Certain games defy the relentless march of time. Despite being released 10+ years ago, these games see their worlds revisited repeatedly by new and returning players. The games brought cutting-edge visuals and mechanics that redefined the genre and unimaginable moments in the video gaming industry that echo in time.
There aren’t many of these rare gems, but titles like Red Dead Redemption and Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag stand out, along with several others that deserve a spot on this list.
5. Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag was released in 2013. It is clear that the game doesn’t have the cutting-edge graphics of today’s titles. However, it excels in world-building. Players are taken to the Caribbean’s golden age of piracy in the role of Edward Kenway, a sailor turned pirate.
Like every Assassin’s Creed title, the game is full of secrets to uncover, but unlike any other installment in the rich franchise, it takes a different approach, with ship upgrades and naval combat that holds up even today against some modern titles (hint: Skull & Bones).
4. Red Dead Redemption
Set in the fictional region of New Austin, Red Dead Redemption was released 14 years ago, but it is still relevant today. The massive open-world redemption story of John Marston takes the game’s beauty beyond just visuals.
Red Dead Redemption is a storytelling masterpiece as it brings players to the declining Wild West, where, with the day-night cycle and diverse wildlife, everything comes to life. Moreover, the perfect gunplay seen through Dead Eye targeting and horseback riding makes the game satisfying even in today’s day and age.
3. GTA V
GTA V is another 2013 release that holds to this day. When it came out, it took the gaming world by storm and remains a massive hit, with 200 million copies sold. The latest installment in the action-adventure franchise is the perfect culmination of all previous games, and it is safe to say that it has the best story, graphics, and gameplay.
From the realistic physics and animations that revolutionized the game development to vehicle models that perfectly capture real-life inspirations and the story that follows three unlike friends, GTA V is certainly one of the games that aged well alongside Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag and Red Dead Redemption. What better time to revisit the three protagonists than just before the release of the highly anticipated GTA 6?
2. Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim came out in 2011 and, since then has become a timeless classic. While other similar titles feature a bigger and better world and stories, Skyrim is a unique experience.
Bethesda’s action RPG is the fifth installment in the long-standing The Elder Scrolls series, and in this one, players forge their own destiny as the Dragonborn explores a vast world inspired by Scandinavia. Skyrim’s core strength lies in its incredible moddability, as the rich community stands behind this classic, allowing players to customize the experience to their heart’s content.
While the game didn’t revolutionize the genre or the visuals when it was released, thanks to its unique campaign that keeps players immersed, Skyrim is an unmissable gem even in 2024.
1. Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3 captured the essence of open-world gaming in the early 2010s. Released in 2012, it was praised for its gorgeous open world waiting to be explored, tense atmosphere, and gameplay that punishes every mistake.
While it has a rather forgettable story, as players take on the role of Jason Brody, a tourist trapped in a tropical island paradise gone wrong caught in a war between pirate lord Vaas Montenegro and Rakyat people, the core gameplay of hunting, crafting, and liberating outposts was a success. Far Cry 3 was a pioneer in open-world FPS titles and is still worth playing in 2024.
While classics like Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, Red Dead Redemption, and others transcend generations and each offers something worth diving back into their stories and worlds, what are your thoughts and suggestions? Do you agree with our choices, and do you have your own examples? Let us know in the comments.
