Top 30 Video Games of the Decade
#30: “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag” (2013)
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Like many franchises, “Assassin’s Creed” has had its ups and downs. But when it comes to giving players a rollicking, sea-faring, pirate adventure, few games are as fun as “Black Flag.” Set during History’s peak in piracy, players took Edward Kenway and his ship across the seas of the Caribbean. It was a joy sailing the high seas, whether we were looking for lost treasures or fighting for our lives in a naval skirmish. Not only did the central plot shine more light on the endless war between the Brotherhood and the Templars, but real-life pirates like Blackbeard and Mary Read were exceptionally adapted.
#29: “Cuphead” (2017)
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From the second its old-timey cartoon aesthetic was revealed, we were all in on “Cuphead.” Of course, what we didn’t realize at the time is that ‘all in’ meant we were about to be slaughtered by some of the most charming characters this side of ToonTown. “Cuphead’s” visuals are a marvel to behold. And its soundtrack, which uses a full jazz band, never fails to get our toes tapping. It already stood out among the crowd, but the high level of difficulty made it even more remarkable. Mostly consisting of boss fights, “Cuphead” tests your reflexes and sanity. Though with gameplay this smooth, you’ll enjoy every rage-inducing moment.
#28: “Shovel Knight” (2014)
Calling back to old school action platformers like “Mega Man,” “Shovel Knight” brought retro into the forefront. Players take the titular hero up against the Order of No Quarter, a band of evil knights that all have their own themed levels. Every stage and boss fight is immaculately designed, adding a layer of distinction to each one. With a “tough, but fair” level of difficulty and some of the best chiptunes we’ve heard this decade, “Shovel Knight” is an undeniable gem. It’s no surprise that it got several additional campaigns post-launch to focus on some of the villains. It felt like a missing SNES classic with some modern improvements and we loved every second of it.
#27: “Street Fighter 6” (2023)
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It must be hard to make a new entry in a long-running fighting franchise feel unique. And while we had the utmost faith in Capcom, they still managed to blow us away with how wonderful “Street Fighter 6” is. The expected 1v1 mechanics felt just as good to experience in past entries, if not a bit smoother thanks to using a new game engine. The ‘World Tour’ mode was an excellent addition, with a surprising amount of depth in character creation and the option to take your custom character on their own bare-knuckle journey. That’s not to mention the game’s achievements in accessibility, which has only brought more players in.
#26: “DOOM” (2016)
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After too long an absence, the legendary boomer shooter franchise returned in this incredible, blood-soaked masterpiece. With a Mars mining facility once again overrun by the hordes of Hell, players took immense satisfaction in destroying everything in their path. The series has always been about sending you on a power trip, and that was even more true in this revitalization. Every unlockable piece of your arsenal felt more satisfying to wield than the last. That made every combat encounter something we approached with childlike glee, ripping and tearing through demons alongside one of the best metal soundtracks to ever exist. Nothing makes you feel quite as unstoppable as “DOOM.”
#25: “Final Fantasy XVI” (2023)
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Square Enix has delivered several standout “Final Fantasy” games over the last decade. And while “Final Fantasy VII Remake” is stellar, it’s a chapter in a larger story. The sixteenth mainline installment stands on its own, and it does so ridiculously well. The series is known for rich lore and stunning music, both of which are on prime display here. The story of Clive is a compelling one, spanning years of war and featuring one of the franchise’s most despicable villains in Anabella. More important are the thrilling combat mechanics. While it does away with its traditional turn-based roots, its focus on real-time action was sublime.
#24: “Metroid Dread” (2021)
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Samus Aran has gone on some dangerous missions in her time, though “Dread” may have them all beat in terms of sheer amount of things that want to kill her. With the return of a deadly parasite, the famed heroine braves the hostile surface of Planet ZDR. Unfortunately for her, a series of government-commissioned robots went there first, and have since become corrupted to hunt her with extreme prejudice. Everything that “Metroid” does well, this entry knocks out of the park. Its atmosphere is isolating, its hazards and wildlife are deadly, and it is insanely stressful, in particular thanks to the nigh-unkillable E.M.M.I. It doesn’t hurt that it also controls like a dream.
