Middle-earth: Shadow of War 2017
Why it still holds upA crowded fight stays readable with the parry symbol and the red warning, which still work as they should.
Open-world games that still hold up
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Games
Middle-earth: Shadow of War 2017
Why it still holds upA crowded fight stays readable with the parry symbol and the red warning, which still work as they should.
Animal Crossing: Wild World 2005
Why it still holds upA village that follows the real calendar is still worth checking in on today.
Eve Online 2003
Why it still holds upOne shared universe still means every player's war or trade touches someone else's.
RuneScape 2001
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat 2009
Why it still holds upA dangerous zone, crossed with a bandage in hand, still has an atmosphere worth entering today.
Old School RuneScape 2013
Why it still holds upSetting your own goals still keeps a very old world full of things to do.
Pokémon Y 2013
Why it still holds upThe touch screen still lets you pet a Pokémon, and it fights harder for it.
Soul Blazer 1992
Why it still holds upA world rebuilt one soul at a time still gives every dungeon fight a visible reward today.
Midnight Club: Los Angeles 2008
Why it still holds upIt is still a racer that never makes you wait today: the city is one map, with no load times between races and garage visits.
Alundra 1997
Why it still holds upThere is no fixed path from one dungeon to the next, so you still never know what you will be asked to do next.
Arma 3 2013
Why it still holds upRealism and a huge sandbox still leave you to plan your own operation.
Cat Quest II 2019
Why it still holds upThe two of them are still a cat and a dog, with the friend holding the dog.
Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction 2005
Why it still holds upHaving a sandbox to flatten still gives you creative choice in how you approach missions.
Borderlands 2009
Why it still holds upA role-playing shooter with four hunters is still a reason to return to Pandora.
Darksiders 2010
Why it still holds upA hub that opens as War grows stronger is still a reason to explore today.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2018
Why it still holds upOne Henry can still become different people on different playthroughs, with a classless system tied to your choices.
Grand Theft Auto 2 1999
Why it still holds upA city to roam, with jobs from several gangs and a score to reach, still leaves it open to play your way today.
Pokémon X 2013
Why it still holds upMega Evolution still lets a Pokémon go one step further for the length of a fight.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2013
Why it still holds upA big roster with familiar Lego puzzles is still easy to jump into.
Firewatch 2016
Why it still holds upThe radio still connects you to another character you never see, and the story is made of what you chose to tell her.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars 2009
Why it still holds upIt still has a look of its own, with a camera that looks down on an open city and outlined comic book shapes.
Steep 2016
Why it still holds upDrop zones that open more of the mountain still make exploring part of the game.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 2012
Why it still holds upLong routes and steady money still give it a calm pace.
Gothic 3 2006
Why it still holds upA large world where you choose a side still leaves a lot of room to explore.
Saints Row: The Third 2011
Why it still holds upWeapons that are jokes still set the tone of every fight.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories 2006
Why it still holds upBusinesses to take over still give the missions a purpose beyond the story.
Risen 2009
Why it still holds upThe island is still small enough to know, with a faction that decides who you become.
Forager 2019
Why it still holds upThe islands are still bought a square at a time, with the farm running while you go to look at the next one.
Darksiders II 2012
Why it still holds upA horseman with a world to ride across is still a lively way to explore.
The Darkness II 2012
Why it still holds upThe arms still give you four hands, two of them not yours.
Infamous: Second Son 2014
Why it still holds upThe story is self contained and does not need the earlier games, which makes it an easy starting point today.
Red Faction: Guerrilla 2009
Why it still holds upA world full of structures to level still makes each mission a choice.
Destroy All Humans! 2005
Why it still holds upSwitching between sneaking in disguise and wrecking the town is a loop that still plays well now.
LEGO City Undercover 2013
Why it still holds upOutfits that each open a different way through the same city still keep it varied today.
The Long Dark 2017
Why it still holds upA calm, quiet game about cold and hunger still gives each decision weight.
Black & White 2001
Why it still holds upA world that changes with the kind of god you are still makes every act a choice today.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run 2003
Why it still holds upSpringfield still hands you a different character in each level, with missions of its own.
Just Cause 2 2010
Why it still holds upThe tether still ties any two things together with a rope.
Final Fantasy II 1988
Why it still holds upGrowing a character through the weapons and spells used, and opening talks with keywords, still gives you things to try.
Jak 3 2004
Why it still holds upTwelve weapons and two Jak forms still give the fighting a lot of range.
The Outer Worlds 2019
Why it still holds upBecause nearly every situation can be talked, sneaked or shot through, a second playthrough is still worth making.
Infamous 2009
Why it still holds upA city to save or shock is still a good choice to make today.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings 2012
Why it still holds upMiddle earth is still something you can walk from the Shire to Mordor, between the films.
Dead Rising 2006
Why it still holds upA mall full of zombies, crossed against the clock, still makes a very particular challenge today.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes 2012
Why it still holds upIts Gotham is the reason to come back today, an open city full of characters to unlock and bricks to find.
Don't Starve 2013
Why it still holds upThe dark still means the night has to be survived as much as the hunger.
Slime Rancher 2017
Why it still holds upPlorts that buy new zones of the map still give the loop somewhere to go.
Watch Dogs 2 2016
Why it still holds upThe phone still turns every stranger's pocket into something to read today.