Games released on December 20

13 games that still hold up, from Phantasy Star in 1987 to Dragon Quest Builders 2 in 2018

1. 

   Phantasy Star 1987

   Turns 39 this year Master System

   In the Algol star system, Alis sets out for revenge after the tyrant King Lassic's forces kill her brother, joined by Odin, Noah and a catlike creature called Myau.

2. 

   Popful Mail: Magical Fantasy Adventure 1991

   Turns 35 this year

   An elven bounty hunter chases a renegade magician with an apprentice magician and a bat dragon, switching between the three at any time, in a 1991 Falcom action role-playing platformer.

3. 

   Wild Arms 1996

   Turns 30 this year PlayStation

   In Filgaia, a fantasy world with a Western flavour, Rudy, Jack and Cecilia each carry tools of their own to solve the puzzles that block every dungeon.

4. 

   Ikaruga 2001

   Turns 25 this year Arcade

   The rebel pilot Shinra takes on the Horai nation in a ship that switches between black and white, in Treasure's vertically scrolling shooter. It built a cult following among import gamers before its Western release.

5. 

   Sonic Advance 2001

   Turns 25 this year Game Boy Advance

   Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy each cross an island with moves of their own to stop Doctor Eggman and find the seven Chaos Emeralds, in a 2001 Game Boy Advance platformer.

6. 

   Space Rangers 2002

   Turns 24 this year

   A peaceful coalition of five races is invaded by the Klissans, organic warships, and you are a Ranger, a volunteer given a small ship and free rein to help however you like.

7. 

   Karnaaj Rally 2002

   Turns 24 this year Game Boy Advance

   A top down racer for the Game Boy Advance where you race for a sponsor, bet on the results and spend your winnings on armor, engines and tires, over seasons whose final race is held on the moon.

8. 

   Cave Story 2004

   Turns 22 this year

   Quote, a robot with amnesia, wakes in a cave on a floating island home to the rabbit like Mimiga, in a game Daisuke Amaya made as Studio Pixel. It helped revive the Metroidvania.

9. 

   Final Fantasy IV 2007

   Turns 19 this year Nintendo DS

   A DS remake of Final Fantasy IV, in which the dark knight Cecil Harvey tries to stop the sorcerer Golbez from seizing the crystals, with new cutscenes animated by Yoshinori Kanada.

10. 

    Patapon 2007

    Turns 19 this year PSP

    An unseen god leads a tribe of eyeball creatures toward Earthend by beating the drums, each rhythm an order to march, attack, defend or retreat, in a game of rhythm and strategy for the PSP.

11. On sale

    Shantae: Half-Genie Hero 2016

    Turns 10 this year Wii U, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One

    Shantae, a half genie who whips enemies with her hair and dances to turn into animals, returns in the fourth game of her series, crowdfunded with over 900,000 dollars.

    $26.09 on Fanatical -13%

12. 

    PUBG: Battlegrounds 2017

    Turns 9 this year

    A hundred players parachute onto an island, scavenge for weapons and fight in a shrinking safe zone until one remains, in the battle royale game credited with popularizing the genre.

13. 

    Dragon Quest Builders 2 2018

    Turns 8 this year Switch, PlayStation 4

    An action role playing sandbox in which you build with materials you find, glide and explore underwater, and up to four players can build together in one world.