The Top 50 Games of the 2010s

The 2010s were just as, if not more, important to the world of gaming as the decade preceding it, delivering hundreds of all-time classics and ushering in the 8th console generation. The launches of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were followed up by one of Nintendo’s few missteps with the Wii U. But, the company quickly course-corrected and dominated the rest of the decade with the Nintendo Switch. Additionally, the 2010s also represent a turning point in the world of games toward always-online live-service experiences. That said, taking a look at the top games of the 2010s shows that single-player offline experiences still reigned supreme as some of the definitive titles of the decade.

One of the more significant developments of the last ten years is the rising prominence of indie developers, with indie titles now standing side-by-side with massive AAA projects as being some of the greatest gaming experiences of a generation. Despite the meteoric rise of indies and the shifting tastes of the new generation of gamers, many of the best games of the decade were blockbuster conclusions to some of the most important franchises in gaming history. Making a list of the top 50 games from the 2010s only shows how limiting such a list is given how many glaring omissions it has, but these 50 games are the definitive experiences of the decade according to both audiences and critics.

50. Telltale’s The Walking Dead

• Release Date — April 24, 2012
• Release Platform — PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
• Metacritic Score — 89 (Generally Favorable)

By 2012, Telltale had already made a name for itself developing excellent adventure games in the style of the LucasArts titles of the genre’s heyday (which makes sense given the studio’s founders being former LucasArts employees). However, The Walking Dead would be the company’s breakthrough critical and commercial success, taking the popular Walking Dead IP and telling a wholly original and heartbreaking story set during the zombie apocalypse from Robert Kirkman’s hugely successful comic. The choices that the player makes have a real impact on the game’s outcome, and anyone who has played the title would have to have a heart of stone to not be moved by the game’s shocking gut-punch of an ending.

49. Borderlands 2

• Release Date — September 18, 2012
• Release Platform — Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
• Metacritic Score — 89 (Generally Favorable)

Above all, the best thing about Borderlands 2 is that it delivers on the promise of the original game and expands all of its greatest ideas while cutting everything that didn’t work. The result is that Borderlands 2 ends up being the best kind of sequel — bigger and better than its predecessor by every metric, but still retaining the core looting-and-shooting gameplay loop from the first game that is endlessly fun and dangerously addictive. Ultimately, Borderlands 2‘s great story, excellent characters, and millions of guns to collect and use in building out one of the game’s 4 classes make it an excellent game that continues to age like a fine wine.

48. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

• Release Date — March 22, 2019
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Metacritic Score — 90 (Universal Acclaim)

FromSoftware is the master of crafting amazing action RPGs with punishing, methodical combat. Between releasing the amazing conclusion to the Dark Souls franchise and the studio’s next major evolution into open-world adventure with Elden Ring, the company would release what is arguably its most perfectly paced and balanced title to date with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Sekiro emphasizes technically complex sword combat and puts it front and center, forcing the player to master its mechanics or die trying. As a result, completing Sekiro is a challenging experience, but doing so provides a sense of accomplishment like no other.

47. DOTA 2

• Release Date — July 9, 2013
• Release Platform — PC
• Metacritic Score — 90 (Universal Acclaim)

The rise of competitive eSports in the 2010s would coincide with the popularization of the MOBA – Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games. Although League of Legends might be the most well-known and widely played of all MOBAs, there are several players out there who will swear by IceFrog’s DOTA 2 as the best game in the genre. With hundreds of heroes and almost limitless potential for strategy in its intense online matches, DOTA 2 is still one of the benchmarks by which all other MOBAs are judged — and for good reason.

46. Monster Hunter World

• Release Date — January 26, 2018
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Metacritic Score — 90 (Universal Acclaim)

Somehow, the Monster Hunter series spent years in relative obscurity in the West despite being a massive hit in its native Japan. Thankfully, Capcom understood the potential in making the next generation of Monster Hunter titles have cross-cultural appeal, resulting in Monster Hunter World being both one of the greatest games in the series and its most successful entry to date. The genius of Monster Hunter World is apparent in how the game streamlines several of the more cumbersome or confusing systems from the series’ past. As a result, Monster Hunter World is the most beginner-friendly entry in the franchise and a perfect jumping-on point for newcomers.

