Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2010
Why it still holds upAlternating healing and attack magic mid fight still makes every combat a balance you choose.
Games that still hold up today
Timeless games worth playing today
Games
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2010
Why it still holds upAlternating healing and attack magic mid fight still makes every combat a balance you choose.
Kid Icarus: Uprising 2012
Why it still holds upEvery mission is still a wager you place yourself, by betting your own hearts to set the difficulty.
Ghouls 'n Ghosts 1988
Why it still holds upIt still asks for more than getting through once, with a second pass through the same stages and a new weapon.
Yakuza Kiwami 2016
Why it still holds upSide stories that take up most of the play still make the neighborhood feel worth walking.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed 2012
Why it still holds upA vehicle that keeps changing in mid race still gives every lap three kinds of driving today.
King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow 1992
Why it still holds upWith several routes through so much of it, a return trip now can turn up something missed the first time.
Monster Hunter Rise 2021
Why it still holds upThe loop is why it is worth playing now: every monster is a fight of its own, and its parts make the gear for the next one.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse 2014
Why it still holds upEach new item still opens up parts of the map you could not reach before.
DJ Hero 2 2010
Why it still holds upThe samples are tailored to each track, and scratching is graded on how musical and unique it is.
River Raid 1982
Why it still holds upFuel that is always running out still turns each stretch of river into a choice today, between a pass over a depot and clearing what is in the way.
Ace Combat 2 1997
Why it still holds upA hangar to fill and missions that branch still give a reason to take off again today.
Warlords III: Reign of Heroes 1997
Why it still holds upThe carried heroes still make a campaign whose generals remember the last war.
Condemned: Criminal Origins 2005
Why it still holds upEach fight is still decided by what the place hands you.
Rhythm Tengoku 2006
Why it still holds upShort stages that each ask for one clear rhythm are easy to start today.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst 2013
Why it still holds upBoss fights that play out as events give the story set pieces.
Imperium Galactica 1997
Why it still holds upRanks that unlock new functions one by one still introduce a strategy game with a large set of units gently.
F-Zero GX 2003
Why it still holds upRacing thirty machines on tracks you learn by heart is still a test of nerve today.
Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma 2016
Why it still holds upThe fragments are still a mystery whose order you choose, about people who have lost theirs.
Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck 1993
Why it still holds upKicking blocks to make bridges or find treasure still gives each stage a little puzzle to solve.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice 2016
Why it still holds upCatching a witness in a contradiction is still the heart of each trial today.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1999
Why it still holds upSwitching between two worlds to find a way forward is a puzzle idea that works as well now as ever.
Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse 1994
Why it still holds upCartoon settings from across Mickey's career are still an inviting place to spend an afternoon.
The Settlers: Fourth Edition 2001
Why it still holds upA settlement that has to feed its own army is still a patient challenge to take on.
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2009
Why it still holds upAnyone after a long adventure built on traditional puzzles will find a full one here today.
Blaster Master Zero II 2019
Why it still holds upSwitching between tank and on foot levels still keeps each planet from repeating itself.
Saboteur! 1986
Why it still holds upA ninja sneaking through a warehouse is a premise that still carries.
Dawn of Discovery 2009
Also known as Anno 1404
Why it still holds upTwo halves of a world that depend on each other's goods still make every new street part of a longer chain.
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West 2010
Why it still holds upA road trip across a ruined world has a pull that is still strong for anyone who likes a journey with company.
Panzer Dragoon Saga 1998
Why it still holds upChoosing among the three bars and a position around the enemy still gives every fight a decision.
Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara 1996
Why it still holds upFor friends who want to brawl in a fantasy world, the game is still a fine fit.
Prehistorik 2 1993
Why it still holds upTen levels full of things to hit and find still reward a second look today.
SSX Tricky 2001
Why it still holds upThemed tracks and an uber trick system that turns trick chains into boost still give each run something to chase today.
Harvest Moon 3 GBC 2000
Why it still holds upCrops and animals worked around the days the ferry runs still give the week a rhythm today.
Left 4 Dead 2008
Why it still holds upFour survivors who depend on each other, in runs that keep changing, still make a good team to join today.
Evoland 2 2015
Why it still holds upJumping through time to change styles is the idea at its heart, today as when it launched.
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech 2019
Why it still holds upBuilding a deck of your own cards makes each fight a small puzzle.
Ground Control 2000
Why it still holds upTroop choice matters so much that each battle rewards planning, as it does for anyone who plays now.
The Settlers II: 10th Anniversary 2006
Why it still holds upRoads and their flags are still the whole economy, and placing one well is the game.
Gravity Rush 2012
Why it still holds upFlipping gravity to cross an open city is the hook, and it is still worth trying.
Lunar: The Silver Star 1992
Why it still holds upBattles where characters walk to their targets and spells hit whole zones still reward positioning today.
Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense 1999
Why it still holds upFor car combat among friends, it is still a good time.
SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle 1999
Why it still holds upThe arrest still makes the win a suspect alive on the floor and your weapon unfired.
Aero Fighters 1992
Why it still holds upA route that changes with every run and every pilot still makes it worth starting another today.
Cities: Skylines 2015
Why it still holds upToday it remains open ended, since a city can grow in whatever direction the player chooses.
Onimusha: Warlords 2001
Why it still holds upAnyone curious about samurai tales with a supernatural twist can still find a distinct one here.
Harvest Moon 1996
Why it still holds upA calm rhythm of small daily chores is as relaxing now as it ever was.
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream 1995
Why it still holds upHaving the author of the story help design the game is a reason it is still worth seeking out.
Jetpac 1983
Why it still holds upEven now, rocket parts, fuel and falling bonuses to collect while aliens close in make every screen a short, clear task.