Some well-known titles have become part of gaming history, but are no longer played. Others profess to be the savior of the gaming market, yet fizzle into insignificance shortly after launch. And then there are those games that just keep getting better, and are still played regularly by a host of gamers long after their initial release.
There can be no doubt that either an active developer improving a game, or a capable and committed modding community constantly adding features and content, can help to make a game better over time. Almost all the titles on this list fit into one of these two categories, although not all. Regardless, they've not only withstood the test of time, but gotten better over the years.
8 Old Games That Are Still Extremely Popular On Steam (That Are Not By Valve)
Just because these games have already started showing their age doesn't mean fans should avoid them. These titles are still very popular on Steam.
7 Doom
It Can Run On Almost Anything
Doom was one of the first commercially available FPS games, and helped to define the entire genre. In its day, the graphics were cutting edge, despite how they appear in modern times. Most gamers, regardless of age, will be aware of Doom.
5 Old Games That Did Not Withstand The Test Of Time (& 5 That Did)
Some games have managed to withstand the test of time, while others really show their age. Here's some examples of both.
But how can such an old game, which has not received updates in years, be getting better with age? This is due to how accessible the game is becoming. Everyone can play Doom, even on their browser. Doom has become something of a cult game, with a whole community based around trying to get it to run on the wildest types of hardware. People have managed to get Doom to run on pocket calculators, and even a pregnancy test kit.
6 Mass Effect Trilogy
Classic Sci-Fi Adventure
The story of Shepard and his crew is one of the most beloved by gamers. The Mass Effect franchise consists of five PC/console titles, with more planned, and two mobile games. What has helped keep Mass Effect fresh, are the bundles that Bioware has made available.
The Mass Effect Trilogy bundle includes the three initial games in the franchise. It is often available on sale for a low price, enabling gamers who may have once missed out on this franchise to give it a playthrough. The modding community is very active, fixing long-term issues with the game, and adding new features.
5 X4: Foundations
Regular Free Content Drops
X4: Foundations is a space combat, exploration, and trading game that offers incredibly deep gameplay. Gamers can either play it as a space sim, or as a strategic resource management and building game. This depth of gameplay gives it incredible levels of replayability, with veteran players racking up thousands of hours.
Each time the developer, Egosoft, releases a new DLC, they also update the base game with fresh content and features. This means that anyone who purchased the base game on launch back in 2018 still gets fresh content regularly, even if they do not buy each DLC. The game is constantly improving, and new features are added.
4 World Of Warcraft
Still Going Strong
When World of Warcraft launched in 2004, it set a precedent in MMORPG design. It shifted away from free roam, grinding MMORPGs to a theme park approach to presenting content. It was well received and captured a huge market share. However, Blizzard did not rest on its laurels, and WoW is still a major project for them.
World Of WarCraft: Every Expansion In Chronological Order
New to World of WarCraft and overwhelmed by Chromie Time? If you're interested in seeing the story from the beginning, play the game in this order.
World of Warcraft has had nine major expansions at the time of writing. Each of these introduced heaps of new content, and other features such as new classes and a higher level cap. In 2019, Blizzard rolled out “classic” servers for players who wanted to try the game as it was on launch. WoW keeps getting better, and remains wildly popular.
3 Fallout 4
One Of The Best Bethesda Game Worlds
Fallout 4
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- November 10, 2015
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
Bethesda excels at world-building, and Fallout 4 is a great example. With the huge impact it made on the gaming community, Fallout 4 remains popular nearly a decade after its initial launch.
The Best Fallout 4 Mods for Consoles
Modding is normally a PC player's game, but Fallout 4 supports a number of mods to make console players feel more in control.
Fallout 4 benefits from having a capable and vibrant community of modders who continuously introduce fresh content, new features, and various enhancements. Bethesda's occasional updates also help to keep the game fresh. The game's vast open world, compelling storylines, and strong support for modding keep it engaging and appealing for both newcomers and long-time players.
2 Minecraft
Best Selling Game Of All Time
No other game has sold more copies than Minecraft. It is an open-world sandbox game where players can construct, explore, and survive within a block-based, randomly generated environment. With creative and survival modes offering limitless opportunities for building, adventure, and resource management, it is popular with players of all ages.
Minecraft remains popular due to its limitless creative possibilities, frequent updates, and strong community support. The game has extensive modding options, which have been fully exploited by the community. Cross-platform availability contributes to its enduring appeal as well. The game's simple yet engaging mechanics are easy to learn, yet fun.
1 Grand Theft Auto 5
Still Tops The Steam Charts
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Platform(s)
- PS5 , PS4 , PS3 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , PC
- Released
- September 17, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Genre(s)
- Open-World , Action
Grand Theft Auto 5 is the second best-selling video game of all time. It has been a constant entry on the Steam most played charts each week since its release in 2013, despite being over two decades old at the time of writing.
Rockstar transitioned GTA 5 to a live-service type game some years ago. This means that there is new content made available regularly, and a very active community. Players who own GTA 5 can also play the online version, sharing the world with others. Add to this an active modding community, and this is a recipe for the game continuing to improve long into the future.
Best Games With Infinite Replayability
Some games are meant to be played once, others are meant to be played forever. These titles are infinitely replayable.
