Banjo-Kazooie 1998
Why it still holds upWith every world a themed space full of different tasks, the collecting stays varied, and that is still the reason to play it today.
Games that still hold up today
Timeless games worth playing today
Games
Banjo-Kazooie 1998
Why it still holds upWith every world a themed space full of different tasks, the collecting stays varied, and that is still the reason to play it today.
South Park: The Stick of Truth 2014
Why it still holds upIt is built as a playable episode of the show, with the town explored as a real map and every fight framed as the kids' fantasy game, and that is the reason to play it now.
Factorio 2020
Why it still holds upThe factory is still what makes it worth playing now: every machine's output feeds the next, and there is always a part to rebuild bigger.
Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura 2001
Why it still holds upA world where the same quest is solved differently by different builds is still the reason to play it today.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 2021
Why it still holds upThe arsenal and the rifts, which move you between worlds in seconds in the middle of a fight or a set piece, make it a shooter worth picking up today.
Beyond Good & Evil 2003
Why it still holds upPhotography, stealth, hovercraft racing, melee and exploration are mixed so that no single mechanic wears out, and that is the reason to play it now.
Grand Theft Auto IV 2008
Why it still holds upToday it is still a satirical Liberty City full of radio, TV and side activities, with a story of conflicting choices.
Metroid: Zero Mission 2004
Why it still holds upIts map still reads clearly: areas linked by doors and elevators and opened by power ups, with statues pointing the way.
Mega Man 2 1988
Why it still holds upAn open stage order with weapon weaknesses lets you pick your own route, and the difficulty setting suits newcomers and veterans alike, which is why it is worth playing now.
Tekken 3 1997
Why it still holds upWhat holds up today is smooth controls and distinct movesets.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses 2019
Why it still holds upA school calendar that shapes who fights for you, and how, still gives its tactical battles weight today.
Super Mario Bros. 1985
Why it still holds upLevel design, enemy placement and precise physics, with a difficulty that ramps steadily, are why it still plays well.
The Stanley Parable 2013
Why it still holds upA narrator who reacts to whatever you try makes experimenting the whole game, and that is why it is worth playing today.
Sid Meier's Civilization II 1996
Why it still holds upA full sweep of history, where every city and every advance is your choice, still makes it worth playing today.
Halo: Reach 2010
Why it still holds upA campaign of large battles, with modes to build and survive in after it, still gives you ways to keep playing today.
Baldur's Gate 1998
Why it still holds upDeep tabletop rules that run themselves let you make tactical decisions rather than handle the math, and that is why it is still worth playing.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 1993
Why it still holds upIts world still opens as you find items, with dungeons built around them, and that structure keeps it fresh today.
Fallout 3 2008
Why it still holds upIf you play it now, it is for an open world whose exploration is optional and whose quests respond to different approaches.
Medieval II: Total War 2006
Why it still holds upA turn based campaign over a whole medieval map, with battles you fight yourself in real time, keeps it worth playing today.
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag 2013
Why it still holds upThe open sea gives a loop distinct from the city based games, which makes it worth sailing today.
What Remains of Edith Finch 2017
Why it still holds upEach short story uses a different way of playing, so no two scenarios feel alike even now.
Cyberpunk 2077 2020
Why it still holds upA dense city of side jobs, taken on in whichever way you built your character, is still the draw in its updated form.
World of Warcraft 2004
God of War 2005
Why it still holds upFluid combat, broken up by puzzles and platforming, still keeps it worth playing today.
Demon's Souls 2020
Why it still holds upAreas whose enemies, traps and bosses stay put still reward learning each one today.
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward 2012
Why it still holds upRevisiting choices so that information from one route opens another still drives the game now.
Mega Man X 1993
Why it still holds upPrecise controls and bosses with distinct movement patterns, where beating one changes how you fight the others, make it worth playing now.
Halo 2 2004
Why it still holds upTight controls and weapons that each cost something still carry the campaign today.
Ico 2001
Why it still holds upNo HUD, a distant camera and one relationship between two characters still make it feel unlike later, larger games.
The Wolf Among Us 2013
Why it still holds upIt is a detective story built on conversation choices rather than reflexes, and that is why it is worth playing now.
Slay the Spire 2019
Why it still holds upShort runs where every choice of card or route changes the deck, and visible enemy intent turns every turn into a puzzle, keep it replayable today.
Mount & Blade: Warband 2010
Why it still holds upWith no set objective, you can still decide whether to be a mercenary, a vassal or a ruler.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap 2004
Why it still holds upShrinking turns the same places into two scales, and that still makes its level design work today.
Star Fox 64 1997
Why it still holds upRoutes that branch and medals to earn still give a short campaign reasons to replay today.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch 2011
Why it still holds upA long adventure built around collecting and training familiars still stands up today.
Diablo 1996
Why it still holds upClick to act real time combat over randomly generated dungeons, built around finding better items, still endures.
Sid Meier's Civilization IV 2005
Why it still holds upGrowing your cities toward one of five different victories still carries the game today.
Resident Evil Village 2021
Why it still holds upPlayed now, the variety carries it: every section brings its own enemies, puzzles and boss.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory 2005
Why it still holds upStealth built on light and sound that you manage yourself, against guards who react to what you disturb, is still the reason to play it today.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 1996
Why it still holds upTwo sides built differently, and a power grid that doubles as a target, keep it distinct from other strategy games today.
Life Is Strange 2015
Why it still holds upBecause the rewind lets you test a choice before you commit to it, you can still experiment inside a game of choices and consequences today.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf 2012
Why it still holds upA slow daily rhythm tied to the real calendar, with the town itself as the thing you build, still sets its pace.
Super Mario 3D World 2013
Why it still holds upShort, varied levels with a steady difficulty ramp, and characters whose abilities matter, still make it worth playing today.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective 2010
Why it still holds upEach puzzle is still one chain of small object changes inside a fixed room, with a mystery plot pulling it along.
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty 1992
Why it still holds upIt was not the first real time strategy game but the archetypal one, which established the format, and the harvest, build and attack loop it set out is still the template later games followed.
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness 1995
Why it still holds upTwo sides built differently and a war fought on land, at sea and in the air still give each match its own plan today.
The Curse of Monkey Island 1997
Why it still holds upA simplified interface and a hard mode option still make its puzzles easy to approach today.