The passage of time is a pretty strange thing. We know it happens, and that there’s nothing we can do to stop it, yet somehow we always get blindsided by just how much time has passed. For example, when somebody talks about games from 2007, your immediate instinct is to think, “Oh, that came out three years ago.” And when you realise that no, that’s a whole decade ago, it’s always a bit of a shock. It’s not just me, right?!

In any case, yes. 2007 was a whole decade (ten, ten whole years!) ago. The first Assassin’s Creed game will turn ten in November. So will Mass Effect. And Portal.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, here’s a list of ten iconic games that came out a decade (!!) ago. Feeling old yet? To help distract you from the inevitable panic at how old you’re getting when you go through the games on that list, we’ve also made sure to include games released/releasing this year that are similar to the 2007 ones. If you loved the 2007 games, you’ll probably enjoy these 2017 ones as well!

10. Shadowrun / Torment: Tides of Numenera

Both games are set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic, and fantasy creatures co-exist uneasily. They also combine elements of cyberpunk, urban fantasy, and horror to craft deep, intricate, and thought-provoking stories that will linger with you long after you’ve finished the game.

Okay, maybe Torment: Tides of Numenera is closer in spirit to Shadowrun Returns, Shadowrun: Dragonfall, and Shadowrun: Hong Kong, what with the isometric thing and all. Still, the road for those games was paved by Shadowrun, which is why it counts!

9. The World Ends With You / Persona 5

Super stylish teenagers and game design? Check. Stylish real-life Japanese places brought to life in the game? Check. Stylish music?? Check, check, aaaand check.

Beyond just the superficial aspects though, there are quite a few thematic similarities in the two games. They’re about teenagers struggling against forces that seem beyond them, and about the power of friendship. Trite as it sounds, it works.

8. Bioshock / Prey

The creative director of Prey has mentioned before that it’s somewhat of a spiritual successor to System Shock. Given that Bioshock is also a spiritual successor to System Shock, it should come as no shock (sorry) that the two games have their similarities. From the claustrophobic environments to the array of powers you can acquire, to the interesting philosophical questions the games ask about choice and free will, both games definitely hit the same sweet spot.

7. Halo 3 / Destiny 2

Okay, this one’s probably cheating a little, given that Bungie, the company behind Destiny and the upcoming Destiny 2, is also the company that started the Halo franchise. And it doesn’t help that one of the developers for the first Destiny game hid easter eggs in Halo 3!

6. Portal / Rime

Portal and its successor, Portal 2, are pretty ingrained into popular culture. “The cake is a lie” should be more than enough to tell you about how iconic the series is. While Rime will only be out later this week, it already looks like it has the potential to be as mind-bogglingly fun as Portal was. It’s already just as good looking – if in a very different way.

5. The Witcher / Nioh

I mean, c’mon. That hair!

Physical resemblance aside though, both games portray their respective fictional worlds in incredibly lush detail. Well, more so in The Witcher 3 than the first game, if we’re talking about graphics. In terms of world-building and setting though, both games are definitely high up in the ranks.

4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare / Battalion 1944

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare broke away from the World War II setting of its (many) predecessors. It was a gamble that paid off, given that it went on to become 2007’s best selling game. Ten years on, the series has about a gazillion games in it, and is pretty much one of the first series you think of when someone says “gamer.”

Battalion 1944 in turn has been influenced by the earlier games in the series, as well as Quake III, the same game that influenced the very first Call of Duty. It’s out in early access already, so if you’ve already gotten your fill of the latest zombie expansion for Call of Duty, you can give it a try!

Sure, one game’s set in a modern setting, and another is way back in 1944 (no prizes for guessing which game’s which), but their team-based FPS gameplay is what unites their audiences. After all, if you want a shooter experience that will bring you fully into their respective wars, these are the games for you.

3. Assassin’s Creed / Middle Earth: Shadow of War

One game lets you travel back in history to pretend you know cool historical figures, another lets you travel around Middle Earth and pretend you know cool fictional figures. Okay, there’s more to Assassin’s Creed than that, and probably more to Middle Earth: Shadow of War as well. Guess we’ll find out in August!

2. Mass Effect / Mass Effect: Andromeda

I know, too easy, right? Let’s just hope that like it’s decade-old predecessor, Mass Effect: Andromeda gets its trilogy and its chance to prove itself to be as good as the first game.

1. Team Fortress 2 / Mirage: Arcana Warfare

Okay, people compare Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch all the time, but since Overwatch came out last year, it can’t make this list. Instead, we’ve got Mirage: Arcana Warfare. With destructive magic and melee combat fuelling objective-based team gameplay, it kinda sounds like a fantasy version of Team Fortress 2. Aka super awesome.

PS: Mirage: Arcana Warfare comes out today!

The post 10 Games From 2007 That Turn 10 This Year – And Their 2017 Equivalents appeared first on Reboot Reload.