Nov 17
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 2004
Why it still holds upA jungle that has to be survived as well as crossed still makes its stealth worth playing today.
2004 games that still hold up
Games
Nov 17
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 2004
Why it still holds upA jungle that has to be survived as well as crossed still makes its stealth worth playing today.
Nov 16
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.
Oct 26
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 2004
Why it still holds upPick it up now for the size of the world and the number of things to do in it.
Jul 22
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door 2004
Why it still holds upThe timed hits and the audience make the battles worth playing today, since stylish play is rewarded, and each chapter is nearly a self contained episode.
Dec 6
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords 2004
Why it still holds upBecause influence follows what you say and do, your choices change who stays at your side, which still gives a second run something new today.
Nov 16
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2004
Why it still holds upThe clan you choose changes what you can do and say, so a second run in the same city plays differently, and that is why it is still worth playing today.
Oct 7
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones 2004
Why it still holds upToday it still offers polished mechanics, three difficulty levels and a branching route with choices between battles.
Jan 23
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations 2004
Why it still holds upThe whole game rests on one loop, spotting the contradiction between testimony and evidence, and that is why it is worth playing today.
Feb 9
Metroid: Zero Mission 2004
Why it still holds upIts map still reads clearly: areas linked by doors and elevators and opened by power ups, with statues pointing the way.
Nov 23
World of Warcraft 2004
Nov 9
Halo 2 2004
Why it still holds upTight controls and weapons that each cost something still carry the campaign today.
Nov 4
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap 2004
Why it still holds upShrinking turns the same places into two scales, and that still makes its level design work today.
Mar 18
Katamari Damacy 2004
Why it still holds upOne idea, a sticky ball that grows, drives every stage, so the scale of the rooms keeps changing, and that still keeps it fresh today.
Nov 15
Need for Speed: Underground 2 2004
Why it still holds upAn open city to drive between races, and tuning deep enough to include a dyno, still give it a shape of its own today.
Sep 20
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2004
Why it still holds upControl points that supply resources and unlock units still tie each fight to where you hold the map today.
Nov 15
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.
Sep 14
Fable 2004
Why it still holds upA character whose look and reputation follow good and evil acts still makes those choices visible today.
Jan
Pokémon FireRed Version 2004
Why it still holds upCollecting badges toward the Elite Four, with battles and capture in between, still gives the adventure a clear shape today.
Nov 27
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King 2004
Why it still holds upA whole 3D world to cross, with more to do than fight, still gives the adventure plenty of ways to play today.
Dec 28
Gran Turismo 4 2004
Why it still holds upOver 700 cars, dozens of driving missions and a crew chief mode that speeds the race up still give you many ways to spend a race today.
Apr 29
Pikmin 2 2004
Why it still holds upA day that always runs short, with randomly built caves below it, still makes every trip a set of choices today.
Sep 22
Rome: Total War 2004
Why it still holds upA campaign and real time battles that feed each other, with morale and formations deciding fights, still make every war a decision about what to risk today.
Sep
Dofus 2004
Jan 29
Pokémon LeafGreen Version 2004
Why it still holds upWith the catching and battling kept intact, each badge is still a clear goal today.
Sep 8
Burnout 3: Takedown 2004
Why it still holds upAggression that pays for speed still makes every race a risk worth taking today.
Jun 1
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay 2004
Why it still holds upFists and shadows, with guns held back, still give the escape its own tension today.
Dec 20
Cave Story 2004
Why it still holds upWeapons that lose levels when you are hit still make every fight about avoiding damage today.
Jun 24
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 2004
Why it still holds upA new player today is not stranded for long, because dialogue that changes with the story makes each town worth revisiting.
Dec 2
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within 2004
Why it still holds upA rewind that undoes a fatal mistake, and portals between two eras, let you recover from a wrong jump and plan a route, so the acrobatics are easy to retry today.
Nov 25
Space Rangers 2: Dominators 2004
Why it still holds upThe main goal can be ignored for exploration, trade and side quests, so a new game can still be played your own way today.
Apr 28
Clannad 2004
Why it still holds upRoutes that unlock one another give a long read a structure that still pulls you forward today.
Mar 26
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow 2004
Why it still holds upEach stealth section today has a few more ways to play, with Sam whistling to draw guards and carrying bodies through doors.
Dec 6
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2004
Why it still holds upWho you bring against whom is still the question of every army, since the counters run in a circle.
Sep 14
Sly 2: Band of Thieves 2004
Why it still holds upEvery job still has more than one way in, because three thieves with different skills let you pick the one that suits each heist.
Jul 20
ESPN NFL 2K5 2004
Why it still holds upA franchise built on weekly preparation, and a first person view of the field, still give each season a rhythm to play through today.
Apr 15
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror 2004
Why it still holds upA cellphone that calls other Kirbys to help, and a hub that leads to nine areas, make it easy to enjoy with friends today.
Mar 9
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes 2004
Why it still holds upEvery sneak is still a matter of staying unseen, with soldiers who talk to each other and notice you by sight and sound.
Oct 20
Scaler 2004
Why it still holds upForms include a pterodactyl for flight and a ball for races, and giving energy to the pterodactyl unlocks upgrades such as stealth.
Mar
OpenTTD 2004
Why it still holds upA long game of income that grows only when your network works well is still absorbing, because every route is a design problem.
Jul 15
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2004
Why it still holds upBuilding a party is still a puzzle of its own, with abilities that can be shared and combined.
Apr 23
Mega Man Zero 3 2004
Why it still holds upZero still has a reason to aim in every direction, with a rod that doubles as a pogo stick.
Feb 26
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege 2004
Why it still holds upStriking just before the enemy does still turns every fight into a matter of timing.
May 25
Thief: Deadly Shadows 2004
Why it still holds upIn a city where each guard is a problem you solve your own way, you still choose how to get in.
Nov 22
Sid Meier's Pirates! 2004
Why it still holds upDuels, sea battles, dances and treasure hunts add up to a career you shape yourself, which still makes it easy to pick up for an evening.
Dec 28
MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf 2004
Why it still holds upStepping out of the machine to drive a tank gives the war a new angle.
Jan 13
NFL Street 2004
Why it still holds upIts looser street rules make for a quick game today.
Aug 20
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 2004
Why it still holds upWeapons you forge, swap and keep repaired still make every trip out of town a question of what to carry.
Dec
NFL Street 2 2004
Why it still holds upStyle points for every juke and hurdle are still a good reason to play on the street.