The Best Old-school Games

Update : The Abandoned Planet added at rank #18.
1

Alien Hominid HD (2023)

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88
Review score
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Xbox One PC Windows Xbox 360

The 2D side-scrolling shooter from The Behemoth is back! With your mighty blaster and a group of mysterious kids by your side, destroy the agency and reclaim your spaceship!


  • cooperative
  • hand-drawn
  • run
  • old-school
  • aliens
  • boss
  • side-scrolling
  • local
  • gun
  • 2d
  • shoot-em-up
  • scroller
  • shooter
  • action
  • arcade

2

Infernax (2022)

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84
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 4 Playstation 5 Nintendo Switch Xbox One Xbox Series X

Embark on an epic, bloodthirsty adventure in Infernax! With challenging castle-dungeons, multiple endings, and the option to play with friends, this retro side-scrolling platformer keeps you on the edge of your seat. Upgrade your character and unlock new skills to defeat demons and reverse the curse on your homeland. With secret areas to discover and a unique morality system, Infernax offers hours of exciting gameplay.


What we like:
  • Fun co-op
  • Multiple fun endings
  • Multiple playable characters
  • Lots of replayability
  • Incredible music
What could be improved:
  • Lots of instadeath pits
  • Weird morality system
  • Some metroid-esque elements but not a true metroidvania

  • dungeon
  • retro
  • gore
  • boss
  • metroidvania
  • platform
  • old-school
  • demons
  • pixel
  • dark
  • classic
  • side-scrolling
  • violent
  • castle-dungeon
  • boss-fight

3

Streets of Rage 4 (2020)

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90
Review score
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Android Linux Mac OS PC Windows Xbox One IOS iPhone

Streets of Rage 4 is the long awaited fourth entry into the classic Sega franchise. It features a blend of old and new, with classic characters such as Axel and Adam Hunter returning alongside a new main character, Cherry. All characters have unique playstyles, from Axel's powerful punches to Cherry's speedy strikes. There are tons of unlockables to discover and it has an amazing soundtrack.


What we like:
  • Satisfying combat
  • Incredible music and visuals
  • Tons to unlock
  • Simple yet rewarding combat mechanics
What could be improved:
  • Lack of 4 player online
  • Occasionally too easy to get cornered

  • brawler
  • boss
  • cooperative
  • beat-em-up
  • combo
  • retro
  • classic
  • side-scrolling
  • fight
  • old-school
  • arcade
  • online
  • hand-drawn
  • crime
  • combat

4

Death Trash (2021)

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93
Review score
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early access PC Windows Mac OS Linux

Death Trash features a post-apocalyptic world where cosmic horrors long for humanity but meet punks with shotguns. It combines old-school role-playing, modern action gameplay and player freedom. Create your own character and explore a handcrafted world.


  • post-apocalyptic
  • isometric
  • rpg
  • lovecraftian
  • old-school
  • choices
  • souls
  • cyberpunk
  • pixel
  • character
  • pve
  • customization
  • atmospheric
  • open-world
  • exploration

5

Steel Assault (2021)

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81
Review score
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Nintendo Switch PC Windows Mac OS Xbox Series X Playstation 4 Linux Playstation 5 Xbox One

Punch, whip, and zipline your way through a post-apocalyptic America in this 16-bit retro-style action platformer! Play as Taro Takahashi, a resistance soldier on a revenge mission against the dictator who lords over the ashes.


  • platform
  • post-apocalyptic
  • retro
  • arcade
  • old-school
  • pixel
  • action
  • america
  • 2d
  • perma-death
  • scroller
  • futuristic
  • classic
  • mech
  • fast-paced

6

Wigmund (2022)

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93
Review score
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PC Windows

Enter a world of Anglo-Saxon and Celtic-inspired medieval fantasy in Wigmund, a story-driven RPG where you build your fellowship of warriors to explore an open world filled with outlaw camps, ruined castles, dangerous caverns, and forgotten ruins. With no class limitations, you can customize your character's development in speed, health, damage, or preternatural abilities. Master unique gameplay for swordsmen with gesture-controlled sword fighting and dodge and rolls. Engage enemies from a safer distance with your archery skills or use your professions in Medicine, Crafting, and Survival for potions, crafting, and gastronomic experiences. Crush your foes with devastating special attacks and unleash upgradable preternatural abilities. Will you become the true king?


What we like:
  • Impressive game developed by only two people
  • Great adventure with enjoyable combat
  • Glitch-free experience with perfect music
  • Customizable settings and supports widescreen
  • Interesting and vibrant world to explore
What could be improved:
  • Monsters aren't scaled well, making the game difficult and bow useless
  • Crafting is a grind with limited resources
  • Some quests need more work
  • No ability to swamping out weapons in combat
  • Combat is super repetitive, and skills lack impact

  • werewolves
  • loot
  • dragon
  • rpg
  • old-school
  • hack-and-slash
  • dungeon-crawler
  • medieval
  • top-down
  • open-world
  • isometric
  • dark
  • fantasy
  • atmospheric
  • retro

7

Eternium (2015)

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95
Review score
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IOS iPhone PC Windows Android

Hack & slash against the dark forces threatening your home-world. Experience intense tactical fights in this fast paced, old school action RPG.


  • loot
  • hack-and-slash
  • old-school
  • rpg
  • action-adventure
  • top-down
  • dungeon-crawler
  • crafting
  • 3d
  • atmospheric
  • action
  • fast-paced
  • fantasy
  • combat

8

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms (2022)

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72
Review score
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Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Windows

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is a modern take on the classic River City Ransom series, combining it with Romance of the Three Kindgoms to create an exciting beat-em-up adventure. Fight your way through hordes of enemies and upgrade your character with weapons, food, armor or special moves by visiting stores in towns. Interact with NPCs and progress through a six chapter story full of dialogue and comedic timing. Enjoy local or online co-op for up to two players and bonus modes like China Heroes.

Buy

What we like:
  • Fun beat-em-up gameplay
  • Upgradeable characters
  • Local or online co-op for up to two players
  • Bonus modes like China Heroes
  • Full gallery with character bios and music gallery
What could be improved:
  • Clunky controls
  • Difficult platforming levels in some areas
  • Very long story dialogue

  • beat-em-up
  • spectacle
  • 2d
  • historical
  • old-school
  • destruction
  • brawler
  • fight
  • platform
  • comedy
  • retro
  • pve
  • family-friendly
  • anime
  • controller-support

9

Lake Haven - Chrysalis (2023)

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98
Review score
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PC Windows

Detective Zeke Reynold is called to investigate what he assumes will be another case he'll quickly forget, but what he finds will be sewn into the fabric of his existence forever.

Buy

  • horror
  • third-person
  • old-school
  • dark
  • surreal
  • atmospheric
  • exploration
  • story
  • thriller
  • psychological
  • 1990s
  • action-adventure
  • single-player
  • mystery
  • controller-support

10

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (2023)

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71
Review score
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early access PC Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 4 Playstation 5

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is a full 3D remake of the first game in the legendary Wizardry series of RPGs.


  • rpg
  • old-school
  • dungeon-crawler
  • dark
  • party
  • fantasy
  • turn-based
  • werewolves
  • classic
  • character
  • dragon
  • class
  • vampire
  • magic
  • customization

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