sam whistling to draw guards and carrying bodies through doors.
Freelancer 2003
Why it still holds upFlying with the mouse, and a trade you can start whenever you like, still make it easy to jump in and fly.
Gears of War 2006
Why it still holds upCover, timing and a squad to keep alive still make every firefight tense today.
Pathologic 2005
Why it still holds upA game that moves on whether or not a player keeps up is still worth meeting today.
SOCOM: US Navy SEALs 2002
Why it still holds upLeading a team on missions that depend on teamwork makes each one a small operation.
Dino Crisis 2 2000
Why it still holds upToday, points that reward fighting without being hit turn every dinosaur into a score to chase.
SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs 2003
Why it still holds upShort rounds with no respawns give each match tension.
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes 2004
Why it still holds upEvery sneak is still a matter of staying unseen, with soldiers who talk to each other and notice you by sight and sound.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl 2007
Why it still holds upToday, a Zone where exploring decides what you carry gives each trip a reason to look further.
Call of Duty 2003
Why it still holds upThe war still has several viewpoints, across three armies and three campaigns.
Shadow Complex 2009
Why it still holds upEach return to an old room still has a new purpose, in a world that opens as new tools arrive.
Rez 2001
Why it still holds upEach stage is still something you play as much as watch, with music that changes as you shoot.
F.E.A.R. 2005
Why it still holds upYou still choose a loadout rather than just a gun, since the heavier weapons trade weight for power.
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath 2005
Why it still holds upWhat you fire is still a choice in every fight, since the ammunition is made of living creatures.
Ratchet & Clank 2002
Why it still holds upA pile of strange weapons to buy and find still gives every fight a new toy to try today.
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.
Conker's Bad Fur Day 2001
Why it still holds upSimple moves and pads that hand you the right tool at the right spot still keep each stretch moving today.
Thief: Deadly Shadows 2004
Why it still holds upIn a city where each guard is a problem you solve your own way, you still choose how to get in.
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando 2003
Also known as Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked and Loaded
Why it still holds upMinigames between planets still keep the journey changing pace 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.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II - Rogue Leader 2001
Why it still holds upEach mission still has a new angle when you replay it in a different ship.
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin 2002
Why it still holds upPlanning a clean job, in levels that leave the method to you, still pays off today.
MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf 2004
Why it still holds upStepping out of the machine to drive a tank gives the war a new angle.
Crysis 2007
Why it still holds upA shooter that hands the player this many tools is still a fine place to experiment.
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 2008
Why it still holds upA multiplier that grows with every geom makes each run a gamble.
Mega Man Legends 2 2000
Why it still holds upRuins themed to each island, and a lock on that keeps you moving while aiming, still keep the exploring varied today.
Killer7 2005
Why it still holds upEvery room still has a shape you can read, in a game that holds you to its paths.
Aliens versus Predator 2 2001
Why it still holds upThree species that see and move differently still make each campaign feel like a different game today.
Mega Man 9 2008
Why it still holds upChoosing the order of the stages still lets you plan around each boss's weakness.
Mega Man Zero 2002
Why it still holds upEach stage still counts, since you roam a hub and failed missions stay failed.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2004
Why it still holds upBig battles across both trilogies are still a good way to spend an evening.
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal 2004
Why it still holds upAnyone who wants a game that is mostly about its weapons will find that still true here.
Syphon Filter 2 2000
Why it still holds upA 2022 rerelease for PlayStation Plus Premium added trophies, which makes it easy to try today.
I Wanna Be the Guy 2007
Why it still holds upLearning each trap makes the challenge fair.