45. Hollow Knight

• Release Date — June 12, 2018
• Release Platform — Nintendo Switch, PC
• Metacritic Score — 90 (Universal Acclaim)

While Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night are the games responsible for the “Metroidvania” portmanteau and two of the genre’s greatest entries, there’s a strong case to be made that Hollow Knight might be the greatest Metroidvania ever. The game takes the foundations laid by the genre’s forebears and mixes them with elements of FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series to create a darkly moody and atmospheric Metroidvania with a compelling (but obtuse) plot and some nail-biting combat and platforming. That the game comes from a two-person development team only makes it that much more impressive.

44. NieR: Automata

• Release Date — June 26, 2017
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Metacritic Score — 90 (Universal Acclaim)

Though it would get a nod for Best Narrative at The Game Awards in 2017, there are plenty of players who feel that NieR: Automata‘s lack of a Game of the Year nomination is a snub against one of the year’s best titles. Yoko Tara’s ecellent action RPG features amazing hack n’ slash combat in one moment only to transition to any number of disparate genre homages the next. One of NieR: Automata‘s greatest accomplishments is that it feels simultaneously unlike anything else and yet familiar. Somehow, it all works as a cohesive experience, bound together by one of the best and most profound narratives in the history of the medium. A true masterpiece that every gamer should play at least once.

43. Shovel Knight

• Release Date — March 3, 2017
• Release Platform — Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
• Metacritic Score — 91 (Universal Acclaim)

The magic of Shovel Knight is the game’s ability to be inspired by some of the platforming genre’s all-time classics and somehow outdo them in almost every way. Part Mega Man, part Super Mario Bros. 3, part Castlevania, and part DuckTales, Shovel Knight is an endlessly charming and perfectly tuned action platformer that takes all of its classic gaming influences and melds them into something entirely new, becoming something more than the sum of its parts.

42. Resident Evil 2

• Release Date — January 25, 2019
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Metacritic Score — 91 (Universal Acclaim)

Even though it’s a remake of a classic, Capcom’s reimagining of Resident Evil 2 is undoubtedly one of the best games of the 2010s and arguably the greatest game to release in 2019. Following in the footsteps of the GameCube remake of the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 is a faithful visual upgrade to the original until it isn’t, playing with gamers’ nostalgia for the original and surprising them in uniquely terrifying ways to keep even the most seasoned Resident Evil veterans on their toes. 2019’s Resident Evil 2 is a lesson in how a remake should be approached and one of the best games in the Resident Evil series, remake or otherwise.

41. Dark Souls II

• Release Date — March 11, 2014
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Metacritic Score — 91 (Universal Acclaim)

Though many players felt that the sequel was a bit of a step backward from the original, it’s more apparent in hindsight just how important Dark Souls II is to both its own franchise and FromSoftware as a whole. While series creator Hidetaka Miyazaki was working on Bloodborne, Tomohiro Shibuya and Yui Tanimura would take over directorial duties on the Dark Souls sequel, delivering a game that is still unique in the trilogy thanks to the subtle mutations it features on the franchise’s action RPG formula. Dark Souls II is far from perfect and quickly outclassed by its sequel, but it’s still a great game and worth experiencing for any FromSoftware fan.

40. Disco Elysium

• Release Date — October 15, 2019
• Release Platform — PC
• Metacritic Score — 91 (Universal Acclaim)

Truthfully, Disco Elysium can at least be partially credited with helping revive the classic CRPG format, reintroducing an entire generation of players to a style of gameplay that had long since been replaced with massive open-world first-person Bethesda-style RPGs. Likewise, the heart and soul of Disco Elysium is its incredible writing and excellent (and deep) RPG mechanics, which make every bit of conversation and reading hugely important to appreciating and understanding the game and its narrative. Even without any combat, Disco Elysium ends up being one of the best RPGs of the last several years.

