GeForce NOW has become a go-to for new releases, day-one launches, and big marketing beats. But some of its best games have been out for years. These aren’t just leftovers in the catalogue. They’re smart, well-made, and in a lot of cases, better than whatever you just bought last week.
If you missed these games the first time around, or just haven’t played them in a while, now is a great time to revisit. No updates. No reinstalling. Just jump in and remember why these titles still matter.
Dishonored (2012)
Still one of the smartest stealth action games ever made. Dishonored gives you a set of tools and lets you figure out how to use them. Want to sneak through without anyone knowing you were there? You can. Want to stop time, possess a guard, walk him into a trap, and then disappear through a vent? That works too.
What makes Dishonored stand out is how flexible it feels. You can brute-force your way through, or you can ghost it clean. The chaos system reacts to your choices, the level design rewards creativity, and the world has just enough weirdness to keep it all feeling fresh. If you somehow skipped this one, fix that now.
Mad Max (2015)
Released at the worst possible time and buried under other big launches, Mad Max never got the attention it deserved. It’s an open-world survival game built around vehicular combat, and the car is the star. Every upgrade changes how you fight. Harpoons, side burners, spikes, rams — it turns every encounter into a rolling battle.
On foot, it’s all about brutal melee combat and scavenging. The world is bleak and empty in a way that feels intentional. You’re not meant to be overwhelmed with icons. You’re meant to survive. And once it clicks, there’s nothing quite like tearing through a convoy at full speed, sandstorms and explosions everywhere.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011)
Before cyberpunk became a trend again, this was already doing it right. Human Revolution gives you choices in how you approach almost every situation. Hack a terminal, sneak through ventilation systems, talk your way into a restricted area, or just shoot your way through the front door.
It’s not about branching storylines. It’s about playstyle. Augmentations let you build your character how you want, from stealth to brute force. The writing has aged well, the world still feels lived-in, and it has the kind of depth most modern games still try to fake. You can get in and out of a mission without anyone even knowing you were there. Or not. Your call.
Portal 2 (2011)
Funny, clever, and still the best puzzle game on PC. Portal 2 takes the basic mechanics from the first game and expands them into something bigger without getting bloated. It adds co-op, expands the world, and doubles down on the writing. It is rare for a game to be this mechanically tight and this entertaining at the same time.
Even if you know the solutions already, it is worth replaying just for the pacing and delivery. And if you have never played it at all, you are in for one of the most satisfying games of the last decade. No filler. Just a perfectly built puzzle box that keeps getting better.
Metro 2033 Redux (2014)
Not everything has to be open world. Metro 2033 is a linear shooter built around atmosphere. You are crawling through post-nuclear tunnels, watching your air filter timer tick down, surrounded by people who are just trying to survive another day. The shooting is heavy, the resources are limited, and the world is constantly trying to kill you.
The Redux version cleans up a lot of the rough edges and makes it more accessible, but it still keeps that oppressive tone. If you want a shooter that feels claustrophobic and grounded, rather than bombastic and loud, this is the one. It is slower. It is darker. It is better for it.
Final Word
You do not need a new release to find something worth playing. Some of the best games on GeForce NOW came out years ago and still hold up better than most of what is launching today. If you have been jumping from new game to new game and nothing is sticking, it might be time to look backward instead.
Queue one of these up and you will see why they are still getting played.
