I’ve been looking through lists of classic games to play (emulated), and I realized that (for me, at least) some games only hold up due to nostalgia, whereas others seem to remain excellent/timeless even for new players.

Again, only my opinion, but here are short lists of examples that come to mind…

timeless emulated games:

• Metroid prime with Primehack: still beautiful with great sound and better controls, even if backtracking can be annoying
• Super Mario Brothers: smooth platforming even for jaded 3D-only gamers
• Windwaker: cell shading is gorgeous and gameplay is fun even if not part of your childhood/youth
• Lucas Arts point and click adventures (typically via SCUMMVM): if you dislike adventure games, you won’t like these; but if you do, many titles still hold up to modern counterparts (Fate of Atlantis, day of the tentacle, and full throttle immediately come to mind)

emulated games that are fun but maybe due to nostalgia:

• Chrono-trigger: (before you flame me, note that this is the “maybe” list); excellent music and story, but every time (half a dozen or so) I pick it up, the random encounters deter me from getting far. On the other hand, I realize some people consider this an objectively awesome GOAT
• arcade cabinet classics like Galaga, pac-man, etc: although I love the occasional MAME/NES session with such titles, I have to admit that a younger crowd might not enjoy, and maybe I’m projecting a bygone era of arcade quarter-slinging
• Super Mario 64: this was one of my favorite games back in the day, and music + platforming are still fun; but I can’t help wonder if new players would find simple textures and multiple returns to the same worlds underwhelming

emulated games that simply might not cut it without nostalgia element:

• Pokémon x: these provide no fun for me, so perhaps I wasn’t introduced soon enough
• metal gear solid: I’m specifically thinking of 3 which I saw heralded on multiple lists, but controller jank was too great for enjoyment
• Early Zelda: I’m willing to enjoy pixel games, but these don’t do it for me

(I’m excluding switch/yuzu titles in any of these categories because it’s a current system.)

So my self-serving question is: what makes your “timeless emulated game not ‘cause of nostalgia” list?