39. Halo: Reach

• Release Date — September 14, 2010
• Release Platform — Xbox 360
• Metacritic Score — 91 (Universal Acclaim)

Bungie’s swansong to the massive franchise it helped create is a beautifully bittersweet send-off to one of the best unbroken runs in gaming. The first three Halo games and Halo ODST are each remarkable experiences in their own right, but it makes perfect sense for the best game in the franchise under Bungie’s tenure to be a prequel showing how it all started. Both the campaign and online multiplayer of Halo: Reach are the best in the series, and the game’s narrative places it as the greatest story in the Halo franchise, if not one of the greatest stories in an FPS ever.

38. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age — Definitive Edition

• Release Date — September 27, 2019
• Release Platform — Nintendo Switch
• Metacritic Score — 91 (Universal Acclaim)

Innovation is great, but sometimes there’s something to be said for sticking to the basics and providing gamers with the kind of genre “comfort food” they know and love. In terms of “comfort food” JRPGs, it doesn’t get much better than Dragon Quest XI, which sticks closely to the traditional formula the series is known for while updating the visuals and presentation for modern hardware. The Dragon Quest games have always occupied a very “traditionalist” space in the realm of JRPGs, and Dragon Quest XI feels like playing an unearthed classic from 25 years ago.

37. Bayonetta 2

• Release Date — October 24, 2014
• Release Platform — Wii U
• Metacritic Score — 91 (Universal Acclaim)

Character action games have come a long way since the early days of the original Devil May Cry on PlayStation 2, and perhaps no other series illustrates that more than Bayonetta. Hideki Kamiya’s insane trilogy of games featuring the titular witch are some of the most bombastic and over-the-top character action games in the genre, but they never lose sight of the elements that matter the most — combat and character progression. Although Bayonetta and Bayonetta 3 are each great games, Bayonetta 2 is the highlight of one of the best trilogies in the character action genre.

36. Overwatch

• Release Date — May 23, 2016
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Metacritic Score — 91 (Universal Acclaim)

Despite how players might view the Overwatch franchise now in the wake of the disappointing Overwatch 2, there was a time when the original game was unavoidable. Overwatch is one of the first games to take the core mechanics and elements of a MOBA and combine them with a first-person shooter. In the process, Blizzard ended up creating one of the most satisfying and addictive gameplay templates for online competitive FPS titles, with Overwatch becoming one of the most popular eSports games. Several different companies have tried to replicate the original Overwatch‘s success, but no other hero shooter comes close to the brilliance and polish of Blizzard’s original groundbreaking FPS/MOBA hybrid.

35. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

• Release Date — April 28, 2017
• Release Platform — Nintendo Switch
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

Arriving at the perfect time to become the Nintendo Switch’s all-time best-selling game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to be one of the few “must-have” titles for practically every Switch owner. Not only is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the definitive version of what is arguably the best Mario Kart title ever, the game continues to receive new racers, karts, and tracks 7 years after its release. The single-player modes have plenty of content to unlock to round out the game’s impressive roster of racers and tracks, but the multiplayer modes are the star of the show and the reason every Switch owner should have a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in their library.

34. Journey

• Release Date — March 13, 2012
• Release Platform — PlayStation 3
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

Coming from the mind of Thatgamecompany’s Jenova Chen and serving as the follow-up to Chen’s classic Flower, Journey is a one-of-a-kind gaming experience that practically begs to be played through at least once. Calling Journey a walking simulator is a little reductive, even if its gameplay boils down to just moving forward through various environments in hopes of reaching a distant mountain. That said, sitting down to actually play Journey is a meditative experience that’s phenomenal either as a solo player or in the game’s unique co-op mode. Reaching the game’s terminal point and experiencing its thought-provoking and spiritual ending will stick with players for a long time after the credits roll.

33. Fire Emblem: Awakening

• Release Date — February 4, 2013
• Release Platform — Nintendo 3DS
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

Similar to the Monster Hunter franchise, Nintendo’s Fire Emblem was previously a series that had massive appeal in its native Japan but had somehow failed to crossover to the West. The arrival of Fire Emblem: Awakening changed that forever, positioning the Fire Emblem series as one of Nintendo’s more popular franchises and paving the way for the incredible success of the series’ first entry on the Nintendo Switch. Fire Emblem: Awakening takes the relationship-building of the series and elevates it to new heights, allowing players to create an entire dynasty of warriors descending from their original favorite units and use them in excellent and strategic tactical turn-based battles.

