Modern Games that Feel like Retro-Classics (2026)

The PS1 era wasn't defined by realism or scale, it was defined by limitations and the creativity that came from working within them. Fixed cameras forced deliberate framing, low-poly models demanded strong silhouettes, and limited memory encouraged tight level design with shorter, memorable experiences.

What's interesting to me is that now many modern developers now choose those constraints because they create much stronger games. So, the following ten titles don't just imitate PS1 visuals, they also embrace the design philosophy that made that era special, and that's exactly why they shine. For extra comparison I have also thrown in some other console titles, such as PC and Nintendo 64, but the focus here is on PS1 titles.

1. Signalis

Metacritic: 84

If you like Resident Evil, you'll enjoy this as well.

Why It Feels Retro

• Fixed and semi-fixed camera perspectives
• Strict inventory limits
• Low-poly character models with CRT-style presentation
• Heavy reliance on atmosphere rather than spectacle

Feels Like: Resident Evil 1, EchoNight

Signalis is a game that truly understands that fear comes from uncertainty, not constant action. By limiting inventory space and forcing players to make some uncomfortable choices, it recreates the quiet tension that defined PS1 survival horror. The fixed camera angles aren't just nostalgic, they control what the player can see, carefully framing dread and anticipation the same way Silent Hill once did.

The story is told through visual motifs, cryptic notes, and unsettling environments, and feels fragmented and abstract. This will feel familiar to anyone who has enjoyed many of the classic games on the PS1, as it mirrors how many of them trusted players to piece things together by themselves. Signalis stands out by letting ambiguity do the work in an age of over-explained narratives.

2. Crow Country

Metacritic: 84

Gives off RE vibes, and feel like Silent Hill a bit.

Why It Feels Retro

• Low-poly, deliberately blocky visuals
• Fixed camera angles
• Slow, cautious movement
• Puzzle-forward progression

Feels like: Resident Evil 1, Parasite Eve (atmospheric, cinematic)

Crow Country succeeds because it resists modern horror's obsession with jump scares and spectacles, and instead it leans into spatial tension with narrow corridors, blind corners, and environments that feel abandoned but watched. The fixed cameras turn navigation itself into a challenge, forcing players to mentally map spaces rather than rely on a mini-map. All this friction is intentional as it makes exploration feel risky again, just like early PS1 horror games where simply turning a corner could raise your pulse.

3. Pseudoregalia

Metacritic: 85

This game is just so, so good.

Why It Feels Retro

• Floaty, expressive movement
• Compact 3D environments
• Minimal UI and guidance
• Exploration-driven progression

Feels Like: Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness, Mario 64

Pseudoregalia fully understands that PS1 platformers thrived on movement joy, and it leans heavily into that. Every dash, jump, and wall interaction feels tuned for experimentation rather than perfection. The game trusts curiosity and rarely tells you where to go. The world itself becomes the guide instead of overwhelming players with quests or icons. This mirrors the best PS1 platformers, where mastery came from learning the space rather than following instructions. Thanks to this, the game feels playful, rewarding, and deeply respectful of player agency.

4. Lunacid

Metacritic: 82

This one has awesome vibes.

Why It Feels Retro

• First-person dungeon crawling
• Low-poly environments
• Cryptic progression systems
• Dreamlike pacing

Feels Like: Kingsfield

Lunacid captures something extremely rare, the slow unsettling mystery of early 3D RPGs. Progression isn't clearly explained, and the world doesn't bend to accommodate the player, instead it invites patience. This design choice creates a sense of genuine discovery, so when you find a new area or understand a mechanic, it feels earned and not handed to you. This sense of mystery was a hallmark of PS1 dungeon crawlers, and Lunacid proves that it still works beautifully today.

5. Dread Delusion

Metacritic: 80

This world feel tainted, Dread Delusion is a wild ride.

Why It Feels Retro

• Low-poly open world
• Early-3D RPG aesthetics
• Exploration-first structure
• Minimal quest hand-holding

Feels Like: Kingsfield, Morrowind

While modern RPGs often chase realism, Dread Delusion embraces strangeness and stylization. It's floating islands and bizarre cultures feel more like ideas than locations, which is exactly how many PS1 worlds felt due to technical constraints. The game shines by letting players wander, experiment, and occasionally get lost, and that friction builds immersion. You're not just following a checklist, you're surviving in an unfamiliar world, learning its rules slowly just like early console RPG's demanded. And for that reason, I absolutely love it.