#23: “It Takes Two” (2021)
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“It Takes Two” was a breath of fresh, cooperative air. But co-op wasn’t just included as an option; the game was specifically built with it in mind. The story follows two parents on the verge of divorce until their daughter makes a wish that turns them into dolls. They then have to rely on each other to make it through levels that start around their house, but go in increasingly fantastical directions. The parents each have their own mechanics for every level, giving both players a different trick to perfect and use it in tandem with their partner’s. Everything about it was a genuine delight, from its world design to its gameplay to its sense of humor.
#22: “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” (2023)
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It may not be as monumental as the first. But everything about Insomniac’s sequel is an improvement on what came before it. The PS5’s DualSense controller makes everything feel that much better, whether you’re web-swinging through NYC or pummeling bad guys left and right. The addition of Peter’s symbiote suit adds brilliant new layers to combat. And this game gives us two Spideys for the price of one with the return of Miles Morales. The batch of new rogues to fight, like Kraven, Venom, and Lizard, also provide some jaw-dropping set pieces. Plus, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Yuri Lowenthal, one of the greatest actors to ever portray the friendly neighborhood hero.
#21: “Hollow Knight” (2017)
The indie scene overflows with Metroidvanias, though there are few that hold the same caliber as “Hollow Knight.” In the gorgeous, entirely hand-drawn Hallownest, players delve into the depths looking for answers about the plague tormenting it. With a “Dark Souls” level of difficulty in its environments and enemies, “Hollow Knight” certainly doesn’t hold your hand. Yet, nothing could stop us from wanting to explore every nook and cranny and turn over every stone. The world feels alive, in part thanks to its bug inhabitants and Team Cherry’s expertise in crafting every area to look like its own ecosystem. The immensely positive reception led to several expansions, and an announced sequel fans are foaming at the mouth to get their hands on.
#20: “Overwatch” (2016)
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Leave it to Blizzard to take the well-worn conventions of hero shooters, and reinvigorate them with their stylish knack for sly world-building and slick combat systems. As Blizzard’s first new intellectual property in nearly two decades, “Overwatch” had much to prove right out of the gate. Fortunately, the game caught players by storm with its varied and charismatic cast of characters, bolstered by an art style akin to the filmography of studios like Pixar. It also didn’t hurt that the game’s focus on cooperative modes and using character abilities to assist teammates helped it stand out amid the crowded multiplayer shooter market. “Overwatch 2” may have damaged the brand, but there’s no denying how fun the original was in its heyday.
#19: “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End” (2016)
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As a standalone action-adventure game, “Uncharted 4” is fantastic. But as a send-off to lead character Nathan Drake, it’s genuinely amazing. With retirement life not exactly suiting him, and the return of his long-lost brother, everyone’s favorite modern treasure hunter is pulled back into his dangerous lifestyle. “A Thief’s End” sees the series at its peak in terms of stunning set-pieces, an alluring mystery, and visuals that are so crisp, we must assume Naughty Dog used magic to make them possible. The central theme of greed, whether it's explored in Nate’s brother, Sam, or the pirates whose footsteps they’re following, kept us hooked to our consoles until the very end.
#18: “Mario Kart 8” (2014)
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“Mario Kart” has been a multiplayer juggernaut for years and the eighth installment is, without a doubt, the best the series has to offer. Gorgeous graphics, tight controls, invigorating track design, and just the right level of mayhem combine for a game that can please just about anyone. Nintendo’s irreplicable “fun” factor is clearly packed into each race, which made “Mario Kart 8” the Wii U’s best-selling game. Since being ported to Switch in 2017, the “Deluxe” version has stayed at the top of that console’s highest selling list as well. And that was before Nintendo added a ton of DLC with tracks both new and old, totaling an astonishing 96 courses.
#17: “Undertale” (2015)
Conceived as a mixture of role-playing design cues from works such as the “Megami Tensei” games and “Earthbound”, this indie RPG blossomed into a subversive and endearing work all its own. Its central cast of monsters charmed players thanks to humorous dialogue and delightful sprite art, making it easier to embrace the gameplay emphasis on befriending rather than slaying foes. Its world and script draw upon an impressively eclectic mix of influences: older video games, Internet meme culture, even television programs of varying age. Yet through the deft direction of creator Toby Fox, every aspect of “Undertale” comes together into a beautiful, bizarre whole.
