Time is a cruel mistress. What once shone brighter than the sun might be left to stare in despair as age gradually dims its light. Arguably more so than other media, games are victims of technological advancement, and innovative projects that redefined or created a genre start to feel obsolete as their ideas are refined by their successors. That said, legendary games will always be legendary games. GoldenEye 007 might not be that fun to play three decades later, but it is still one of the greatest shooters of all time.
Still, there are plenty of masterpieces that have achieved timelessness. Now, that does not mean they do not show their age, but rather that they are still as playable and enjoyable as the day they were released. Heck, some are arguably better now than they were during their heyday! So, let's pay our respects to a few gaming classics that will always be worth playing, along with one that has aged more like milk than wine.
I'm going to try and strike a balance between mainstream and slightly niche, to avoid obvious picks like Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time for games that have aged well, along with most early first-person shooters that have aged poorly.
Hack And Slash Game That Aged Like Fine Wine: Devil May Cry
Fantastic Level Design, Great Combat, Challenging And Epic Boss Fights...Also, Dante Is Cool
Devil May Cry
- Released
- October 16, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
Any day I get to talk about Devil May Cry is a great day, and every game has something going for it. Yes, even Devil May Cry 2, as Dante's design is excellent and the combat laid the groundwork for the rest of the series. Although an argument could be made that Devil May Cry 3 has aged the best, the original game has a uniqueness that is not shared with any other hack-and-slash game. Rather than endless combo options, Dante has a fairly small range of moves, which makes maximizing each weapon's capabilities feel far more important. The gameplay might not seem all that flashy when compared to the sequels or something like Bayonetta, but it is almost perfectly suited to complement Devil May Cry's enemies and stages.
How to Play the Devil May Cry Games in Order
The Devil May Cry series has quite a few jumping on points for new players eager to dive into the franchise.
More than anything, DMC's level design is comfortably the best in the franchise, and it expertly uses backtracking to make Temen-ni-gru seem way bigger than it actually is. Honestly, the game does a great job of reusing ideas (and boss fights) while twisting them just enough so they come across as evolutions rather than padding. Although Dante adds a somewhat comedic tone at times, Devil May Cry is absolutely dripping in Gothic architecture and atmosphere, reflecting its roots as a Resident Evil-esque spin-off.
A few things, like the platforming, have not stood the test of time, but they are relatively minor parts of the overall experience.
GameCube Game That Aged Like Fine Wine: Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
A Horror Video Game Masterpiece With Insanely Novel Mechanics That Are Still Impressive Today
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
- Released
- June 24, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Silicon Knights
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- GameCube
Nintendo and horror do not exactly go hand-in-hand, but one of the genre's crowning achievements will (seemingly) forever be synonymous with the GameCube. Although far from the scariest game ever, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is still a must-play for anybody remotely interested in horror, all the while being an EASY recommendation for people who want to go on a one-of-a-kind adventure. You don't need nostalgia to appreciate this one, as its storytelling, mechanics, and ambition are still top of the line.
Eternal Darkness is a time-traveling Lovecraftian epic that incorporates multiple main characters, detailed environments (for the era), and clever psychological tricks. The sanity meter is the game's defining feature, as the surroundings begin to warp and degrade as the character loses touch with reality. Future titles like Amnesia have similar mechanics, but Eternal Darkness also targets the player specifically through fourth wall breaks, and these moments are still unsettling (and incredible) after all these years.
It is a real shame that Shadow of the Eternals never quite came together.
Nintendo 64 Game That Aged Like Fine Wine: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
OK, I Am Going To Say It: Majora's Mask Has Aged Better Than Ocarina Of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
- Released
- October 26, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 64, GameCube
A few exceptions aside, most The Legend of Zelda titles have aged well or are, at least, still decently. Ocarina of Time is the default answer for "what is the best game ever?," and for valid reason; however, as long as you do not mind a darker tone and a ticking clock, Majora's Mask arguably eclipses its predecessor nowadays. OoT is the definitive traditional Zelda adventure, one that tells a fairly straightforward story and features all the standard elements that most people have come to expect from the series. In some cases, it did them first and, in all cases, it did them brilliantly, but you can find other Zelda games that scratch a similar itch.
