Pinpoint gameplay and a feel that hasn't aged a day: some games are still a joy with a controller in hand, years later. This Top 100 gathers the retro games with the most polished gameplay, based on RomWize's reassessed scores. For each one: its current score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"Running, jumping and striking in time, sometimes to the exact beat of the music, anchors a platformer of contagious fluidity and joy. The inventive level design and four-player co-op multiply the fun. The peak of the 2D genre, it keeps controls of absolute precision and a freshness that hasn't lost a thing."
"Expanding the roster and refining the balance, this version enriches an already solid combat system built on Focus Attacks and Ultras. The precision of spacing and the timing of combos remain at the heart of the fun. More complete, it offers a polished iteration of a 2D versus fighter whose depth has lost none of its appeal."
"The arrival of the revert connects ramps to manuals and throws open the door to near-infinite combos that multiply the joy of arcade skating. The compact, frenetic levels invite you to trace ever wilder lines. The controls respond on a dime, and this quest for the perfect combo, immediate and addictive, holds an effectiveness that time has not dulled."
"Faster and more spectacular than its predecessor, this entry keeps the surgical dismemberment while opening the pacing up to exhilarating action set-pieces. Stasis and telekinesis enrich an already clever arsenal. A rare balance of horror and action, it retains precise handling and an intensity that make it an exemplary sequel."
"Everything revolves around a three-day cycle replayed over and over, where you reorganise your actions to the minute while the masks transform Link and his abilities. This bold clockwork delivers a dense adventure where every detour counts. More demanding than most, it rewards ingenuity and remains one of Nintendo's most original game structures."
"Target locking, the millimetre-precise layout of the dungeons and the use of every item laid down a grammar of adventure the whole genre went on to copy. This 3D remake modernises the comfort without betraying the original feel, and exploration keeps a rare clarity. A few puzzles carry a period scent, but the whole is still travelled with undiminished pleasure."
"Moving through shadow, treating light as a genuine tool and choosing between total stealth, takedowns or diversion offers infiltration of remarkable freedom and finesse. Sam Fisher's supple movement and the clarity of the detection system make every approach exhilarating. A peak of the stealth genre, its play of shadow keeps an effectiveness wholly intact."
"Observing rather than fighting, repurposing a humble tool a thousand ways, guessing what the game refuses to explain: that's the real engine. Exploration with no hand-held map rewards memory and deduction, and every secret hides a trickier one. The refusal to guide will put off those who want clear direction, but for anyone who loves to dig and share, it's an adventure of rare freshness."
"Wielding two weapons at once, ripping them from enemies' hands and juggling vehicles refines an already remarkably readable combat sandbox even further. The nervy pacing and a reactive AI keep every skirmish on a knife's edge. The campaign's abrupt ending disappoints, but the sturdiness of the gunplay and the balance of the fights keep the joy of playing wholly intact."
"Deciphering an unknown tongue through deduction alone: few games turn learning into a pleasure this pure. You study mute symbols, build their meaning, and fill in the glossary yourself with genuine pride. The art direction in flat blocks of color keeps every ounce of its elegance. The stealth segments, a touch stiff, are its only weakness. But the core idea is so true that it simply doesn't age."
"It's hard to find smoother 2D platforming: the hand-drawn animation hasn't aged a day and every jump breathes precision. The level design overflows with invention, from the impeccable timing of the musical stages to the frantic chase phases. Unlocking the Teensies feels repetitive, but the generosity and four-player co-op make it a benchmark with no superior equivalent."
"Leaping from one spherical planet to the next as gravity flips underfoot: this wild idea pairs with flawless jump precision and a camera that never betrays you. Forty galaxies pour out finds without respite, carried by level design of dizzying inventiveness. Barely a few too many Wiimote shakes: a peak of the 3D platformer, intact."
"Exploring the castle at will, unlocking powers and passages, watching your character grow stronger as in an RPG: the formula founded a whole genre. The precise movement, the wealth of the arsenal and the joy of searching remain exemplary in their fluidity. The sumptuous 2D has barely aged, and the balance between action and progression is still a model."
"Absorb shots of your own colour, return those of the other: this simple black-and-white switch redefines the shooter as a constant puzzle of placement. Learning each wave is as much puzzle as reflex, and mastery brings immense satisfaction. Short but staggeringly dense, this Treasure masterpiece simply has no equal today."
"Target locking, the millimetre-precise layout of the dungeons and the use of every item laid down a grammar of adventure the whole genre went on to copy. This 3D remake modernises the comfort without betraying the original feel, and exploration keeps a rare clarity. A few puzzles carry a period scent, but the whole is still travelled with undiminished pleasure."
"Gathering several Valve gems, this compilation strings together an exceptional narrative FPS, a brilliant portal-based puzzler and an exhilarating multiplayer shooter. Each game offers remarkably well-tuned controls and perfectly calibrated pacing. Varied yet cohesive, it remains one of the most generous and memorable collections of its generation."
"A precise strike, a well-timed dodge, a boss finally felled after dozens of tries: the demanding, readable combat is the beating heart of the adventure. The interconnected map unfolds in layers with a bewitching sense of mystery, and charms open real customization. The lack of guidance can put players off, but the scale of the content, free expansions included, commands respect."
"Rediscovering Hyrule and its tangle of dungeons reminds you why this 16-bit adventure is a touchstone: exploration, ingenious items and puzzles mesh to perfection. The handling stays exemplary in its precision, and the co-op addition of Four Swords extends the fun. Few classics cross the decades with this much ease."
"Approaching each mission as a stealth sandbox, choosing your hour, your angle and your gadgets, offers tactical freedom of unprecedented flexibility. The responsive AI and the day-night system reward improvisation. The pinnacle of open-world stealth, it retains a fluidity of handling that still commands admiration."
"Mowing down hordes with the chaos blades, swinging between spectacular executions and breakneck puzzles, the action keeps a rhythm and clarity that remain exemplary. The sense of raw power, underscored by constant cinematic flair, stays fully intact with the controller in hand. The combat system is simpler than its sequels', but its brutal efficiency hasn't aged a day."
