Entertainment
The 12 Best Video Games of the 2010s, Ranked
Gaming as a medium is always evolving and striving to put out the most striking and innovative experiences out there, with each different era of the video game industry having its own standout selection of outstanding games that stand the test of time with overwhelming influence. The 2010s especially proved to be one of the most pivotal times for gaming as a whole, between the rise of games as a service archetype, mobile gaming becoming bigger than ever, and massive technological breakthroughs with the eighth generation of consoles.
However, more than prominent trends and the shifting waves of the industry as a whole, the true importance and impact of the decade always comes back to the quality of the games, with the 2010s having an exceptional collection of masterful video game experiences. From explosive, hard-hitting experiences for hardcore gamers to some of the simplest yet most charming casual games out there, many of these games go beyond simply being great for the decade and are among the most celebrated games of all time.
12
‘God of War’ (2018)
The God of War franchise has always had a dedicated audience who have fallen in love with its distinct mixture of large-scale action, hack-and-slash gameplay, and the inherent fun of the Greek mythology world. However, 2018’s PS4 reboot of the franchise completely evolved it for a new era, with a larger emphasis on a cinematic story, dynamic characters, and the larger potential of shifting into the mythos of Norse mythology.
The game quickly became one of the cornerstones of PlayStation’s success during the PS4 era, spearheading the approach not just for AAA action games, but showing how the blending of this style of hack-and-slash action could still tell an emotionally layered story. Time has proven it to be the absolute system seller and one of the best games on the PS4’s lineup, as well as a massive leap forward for both God of War and fantasy games as a whole.
11
‘Stardew Valley’ (2016)
For all the focus placed upon explosive and high-energy video games that demand the very best from the player, there’s something quaint and charming about a slower-paced, cozier game that can be more widely appreciated by all. While franchises like Animal Crossing and The Sims have scratched this itch for many, the 2010s premiere example of the very best and coziest experience is Stardew Valley, a brilliant farm life simulation game inspired by games like Harvest Moon and brought to life by solo developer ConcernedApe.
The game has an exceptional understanding of the simple joys and satisfaction of growing a virtual farm and creating something beautiful out of what was originally nothing. Combined with some rich writing and characterization from various relationships you can build with the townspeople as well as being able to play through the full game with online cross-platform multiplayer, Stardew Valley is the definitive farm sim game that has only gotten more successful with each passing year.
10
‘The Last of Us’ (2013)
One of the final prominent releases for the PS3 that acted as a swan song for this era of PlayStation gaming, Naughty Dog’s magnum opus The Last of Us has largely become the icon for exceptional original storytelling in video games. It takes a classic zombie-adjacent post-apocalyptic world and creates truly impactful emotional depth thanks to its layered central characters and the bond that grows between them.
Further amplified by some great moment-to-moment gameplay that utilizes the managing of limited resources and danger around every corner, The Last of Us proves to be one of the most immersive and cinematic video game experiences not just of the 2010s, but of all time. Even over a decade after its release, the game is still heralded as one of the most important and pivotal in PlayStation’s history and an absolute classic of the era.
9
‘Fortnite Battle Royale’ (2017)
Two of the most dominant trends that started in the 2010s and continue with massive strength well into the modern day are Battle Royale games and live-service games that receive continuous updates so they never die. While many games in the 2010s found great success with this model, none come close to the complete cultural domination of Fortnite Battle Royale, which still has a massive, dedicated player base and frequent content updates to this day.
While the game may not be at the level of absolute unavoidability as it was when it first released, its myriad of interesting game modes, live events, and overwhelming collaborations still make it the absolute gold standard for live-service games. While some gamers still aren’t a fan of this style of live-service game (especially with how many other games try and fail to replicate its success), it’s hard to deny just how well and consistently Fortnite has maintained relevancy even almost a decade after its debut, even with a few hiccups here and there.
8
‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)
The original Red Dead Redemption was easily one of the most celebrated games from Rockstar Studio’s illustrious lineup, providing the distinct open world and vast possibilities of a Grand Theft Auto-style shooter in the intricate world of the Wild West. However, the long-awaited sequel, Red Dead Redemption 2, managed to up the ante and polish considerably, creating one of the most visually striking and well-crafted games of all time.
