Fun is what keeps you saying "just one more game" at 2 a.m. This Top 100 gathers the retro games with the most immediate and most lasting playability, based on RomWize's reassessed scores. For each title: its current score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"Jump, run, fling Cappy to possess a Goomba or a T-Rex: every move becomes a fresh idea. The kingdoms brim with secrets and moons to uncover, so you keep wandering off course. The buttery movement feels exhilarating, and the sheer freedom makes every replay as joyful as the first."
"Camera over the shoulder, you aim, fire and ration every bullet in assaults of constant tension: the thrill springs from this perfect balance of panic and control. Every encounter comes down to positioning and composure, and the satisfaction of chaining precise shots is instant. Intense, visceral and masterfully paced, a peak of action-horror."
"Three protagonists, a sprawling metropolis and unprecedented freedom of action: elaborate heists, races, extreme sports and urban chaos chain together without limit. Switching between characters mid-heist delivers an exhilarating sensation. Rich, alive and masterfully made, a monumental open-world whose density and freedom remain an absolute benchmark of the genre."
"A dive into a fantasy 1980s Miami, bathed in neon, pastels and a cult soundtrack: the atmosphere alone delivers an immediate pleasure. Cruising the city in a convertible, climbing the criminal ladder and blowing it all up keeps you hooked without let-up. Stylish, funny and terribly endearing, an open world whose atmosphere remains unmatched."
"First-person shooting designed for the console: dual-stick handling of perfect fluidity, a varied arsenal and a gameplay loop where the regenerating shield pushes you to be bold. The tactical freedom in open arenas and the cleverness of the enemies deliver an instant thrill. Spectacular, balanced and founding, one of the most influential FPS ever devised."
"The playground grows: an open-air prison-city where you glide, investigate and face a gallery of legendary villains. The combat stays gloriously fluid, and the freedom of movement the cape offers multiplies the pleasure. Bigger, richer and as masterful as ever, this entry elevates an already brilliant formula and stands as a benchmark of the genre."
"The 1985 plumber is reborn on a handheld screen with renewed comfort and bonuses galore: timed challenges, hidden levels, a versus mode and a medal hunt. The joy of the pixel-perfect jump is intact, elevated by overflowing replay value. Ideal for reliving a classic or discovering it, this is pure, joyful platforming."
"The playground grows: an open-air prison-city where you glide, investigate and face a gallery of legendary villains. The combat stays gloriously fluid, and the freedom of movement the cape offers multiplies the pleasure. Bigger, richer and as masterful as ever, this entry elevates an already brilliant formula and stands as a benchmark of the genre."
"Climbing any surface, gliding over a vast kingdom and inventing your own solutions to every puzzle: total freedom is the engine of fun here. Every hill crossed reveals a discovery, and the simple urge to see what lies beyond is enough to grab you for dozens of hours. Dizzying, organic and inexhaustible, a revolution in open-world adventure."
"Dash to dodge, chain your strikes, fall and dive right back in: the tempo never lets up. Every death unlocks a line, a weapon, a power, so failure feeds your progress. The razor-sharp combat and steady power growth form a loop you fire up just one more time, then once more."
"The undisputed peak of the genre on the console: fights of staggering fluidity, a legendary roster and a sidestep system that revolutionises the duel. The handling stays instant, but the depth fuels years of practice. From the Tekken Force mode to the mini-games, the generosity is total. The benchmark 3D fighting game, still dazzling."
"A jump, a dash, a wall grabbed pixel-perfect: mastering the movement turns into a physical pleasure. Screens fall like puzzles of timing, and every death restarts instantly, with no lingering frustration. The demanding precision and the feeling of progress make each cleared climb deeply rewarding."
"The sequel introduces choices that shape the campaign and a more tactical futuristic multiplayer, without losing any of its legendary snappiness. The Zombies mode grows further, for frenzied co-op evenings. Customising your classes and climbing the ranks stays fiercely addictive. Snappy, rich and superbly made, a multiplayer FPS that renews the formula with flair."
"Touch a Wonder Flower and watch the level spiral into delirium: pipes that wriggle, herds that stampede, perspective that tips over. The visual surprise revives your curiosity on every screen. In co-op the cheerful disorder turns into laughter, and the freshness of the ideas makes you crave the next reveal."
"The sequel takes spectacle to an unmatched level: chases on a moving train, dizzying climbs and gunfights of crazy intensity chain together like the best action films. The total immersion and masterful staging grab you from start to finish. Spectacular, generous and technically dazzling, a masterpiece of action-adventure often cited among the best."
"The sequel pushes spectacle and intensity to their peak: a breathless campaign with varied settings and a multiplayer of crazy depth, built for addiction. Ranking up, tweaking your classes and chaining matches delivers a compulsive pleasure. Snappy, generous and superbly paced, a peak of the multiplayer FPS that marked a whole generation of players."
"The saga's apogee on PS3: fights of spectacular brutality against titanic gods, breathtaking cinematic staging and an unmatched sense of power. Unleashing Kratos's rage against Olympus delivers a visceral, exhilarating release. Masterful from start to finish, a peak of action-adventure that pushes the limits of spectacle."
"An adorable platformer where you play a little rag character, but above all an infinite creation workshop: building your own levels and sharing them opens a limitless horizon. The pleasure springs as much from playing as from imagination. Charming, clever and overflowing with creativity, a unique experience that turns every player into a designer, to savour solo or with others."
"A living, detailed metropolis, where you improvise heists, chases and chaotic joyrides at will: the urban sandbox reaches an unprecedented density here. The pleasure springs from this total freedom, where the slightest drive can spiral into gleeful chaos. Rich, immersive and masterfully written, a landmark open-world that redefined the genre's standards."
"The sequel takes spectacle to an unmatched level: chases on a moving train, dizzying climbs and gunfights of crazy intensity chain together like the best action films. The total immersion and masterful staging grab you from start to finish. Spectacular, generous and technically dazzling, a masterpiece of action-adventure often cited among the best."