#16: “Super Mario Odyssey” (2017)
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Although “Super Mario Odyssey” starts the same as many of its predecessors, where it takes you is downright astounding. With Peach kidnapped once again by Bowser, Mario travels the globe to rescue her. Along for the ride is Cappy, a sentient hat that acts as both a fun traveling companion and one of the best power-ups Mario has ever used. Cappy’s possession ability never gets old, primarily because every enemy, item, or character you can use it on offers a different mechanic. The way each mechanic works within their kingdom, all of which are superb by the way, offers a level of charm most platformers simply can’t measure up to.
#15: “Celeste” (2018)
There’s an under-appreciated art to taking a time-honored setup for adventure and turning it into a springboard for intimate, emotionally-wrought storytelling. Few games hammer this home like “Celeste”, a side-scrolling platformer centered on the journey of a young woman to the peak of a rather strange mountain. Each and every facet of its design, from the visual themes of levels to the game’s energetic score, feeds back into protagonist Madeline’s internal struggles and complicated ruminations on life. “Celeste” doesn’t lack for compulsively replayable gameplay, either, keeping things interesting with hard-to-reach collectables and increasingly deadly obstacles.
#14: “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” (2018)
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Everyone is here, indeed. Just the promise that “Ultimate” sought to deliver – bringing back every “Smash Bros” fighter for this one game, plus some new competitors – was a grand enough undertaking in itself. We’re still astounded, however, that the full game showed itself to be a loving tribute not only to Nintendo canon but to much of classic video game history in general. Be it as a playable character or as one of hundreds of collectable Spirits, a vast range of gaming icons get their time in the limelight. From the elaborate take on Adventure Mode to the more intricate tweaks made to its fighting mechanics, “Ultimate” displays a clear balance between creative ambition and production focus.
#13: “Nier: Automata” (2017)
Those familiar with the cult classic game “NieR” and its ties to the similarly niche “Drakengard” probably didn’t expect the breakout success of this sequel from Platinum Games. Nevertheless, “NieR: Automata” did indeed find an audience and earn a place for itself as many folks’ game of that year. It isn’t difficult to discern why; writer-director Yoko Taro’s melancholy exploration of numerous themes, paired well with Platinum’s slick hack-and-slash combat that they had previously perfected with the “Bayonetta” series. And that’s not even getting into the narrative twists and turns, ranging in tone and intent, which mark “Automata” as positively beyond the medium’s norms.
#12: “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain” (2017)
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As the coda for an industry legend’s time with their most iconic creation, it’s a hell of a way to close the book. Troubled in its development and coming on the heels of Hideo Kojima’s departure from Konami, “Metal Gear Solid V” was put in quite the unenviable position. Fortunate then, that the game proved exceptional in its delivery of sandbox shenanigans and intricate base-building systems. Venturing across the game world continually delivered on chances to sneak into enemy installations and cause havoc, bolstered by great detail in nearly all facets of the world. The slickness of Venom Snake’s CQC maneuvers, the myriad options in mission-to-mission inventory selection – it’s action game design at some of its finest.
#11: “Red Dead Redemption 2” (2018)
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The alleged cruelties behind its construction notwithstanding, “Red Dead Redemption 2” handily serves to underline how important the entirety of a development team is to a game’s production. Set before the events of the first “Red Dead Redemption”, this sequel relies on drastically improved graphical detail to further convey developer Rockstar’s dedication to simulating the American Frontier. It takes some of the previous game’s strongest pillars – namely compelling character dynamics and a strong sense of place – and polishes them to great effect. Players found it all too easy to get caught up in many aspects, ranging from the numerous side quests to the central plot concerning Arthur Morgan’s own existential struggles.
#10: “Persona 5” (2017)
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Almost a full decade after the last major “Persona” game, Atlus came out swinging for the fences like nobody’s business. “Persona 5” invokes the typical beats expected of a “Persona” game, like their penchant for colorful characters and supernatural phenomena-as-metaphor, but imbues them with new purpose. Here, it’s the conflict between well-meaning vigilantes and an uncaring social order that serves as the foundation, layered with loving nods to Renaissance-era crime fiction and modern Japanese culture. The series’ approach to dungeons and animation also received loving attention, better tying into specific themes and characters’ perspectives on reality than ever before.