32. Undertale

• Release Date — September 15, 2015
• Release Platform — PC
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

Taking the charming atypical approach to an RPG championed by classics such as Earthbound, Undertale is both one of the best indie titles of the 2010s and one of its greatest RPGs. And yet, its battling is wholly unlike any RPG before it or since, aligning more with the gameplay of a shmup rather than something like Dragon Quest. The ability to go through the game without ever harming an enemy creates an interesting distinction for Undertale as one of the few RPGs with a true pacifist playstyle, and the game’s three distinct endings provide an incentive to play through Undertale more than once.

31. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Release Date — May 19, 2015
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

The Witcher 3 isn’t just the greatest of the Witcher games, it’s also one of the best open-world RPGs ever made and a masterclass in quest design and writing. Ultimately, what makes The Witcher 3 so special among Western RPGs is the careful attention to detail present in every moment of the game. Even the most innocuous or mundane side quest can turn into a multi-hour affair and a worthwhile distraction from the game’s critical path. That Witcher 3 includes the incredible card game Gwent is just the icing on the cake and another potential hundred-hour time sink.

30. Celeste

• Release Date — January 25, 2018
• Release Platform — Nintendo Switch
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

As an indie title, Celeste feels like the natural evolution of the precision twitch-platforming from Super Meat Boy. However, it also adds an incredible narrative as the foundation for its excellent gameplay that places it as a much more thought-provoking title than many of its contemporaries. Celeste tells a heartfelt and relatable story about anxiety, imposter syndrome, and struggling to find one’s identity, and it does so all while delivering some of the best and most mind-bending platforming sections. Further, there’s plenty of additional challenge for anyone brave enough to seek it out.

29. Bloodborne

• Release Date — March 24, 2015
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

Quite possibly FromSoftware’s magnum opus, Bloodborne upends the studio’s Dark Souls formula by placing a greater emphasis on aggressive playstyles and movement. Getting used to playing Bloodborne after coming fresh off of Dark Souls can take some adjustment, but once its combat clicks it can be hard to go back to the slower, more methodical pace of FromSoftware’s flagship franchise. Tying it all together is an incredibly dense and disturbing gothic horror atmosphere that takes a beautifully twisted turn toward cosmic horror in its latter half.

28. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

• Release Date — November 1, 2011
• Release Platform — PlayStation 3
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

The final Uncharted game for the PS3 is more of what fans got to experience in Uncharted 2, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In the years since the title’s release fans have significantly warmed up to Nathan’s adventures in Africa and the Middle East after initially feeling that it was too similar to its predecessor, and the game’s plot does a lot of the heavy lifting in setting up the thrilling conclusion to the series in Uncharted 4. Truthfully, there are plenty of excellent additions that Uncharted 3 makes to the series’ formula with its greater emphasis on stealth and gunplay, and its unique setting provides some of the franchise’s best setpiece moments.

27. God of War III

• Release Date — March 16, 2010
• Release Platform — PlayStation 3
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

Concluding a trilogy as over-the-top as God of War was always going to require pulling out all the stops and throwing caution to the wind. Thankfully, God of War III delivers wholeheartedly on Kratos’ self-imposed mission to get revenge on the gods of Mount Olympus. From a gameplay perspective, God of War III delivers more of the tightly-tuned and satisfyingly brutal combat from the first two games with a significant visual upgrade, but the game’s narrative cements it as a crucial piece of Kratos’ character arc, especially in retrospect now that the series has been rebooted in a new mythology.

26. Forza Horizon 4

• Release Date –—September 28, 2018
• Release Platform — Xbox One
• Metacritic Score — 92 (Universal Acclaim)

Trends in the world of racing games seem to oscillate between favoring arcade or simulation racing titles, but the best part of the Forza Horizon series is that it lands comfortably in the middle between the two. Part beginner-friendly arcade racer and part incredibly deep simulation driving, Forza Horizon 4 is an open-world racing game that places one factor as a premium above all others: fun. With some stunning visuals, a great soundtrack, and some excellent vistas to drive around in, Forza Horizon 4 might be the best game in Forza Motorsport‘s offshoot series.

