Summary
The 2000s was an important time in gaming history. The decade saw the release of the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii, making it the time when several of the most famous consoles ever were released.
Along with them came a slew of outstanding games to play on the systems. Series like Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and Final Fantasy continued to build their legacies, while the likes of Halo, Assassin’s Creed, and Call of Duty began their own. So, there were great games released every single year in the 2000s. The following ones, though, were each year’s best.
The Legend of Zelda series has made an impact in every decade since the first game was released. The series had a strong start to the 2000s with Majora’s Mask. It’s an unusual but very enjoyable Legend of Zelda game that is marginally better than The Sims and Deus Ex, which were also released in 2000.
The game contains a unique story for a Zelda title. It’s set in a parallel world and revolves around a moon that’s about to crash. Link must stop it, but he only has a few days to do so. That storyline and the inclusion of a day cycle and masks that transform you help make this feel like a different sort of Zelda title.
Severalexceptional games came out in 2001, including the first Halo game and Metal Gear Solid 2. That said, it’s tough to compete with the brilliance of Final Fantasy 10.
Of course, there have been many entries in the famous RPG series, but FF10 still manages to stand out among the pack. Much of this is down to its outstanding cast of characters. The two leads, Tidus and Yuna, in particular, are very compelling, as is their relationship.
Grand Theft Auto already existed when the 2000s came around, but it was the decade that really popularized the open-world series. 2002’sGrand Theft Auto Vice Citysignificantly helped with the series' rise, and it was also the year’s best game. In fact, it was one of the greatest titles released in the 2000s.
The game is set in a parody version of 1980s Miami called Vice City. It serves as a bright and exciting sandbox in which to cause plenty of chaos. The 80s setting is really felt in the game’s presentation and soundtrack.
There weren’t as many classic games released in 2003 as in other years. Yet, there were still a few outstanding ones, including the first Knights of the Old Republic game. It’s fair to say that Star Wars has inspired many games over the years. Few are as critically acclaimed as this Bioware RPG.
It tells an epic tale about an amnesiac protagonist chasing down the Sith Lord Darth Revan as they slowly begin to remember their past. The story is filled with captivating scenes and important choices.
In 2004, the world was treated to the likes of Halo 2, Half-Life 2, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Among that collection of classics was Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, which remains one ofthe greatest stealth games of all time.
It includes some brilliant stealth mechanics, like the well-designed camouflage system that allows you to blend in with your surroundings. The greatest aspect of the game, though, is the story. It revolves around several compelling characters and the interesting dynamics between them.
Resident Evil 4 is the game that really transformed RE into an action series for a while despite traditionally being a series of horror titles. RE4 is such a good game, though, that most of the criticism for the more action-oriented RE games is put on its sequels.
Everything from the pacing to the combat to the inventory management is excellent. Even the game’s goofy dialogue has a whole lot of charm. All of this makes it 2005’s best game, narrowly beating the likes of Psychonauts and Battlefield 2.
While it may not have been as successful as the top Grand Theft Auto games or the Red Dead Redemption titles, Bully is one of Rockstar’s best creations. As such, it beats the likes of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to the title of 2006’s best game.
It’s an action-adventure game set at a boarding school. You play as troublemaker Jimmy Hopkins who joins the school at the start of the story. Immediately, he has run-ins with the various cliques around the place. Fighting and befriending them is a major part of the main narrative. The game offers creative missions, a fun open world, and some enjoyable side activities.
2007 seemed to be the year for new series, as the first Mass Effect, Assasin’s Creed, Uncharted, Rock Band, and Crysis games were released that year. However, several of them were simply building blocks for better things to come. In contrast, Halo 3 was the Halo series at its best.
In fact, the game is one of the greatest and most important first-person shooters of the 2000s. It offers one ofthe series' best multiplayer experiences. Plus, the campaign is really good, too, as it’s about Master Chief and his rival-turned-ally The Arbiter, trying to end the dangerous force known as The Flood.
Fallout 3 remains one ofthe best series reboots ever. The post-apocalyptic series hit new heights of popularity with the third game. This is why it narrowly beats the likes of GTA 4 and Gears of War 2 as 2008’s best game.
The action RPG is a wonderful title that grips you right from the start as you get to witness growing up in an underground Vault before being let out into the post-apocalyptic world. The wasteland is a dangerous but fun place to roam around, and it contains all sorts of interesting characters and fun quests.
2009 should be considered one of the best years in gaming. After all, it saw the release of a bunch of excellent games that could be regarded as the year’s best. Uncharted 2 just edges out the others, though.
After a decent first game, Uncharted 2 takes things to another level by including more diverse environments and a more interesting story. The gunplay is smoother, too, making the shooting mechanics some of the most satisfying in third-person shooter history.
