The New "Classics"

A recent post on the discussion about the "meh" factor of Age of Conan got me thinking that alot of discussions tend to fall back into the same old classic Ameritrash games over and over.  With a few exceptions, they are almost universally the classics that have been remarked on for decades as great games and are still played over and over.  However, in the last few years, some newer games are beginning to be remarked in the same haughty tones.  I guess the simple question is - What newer AT games (not remakes) will we still be playing 10+ years from now.

I'm a little disappointment to learn that I don't think there are that many.   Of course, if I go back and pick a small period of the late 1970s or early 1980s, only a handful of great games came out in that small period as well.

War of the Ring -  Popular Theme? Check.  Innovative Mechanics? Check.  Tight Gameplay? Check.  If anyone ever played the 1970s SPI games after a few years, then this will remain popular for years to come.

Twilight Imperium 3  - Its such a big game and the expansion possibilities still exist.  There are also a few rough edges so I suspect we will see a TI4 at some point.  Hence, I'd suspect the gameplay would hold it up over the years, I think a new version would catapult this one to the back of the closet.

Battlestar Galactica - The choice I'm most comfortable with.  Popular Theme? Check (excepting the final episode and I have several friends who refuse to play this as a result of that shit).  Innovative Mechanics? Check. Tight Gameplay? Check.

Descent: Journeys in the Dark - At the end of the day, Descent is the current interpretation of Heroquest, Talisman, and every other dungeon crawl game thats ever been made.  As it stands, its the biggest and most complete before you cross into actual roleplaying. [Of course, D&D4e and WFRP3e are moving closer and closer to its direction but thats a different discussion].  In that respect, I suspect that it will be hard for a publisher to make a heavier , close to roleplaying but not actually roleplaying game than Descent and as a result, it will be the touchpoint for that style of game for years to come.

Some good games came out but I stronly suspect that they won't last the test of time.

Nexus Ops

Betrayal of House on the Hill

Last Night on Earth

Starcraft?