25. INSIDE

• Release Date — June 29, 2016
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

Above all else, developer Playdead clearly had a penchant for crafting compelling puzzle platformers that were seemingly pulled straight from someone’s nightmares. After wowing players with the excellent Limbo, the studio’s second title Inside would further impress with its terrifying imagery and white-knuckle tension during some of its more challenging segments. However, arguably the best part of Inside is that players can sit down and complete the game in a single sitting, getting to experience its excellent gameplay and reaching its thought-provoking ending in just a few hours.

24. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

• Release Date — December 7, 2018
• Release Platform — Nintendo Switch
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

The Super Smash Bros. series continues to be one of the biggest and best Nintendo franchises, providing an excellent arena brawler alongside a veritable digital museum of gaming history. The best game in the series is arguably its latest, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which features the largest and most varied roster in the series’ history. Additionally, Ultimate delivers some of the Smash Bros. series’ gameplay in both single-player story and competitive multiplayer modes. Ultimate stands as one of the console’s quintessential multiplayer games and a must-have for any Switch owner.

23. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

• Release Date — May 10, 2016
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

The Uncharted series saves its best game for its conclusion, introducing some of the series’ best traversal and exploration alongside its most balanced shooting and combat. Ultimately, though, it’s Uncharted 4‘s excellent narrative and peering into the series’ main characters’ pasts that help the title feel like a true “full-circle” moment for the franchise, making the excellent ending and happy conclusion to the saga of Nathan Drake feel well-earned and perfectly timed.

22. Hades

• Release Date — December 6, 2018
• Release Platform — PC
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

Even though the game wouldn’t release in 1.0 until the next decade (2020 to be precise), Hades‘ launch into Early Access in 2018 would quickly position the title as one of the most popular games on Steam and perhaps the best action roguelike on the market. Hades‘ gameplay is an addictive mix of hack n’ slash combat with fast-paced traversal and projectile-dodging, but it’s the game’s use of Greek mythology and its excellent writing that support the experience and make each run a worthwhile endeavor to see how the characters change and develop over time.

21. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

• Release Date — November 20, 2011
• Release Platform — Wii
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

Skyward Sword is a hugely important game to the Zelda franchise, both in terms of its actual content and what it represents for the series. Releasing in conjunction with the Legend of Zelda series’ 25th anniversary, Skyward Sword takes players back to the very beginning of the Zelda timeline and finally lays bare the origin story of Link, Zelda, Ganon, the Triforce, and the Master Sword. Additionally, the game would end up being the last 3D Zelda to utilize the Ocarina of Time gameplay template, making it a pivotal entry and the dividing line between “classic” Zelda and the series’ pivot to open-world adventure.

20. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

• Release Date — September 1, 2015
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

Konami’s treatment of both creator Hideo Kojima and the Metal Gear IP would result in the auteur being unceremoniously let go prior to the launch of Metal Gear Solid V. That said, even in its unfinished state, the title is one of the best stealth-action games of all time. Though the series could (and arguably should) have ended with Metal Gear Solid 4, MGSV takes players back to the founding of Outer Heaven and gives them one more chance to assume the role of the series’ legendary antagonist and Solid Snake’s “father”: Big Boss. Further, the game’s introduction of a base-building and management mini-game is an enjoyable side activity that should reappear in the franchise at some point.

19. Mass Effect 3

• Release Date — March 6, 2012
• Release Platform — Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

The final entry in the Mass Effect trilogy mostly pulls off what many thought to be impossible by providing an at least somewhat satisfying conclusion to one of the most ambitious series of games in the history of the medium. Beforehand, Mass Effect and its incredible sequel would perform much of the narrative bedrock, allowing Mass Effect 3 to feel like the home stretch for the incredible RPG series. Also, the inclusion of a satisfying and mechanically deep multiplayer mode (a series first) gives it replay value far extending past the campaign’s runtime. Shepard is one of the greatest heroes in gaming, and their send-off in Mass Effect 3 is a crucial chapter in the franchise’s saga.

