Going back to old games can be a distressing business. Those classics you think you remember with pin-sharp clarity, embedded in a warm fuzz of nostalgia, can all too often reveal themselves to be hideous pieces of junk. For examples look no further than just about any early 3D third-person action games. In the fast-moving world of video games, it can be very easy to get left behind. Going back to play the original Splinter Cell can be an excruciating business.
But for all the games that age overnight like pears, there are a few immortals that somehow stand the test of time. In hindsight, we should’ve recognised these games for being considerably better than their peers. As the years roll by, these greats just somehow never lose their edge.
I think the best way to open this discussion up is for us to put forward one old game each that we consider timeless, as well as one relatively modern game that you believe won’t be destroyed by the encroaching creep of time.
One of the older games that refuses to age for me is Roller Coaster Tycoon 2. While the rest of the RTS and management world was obsessing over 3D (this was the year of WarCraft 3 and Age of Mythology ), Chris Sawyer stuck to his guns with RCT2, offering up a classic isometric style. It oozes with personality, while from a gameplay standpoint the grid-based system is perfect for slotting together intricate rollercoasters and surveying your park.
For my modern game, I’m going to have to go with Rocket League. There’s a level of purity there, and a slickness to its feel, that ensures that like the ball kicking variant it draws so much from, Rocket League will surely never grow old. It’s the Tetris of the 21st century and it’ll no doubt help that Psyonix hasn’t become over preoccupied with realistic visuals.
Over to you now, which older game do you consider absolutely timeless? And which newer game do you think you’ll still enjoy playing in 20 years time? Share your choices below!
Login or Register to join the debate
PC Specs
KOTOR, GTA SA... Funnily I played KOTOR for the first time a year ago. But, I was addicted and I realized why is the best Star Wars game of all time(along with it's sequel)
PC Specs
Oh goodness. That was indeed the best RPG I have ever played.
PC Specs
Company of Heroes. Alpha Centauri. Freecol.
PC Specs
All the Pokemon games
PC Specs
KOTOR 1 and 2 I still replay those at least once a year. Resident evil 1 original ps1 release. Dragon warrior 1 for the nes
PC Specs
homeworld 1 & 2
also sins of a solar empire, never gets old to conquer a solar system
played at least a couple time a year since they came out
PC Specs
Grand Chase
Need For Speed Hot Persuit 2 (PS2)
Need For Speed Underground
Need For Speed III (Believe me, I still play this)
Jet Set Radio Future (Never ages)
Halo series (Up to 3)
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
Pokemon Series
Burnout 3
Rune Factory 4 (I purchased my 3ds for this game)
Is that too many? I really cheerish fun games but if you force me to take my most favorite then It'll be Rune Factory 4
PC Specs
I think Underground could indeed be a timeless game. The rest not so sure tho (GTA:SA maybe too). Anyway your list got some good old games that are indeed really enjoyable. From your list, Halo 3 would be my choice as most favourite.
PC Specs
Burnout 3 and revenge are still great, shame that crashbreaker game by the devs was kinda nothing.
Not been able to play JSRF for years, but I still love Jet Set Radio, and remember thinking future is better, so agree with that
PC Specs
Pac-Man.
PC Specs
terraria
PC Specs
For me a timeless classic would be The Secret of Monkey Island. As for my pick of a newer game that I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy playing 20 years from now would be Sleeping Dogs, because it's simply that good, though underappreciated.
PC Specs
Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast! You don't even notice the edgy textures, while the lightsaber swings!
PC Specs
great game indeed
PC Specs
Defense of the Ancients
Simply timeless, that's the honest truth, when the gamers' passion stays submerged in the fountain of youth.
PC Specs
Morrowind never ages. I'm still playing it 15 years after release. Rollercoaster Tycoon, Sim City 3000, and Age of Empires 1 and 2 still hold up as well.
PC Specs
Anyone heard about POCKET TANKS ? ? :D I've been playing it for 10 years now.
PC Specs
I remember the game. Played it when I was younger. If you like Pocket Tanks, you might want to check out ShellShock Live, which seems like a spiritual successor.
PC Specs
Rocket League will be pretty timeless i can agree with that. They keep updating it like they do Siege which is fantastic, but just like Siege their matchmaking abuse is so unbelievably annoying. So many times i see plats with unranked or silvers playing against 2 silvers or 2 low golds and you have no chance. Same with siege when you got diamonds who derank on purpose just to have a copper on the team.
PC Specs
I really don't get the incentive in losing to win? I wouldn't want to drop to copper just for an easy match, where's the fun in that?
PC Specs
Yea that's how i feel about it. It's just a load of crap. Ive been paired up in rl 2 golds against a plat 1 and a silver 1. Siege is even worse, youll have a diamond who pairs himself up with a copper (whose not really a copper all he did was lose his first 10 games) against a team of golds/silvers. They just do it so his buddy can get to plat/diamond even easier. It's an exploit pretty much, its an incentive for the guy whose ranking up the other one is probably a smurf account.
PC Specs
One game will ever be on my list for the best games of all time: Perfect Dark! It's timeless, made fun back then and makes fun today.
Tetris is also one of those games I still play today.
PC Specs
Krakout
PC Specs
Swat 4
PC Specs
The Original Battlefront Series, of course.
PC Specs
metal slug
PC Specs
Despite the combat being dated, I go back and play Morrowind regularly, even more than Skyrim...