There is no other game like Majora's Mask, and it only works as well as it does because it is still Zelda. Touching upon themes like death and grief, the story has a foreboding tone that borders on horror, and the game is packed with surreal imagery that is the stuff of nightmares. The gameplay is still classic Zelda, but it exists within a haunting hellscape that is far removed from Hyrule's warm and sunny fields. Even more so than OoT, Majora's Mask's NPCs and world feel truly alive, and you get to know them intimately due to the campaign's time-loop structure.
Although still great, Majora's Mask's 3DS remake has aged worse than the N64 original. That said, if you only have access to the former, it is still a good time.
PS1 JRPG That Aged Like Fine Wine: Vagrant Story
On A Console Filled With Great JRPGs, Vagrant Story Is Among The Very Best
Vagrant Story
- Released
- May 15, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS1
Out of the popular '90s consoles, the PS1's library has probably aged the worst, just because so many early 3D offerings are painful to replay nowadays. That said, JRPGs are kind of an exception, especially the turn-based ones. Sure, you are not going to mistake The Legend of Dragoon or Final Fantasy 9 for PS4 games, but their positives far outweigh any negatives brought on by time. Then, there is Vagrant Story, a revered Square game that did not quite reach the commercial heights of its acclaimed contemporaries due to coming out at the tail-end of the PS1's life. Yet, out of every JRPG on the console, Vagrant Story might have aged the best.
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Even when enthusiastically recommending an older game, it nearly always comes with the understanding that the graphics are naturally dated and can take some getting used to. Vagrant Story does not require that, as the visuals are still jaw-dropping. At times, it almost looks like a modern game inspired by PS1 classics rather than just the latter. Beyond pretty art, the core combat is as deep as you want it to be, thanks to a weapon customization system that lets you create all sorts of combos. Although you can constantly swap out weapons, you can streamline the experience by having three options that target different enemy types, and then you can just focus on combat and exploration, which are both great.
Horror FPS Game That Aged Like Fine Wine: F.E.A.R.
The Perfect Mix Of FPS Action And Genuine Horror
F.E.A.R.
- Released
- October 18, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
Alma Wade is still bone-chillingly scary. F.E.A.R. Came out at a time when first-person shooters had just about become refined enough to make some of them future-proof, and the basic gunplay should be second-nature to most people. However, F.E.A.R. Has primarily aged well due to the way it sets itself apart from traditional military shooters, along with stellar AI that continues to put most releases to shame. That is not a criticism of modern FPS games, but rather a celebration of what Monolith managed to accomplish with its 2005 triumph.
Action horror games have forever struggled to balance the two genres, and F.E.A.R. Might have walked the line better than nearly every other title. The horror elements are consistently part of the campaign, rather than being relegated to a few moments, and Alma's appearances are intense and creative. While the gunplay feels fine, the gameplay is fantastic, as it manages to emphasize both tactics and reflexes. It is just a joy to play.
Legendary Game That Aged Like Milk (But We Still Love): Mass Effect
Just Play The Version On The Legendary Edition
Mass Effect
- Released
- November 20, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
BioWare's Mass Effect is the greatest sci-fi gaming trilogy of all time, and they have been modernized through the Legendary Edition. That is the best way to experience these games, but the original versions of Mass Effect 2 and 3 have aged well enough that they can still be recommended as alternatives or if you already have them. However, the same really cannot be said for the first game, as Mass Effect's shortcomings have only become more pronounced with each passing year.
The cover-based gunplay is worse than most of its big-budget contemporaries, and the missions have a habit of overstaying their welcome. Mass Effect also feels pretty rough in places, and things like the facial animation and UI were already not great for 2007. Then, there is the infamous Mako sections that force you to navigate across mostly uninteresting and frustrating terrain, which makes the vehicle's serviceable controls seem worse than they are.
Most importantly, there is just no reason to play the original version of Mass Effect except for historical purposes. The Legendary Edition introduces many QOL adjustments that make it far easier to appreciate the game's many strengths.
Great Games Where Your Decisions Truly Matter
The following games stand out for forcing players to make tough decisions that can drastically change the story.