Portal 2 2011
Why it still holds upA few simple tools that combine keep producing new puzzles, and the writing and characters carry them, so it still plays well today.
First-person games that still hold up
Seen through your own eyes
Games
Portal 2 2011
Why it still holds upA few simple tools that combine keep producing new puzzles, and the writing and characters carry them, so it still plays well today.
Half-Life 2 2004
Why it still holds upPlay it now for the pacing: the opening sections alternate tension with small moments of rest, and enemies, allies and supplies are always marked by the design or by sound.
Metroid Prime 2002
Why it still holds upExploring is still the draw today, with a story you find by scanning and locked areas that pull you back later.
Half-Life 1998
Why it still holds upThe story told without cutscenes keeps it fresh to play now, and its soldiers still change how a gunfight plays.
Outer Wilds 2019
Why it still holds upPlanets move on a fixed schedule, so timing and what you have learned solve the mysteries, and that is what makes it worth playing today.
BioShock 2007
Why it still holds upRapture remains a place worth exploring today: the setting and its people tell the story, and every character gives a new view of the city.
Return of the Obra Dinn 2018
Why it still holds upIts deduction holds up today because nobody tells you who anyone is, so you piece together who was where and when.
Portal 2007
Why it still holds upOne tool and its momentum rules still open many solutions today, and the humour and writing make you want to keep going.
BioShock Infinite 2013
Why it still holds upThe first hours let you wander Columbia at your own pace, and Elizabeth works as a partner in the fights, which keeps it enjoyable today.
Black Mesa 2020
Why it still holds upPlayed now, it keeps Half-Life's mix of shooting and puzzles on a newer engine, with physics that the original never had.
System Shock 2 1999
Why it still holds upThe skill system and the atmosphere keep it worth playing now, since you build your character through choices aboard a ship that feels lived in.
Doom 2016
Why it still holds upIts combat is why it is worth playing now: it never asks you to hide, since health and ammunition come from killing up close, so the game keeps you moving forward.
Deus Ex 2000
Why it still holds upWith several routes to every objective, both a pacifist and a combat approach work, and that freedom in level design is the reason to play it today.
Dishonored 2012
Why it still holds upLevels with several ways in, and a world that reacts to how you played them, are the reason to play it today.
Doom 1993
Why it still holds upIts level design and its atmosphere are why it is worth playing now: each maze is a place you learn, and the claustrophobic rooms keep the pace fast.
Alien: Isolation 2014
Why it still holds upA creature driven by systems rather than scripts still turns every room into a risk today.
Halo 3 2007
Why it still holds upCo op for up to four and a map editor for your own multiplayer maps are the reason to play it now.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2007
Why it still holds upWhat it still offers is a tight campaign followed by a multiplayer loop of leveling and class building made to be replayed.
Dishonored 2 2016
Why it still holds upLevels with many routes let a stealth run, a lethal run and a power mixing run all work, which keeps it worth replaying today.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution 2011
Why it still holds upIt still rewards a visit for levels with several routes and fine environmental detail, and for its mix of stealth, combat and conversation.
GoldenEye 007 1997
Why it still holds upOpen levels with objectives that change by difficulty, plus the multiplayer, still hold it up today.
Doom II: Hell on Earth 1994
Why it still holds upEach map is a place to explore, with its own layout, secrets and mix of enemies, and the three settings give each stretch its own look.
Doom Eternal 2020
Why it still holds upThe fights are why it is worth playing now: every arena asks you to keep moving and pick the tool that refills what you are short of.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard 2017
Why it still holds upPlay it now for the anxiety that builds in one confined location with limited vision.
Perfect Dark 2000
Why it still holds upMissions built on objectives, and a large multiplayer toolkit, still give it more depth than a straight shooter today.
Borderlands 2 2012
Why it still holds upA huge range of guns and builds, shared by friends in co op, still gives it reasons to replay today.
Far Cry 3 2012
Why it still holds upFive core systems, sneaking, shooting, driving, exploring and hunting, all feed the same leveling system, so the same encounter plays out differently depending on stealth, firepower and wildlife, and that is the reason to play it now.
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.
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.
Halo 2 2004
Why it still holds upTight controls and weapons that each cost something still carry the campaign today.
Resident Evil Village 2021
Why it still holds upPlayed now, the variety carries it: every section brings its own enemies, puzzles and boss.
System Shock 1994
Why it still holds upWeapons that suit different enemies, and cameras you can disable to lower SHODAN's security level, still leave the station open to your own plan today.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 2007
Why it still holds upAiming with a pointer rather than auto aim still puts the shooting in your own hands today.
Halo: Combat Evolved 2001
Why it still holds upWith two weapon slots and vehicles you can drive, every weapon you pick up is still a choice that shapes the next fight today.
Titanfall 2 2016
Why it still holds upLevels with several routes, and a Titan you swap into at the push of a button, still give five hours plenty of variety today.
Thief: The Dark Project 1998
Why it still holds upLight, shadow and sound still decide whether a guard notices you today.
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 2004
Why it still holds upCrossing between two worlds, one of which wears her down away from safe zones, still makes every route a puzzle today.
Call of Duty 2 2005
Why it still holds upRegenerating health and checkpoints still make each firefight quick to retry today.
Counter-Strike 2000
Why it still holds upWith no respawn and weapons bought with money from wins, losses and kills, each round is still a team decision about what to buy today.
Metro Exodus 2019
Why it still holds upChoosing how to approach each objective, between open areas and linear stretches, still gives it room to play your way today.
Team Fortress 2 2007
Why it still holds upNine classes with distinct strengths and weaknesses, and teams that need a mix of them, still make every match about who plays what today.
Thief II: The Metal Age 2000
Why it still holds upLarge levels with several routes, and tools that change light and sound, still leave you to plan your own way past the guards today.
Unreal Tournament 1999
Why it still holds upTwo firing modes on most weapons, bots you can command and mutators that change the rules still give each match room to vary today.
Subnautica 2018
Why it still holds upAs you go deeper the sea grows more dangerous, and upgrades such as a submarine give you a reason to keep exploring, which still drives the descent today.
TimeSplitters 2 2002
Why it still holds upSplit screen with bots, sixteen modes and a level builder still make a shared session easy to fill today.
SWAT 4 2005
Why it still holds upCharacters die quickly on both sides, so a room taken with a plan still beats one taken by force, and that careful pace holds up today.
Metro: Last Light 2013
Why it still holds upSupplies that keep running out still give every trip outside its tension today.
Soma 2015
Why it still holds upWith no way to fight, the threat is being caught, and that still gives the setting its pressure today.