If there's one industry that has massively developed in the past 20 years, it is gaming. Things have changed a lot from the blocky graphics of PS1 to the 4k ray-traced visuals of PS5. Sadly, this change also means that various great games have aged drastically, to the point that some of them now look unplayable.
The short end of this stick goes to the earliest 3D games, as they have suffered the most. However, just because they look outdated doesn't mean they aren't worth trying anymore. In fact, some of these classics are more playable than some games released in 2022. Let's take a look.
14 Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)
This classic was a genre-defining game back in 2008 but aged horribly due to its experimental nature. But to this day, GTA 4 is easily the best Grant Theft Auto story ever told.
Anyone who decides to pick this one up will not be disappointed, as it's a perfect blend of action, mystery, dark humor, and wacky characters. All in all, GTA 4 is a blockbuster and a must-play for GTA 5 fans.
13 Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)
The original Need for Speed series picked up from the third installment and became one of the most popular racing games of the time. However, it was not until the original Most Wanted that NFS games became a must-play.
To this day, Most Wanted holds up in multiple areas such as storytelling and gameplay. It is definitely worth a play for anyone who's looking to try a classic racing game.
12 Dark Souls (2011)
Without a doubt, Dark Souls is a ten years old game that looks like it's 15 years old. But, don't let its visuals deceive you. If there's one game on this list that's a must-play, it is this From Software classic — and for multiple reasons.
Even in 2022, there is no other game like the original Dark Souls, from music to art direction and level design. Anyone looking to play a good action RPG and hasn't played this should try it out.
11 Half-Life (1998)
Basically everyone who has played Half-Life 2 wants the third installment, and for good reason. The Valve classic has an excellent story, world, and design, as well as great gameplay, all of which live up to this day.
However, there's a small problem. While most people would easily recommend the second Half-Life game, not many would recommend the first title, mostly because of how poorly it has aged. That being said, the original Half-Life still has a lot of life left in its action-paced gameplay and a story worth remembering.
10 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012)
While CS:GO still maintains a steady player base, there was a time when it was extremely popular. However, due to the sudden rise of free shooter genres such as battle royale, many players are now looking to try different things. If that isn't enough, various other new shooters like Valorant are around, which gives the player a similar competitive experience to Global Offensive.
With so many options in the market, CS:GO has drastically aged. Still, it is a classic built on a formula that has worked for years and is still worth playing in 2022.
9 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
There is no other experience like Skyrim out there, not even the older Elder Scrolls games. It's open, full of tiny little details, and redefines the word "freedom" when it comes to games. It is a shame that, visually, it has aged more poorly than other titles of its time.
However, do not let its graphics stop you from trying it. The Elder Scroll 5: Skyrim is the mother of all modern RPGs and deserves a playthrough. It is also quite mod-friendly, so the playability is truly endless.
8 Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
New Vegas is a very similar case to Skyrim. Why? It's a hardcore RPG shooter with an emphasis on letting the players be free with their choices. Sadly, the game aged horribly due to Bethesda's old technology and engine limitation.
Still, nobody in the world can find a game that's just as fine as New Vegas when it comes to post-apocalyptic Fallout-like RPGs. This game is not just worth playing once, but probably twice due to the number of secrets and choices.
7 Prince of Persia Trilogy (2003)
Most new gamers probably won't remember the granddaddy of Assassin's Creed, Prince of Persia. The original series consists of three main games, all of which are worth playing.
Sands of Time, Warrior Within, and The Two Thrones tell a tale of a prince lost in time, trying to make sense of it all. The stories, the action platforming, and the time-bending gameplay still hold up to this day. Moreover, these games are a must-play because of their good controls and puzzles.
6 God of War (2005)
God of War is a product of its time, and there will never be anything else like it, ever. The reason for that is the gradual change in people's mindsets. Most new God of War fans will think of Kratos as a bold dad-like personality concerned about teaching his boy how to hunt. However, the original Kratos was a true warrior.
After being deceived by the God of War into killing his own family, the Ghost of Sparta embarks on a journey that makes him the real god. It is certainly a story worth discovering, making the original a must-play.
5 Burnout 3: Takedown (2004)
The genre of games like Burnout has gone almost extinct in the last few years. But just because modern games are head over heels about realism doesn't mean arcade racing isn't fun to play anymore.
Burnout 3: Takedown is still just as challenging, thrilling, and fun to play as it was years ago. And it is all thanks to its fast-paced gameplay and great controls that still work perfectly in 2022.
4 Max Payne (2001)
The original Max Payne is still one of the best single-player games and an example of excellent storytelling. Sadly, these games belong to a different era, which means the visuals are now extremely outdated.
Most people who want to try these games out usually turn back after looking at Max Payne's JPEG smile. However, if they push through, they'll see why these games were one of the best action titles of their time.
3 Spider-Man (2000)
The PS1 Spider-Man game may not be as cool as the Insomniac masterpiece. However, it is still one of the most loved Spider-Man games ever made to date. This game has multiple popular villains, a great story, a fun comic-style vibe, and straightforward gameplay that still works.
There are many things that work in this game's favor, including its iconic music, funny dialogue bits, and lots of special suits. The Spider-Man 2000 is easily one of the most aged yet must-play Spidey games ever.
2 X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Since we're on the topic of discussing great superhero games, here's another one. X-Men Origins: Wolverine was not a trendsetter by any means, which somehow hurt the success of this tie-in game as well.
It was one of the best-underrated superhero games of its time, and to this date, it remains as such. Still, the gameplay is top-notch even in 2022, and it's one of the best Wolverine games ever made.
1 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is an iconic stealth game that didn't age so well, which is partially because of the classic control design and visuals that didn't stand the test of time.
That being said, there's still no game that is quite like the Chaos Theory, not even the newer Splinter Cell titles. Anyone who decides to try this one out will get a newfound appreciation for Ubisoft's work back in the day.