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Third-person games that still hold up

A character on screen, and the world around them

516 games · page 2 of 11

Mass Effect 3 2012 Why it still holds upBecause so much of it rests on those earlier choices, the trilogy played in order from the first game still gives it its full weight today.
God of War III 2010 Why it still holds upToday it still offers combat built on chained combos and weapon switching, on a very large scale.
God of War II 2007 Why it still holds upIt holds up now because combat, platforming and puzzles are designed as one adventure.
Resident Evil 2002 Why it still holds upAmmo, inventory and saves are scarce, so you keep deciding what to fight, what to carry and when to backtrack, and that tension is the reason to play it now.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 2017 Why it still holds upLayered combat across large worlds packed with hidden items and side quests still makes it worth playing today.
Gothic II 2002 Why it still holds upA compact, hand placed world where exploring pays off is still the reason to play it today.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess 2006 Why it still holds upNine dungeons with distinct themes and tools, joined by a large overworld, and two ways of moving and fighting in one adventure, are why it is worth playing now.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception 2011 Why it still holds upIts set pieces blend climbing, shooting and escape in single sequences rather than separate modes, and that is why it is still worth playing now.
Gothic 2001 Why it still holds upExploring without markers, in a world of rival camps, is the reason to play it now.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 2000 Why it still holds upA focused score chase of two minute runs and chained tricks, with parks of your own to build, is still the reason to play it today.
Bayonetta 2 2014 Why it still holds upFast combat built on dodging and combos, with varied set pieces and challenge portals, is the reason to play it now.
Suikoden II 1998 Why it still holds upA huge recruitable cast, each with a place in battles or the castle, ties war strategy, party combat and base building into one loop, and that is the reason to play it now.
Demon's Souls 2009 Why it still holds upLarge, distinct and believably connected areas, and careful stamina based fights with gradual improvement as the core loop, are the reason to play it now.
Psychonauts 2 2021 Why it still holds upThe minds are why it is still worth playing: each level is a new place drawn from someone's head, and most end with Raz helping that person.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shadow of the Colossus 2018 Why it still holds upAn empty world with a single task each time, where every colossus is its own climbing puzzle, keeps it worth playing now.
Silent Hill 1999 Why it still holds upWhat you see and hear is limited to a flashlight, a radio and the fog and darkness of the town, and that is why it is worth playing now.
Silent Hill 3 2003 Why it still holds upA flashlight, a radio that crackles near monsters and an Otherworld that changes around Heather still make the horror a matter of sight and sound today.
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood 2010 Why it still holds upRecruits to call in, a city you invest in and kills you can chain still make Rome a place you build up as you fight today.
Crash Team Racing 1999 Why it still holds upHandling built around drift and boost timing still gives every lap something to get right today.
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening 2005 Why it still holds upFour combat styles and four weapons to switch between on the fly, paired with a style meter that climbs through combo ranks, still give the combat something to aim for today.
Banjo-Tooie 2000 Why it still holds upJiggies unlock new worlds, so backtracking is a major part of the challenge, and a duo that can split up still makes that backtracking its main puzzle today.
Fable 2004 Why it still holds upA character whose look and reputation follow good and evil acts still makes those choices visible today.

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