Every single year - and we're absolutely sure that we're not alone in this - there comes a time when a wave of nostalgia washes us over. Gaming nostalgia, of course. Chemically, it's just our brains wanting to go back to a simpler time when we were younger, and our only real concern was whether to kill some Splicers in Rapture or to make another attempt at farming out Dark Orange drops on Pandora. Every time, without fail, it makes us want to look into old PC games to replay.
In 2021, we've opted not to look at well and truly old titles that many of you will have in mind. No Starcrafts, Diablos, or Half-Lifes here, we're (not) sorry to say. Instead, we've decided to take a peek at a slightly later era of gaming. Titles that are very popular, but a tad bit newer still. Namely, the releases of the 2000s.
To that end, we're hoping that this article manages to do two things:
- Surprises veteran gamers that want to get back into old classics
- Entices younger gamers into giving old classics a fair shake
Arguably, what we've got here is one of the most exciting eras of gaming. Not only because we got a staggering number of awesome games we love and cherish, but also because these titles all still hold up remarkably well. Games from the late '90s? Not so much, for the most part. It was a curious time indeed, and today, we'd like to take you back to it!
2Game's 2021 List of Old PC Games to Replay
One last thing before we start - we decided to feature dedicated remastered versions of games where available. These re-releases generally didn't change the core gameplay experience all that much, but they did introduce much-needed visual improvements and/or hardware support in some cases. In effect, these are still pretty much the same titles as they were back when they first came out, and that's what mattered for this particular list.
Bioshock (Remastered) - 2007
Discussions are still being led on whether Bioshock is a genuine Immersive Sim. We're not exactly sure about that, but one thing we are certain about is that Bioshock is a phenomenal game. It's a deep, complex, and engrossing first-person experience that offers up amazing narrative (and gameplay!) twists willy-nilly.
Bioshock is a strange and grimy experience in the best way possible. Its atmosphere punches way above its technological weight. For sure, the game's hardly cutting edge in 2021, but the feel of it is 100% there. Overall, Bioshock has aged remarkably gracefully, and it's one of the finest examples of video gaming from the late 2000s.
Assassin's Creed II - 2009
Assassin's Creed II proved once and for all that Ubisoft knew what made the first AC title good, and that they had the know-how to trim what didn't work. This was - and still is - an immensely engaging story that provides a perfect balance of modern-day development and historical progression. It's also something of a biopic for the franchise's legendary Ezio Auditore, as it follows his progression from a neophyte to a master assassin.
Thinking back, Assassin's Creed II and its two standalone expansion packs (Brotherhood and Revelations) are easily the best standalone experience in all of Assassin's Creed. They're a phenomenal, self-contained story that players can expand upon, but don't necessarily have to. An easy recommendation, even if you're not into AC.
Company of Heroes - 2006
Choosing just one real-time strategy game from the 2000s was hard. The reason we ended up going with Company of Heroes is that it's kind of emblematic of the era, while still pushing the genre forward. Now, even though RTS titles aren't even remotely as popular today as they were back then, Company of Heroes easily stands up to the test of time.
Its focus on close-knit squad-based combat offered a reprieve from large-scale warfare that was otherwise common in the genre. Destructible terrain and buildings, on the other hand, ensured a dynamic and ever-changing playing field in every match. Then there's the subject matter of WW2. A slam dunk, if you will.
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne - 2003
Arguably one of the greatest third-person shooters ever made, Max Payne 2 is more of a standalone story than most give it credit for. Naturally, it certainly helps if you contextualize the story by playing the first title in the series, but Max Payne 2 definitely works on its own, if it needs to.
This is neo-noir done well, if we boil it down to basics. The story and the atmosphere are in a league all of their own, but it's really the gameplay that carries the momentum forward. Max can slow down time, leap from cover to cover, and do a variety of other things. The end result is a unique breed of shooter that's straight-up not getting made anymore. A bit of a relic, then, but one that's still very fun and very topical.
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory - 2005
Chaos Theory is easily the best Splinter Cell game ever made, and potentially the greatest classic stealth game of all time. This is, in effect, Sam Fisher at his absolute best, doing what he does best in a typical Tom Clancy narrative. There's a bunch of unique compounds and locales to infiltrate, and there's precious little room for open combat.
