Gamers are often surprised to realize how old some of their favorite video games really are. Though new technological developments seem to arrive daily, that doesn't mean that older games have to be considered abandoned relics of the past. On the contrary, there are several games whose quality shines through even beneath years worth of dust.

RELATED: 10 Harsh Realities Of Replaying PS3 GamesThough it may be hard to believe, 2012 was 10 years ago. Many games released that year have been surpassed, made redundant, or simply forgotten. However, that doesn't mean that none of them are worth playing again, and many deserve a second look, as their impact is even more apparent in hindsight.

10 Far Cry 3: A Stunning Setting

A promo image for Far Cry 3 of several characters in a gunfight near a waterfall and bridge.

Though many installments have been added to the Far Cry franchise since Far Cry 3 premiered on November 29, 2012, it still holds its own among their ranks. Jason Brody's quest to defeat the Rook Islands' pirates and save his friends has plenty of action and adventure to tempt players even 10 years later.

Much of the Far Cry 3's initial praise stemmed from its amazing setting, the fictional Rook Islands, a place of magisterial beauty. Gamers felt truly immersed in the island's jungles as they fought to make their way home.

9 Mass Effect 3: A Trilogy's Conclusion

A lineup of three characters from Mass Effect 3

The initial Mass Effect trilogy reached its final stage when Mass Effect 3 was released on March 6, 2012. Players once again joined Commander Shepard on a customizable space-traveling adventure. Players could even upload their save files from Mass Effect 2 to build their own continuity.

RELATED: 15 Best Weapons In Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 combined old and new mechanics in an effort to appeal to as many gamers as possible. The game was the first title in the franchise to introduce a multiplayer mode. Though the intervening years have led to improvements in hardware and software for this type of game, the conclusion of Shepard's story still holds weight for many gamers who followed the series from its outset.

8 Assassin's Creed III: Solid Moral Nuance

An assassin about to kill a British redcoat on the box art from Assassin's Creed III.

2012 was quite the year for third installments, as the Assassin's Creed series also threw its hat into the ring. Despite the initial controversy surrounding Assassin's Creed III, critics determined it to be a reasonable and balanced representation of the American revolution in the world of the Assassin Brotherhood.

The protagonist, Ratonhnaké:ton, was the son of a Native American woman and a British Templar living in the colonies, who became an Assassin after swearing revenge on the Templars for the death of his mother. He spends most of the game going by his adopted name, Connor Kenway.

7 Journey: Incredible Connections

A still from Journey, a cloaked figure stands in the desert facing a glowing mountain

On March 13, 2012, Journey entered the gaming world with an industry-rattling concept. Players in the game could connect with one another, but they could not communicate in any traditional way. There was no chat, no voice connection, and no method of emoting other than a soft musical note they could use to solve puzzles.

Players built beautiful relationships, helping each other on their pilgrimages to the glowing mountain even though they were complete strangers who couldn't learn anything about one another. Journey's unmatched beauty and thoughtful concepts still hold up, even after 10 years on the road to the mountain.

6 Dishonored: Worldbuilding Worth Enjoying

Promotional art for Dishonored, a man in a hood and a skull mask wields a knife and glowing magic

Though the 2010s were absolutely chock-full of first-person-shooters, Dishonored set itself apart with a focus on player choice and narrative worldbuilding. As players explored the city of Dunwall with their powerful weapons and mysterious magical abilities, they unraveled an intriguing conspiracy.

Though re-releases met criticism for their lack of improvement upon the original only two years later, Dishonored is still worth replaying today for the value of its eccentric setting, dedicated construction, and captivating storytelling, which were less commonplace in the 2012 gaming market.

5 Telltale's The Walking Dead: Taking A Step Into Their World

A lineup of most of the characters from Telltale Games' The Walking Dead Season 1, with Lee in the from off to the left.

By the time Telltale Games' The Walking Dead premiered its first episode on April 24, 2012, fans worldwide had already spent two years in the franchise's universe. However, they had never been the ones making the decisions, and Telltale brought fans of the franchise in deeper than ever before.

RELATED: 10 Best Telltale Games, Ranked According To Metacritic

The players had to choose who among their group got fed, who would be sent to look for supplies, and, most importantly, who got left behind. The harrowing world of the zombie apocalypse became all too real for gamers as they tried to safely navigate – through the guise of protagonist Lee Everett – the walker-infested world.

4 Animal Crossing: New Leaf: A Nostalgic Homecoming

The box art from Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Two human characters are surrounded by villagers and NPCs

Though the newest Animal Crossing game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, has taken the world by storm, many still look back fondly on their time as the mayor in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Though the graphics were of lower quality, and there were fewer activities for the player to participate in, New Leaf still holds some unique aspects that subsequent entries in the series have failed to emulate or replicate.

Nothing was more satisfying than planting a grove of sparkling perfect fruit trees or crossing the train tracks to head into town. So when New Horizons came out, it inspired many gamers to return to their old towns in New Leaf and see what had become of their friends.

3 Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance: A Delightfully Unique Spinoff

The box art for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, featuring Mickey, Sora, and Riku.

Kingdom Hearts is an expansive saga, with 13 games currently occupying its ranks. Though not all of the games are worth returning to after an initial playthrough, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance introduced new mechanics that sparked joy for many players while continuing the plot and character development for the main protagonists.

Gamers were able to play as both Sora and Riku during their adventures and could collect adorable creatures called Dream Eaters to help them in battle. 3D's heartfelt storyline and colorful new companions make it a memorable entry to the Kingdom Hearts franchise that stands out to this day.

2 Slender: The Eight Pages: The Birth Of A Phenomenon

A blue and grey truck in the woods, one of the locations in Slender: The Eight Pages

Anyone who was a part of the video game community on YouTube in the 2010s will remember Slender: The Eight Pages. It crashed onto the scene on June 26, 2012, and by the end of the summer, it seemed as though everyone had played it and had their own strategy for evading Slender Man.

RELATED: 10 Best Horror Games Where The Player Never FightsThe game is deceivingly simple, with the pages appearing in random locations throughout a pre-set map and the titular monster stalking the player as they attempt to find the ominous notes. A masterclass in building suspense, The Eight Pages still scares gamers today and is so beloved that a remake was released in 2020.

1 SCP - Containment Breach: A Whole New World Of Horror

An image of the game menu for SCP Containment Breach

Before the premiere of SCP - Containment Breach on April 15, 2012, far fewer fans had heard of the SCP Foundation. The Foundation's world is developed as a massive Creative Commons project online, with thousands of writers, artists, game developers, and other creatives adding to it constantly.

Containment Breach was many people's first introduction to the SCP world, and they greatly enjoyed learning its lore as they explored the Foundation's labyrinthine halls of horrors and desperately tried to evade the escaped inhabitants. Several updates and new versions of the game have been released since, a testament to its popularity and longevity.