Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 2002
Why it still holds upLight and shadow are your refuge and the level layouts form routes through gaps in vision, so play is still built around reading the lighting rather than shooting today.
Shooters that still hold up
From cover, from the hip, and from a side-scrolling jet
Games
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 2002
Why it still holds upLight and shadow are your refuge and the level layouts form routes through gaps in vision, so play is still built around reading the lighting rather than shooting today.
Mega Man ZX 2006
Why it still holds upForms with abilities of their own, in a world to explore between missions, still give the platforming variety today.
Star Citizen 2013
Left 4 Dead 2 2009
Why it still holds upSpecial infected that each change how players have to move and fight, and finales that break up horde defense, still keep every run from repeating today.
No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way 2002
Why it still holds upBecause guards react to sound, light and bodies, a careful, silent approach and an all out one both still work today.
Spec Ops: The Line 2012
Why it still holds upOrdinary shooter systems turned toward the protagonist's choices, with missions, hints and environment all pushing one theme, still make it play as one argument today.
Max Payne 3 2012
Why it still holds upWeighty animation, cover that breaks and bullet time still make each gunfight feel physical today.
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault 2002
Why it still holds upThe campaign keeps changing what it asks of you from one mission to the next, with fighting that feels grounded, and that variety is why it is still worth playing.
Metro 2033 2010
Why it still holds upSet pieces such as turret defense, sneaking onto a tram and hallucination sequences keep a linear structure from feeling monotonous today.
Tomb Raider 2013
Why it still holds upBalancing stealth, action and puzzles, with fast travel that turns backtracking into a reward, still lets you set the mix today.
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.
Quake III Arena 1999
Why it still holds upWeapons with clear roles and feedback that makes them feel good still give every match a readable rhythm today.
Worms Armageddon 1999
Why it still holds upA large arsenal in which each weapon behaves differently still makes every match different today.
Mega Man X4 1997
Why it still holds upTwo heroes built so differently still make each stage a different problem today, and a second playthrough feels new.
Contra: Hard Corps 1994
Why it still holds upDifferent characters and different routes still give each new run its own shape today.
Mega Man X2 1994
Why it still holds upBosses that are weak to each other's weapons make the order you choose the main puzzle, so a second run is still worth a try.
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.
Duke Nukem 3D 1996
Why it still holds upEach level is still worth poking around, with routes through ducts and sewers and objects that react when you use them.
Duck Game 2014
Why it still holds upOne hit kills and simple controls still let a round be learned in seconds today, so it is quick to start.
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.
Quake II 1997
Why it still holds upToday the campaign gives you a structure that is clear to follow, with mission objectives and a hub to move between large levels.
Star Wars: TIE Fighter 1994
Why it still holds upPower shared out as you fly still keeps each dogfight a matter of choices today.
Wolfenstein: The New Order 2014
Why it still holds upChoosing between silent takedowns and open fights still makes each encounter your own call today.
Quake 1996
Why it still holds upFull 3D levels, enemies with distinct roles and rocket jumping still make exploring and fighting feel like one thing 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.
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.
Mafia II 2010
Why it still holds upToday you still get a period feel from a city dressed in cars and music of its years, with cars that handle differently on ice.
Returnal 2021
Why it still holds upLayouts and weapons that change every time, and fights that keep asking you to read and dodge, still make each run worth starting today.
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.
Metal Slug 1996
Why it still holds upAnimation that answers everything you do still gives each level its pace today.
Rise of the Tomb Raider 2015
Why it still holds upReasons to explore every corner remain today, from optional tombs with physics puzzles to hubs full of crafting materials.
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.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus 2017
Why it still holds upDual wielding any pair of weapons, and a hatchet for silent kills, give you your own way to clear a room today.
Gears of War 3 2011
Why it still holds upCover that can break, and a squad that has to stay together, still make each firefight a question of where to stand today.
The Evil Within 2 2017
Why it still holds upEven now, a town you can explore freely, with scarce ammunition, makes every trip between buildings a decision about risk.
Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance 1999
Why it still holds upCrews you can fill and hangars you return to make each battle more than a single run today.
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.
Alan Wake 2010
Why it still holds upBecause your flashlight is both your aim and your weapon, every dark stretch is a choice of where to point it, and the tension survives even now.
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.
Dusk 2018
Why it still holds upMoving fast, with no health coming back, still keeps each room tense today.