18. Persona 5

• Release Date — April 4, 2017
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

Not only is Persona 5 the new gold standard for the series, it’s a new benchmark for JRPGs as a whole. Mixing the classic dungeon-crawling and turn-based combat of a classic JRPG with the monster-taming of the Pokemon series and the social sim aspects of a cozy slice-of-life game, Persona 5 somehow manages to take all of its disparate parts and do them better than the games that just attempt one of them. With some eye-popping visuals, an incredible jazz soundtrack, and a complex and dark narrative, Persona 5 sets a high bar for the sequels and spin-offs in the series and rightfully earns its place as one of the best games of the last decade.

17. Persona 4 Golden

• Release Date — November 20, 2012
• Release Platform — PlayStation Vita
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

Before Persona 5 would come along and provide the visual template for every game in the series moving forward, Persona 4 would refine the ideas from Persona 3 to give players the best-ever implementation of the series’ mix between JRPG gameplay and social sim. Even in the wake of Persona 5‘s release, the characters and unique setting of Persona 4 (where players visit dungeons and battle demons in the mysterious “TV World”) still see it rank as a fan-favorite in the franchise. Although completing Persona 4 can take upwards of over 100 hours, its a journey well worth the time for any RPG fan.

16. Starcraft II

• Release Date — July 27, 2010
• Release Platform — PC
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

The first Starcraft would take the world by storm, quickly becoming one of the most important titles in establishing the importance of competitive online gaming and ushering in the inextricable joining of video games and the internet. Subsequently, it would take years for a sequel to arrive, but Starcraft II proved to be every bit worth the wait. Blizzard once again struck gold with its addictive RTS formula, with three distinct campaigns each focusing on one of the game’s returning factions and a groundbreaking multiplayer suite that still has a healthy online community more than a decade later. Starcraft II features some of the best RTS gameplay along with setting a new bar for presentation and storytelling in the genre.

15. Super Mario 3D World

• Release Date — November 22, 2013
• Release Platform — Wii U
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

Following the launch of Super Mario Odyssey in 2017, Super Mario 3D World still stands as one of the best 3D Mario games ever made and a strong contender for the best 3D Mario game on the Switch. Much like the 3DS’ Super Mario 3D Land, 3D World puts players in control of Mario and his allies in a semi-top-down perspective as they make their way through intricately designed 3D levels, zooming out the camera from other games in the series like Mario 64 and Mario Sunshine to give the player a better view of the environments. Further, the game features one of the best unique power-ups in the series with the Cat Suit and features a surprising amount of verticality, making great use of its 3D perspective.

14. Divinity: Original Sin II

• Release Date — September 14, 2017
• Release Platform — PC
• Metacritic Score — 93 (Universal Acclaim)

Before Larian Studios would turn heads with the incredible Baldur’s Gate 3, the studio would initially cut its teeth making two of the best and mechanically deep CRPGs with the Divinity games. Divinity: Original Sin is an excellent title in its own right, but Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the best games in the genre and features almost limitless strategic options in its phenomenal turn-based tactical combat. Not many games offer players both incredibly deep RPG mechanics along with an engaging (and oftentimes humorous) narrative with seemingly endless branching paths, but Divinity: Original Sin II manages to deliver on all fronts.

13. BioShock Infinite

• Release Date — March 25, 2013
• Release Platform — Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
• Metacritic Score — 94 (Universal Acclaim)

Ken Levine’s farewell to the series he helped create as a spiritual successor to the classic System Shock is nothing if not ambitious, even if it occasionally stumbles under the weight of that ambition at times. BioShock Infinite has a compelling combat sandbox that mixes firearms and supernatural abilities like the other two games in the franchise. But with players taking to the sky in the city of Columbia, Infinite also introduces more verticality and aerial maneuvers into the mix. Ultimately, though, it’s the incredible narrative (and its titular infinite timelines and references to String Theory) that elevates BioShock Infinite to being one of the best FPS/immersive sim hybrids.

12. Batman: Arkham City

• Release Date — October 18, 2011
• Release Platform — Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
• Metacritic Score — 94 (Universal Acclaim)

Though they’re only two years apart, there’s a massive gulf that exists between Rocksteady’s first Batman game in Arkham Asylum and its incredible 2011 follow-up Arkham City. Where Asylum puts a greater emphasis on having the World’s Greatest Detective decipher a mystery within the heart of a single iconic location, Arkham City sets the crimefighter loose on the streets of Gotham to prevent a disaster of cataclysmic proportions. As a result, the stakes for Batman are higher this time around, and the open-world sandbox he inhabits responds in kind, delivering some of the best approximations of what it would be like to walk a mile in Batman’s shoes.

