Sep 25
Silent Hill 2 2001
Why it still holds upThe horror is the reason to go now: it is psychological, built from the characters' regrets and fears and from a town seen through fog, rather than from monsters alone.
2001 games that still hold up
Games
Sep 25
Silent Hill 2 2001
Why it still holds upThe horror is the reason to go now: it is psychological, built from the characters' regrets and fears and from a town seen through fog, rather than from monsters alone.
Nov 21
Super Smash Bros. Melee 2001
Why it still holds upFast, physics driven fighting that is easy to pick up and frantic with four players keeps it played today.
Nov 13
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty 2001
Why it still holds upLights, glass, steam and fruit are all tools against those squads, so the environment keeps its part in the stealth today.
Jul 19
Final Fantasy X 2001
Why it still holds upTime stops while you decide and swapping characters makes each fight a choice of who suits it, so the battles still reward planning.
Jul 25
Max Payne 2001
Why it still holds upBullet time is why it still plays well: it sets the pace of the fights, and the average gunfight lasts only about ten seconds.
Oct 23
Grand Theft Auto III 2001
Why it still holds upA city built as a place rather than a level, where what you do is your choice and the world carries on around you, is still worth playing today.
Mar 15
Gothic 2001
Why it still holds upExploring without markers, in a world of rival camps, is the reason to play it now.
Aug 21
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.
Sep 25
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.
Nov 15
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.
Sep 20
Commandos 2: Men of Courage 2001
Why it still holds upA squad of specialists, each with abilities of their own, and missions with several objectives still give it plenty to plan today.
Feb 27
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages 2001
Why it still holds upWith the same map in two ages, puzzles are solved by changing something in the past and walking through the present, and that still gives each area two layers to work out today.
Jun 21
Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis 2001
Why it still holds upOn foot and vehicle combat in one continuous game, with squad orders and a mission editor, still gives a mission many ways to play today.
Apr 28
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec 2001
Why it still holds upA progression of races, license tests and championships tied to unlocking cars still gives a career a clear path today.
Oct 12
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 2001
Why it still holds upEach trial is a puzzle of attention: you spot the one statement in a testimony that your evidence contradicts, and the cases are fun to solve today.
Jan 26
Oni 2001
Why it still holds upYou still get fights that favor your fists over scarce ammunition, and each encounter is a hand to hand duel.
Sep 10
Advance Wars 2001
Why it still holds upLimited fuel and ammo, and terrain that changes what each unit can do, make every turn a small puzzle, still worth solving.
Apr 6
Worms World Party 2001
Why it still holds upA map that every shot reshapes still makes a match with friends lively today.
Dec 20
Ikaruga 2001
Why it still holds upEven now, a single polarity switch that turns bullets from danger into ammunition makes every screen a puzzle of order and timing.
May 8
Myst III: Exile 2001
Why it still holds upAges that are easy to wander, with puzzles found by watching them closely, still make it worth exploring today.
Oct 19
Stronghold 2001
Why it still holds upA castle that has to hold off sieges and fire alike is still as much of a challenge as the fighting today, and each one is a design problem to solve.
Feb 23
Severance: Blade of Darkness 2001
Why it still holds upEven now, four fighters with different weapons give each playthrough its own style.
Nov 22
Rez 2001
Why it still holds upEach stage is still something you play as much as watch, with music that changes as you shoot.
Oct 30
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 2001
Why it still holds upThe revert links ramp tricks to manuals, so a single combo can run across a whole run, and that still gives score chasing its depth today.
Jun 15
Startopia 2001
Why it still holds upRunning a station by setting things up, with aliens you cannot order around, still makes every layout a test today.
Jun 21
Gitaroo Man 2001
Why it still holds upTracing a line to play a riff, with a guard and a solo in each song, still makes every song a short fight.
Oct 30
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 2001
Why it still holds upEvery room is still a puzzle of which plane to be in, with two worlds layered on one map.
Sep 6
Shenmue II 2001
Why it still holds upA world where people keep schedules and the weather changes still makes waiting and looking part of the game.
Aug 23
Devil May Cry 2001
Why it still holds upBeing judged on how well you fight, not only on whether you win, still turns every encounter into a performance.
Aug 1
Golden Sun 2001
Why it still holds upPuzzles solved with magic, in places you can return to with new powers, still give exploring a reward of its own.
Mar 5
Conker's Bad Fur Day 2001
Why it still holds upSimple moves and pads that hand you the right tool at the right spot still keep each stretch moving today.
Feb
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons 2001
Why it still holds upOne map still becomes four different places, as you change the seasons to change the land.
Nov 18
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II - Rogue Leader 2001
Why it still holds upEach mission still has a new angle when you replay it in a different ship.
Jun 15
Original War 2001
Why it still holds upA team of specialists makes the squad matter as much as the army.
Sep 13
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies 2001
Why it still holds upFlying through 18 missions is still a straightforward run for anyone who likes arcade style flight today.
Oct 22
Aliens versus Predator 2 2001
Why it still holds upThree species that see and move differently still make each campaign feel like a different game today.
Aug
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001 2001
Why it still holds upA team built from two fighting traditions, balanced by how strong each member is, still gives a reason to try it today.
Mar 21
Mega Man Battle Network 2001
Why it still holds upIts fights hide inside a network, and that idea is still what gives the game an identity of its own.
Oct 26
Pikmin 2001
Why it still holds upWith only 30 days and a hundred Pikmin, every day is still something to plan.
Mar 15
Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns 2001
Why it still holds upCommanding companies keeps a large army easy to read, and that clarity still matters.
Dec
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2001
Why it still holds upFighting through dungeons with a friendly build choice makes for a pleasant evening now.
Apr 21
Tropico 2001
Why it still holds upRuling a small island with a sense of humor is a change of pace that still works today.
Oct 12
Championship Manager: Season 01/02 2001
Why it still holds upTaking charge of a club in any of those leagues is something a patient fan can still settle into.
Dec 12
Geneforge 2001
Why it still holds upA world with no single right side still leaves the choices to you today.
Jul 19
Mega Man Xtreme 2 2001
Why it still holds upTwo heroes with their own stages and bosses still give a second run a reason to start again today.
Apr 18
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive 2001
Why it still holds upPlayers who like to plan a Western heist themselves will find that it still holds up today.
Jun 19
Twisted Metal: Black 2001
Why it still holds upAnother run is still worth it for the different special weapon each driver gives, which gives each character its own way to fight.
Feb 15
The Settlers: Fourth Edition 2001
Why it still holds upA settlement that has to feed its own army is still a patient challenge to take on.