Oct 18
Shadow of the Colossus 2005
Why it still holds upEach colossus is its own puzzle in scale, with only a quiet land between them, which is why it holds up today.
2005 games that still hold up
Games
Oct 18
Shadow of the Colossus 2005
Why it still holds upEach colossus is its own puzzle in scale, with only a quiet land between them, which is why it holds up today.
Jan 11
Resident Evil 4 2005
Why it still holds upThe game escalates steadily, and muted colours keep its places oppressive, so the pacing still keeps its grip today.
Dec 22
Kingdom Hearts II 2005
Why it still holds upFights that keep changing what they ask of you still carry it today.
Oct
Star Wars: Battlefront II 2005
Why it still holds upGround, space and hero battles in one game, and the space battles in particular, are the reason to play it now.
Nov 15
Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2005
Why it still holds upPursuits that keep escalating, and a Blacklist to climb, are the reason to play it now.
Mar 22
God of War 2005
Why it still holds upFluid combat, broken up by puzzles and platforming, still keeps it worth playing today.
Oct 25
Sid Meier's Civilization IV 2005
Why it still holds upGrowing your cities toward one of five different victories still carries the game today.
Mar 29
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory 2005
Why it still holds upStealth built on light and sound that you manage yourself, against guards who react to what you disturb, is still the reason to play it today.
Feb 17
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.
Oct 25
Call of Duty 2 2005
Why it still holds upRegenerating health and checkpoints still make each firefight quick to retry today.
Apr 19
Psychonauts 2005
Why it still holds upEach mental world is its own set of levels built around one character's psychology, which gives distinct settings and mechanics and still gives every area a new idea today.
Apr 5
SWAT 4 2005
Why it still holds upCharacters die quickly on both sides, so a room taken with a plan still beats one taken by force, and that careful pace holds up today.
Sep 16
Indigo Prophecy 2005
Why it still holds upScenes that leave you free to act, and characters whose threads feed each other, still let the same events play out differently today.
Mar 22
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect 2005
Why it still holds upWith the campaign, its unlockable modes and a level maker together, there is still far more to play here today than the story alone.
Aug 25
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow 2005
Why it still holds upEven now, souls you can swap and a castle that opens as you find items give you reasons to explore every room.
Apr 20
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance 2005
Why it still holds upPermanent losses and support bonuses between fighters who talk make each unit someone you plan to keep alive, and that tension is still there.
Jul 7
We Love Katamari 2005
Why it still holds upRolling from the smallest things to the largest, an idea anyone gets at once, still makes every level easy to pick up today.
Nov 14
Mario Kart DS 2005
Why it still holds upOn a handheld today you have plenty to do, with courses from earlier games and a Mission mode beside the Grand Prix.
Mar 1
Star Wars: Republic Commando 2005
Why it still holds upSquadmates you can order and revive give each fight a team feel, which a first mission still shows.
Jun 23
Advance Wars: Dual Strike 2005
Why it still holds upTwo commanders, and sometimes two battles at once, still make planning each turn the reason to take it up today.
Nov 8
Guitar Hero 2005
Why it still holds upA guitar in your hands and four difficulties for every song still let anyone find their level today.
Jun 9
Pathologic 2005
Why it still holds upA game that moves on whether or not a player keeps up is still worth meeting today.
Sep 26
NBA Live 06 2005
Why it still holds upEven now, a franchise you run across many seasons gives a single team a long story.
Oct 18
F.E.A.R. 2005
Why it still holds upYou still choose a loadout rather than just a gun, since the heavier weapons trade weight for power.
Jan 25
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath 2005
Why it still holds upWhat you fire is still a choice in every fight, since the ammunition is made of living creatures.
Feb
Tekken 5 2005
Why it still holds upMoves that slip past low attacks still give each match a layer of tactics today, with a fighter dressed your own way.
Sep 13
Mario Tennis: Power Tour 2005
Why it still holds upA climb through the ranks still gives every match a reason beyond the score today.
Mar 8
Freedom Force vs. The 3rd Reich 2005
Why it still holds upA comic book war you can pick up and throw things in has plenty of room for repeat plays.
Jan
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 2005
Why it still holds upDemon forms and Mantra Grids are still a good reason to play through it.
Jul 28
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2005
Why it still holds upAfter a mission you get a letter grade from S to D. You can still cheer the characters on, tapping to the beat while a story plays above you.
Oct 17
The Warriors 2005
Why it still holds upA gang you fight alongside in every mission still makes every brawl feel like a crew effort.
Jan 4
Hearts of Iron II 2005
Why it still holds upCareful planning is the heart of running a nation at that scale, and the challenge is still rewarding to this day.
May 3
Forza Motorsport 2005
Why it still holds upTuning that reaches down to gear ratios and damage that changes handling still make every race a question of setup today.
Jun 9
Killer7 2005
Why it still holds upEvery room still has a shape you can read, in a game that holds you to its paths.
Nov 22
Project Gotham Racing 3 2005
Why it still holds upThere is still a second goal on every lap, since style counts as well as speed.
Dec 15
Tales of the Abyss 2005
Why it still holds upRoom to run anywhere, and ground that can be turned into an upgrade, still give its battles more to do than trading blows today.
Dec 29
Dead or Alive 4 2005
Why it still holds upGood timing is rewarded in every match, so a quick fight is still easy to enjoy.
Jul 28
Fatal Frame III: The Tormented 2005
Also known as Project Zero III: The Tormented
Why it still holds upThe flat is still the safe place that the house is coming for.
Mar 10
Meteos 2005
Why it still holds upBlocks launched before the stack fills the screen still make every round a test of speed today.
Jun
Xanadu Next 2005
Why it still holds upA knight bound to an island with one way out gives the exploration a purpose.
Nov 22
Condemned: Criminal Origins 2005
Why it still holds upEach fight is still decided by what the place hands you.
Dec
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection 2005
Why it still holds upThe Tekken 5 cast plus three newcomers is still there to play today.
Jun 30
Ys: The Oath in Felghana 2005
Why it still holds upThe bosses are still patterns to learn, in fights that are fast.
Feb 3
Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 2005
Why it still holds upIt is where the story of the original cast continues, and a way to play the Original Generation line on the Game Boy Advance today.
Sep 6
Rebelstar: Tactical Command 2005
Why it still holds upAction points and short ammunition still make every turn a count of what each soldier can afford today.
Mar 24
Wipeout Pure 2005
Why it still holds upFast ships on tracks with a lot of style still give each lap a rush.