This masterful video game prequel takes the signature strengths and charm of the original game and supercharges them to the latest technological possibilities, still having some of the most impressive graphics in any AAA game and an attention to detail that is completely unmatched. This, combined with some satisfying gameplay and top-notch character writing, has made it one of Rockstar’s most successful games and the face of AAA quality in the 2010s.
7
‘Portal 2’ (2011)
Building upon the already exceptional first-person puzzle mechanics of the original Portal, Portal 2 ups the ante and the scale with more intricate puzzles, more dynamic storytelling, and some of the best writing in any video game. The sequel really didn’t need to do a lot to live up to the stature of the original, as simply having more engaging portal puzzles was enough to satiate gamers looking for more Portal greatness.
However, between the exceptional writing of new characters like Wheatley (Stephen Merchant) and Cave Johnson (J.K. Simmons), new puzzle mechanics like the various gels, and a fleshed-out co-op multiplayer mode, Portal 2 stands tall as the definitive Portal experience and one of Valve’s best games. There’s a deep passion and quality inherent to every second of the game that has helped it sustain an impactful legacy as one of the very best puzzle games ever made and a true feat of video games as an art form.
The Elder Scrolls franchise, one of the largest and most prominent faces in the world of high fantasy video games and action RPGs, reached massive new heights following the success and impact of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The game completely revolutionized the action RPG genre, with its wide array of content and ways to go about the vast world of Tamriel making it one of the most expansive and infinitely replayable single-player video game experiences of all time.
The game delivers exactly what one wants out of a high-fantasy action RPG, with great expression and possibilities in terms of what type of character you want to play as and how they navigate and interact with the world. No two playthroughs of the game feel the same, making it one of the most timeless and well-crafted game experiences that not only defined the decade, but would define the entire genre in the wake of its success.
5
‘Undertale’ (2015)
Indie games were certainly prominent before the 2010s, but increased ease of access for small developers to be able to create games led the way for many exceptional indie games to be released and become major hits that stand toe-to-toe with and surpass AAA experiences. While many great indie games would define the 2010s, the very best and most influential is arguably Undertale, the brilliantly crafted, self-aware RPG that mixes bullet hell gameplay with RPG mechanics and oodles of charm and comedic wit.
Toby Fox‘s love letter to quirky RPGs of the past became an overwhelming icon of indie gaming as a whole, with its incredibly memorable characters and layered meta storytelling and themes making it one of the must-play experiences of the 2010s. Its distinct type of humor and charm has given it an overwhelming fanbase over the years, as well as an overwhelming influence on indie games and especially indie RPGs.
4
‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ (2017)
Each generation of gaming manages to have a legendary Zelda game that helps revolutionize and pave the way for adventure games as a whole, with the unmistakable Zelda masterpiece of the 2010s being The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This massively acclaimed video game masterpiece helped usher in a new era of success for Nintendo following the diminishing returns of the Wii U era in the early 2010s.
This exceptional open-world adventure game helped massively popularize the prospects of creating a vast, expansive open world in combination with other genres and styles of game. In combination with sheer versatility and choice in how the player goes about the progression of the game, this made it one of the most influential games of the era and of all time. The game has now become the face of what the Zelda franchise is for many people, ushering it into a new era in glorious execution.
3
‘Dark Souls’ (2011)
The Soulsborne games have proven to be massively influential icons of modern hardcore gaming, with their overwhelming difficulty and demand for pinpoint execution making for some of the most satisfyingly cathartic video game experiences imaginable. While each Soulsborne game is iconic and effective in its own right, the original Dark Souls is arguably the best of the 2010s offerings and is easily the most influential and impactful in terms of wider video game history.
The brilliance inherent to the design of Dark Souls is that, while it is infamous for its harsh difficulty, it is far from the only thing that defines the game’s strength. There is a rich world of mythos, a multitude of different gameplay styles that allow the player to adapt and choose their own personal playstyle, and a truly special dark fantasy design that makes each enemy that much more striking.
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