6. Corn Kidz 64

Metacritic: Rated highly by users

Don't let the name fool you, this games awesome.

Why It Feels Retro

• Chunky character models
• Collectathon level design
• Bright, readable visuals
• Short, focused stages

Feels Like: Croc Legends of the Gobbos, Banjo-Kazooie

Corn Kidz delivers tight, playful levels that respect the players time. This mirrors the PS1 era, where platformers were built around bite-sized challenges rather than endless content. This simplicity allows the game's charm and movement to shine, making it feel joyful rather than exhausting, a quality many modern games seem to forget.

7. Turbo Overkill

Metacritic: 85

This one is full of style and attitude.

Why It Feels Retro

• Fast, arcade-style combat
• Simple geometry
• Score-driven encounters
• Gameplay-first design

Feels Like: Disruptor, Quake

Turbo Overkill channels the raw energy of late-90s shooters, where momentum and reflexes mattered more than realism. There is no downtime, just constant movement, weapons, and mastery. The emphasis on score and skill echoes arcade and PS1-era action games where replayability came from improvement and not progression systems. It's chaotic, but beautifully so!

8. Alisa

Metacritic: 78

Yeah, expect more of this from Alisa.

Why It Feels Retro

• Tank controls
• Fixed camera angles
• Low-resolution textures
• Puzzle-heavy design

Feels Like: Resident Evil 1, Clock Tower

Alisa doesn't just modernize survival horror, it totally commits to it. Yeah, it has stiff controls and limited movement, but that forces you into careful planning, making every encounter meaningful. This intentional friction recreates the vulnerability that made PS1 horror memorable. It can be uncomfortable at times, but that discomfort is kind of the point.

9. A Short Hike

Metacritic: 88

One of my personal favorites from this list.

Why It Feels Retro (Spiritually)

• Compact 3D space
• Simple mechanics
• Exploration-first pacing
• No pressure design

Feels Like: Spyro the Dragon, Tomba!

Early 3D games often felt like places you could simply exist in, and A Short Hike captures that feeling perfectly. You never have a sense of urgency, you just want to explore, conversate, and discover everything the game has to offer. This proves that the emotional side of the PS1-era design (calm, curiosity, and experimentation), still resonates with many deeply. As you play through A Short Hike, you feel taken back to that freedom that games such as Spyro provided, where you could glide and uncover the world without a care in the world.

10. Ultrakill

Metacritic: Rated highly by users

Explosions, blood, and fast shooting. Sign me up.

Why It Feels Retro

• Old-school FPS philosophy
• Minimal UI
• Skill-based scoring
• High-speed movement

Feels Like: Quake

Ultrakill strips down shooters to their core through movement, aim, and mastery. There are no cinematic interruptions or bloated systems, just constant feedback and challenge. That purity is very PS1 in spirit, where games trusted mechanics to carry the experience.

Final Thoughts

What I love most about these games is that they prove retro is not just a visual filter. The PS1 era was memorable because limitations forced developers to be intentional. Fixed cameras controlled what you could and could not see, low-poly models demanded strong silhouettes, and smaller worlds meant every hallway, shortcut, and room had a purpose. You were not distracted by endless icons or massive checklists, you were focused on the feel of the place.

That is exactly why these modern titles shine. They are not chasing scale for the sake of it, they are chasing identity. They build tension through framing and friction, reward curiosity instead of hand holding, and trust the player to learn the world on their own. When games are designed like this, you remember moments. The layout of a building, the vibe of a save room, or the relief of finally understanding how something works. Not just a percentage on a menu.

What really stands out to me is how flexible this design philosophy is. Whether it is survival horror like Signalis and Crow Country, movement driven exploration like Pseudoregalia, slow burn dungeon crawling like Lunacid, or pure chaos like Turbo Overkill and Ultrakill, the common thread is focus. These games are tight, confident, and clearly built with intent rather than excess.

The PS1 era was not perfect, but it was bold. And these games prove that boldness still works. If you miss getting lost, experimenting, and slowly mastering a world that does not care if you are ready, this list is basically a time machine.