Jan 31
Final Fantasy VII 1997
Why it still holds upThe Materia and the size of the world still give you plenty to get into.
1997 games that still hold up
Games
Jan 31
Final Fantasy VII 1997
Why it still holds upThe Materia and the size of the world still give you plenty to get into.
Mar 20
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 1997
Why it still holds upExploring the castle is still the draw: it is full of hidden rooms and secrets, and each new ability opens somewhere that was closed.
Oct 10
Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game 1997
Why it still holds upA build that counts in every conversation and every fight is still the reason to play it today.
Aug 23
GoldenEye 007 1997
Why it still holds upOpen levels with objectives that change by difficulty, plus the multiplayer, still hold it up today.
Mar
Tekken 3 1997
Why it still holds upWhat holds up today is smooth controls and distinct movesets.
Apr 27
Star Fox 64 1997
Why it still holds upRoutes that branch and medals to earn still give a short campaign reasons to replay today.
Oct
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.
Oct 13
Age of Empires 1997
Why it still holds upFinite trees, four resources and buildings to place still turn each match into a city planning problem today.
Jun 20
Final Fantasy Tactics 1997
Why it still holds upJobs that unlock abilities and a Charge Time that decides who acts still make every battle a puzzle of order and class today.
Sep 24
Ultima Online 1997
Nov 6
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back 1997
Why it still holds upHub rooms that save, and let you leave a hard stage and come back, still make it easy to approach today.
Jun 27
Dungeon Keeper 1997
Why it still holds upIndirect control of creatures that have to be paid, trained and kept content means the dungeon is still run rather than commanded today.
Aug 1
Mega Man X4 1997
Why it still holds upTwo heroes built so differently still make each stage a different problem today, and a second playthrough feels new.
Dec 9
Quake II 1997
Why it still holds upToday the campaign gives you a structure that is clear to follow, with mission objectives and a hub to move between large levels.
Oct
Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror 1997
Why it still holds upDescriptions on a right click, and conversation trees that give hints, still tell you what to try next.
Sep 18
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee 1997
Why it still holds upIt still plays as a careful puzzle platformer: rescued Mudokons follow your commands and checkpoints are the only saves.
Dec 23
Gran Turismo 1997
Why it still holds upA progression of licenses, credits and tuning, on top of physics built first, still blends arcade and simulation racing today.
Nov
Blade Runner 1997
Why it still holds upSuspects who differ each new game, and clues that change what others do, give every case a reason to start again today.
Feb 28
Super Bomberman 5 1997
Why it still holds upA campaign that branches and a battle mode fed by it are still reason enough to come back to it today.
Oct 31
Riven: The Sequel to Myst 1997
Why it still holds upA vaguely explained goal and cursors that tell you what a click will do still make exploring each place a matter of observing.
Ignition 1997
Why it still holds upShort races with odd vehicles and open shortcuts are still easy to pick up today.
Oct 9
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II 1997
Why it still holds upChoosing which kind of power to grow still gives each run a shape of its own.
Mar
Micro Machines V3 1997
Why it still holds upRacing toys around a house, with up to eight friends at a time, still makes it a game for a crowd.
Sep
Pilot Brothers 1997
Why it still holds upA pair of detectives who take turns in a zoo case is a way to play a puzzle story that is still easy to follow today.
Mar 6
Magic: The Gathering 1997
Why it still holds upBuilding a deck from the cards won on the road gives a card game a journey to follow, and that still holds today.
Apr 25
Tobal 2 1997
Why it still holds upA Quest Mode with dungeons and a town, and a roster that grows with captured monsters, still gives it more to do than the ring fights.
Nov
FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 1997
Why it still holds upA football game that covers every national team in qualifying still has a draw for fans.
Mar 28
Theme Hospital 1997
Why it still holds upRooms to place, staff and research still make each hospital a plan to carry out today.
Apr 7
Outlaws 1997
Why it still holds upThe hardest level still forces a different style of play.
Nov
Kirby's Dream Land 3 1997
Why it still holds upEvery enemy is still a possible key, because abilities open parts of a level.
Dec 11
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile 1997
Why it still holds upEvery fight still has a second use, with a grabbed enemy that is both weapon and springboard.
Mar
The Last Express 1997
Why it still holds upA train full of people living on their own schedules, in a short game, still makes it worth replaying today.
Worms 2 1997
Why it still holds upA match among friends is the kind of game that works as well now as before.
Nov
Wing Commander: Prophecy 1997
Why it still holds upBasic and advanced controls let you choose between airplane like handling and full control of each axis even now.
Mar 7
Blood 1997
Why it still holds upWeapons with two modes to try on every enemy still make each fight a small experiment today.
Nov
Rival Schools: United by Fate 1997
Why it still holds upA partner you call in at the right moment still makes every round a decision about when to spend vigor.
Oct
Zork: Grand Inquisitor 1997
Why it still holds upThe jokes still make it a Zork that laughs, with supporting characters to step into.
Aug 11
Tetrisphere 1997
Why it still holds upA sphere to dig into makes it a puzzle game unlike most Tetris.
Jul 28
The King of Fighters '97 1997
Why it still holds upChoosing a style before a match still makes the fight a matter of how you want to play.
May 30
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.
Oct
Warlords III: Reign of Heroes 1997
Why it still holds upThe carried heroes still make a campaign whose generals remember the last war.
Mar
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.
Panzer General 2 1997
Why it still holds upThe prestige still means the army you bring to the next battle is the one you earned in the last.
Sep 3
Imperialism 1997
Why it still holds upThe transport screen still sets an empire's limit at how much it can carry.
Dec 19
Harvest Moon GB 1997
Why it still holds upA small farm and a simple daily routine still make a relaxed, short session today.
Nov 21
Tomb Raider II 1997
Why it still holds upA trip from the Great Wall to Venice is a tour that still draws a returning player.
Dec 11
Shining Force III 1997
Why it still holds upEach scenario is a new view of the same war, which gives the three parts a reason to be played in turn.
Sep
Total Annihilation 1997
Why it still holds upA galactic war fought across planets and moons has a scale that is still worth a try.