Game, Set, Match
In any vocation or hobby, there will be a few things that enthusiasts tell you you have to try, even if it is just once. There is a list of classic literature to read before you die, places you have to see, and different gourmet foods that any foodie will tell you are essential to sample. Any serious gamer will tell you that there are some games you simply have to play at least once in your lifetime, and that list is a long one! We have narrowed it down just a little bit to keep things simple for you. Here’s our list of classic games that you have to play at least once!
Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire is the original standard for what a single-player deck-building game should be like. Although a lot of players defected when Blizzard’s Hearthstone was released, this is the one you need to play. Taking inspiration from old-school turn-based RPGs, Slay the Spire provides a little something different in a genre where many of the games are all very similar. The game is challenging and engaging; you never run out of new ways to play.
Stellaris
Stellaris is a classic that focuses on diplomatic interaction between the many different species in the game, as well as exploring the rich world. This game takes modern life and turns it into a game, but looks at how it might be different than it is. Though it looks like many other strategy games that were released at the time, Stellaris takes you in a new direction.
Company of Heroes
While Relic Entertainment is walking close to the edge with the Dawn of War franchise, we have absolutely nothing bad to say about Company of Heroes. This real-time strategy game uses wartime language and modern warfare in a way that really stands out from other games of the same genre. It’s almost outside of the genre in terms of how different the gameplay is, but it is completely perfect. In other games, there’s a separation between the player characters and the troops, but Company of Heroes bridges that gap.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
The enormous Bohemia simulator from Warhorse Studios is incredibly ambitious, and we’re here for that. You play a blacksmith’s apprentice who is ripped from his home when it is attacked by foreign invaders. It’s quite an intense game in many ways, not least being how introspective it is about privilege and meritocracy. The key theme of the game is that when you work hard and try your best at what you do, you’ll reap the rewards. You can cook, try out archery and swordplay all in one game.
Dead Space 2
Initially, when the first Dead Space game was released, it was part of the System Shock franchise. However, what it eventually became was something very different and much darker. The second iteration is the one that made our list, and it is a truly terrifying horror game. While it’s hugely different, it does pick up where Dead Space left off, but the action is kicked up to a much higher level.
Spec Ops: The Line
Instead of simply revitalizing an ageing classic, Yager (the game’s developer) took the military shooter trope apart piece by piece and put it back together in a way that would be engaging for a new kind of audience. It was an incredibly risky move, but it clearly paid off. It’s an intense descent into heavy violence, set in Dubai after a natural disaster has run its course. It’s more than just another violent shooter, though: it delvers slightly deeper into a world of war.
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo took the first-person shooter out of the world of PC gaming and gifted it to console gamers all over the world. Decades later, it still holds up incredibly well; the game drips with a sense of culture and has a rich and layered history similar to that of the Star Wars franchise. Whether you choose to play a single-player campaign and solve the combat puzzles that are put to you or try the multiplayer option and experience close combat like never before, there’s something in the game for everyone.
Quake 3
While Quake 1 and 2 were truly incredible, it’s Quake 3 that made our list in the end. For an arena shooter, there’s no better option. The selection of weapons in-game is incredible and, even today, the action holds up well. The design of the game world is also unique; it forces players into tight spots and where they have to turn and face their opponents and engage in combat. The pace is fast and furious; it’s not one for the slow.
FEAR: First Encounter Assault Recon
We love the supernatural aspect included in FEAR, from Monolith. It’s a classic first-person shooter, yes, but the supernatural edge makes it stand out from the crowd. The weapons that you have in-game feel powerful, and the design of the game levels is well balanced out between spooky sequences and all-out battleground moments. Fear wasn’t the first game to include bullet time in its mechanics, but it was one of the first to work really smoothly. The in-game characters don’t take it easy on you, so you’ll need to keep your wits about you while you play.
The Sims 4
There are few gamers (of a certain age, we suppose) who have not yet played at least one of the Sims franchise games, but The Sims 4 is our top pick. The freshly overhauled build tools in the game make character customization easier and much better all around. They took away some of the unnecessary frills and gave the characters more freedom in emotional range and multitasking. While a lot of the other games haven’t aged well, The Sims 4 has held up beautifully.
Final word
Our list could have gone on for days. There are so many classic games that all gamers should play. This condensed list is a little something to get you started on your journey, so enjoy!