Instead of tackling the threats head-on, Fisher needs to sneak his way around them. Or, y'know, take them down silently. To that end, he's equipped with some of the finest stealth gadgets this side of Metal Gear. Cameras, smoke bombs, tasers, shock rounds - you name it, Fisher has it. Plus all the acrobatic abilities he puts to stellar use. One of the all-time greats in our book, this one.
Borderlands (Enhanced Edition) - 2009
It does feel a tad strange to call Borderlands a classic, but it's been twelve years already, so it is about time. As fun as Borderlands 2 and 3 may have ended up being, we never could shake off the sense that something was lost along the way, too. The original Borderlands was rough, subdued, and grim. Its successors leaned more heavily into the humorous side of things, and - of course - the memes. Not the case with the first game, and that's a pro if you ask us.
In this day and age, Borderlands is kind of similar to Diablo II. Great basics, a fun gameplay loop, and a unique atmosphere. No, seriously, Borderlands 2 didn't manage to properly convey what was so special about Borderlands' setting and game world. In many ways, it's been superseded, but it still holds up in every way that matters. It's a safe recommendation if you ask us - especially if you intend to play it on the go with your Steam Deck!
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - 2006
There's an argument to be made that Skyrim, too, could easily be a part of this list, but we opted for Oblivion all the same. Looking back, the sheer sense of scale and glorious discovery was off the charts with Oblivion, and though the game lacks the weirdness of its predecessor and the ubiquitousness of its successor, it's still a special part of Bethesda's history.
Oblivion is, for all intents and purposes, a high fantasy game through and through. It's so easy to get lost in its (back then) mind-bogglingly large world and ignore the main quest for dozens of hours on end. There's so much to do, explore, and loot. So many questlines to get through! Even today, Oblivion veterans still keep finding curiosities they hadn't found before. And that's without even taking a look at all the awesome mods and DLCs the game had received. It's a must-play.
Civilization IV: The Complete Edition - 2005
Far as turn-based strategy titles go, Civ IV has proven its worth time and again. Now, to be sure, its two major successors are stellar games on their own, but there's something to be said about Civ IV's almost archaic visuals and significantly more complex gameplay systems, too.
Civilization IV also supports a far wider array of community-derived mods and upgrades on top of being a more complex sim than one might expect. To be fair, its several expansion packs are a must-have as they add huge new features and content, but getting them is fairly easy and cheap in 2021. If you find yourself disappointed with modern civ-builders, give this old thing a shot. Chances are that it'll surprise you.
Psychonauts - 2005
Psychonauts is particularly relevant due to its recently released sequel. Since the sequel itself - amazing as it is - offers a direct continuation of the original narrative, it's a good idea for you to check the first game out anyway.
And it's a good thing, too, because it's almost hard to put into words how well Psychonauts holds up. The graphics are pretty iffy, to be sure, but the visual style is darn great, and the gameplay is every bit as good as it was back in 2005. With 3D platformers and adventure games being as rare as they are, Psychonauts is more enticing than ever before.
Resident Evil 4 - 2005
It's almost incredible to think about it, but Resident Evil 4 is basically the grandfather of every single over-the-shoulder shooter made since 2005. It pioneered the idea, and ushered in a new era not only for Resident Evil itself but also the genre and gaming at large.
Certainly, it helps that RE4 is a fairly compelling experience, too. It's got all the makings of a good Resident Evil, really. Mostly nonsensical puzzles, hordes of parasitic monstrosities, and gothic architecture are all remixed and re-envisioned in a new context, however. One that mostly made a return with Resident Evil Village, albeit in a slightly different package. It was an instant classic back in the day, and it's a must-have in any serious PC game collection today.
Are you in a nostalgic mood, too?
And there you have it - that's our nostalgic list of old PC games to replay this fall/winter. We think we've managed to cover all the truly important beats in broad terms, and we're all but sure that you, too, will find something exciting to (re)play from this list.
All the included links will lead you straight to Steam versions of these games. Odds are, after all, that you played them before Valve's gargantuan game management service truly took off. If that was the case, now may be the right time to start adding the old classics to your library properly. Have fun, and don't forget that we're getting good and ready for Halloween here at 2Game! Who knows what sorts of deals and discounts await...
Every single year – and we’re absolutely sure that we’re not alone in this – there comes a time when a wave of nostalgia washes us over. Gaming nostalgia, of course. Chemically, it’s just our brains wanting to go back to a simpler time when we were younger, and our only real concern was whether to […]
English 
Portuguese 
Korean