Some games are legends. They were groundbreaking back in the day and have left a legacy that modern games are still chasing. But, as much as we love those classics, it’s impossible to ignore the new wave of shooters, adventures, and other masterpieces that have taken up the torch. So, let’s take a look at five iconic games that shaped the past and their spiritual successors that are keeping the flame alive – at a much higher resolution.
Delta Force (1998) vs. Counter-Strike 2 (2023)
Back in the late ’90s, Delta Force made you feel like an elite soldier dropped into hostile environments with nothing but your wits and your trusty M4. It was all about tactics, long-range combat, and vast open terrains. The game didn’t care about flashy graphics; it wanted you to think like a soldier.
Fast forward to 2023, and Counter-Strike 2 is the new king of tactical shooters. The maps are tighter, the skill ceiling is higher, and the community is fiercely competitive. If you’ve ever felt the pressure of clutching a 1v3 in CS2, you know the sweat-drenched intensity Delta Force was building towards. And unlike Counter Strike Global Offensive, CS2 ups the ante with upgraded graphics, physics, and matchmaking. Delta Force had you crouching in tall grass; Counter-Strike 2 had you pre-aiming corners and counting every bullet in your magazine.
By the way, Delta Force is set to make a comeback soon.
System Shock (1994) vs. Prey (2017)
System Shock was revolutionary for its time. A space station, a rogue AI, and a haunting, eerie atmosphere made it the perfect mix of RPG, horror, and sci-fi shooter. It laid the groundwork for games that wanted you to question everything around you while fearing for your virtual life.
Enter Prey (2017), a modern-day spiritual successor. You’re still in space, still dealing with sinister forces, but this time it’s shapeshifting aliens. Prey captures the same eerie isolation of System Shock but throws in modern mechanics like crafting and multi-layered storytelling. Both games demand you use your brain as much as your reflexes. System Shock had you hacking doors and deciphering cryptic logs. Prey adds the constant paranoia of objects potentially turning into enemies.
Prey is a love letter to the System Shock era, just with more aliens, more tools, and way shinier graphics.
Myst (1993) vs. The Witness (2016)
Myst was the puzzle adventure game that made you feel both incredibly smart and terribly confused. Its beautiful, desolate world is full of mind-bending puzzles that require patience and creativity to solve. There was no hand-holding here—you were on your own, armed with nothing but a sense of wonder and maybe a notepad full of scrawled guesses.
The Witness (2016) takes that same minimalist approach but cranks up the visuals and complexity. While Myst was about piecing together the island’s story through exploration, The Witness focuses on puzzles that get harder as you go. Both games are designed to make you pause, think, and appreciate the art of problem-solving. But while Myst gave you a mysterious world to unravel, The Witness makes you question every shape, shadow, and sound.
It’s like Myst’s younger, more pretentious cousin—and it’s every bit as addicting.
Medal of Honor (1999) vs. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
Medal of Honor dropped you into the boots of a WWII soldier and made you feel like you were saving the world, one mission at a time. It was packed with historical accuracy and cinematic action. It made you feel like you were living through one of history’s most pivotal moments.
Then came Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, a game that took that MoH DNA and blasted it into modern-day warfare. It came with bigger explosions, more intense firefights, and—let’s face it—a lot more adrenaline. Medal of Honor made you storm the beaches of Normandy. Modern Warfare II makes you chase terrorists across international borders. All this while trying to prevent global destruction, so the stakes are even higher. Both games have tight gunplay and cinematic flair, but MWII is like Medal of Honor after it’s downed a few energy drinks.
Call of Duty’s modern setting and multiplayer dominance show just how far we’ve come since the days of WWII shooters.
Quake III Arena (1999) vs. Apex Legends (2019)
There was a time when Quake III Arena was the multiplayer shooter. It was fast, it was brutal, and it was all about mastering movement and aim. There was no hiding behind cover—if you weren’t bunny-hopping around the map and landing railgun shots mid-air, you were toast. Quake was all about speed and reflexes, and every match felt like a high-octane dance of death.
Today, that mantle has been passed to Apex Legends. The game blends the twitch-reflex gunplay of Quake with the modern trappings of a battle royale. Sure, Apex throws in some hero abilities and a sprawling map. But at its core, it’s still about quick movement, precision shooting, and outplaying your enemies. Whether you’re sliding down hills or dropping portals for your squad, Apex has the same fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled gameplay that made Quake a legend.
It’s Quake for the new generation, just with more character and a bigger map to conquer.
Your Turn—Which Game Still Holds the Crown?
So, are you still rolling with the classics, or have these modern titles won your loyalty? Maybe you’re still obsessed with Delta Force’s sprawling maps or Myst’s cryptic puzzles. Or maybe you’ve moved on to the fast-paced chaos of Apex Legends or the immersive worlds of Prey. Let us know in the comments what you think! Which of these matchups speaks to you, and what other classic vs. modern comparisons would you want to see?