5-Year-Old Games Surprisingly Still Being Played

It doesn’t feel like it, but 2021 was six years ago! Some games from that year are still popular, while others have faded from memory. Interestingly, quite a few people are still playing them – maybe not as many as the latest releases, but enough to create a really interesting list worth talking about.

As a fan, I’ve been noticing some games from 2021 are still really popular – Steam makes it easy to see how many people are playing. It’s cool to see they’re doing well, and I wonder if they’d be even more popular on other consoles if we had that data. Whether you’re into online multiplayer or prefer a single-player adventure, these games are clearly still being enjoyed by a lot of people. I’m excited to see if they get even more popular in the next few years – maybe by 2026!

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More Games

Resident Evil Village

A Grace Period

The popular game Resident Evil Village has received a small update on Steam, and it’s a worthwhile one. As the eighth major installment in the Resident Evil series, the game puts you back in the role of Ethan Winters, who must rescue his daughter, Rose, from a strange and dangerous village in Europe, battling a host of terrifying enemies along the way.

Although the story won’t directly connect to the next game, excitement for the upcoming release of Resident Evil Requiem is driving many fans to revisit older Resident Evil titles. Resident Evil Village features a rather unpredictable story, but its strongest aspect is the diverse and memorable locations, ranging from a creepy dollhouse to a gothic vampire castle.

It Takes Two

Still A Unique Co-Op Experience

It Takes Two is a truly special game designed exclusively for two players, and it remains incredibly popular on Steam with nearly five-digit concurrent players. The game follows a married couple on the brink of divorce who magically become dolls and must cooperate to lift the spell and repair their relationship.

While it’s broadly a platformer, It Takes Two constantly switches things up with its gameplay. One minute you might be playing a retro game, the next you’re riding a frog – it’s a game that keeps you guessing and maintains a fast, exciting pace.

Forza Horizon 5

Racing Toward Japan

Each new Forza Horizon game improves on the last, consistently delivering beautiful cars and landscapes. Forza Horizon 5 is set in Mexico and features diverse terrain – from rivers and muddy paths to expertly designed roads – letting you really push each vehicle to its limits.

Forza Horizon 5 remains popular on Steam, which isn’t surprising given it’s the newest installment and racing game fans are always looking for a relaxing game to play. However, that’s likely to change when Forza Horizon 6 comes out in late 2026. The big question is whether the Japan setting in the new game will be as well-received as Mexico was in Forza Horizon 5.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Can’t Mess With An RPG Classic

The Mass Effect Legendary Edition brings together the complete original Mass Effect trilogy, a series widely considered to be one of the best ever. While there are other role-playing games set in space, Mass Effect is unique, and its fans have been eagerly awaiting a continuation of the story.

Released in 2017, Mass Effect: Andromeda didn’t live up to expectations. While a fifth game was hinted at in 2020, there haven’t been any substantial updates since, only more ambiguous teasers. Fans have been waiting a long time for a new Mass Effect game, so it’s not surprising this older collection remains popular on Steam – they’re still hoping for a new installment.

Battlefield 2042

The Future Of War Has Improved

When Battlefield 2042 first came out, it received a lot of criticism due to technical problems. However, the developers at DICE continued to work on the game, releasing many updates and improvements, and eventually made it a much more enjoyable experience.

Despite the release of the newest Battlefield game, a significant number of players – hundreds, even thousands at times – are still actively playing Battlefield 2042. The two games offer very different experiences, with 2042 focusing on futuristic technology and dynamic weather. Hopefully, both titles can thrive as long as EA continues to support them with server access.

Hitman 3

It’s A Killer

In 2021, Hitman 3 wrapped up the Hitman trilogy with more exciting, open-ended missions featuring the legendary Agent 47. Now, all three games—Hitman, Hitman 2, and Hitman 3—are combined into one package called Hitman World of Assassination, which serves as a central hub for all the missions.

Despite not being as popular as it once was, Hitman 3 remains enjoyable, and it still has a dedicated player base. What sets a Hitman game apart is the freedom it offers – you can approach each mission in many different ways, whether that means stealthily maneuvering as Agent 47 or disguising yourself as various characters, like detectives or even musicians.

Guilty Gear Strive

Striving Toward Perfection

Guilty Gear Strive is the newest installment in the popular fighting game series. Like other major fighting games, it’s expected to remain a competitive staple for years to come thanks to the active tournament scene.

Fans of the Guilty Gear series have been very happy with how the newest game launched. It blends 2D and 3D art beautifully, featuring incredibly detailed stages, characters, and moves that are a joy to watch. While it might be challenging for new players to learn, even they can appreciate the game’s visuals, even if they’re losing to more experienced players online.

Hell Let Loose

Opposing Fronts

Hell Let Loose is a World War 2 multiplayer first-person shooter. Unlike many other WWII games that focus solely on the American and European fronts, this game lets players battle across multiple theaters of the war, including Eastern Europe and North Africa.

Currently, more people are playing this game than Battlefield 2042, and there’s a likely reason why. With Hell Let Loose: Vietnam scheduled for release in 2026, players might be returning to practice the game’s mechanics before tackling the challenges of a new, even more intense setting.

Naraka: Bladepoint

Dynasty Warriors

Many free-to-play games gain popularity quickly but don’t last. However, Naraka: Bladepoint is still incredibly popular five years after its release, consistently attracting more players at the same time than most other free games on Steam.

Naraka: Bladepoint has cleverly partnered with popular franchises like Persona 5 and The Witcher 3, offering themed skins and characters to attract fans. Unlike traditional Battle Royale games such as Fortnite and PUBG, Naraka focuses on exciting melee combat and quick movement inspired by Wuxia action films, giving it a unique feel.

Inscryption

More Than Meets The Eye

Inscryption is fundamentally a roguelike game where you venture through a forest, visit cabins, and fight strange characters. You’ll primarily use collectible animal cards to win battles, but Inscryption is far more than just a card game – you’ll also need to solve puzzles by interacting with your surroundings within the cabins.

Inscryption is genuinely frightening – it’s likely the scariest card-based roguelike out there, and that’s a big part of what makes it so captivating. The game also has a clever, unexpected twist that messes with the player, and revealing it would ruin the surprise. Let’s just say the card game itself is only a small piece of what Inscryption is truly about, and that’s why people are still playing and discussing it long after its release.

2026-02-13 14:42