Sep 15
Persona 5 2016
Why it still holds upA year of school turned into a rhythm of days, dungeons and people still gives it a structure of its own today.
2016 games that still hold up
Games
Sep 15
Persona 5 2016
Why it still holds upA year of school turned into a rhythm of days, dungeons and people still gives it a structure of its own today.
May 10
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End 2016
Why it still holds upYou would play it today for the traversal and the performances, since climbing carries much of the game and the dialogue and acting carry a personal story.
Mar 24
Dark Souls III 2016
Why it still holds upWeapons, stats and spells that combine into many ways to fight still give it a lot to try today.
Feb 26
Stardew Valley 2016
Why it still holds upThe relaxed pacing is why it is worth playing now: it asks for motivation and not urgency, missing a townsperson's timer has no real consequence, and the town feels alive.
Jun 29
Inside 2016
Why it still holds upThe puzzles are why it still plays well: they are natural obstacles that make sense in the context of the game, and the wordless boy is expressive enough to carry it.
May 13
Doom 2016
Why it still holds upIts combat is why it is worth playing now: it never asks you to hide, since health and ammunition come from killing up close, so the game keeps you moving forward.
Nov 11
Dishonored 2 2016
Why it still holds upLevels with many routes let a stealth run, a lethal run and a power mixing run all work, which keeps it worth replaying today.
Oct 28
Titanfall 2 2016
Why it still holds upLevels with several routes, and a Titan you swap into at the push of a button, still give five hours plenty of variety today.
Apr 19
The Banner Saga 2 2016
Why it still holds upUnits that play differently, such as the charging Horseborn and the support focused Ravens, on a grid where position decides fights, still reward planning today.
Jul 21
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana 2016
Why it still holds upSwitching between three characters with damage type weaknesses keeps combat active, and the village loop ties exploring to progress today.
Jun 21
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action 2016
Why it still holds upA world told through confessions and small details, rather than exposition, still makes each shift a conversation worth listening to today.
Sep 27
Vintage Story 2016
Why it still holds upCrafting built on real material processes, in a world set up as you like, still gives it a pace of its own today.
Sep 27
Forza Horizon 3 2016
Why it still holds upEvents that mix road, dirt and water, and racing built on driving precision instead of power ups, still keep the open world worth driving through today.
Feb 5
XCOM 2 2016
Why it still holds upTurn limits, scarce resources and soldiers who can die for good still make each mission a new problem today.
Jan 26
The Witness 2016
Why it still holds upEach puzzle is a small discovery: you work out the rules yourself, and you can still leave a region when you are stuck.
Mar 4
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight 2016
Why it still holds upA leaf for melee, a bow for range and a boss in every area give it a simple rhythm of exploring and then fighting that is easy to learn even now.
Dec 6
The Last Guardian 2016
Why it still holds upA creature that has to be worked with, not simply ordered, still gives each puzzle its own pace today.
May 24
Total War: Warhammer 2016
Why it still holds upFactions built on different rules still make every campaign a different way to wage war today.
Aug 2
Overcooked! 2016
Why it still holds upA kitchen that changes every level still turns every dish into a plan shared between players today.
Nov 10
Tyranny 2016
Why it still holds upEvery choice is a question of whom to side with: the world is already conquered and the character is built from how you play, which is worth replaying now.
Dec 8
OneShot 2016
Why it still holds upPuzzles that reach into your own computer still keep the solutions surprising today.
Dec 6
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun 2016
Why it still holds upEvery guard becomes a puzzle you can solve in your own order, with a visible cone of vision and bodies you can hide, and it stays tense today.
Jan 19
Darkest Dungeon 2016
Why it still holds upEach expedition still has real stakes, because heroes who are lost are lost for good.
Aug 6
AM2R: Return of Samus 2016
Why it still holds upA fan remake of a handheld game is still worth a look today.
Dec 8
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life 2016
Why it still holds upThe open world still has things to do between fights, from a hunger gauge that limits how much you can eat to arcade cabinets in the city.
Nov 8
Transport Fever 2016
Why it still holds upRunning a transport network through 150 years of vehicles is a long project that is still open today.
Feb
The Battle of Polytopia 2016
Why it still holds upA short turn limit and a single resource to spend suit a short session today, since each game is a quick set of choices about what to unlock first.
Jan
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir 2016
Why it still holds upThe same circular stages still feel different, with five characters who each have a weapon of their own.
Apr 28
Kirby: Planet Robobot 2016
Why it still holds upA mech suit that copies enemies' abilities still gives every stage a second way to play.
Feb 2
American Truck Simulator 2016
Why it still holds upThe pace is unhurried and the road is long, which suits an easy evening now.
Aug
Titan Quest Anniversary Edition 2016
Why it still holds upA long quest through the ancient world is still open to anyone who wants an action role-playing game with that setting.
Jun 6
Hearts of Iron IV 2016
Why it still holds upThe economy that feeds a war is the heart of the game, as it still is.
Nov 17
Planet Coaster 2016
Why it still holds upWith nothing locked and no budget to watch, sandbox leaves your own plan as the only limit, and that freedom is still the main pull.
Dec 20
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero 2016
Why it still holds upStages that hold more each time you return with a new form still give a reason to replay them today.
Mar 31
Hyper Light Drifter 2016
Why it still holds upA world told without words still asks you to piece it together as you go.
Mar 11
Hitman 2016
Why it still holds upBig levels with room for improvised kills are what keep it replayable today.
Mar 15
Salt and Sanctuary 2016
Why it still holds upWith so many ways to build a character, a second run can feel new now.
Jan 21
Yakuza Kiwami 2016
Why it still holds upSide stories that take up most of the play still make the neighborhood feel worth walking.
Jun 28
Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma 2016
Why it still holds upThe fragments are still a mystery whose order you choose, about people who have lost theirs.
Jun 9
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice 2016
Why it still holds upCatching a witness in a contradiction is still the heart of each trial today.
Jun 2
Brigador 2016
Why it still holds upThe city is still a town you are paid to flatten.
Nov 28
Quern: Undying Thoughts 2016
Why it still holds upA puzzle island with no enemies still leaves time to wander and think.
May 26
Voez 2016
Why it still holds upA line that moves with the song keeps each chart from becoming a fixed row of lanes, so every song still feels like its own.
Aug 16
Sally Face 2016
Why it still holds upGoing back to a place in a later timeline to see what changed gives each location a story of its own today.
Jan 28
Dragon Quest Builders 2016
Why it still holds upTowns that grow with every room you add still give each chapter something to build toward.