11. God of War

• Release Date — April 20, 2018
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4
• Metacritic Score — 94 (Universal Acclaim)

2018’s God of War reboot takes some bold steps in a new direction for the series by introducing a brand new mythology for the franchise to explore. Moving Kratos out of the realm of Greek mythology and into the world of Norse mythology, the game picks up several years after the events of God of War III. Kratos, now a father, has put his past as a “slayer of gods” behind him to raise a family in peace. But, as fate would have it, the Norse gods have their own destiny that Kratos and his son each play a pivotal role in. Though most reflections on the God of War reboot focus on its excellent narrative, the combat in the game is a true step above the original trilogy and a new benchmark for third-person action-adventure titles.

10. Portal 2

• Release Date — April 19, 2011
• Release Platform — Xbox 260, PlayStation 3, PC
• Metacritic Score — 95 (Universal Acclaim)

The original Portal still stands as one of the best puzzle games and yet another example of Valve’s creative genius, but its sequel somehow outshines it in nearly every regard. Portal 2‘s puzzles are even more mind-bending than in the original, there’s a greater emphasis on story, and the game introduces what is quite possibly one of the best co-op modes in the medium. Somehow, Portal 2 exceeds the high bar set by its predecessor. And, in the almost 15 years since its release, it still has yet to be outdone by other games in the genre.

9. Red Dead Redemption

• Release Date — May 18, 2010
• Release Platform — Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
• Metacritic Score — 95 (Universal Acclaim)

The original Red Dead Redemption may just be the best game in the entire Rockstar Games catalog, with only its groundbreaking sequel surpassing it. Much more than just “Grand Theft Horse”, Red Dead Redemption tells a thought-provoking tale that transports players into the dying days of the Wild West, with civilization and industrialization threatening the traditional way of life on America’s frontier. John Marsten is an excellent anti-hero who sits right alongside Niko Bellic as one of the best protagonists Rockstar has ever created, and the game’s open-world sandbox is all too easy to get lost in for dozens (if not hundreds) of hours.

8. The Last of Us

• Release Date — June 14, 2013
• Release Platform — PlayStation 3
• Metacritic Score — 95 (Universal Acclaim)

From its initial heartwrenching prologue to the game’s unbelievably bleak and ambiguous ending, The Last of Us is an exercise in perseverance. As the game’s characters struggle to survive and find meaning in that survival in the post-apocalypse, the player must also endure graphically violent and brutal depictions of violence that raise the question of whether it’s the mutated Clickers or the remnants of human civilization that pose the greatest threat to the survival of life on Earth. Underpinning the game’s incredible storytelling and narrative is a competent stealth-action title that proves Naughty Dog has way more up its sleeve than Uncharted.

7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

• Release Date — November 11, 2011
• Release Platform — Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
• Metacritic Score — 96 (Universal Acclaim)

The release of Skyrim in 2011 represents a massive cultural event and a paradigm shift in how players view open-world experiences. Previously, Oblivion had hinted at Bethesda’s ability to craft engaging open worlds with seemingly endless possibilities, but Skyrim delivers on that promise wholeheartedly. The game’s unique spin on action-based character progression means that players develop the skills and traits that best suit their playstyle, and the massive map and freeform exploration almost guarantee that no two playthroughs are ever the same. Ultimately, Skyrim ends up transcending its place as the most recent Elder Scrolls game to instead represent a pivotal turning point in the design of immersive and engaging RPG sandboxes.

6. Mass Effect 2

• Release Date — January 26, 2010
• Release Platform — Xbox 360
• Metacritic Score — 97 (Universal Acclaim)

More than just the middle chapter of one of gaming’s best trilogies, Mass Effect 2 is the sci-fi franchise’s version of The Empire Strikes Back. Famously, Mass Effect 2 bookends its incredible pivotal chapter of the series’ narrative with tragedy and defeat, raising the stakes for Shepard and his crew higher than they were in the first game. Through that adversity, though, we see that Shepard is indeed the one person who can beat back the Reaper invasion and save all life in the galaxy. Similarly, the combat and traversal are vastly improved over the first game, and the new characters easily assimilate into the franchise’s growing cast of likable and complex characters that join Shepard in his impossible mission.

5. Super Mario Odyssey

• Release Date — October 27, 2017
• Release Platform — Nintendo Switch
• Metacritic Score — 97 (Universal Acclaim)

After several years of the Mario franchise returning to its 2D roots with the excellent New Super Mario Bros. series and trying new 3D perspectives with 3D Land and 3D World, Mario finally got a brand-new full-3D adventure in the excellent Super Mario Odyssey. Accordingly, the game feels like the natural evolution of the Super Mario 64 gameplay template, introducing several new ideas and a unique mechanic that immediately makes it superior to GameCube’s Super Mario Sunshine. Not only does Odyssey feature some of the best 3D platforming in the series, its main mechanic (using Mario’s hat “Cappy” to gain new abilities) introduces some truly novel abilities that place Super Mario Odyssey as one of the most enjoyable and creative games in the series.

4. Grand Theft Auto V

• Release Date — November 18, 2014
• Release Platform — PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
• Metacritic Score — 97 (Universal Acclaim)

Rockstar’s work on Grand Theft Auto IV wound up being so impressive that it set a high bar to clear for the eventual sequel. Of course, in true Rockstar fashion, the company delivered on all fronts and then some with the groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto V. Critically, each of the classic core components of the 3D Grand Theft Auto titles receives a drastic upgrade in GTA V. Both the driving and the shooting mechanics are the most polished the series has seen. Further, the game’s side activities flirt more with RPG and simulation mechanics than any other GTA before it. Finally, lest it be forgotten, Grand Theft Auto V‘s online mode continues to be one of the most popular multiplayer games of the modern era and a huge cash cow for Rockstar.

3. Red Dead Redemption II

• Release Date — October 26, 2018
• Release Platform — PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Metacritic Score — 97 (Universal Acclaim)

8 years after the release of the first game in the series, Rockstar made the bold choice to not follow up Red Dead Redemption with a sequel. Instead, Red Dead Redemption 2 takes players back to the heyday of the Van Der Linde gang and puts players in the shoes of Arthur Morgan in a prequel tale. And, as a result, players get to experience the frontier of the American West in all its splendor, spending as much time in the natural beauty of North America as they do in the towns and cities springing up along its edges. The missions feature plenty of variety, there’s almost an endless amount of side activities to get caught up in, and the game happens to be one of the best-looking titles around more than 5 years since its release.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

• Release Date — March 3, 2017
• Release Platform — Wii U, Nintendo Switch
• Metacritic Score — 97 (Universal Acclaim)

Not only is Breath of the Wild one of the most important reinventions of a series and a return to the original ideas that birthed it, it’s also one of the greatest Zelda games and the Nintendo Switch’s first killer app. Not since the original Legend of Zelda has a game in the series placed as great an emphasis on exploration and adventure. As a result, Breath of the Wild delivers its own unique story to every player through emergent gameplay and non-linear progression. That said, Breath of the Wild is still a Zelda game through and through, and its place as one of the Switch’s flagship titles at launch results in it being the best-selling Zelda game by a large margin.

1. Super Mario Galaxy 2

• Release Date — May 23, 2010
• Release Platform — Wii
• Metacritic Score — 97 (Universal Acclaim)

Releasing at the very beginning of the decade and standing as its highest-rated title, Super Mario Galaxy 2 ends up being the last 3D Mario game for the Wii and also one of the best titles on the console. Truthfully, Mario Galaxy 2 kicks off what many consider to be a new “golden age” for the character and his games, with the series now achieving a hot streak of incredible mainline entries on par with the original NES trilogy and the two excellent Super Mario World games in the third and fourth console generations. Surprisingly, Nintendo has yet to bring one of the Mario series’ best games to the Nintendo Switch, but there’s always the possibility that the next 3D Mario game could be a genuine follow-up to one of the series’ most creative and entertaining entries yet.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Gameplay screenshot.