#9: “Hades” (2020)
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Roguelikes are notorious for instilling a “one more run” mentality in their players. But when you combine that design with a game’s story, you get something truly special. In “Hades,” players control the son of the titular Greek God as they try to escape from the Underworld. Along your path of randomly generated obstacles and enemies are Boons from other Gods, which grant various perks. The combat, the visuals, the level design; all of it is so pristinely crafted that it would be enough to praise. However, as you die over and over, the story and character relationships adapt and evolve. Never before had the genre placed so much emphasis on narrative and characterization.
#8: “God of War” (2018)
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Shifting an established franchise’s tone is a tricky business, even when the same team that worked on the original is shouldering the responsibility for this new work. They live or die largely on how well they navigate the fine line between honoring the past and charting a new path forward. We’re frankly astounded, though no less impressed, that Sony’s Santa Monica studio successfully walked that line in their creation of 2018’s “God of War”. It goes intimate and more limited in focus where the previous games were bombastic and defined by excess, yet still the vibrant action and thoughtful exploration of mythology endure. Strong performances from the cast and a unique one-shot camera gimmick further reinforce how truly special this proved to be.
#7: “Resident Evil 4” (2023)
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Capcom has been doing an incredible job at remaking “Resident Evil” classics from the ground up, blending just enough modern elements with nostalgic ones to create a new experience. “Resident Evil 4” was already considered by many to be the best in the series, something that was solidified in 2023. It wasn’t just the revamped control scheme and the stronger visuals that made it an improvement. Though, to be fair, that would have been enough. Capcom also fine-tuned the boss fights, story, and characterization, particularly with Ashley. It’s a stunning package and by far the best way to play this paragon of survival horror.
#6: “Elden Ring” (2022)
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FromSoftware’s “Soulslike” catalog is almost a franchise in and of itself. And while the gothic horror of “Bloodborne” makes a strong case for it being our personal favorite, “Elden Ring” is too great an achievement to ignore. The Lands Between offers the best setting the studio has ever crafted, with lore from “Game of Thrones” creator George R.R. Martin and a beautiful but threatening open world. With a heavier focus on exploration, it was impossible not to get pulled in every direction. Of course, as always, the true stars were the bosses. Conquering larger-than-life foes has never felt so satisfying, giving players a sense of achievement unmatched by most games.
#5: “The Last of Us” (2013)
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Watching how studio Naughty Dog has come into their own as a purveyor of cinema-inspired pulp adventure titles has been nothing short of spectacular. Better still has been observing how well they transitioned to melancholic post-apocalypse storytelling, with “The Last of Us”. Characters performed with care and emoting with subtlety, plot pacing that keeps its audience perpetually on edge, honest-to-goodness cinematography – this one’s packed with masterful touches. Of course, it’s also a brutally tense stealth-horror game where resource scarcity and enemy threat are handled with care. Few come as close to this level of quality quite like Naughty Dog.
#4: “Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)
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Whatever aspect of the complete package caught your eye, there’s a good chance it proved fulfilling from start to finish. Launching with only its campaign accessible, “Grand Theft Auto V” still managed the remarkable feat of drawing a crowd with its forward-looking performance capture technology and expansive sandbox setting. The shift to a constant rotation between three protagonists as its story progressed remains a clever means of keeping the audience on their toes. Meanwhile, the later-launching “GTA Online” mode took the anarchic criminal misbehavior of games past to new heights, offering folks all manner of deadly missions and tools for making their mark on Los Santos.
#3: “Baldur’s Gate 3” (2023)
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“Dungeons & Dragons” can be as varied and unique as your imagination allows. While video games can’t naturally reach the same level, “Baldur’s Gate 3” gets pretty damn close. Infected by an Illithid parasite, and with the whole of Faerun under threat of invasion, players take a misfit band of heroes into a fight against evil. Player choice is pushed to the forefront unlike any game before. With so many possible companions, narrative paths, quests, gear, and classes, your playthrough will be vastly different from someone else’s. But all are worthy experiences to have. That’s not to mention the incredible voice acting, the large-scale, tactical battles, and Larian’s commitment to continue improving the game with patches and updates.
#2: “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017)
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Nintendo’s return to form this past decade was perhaps best illustrated by the arrival of this installment in the “Legend of Zelda” series, serving to pass the proverbial torch from one console to the next. “Breath of the Wild” stormed onto the scene reimagining the franchise formula, eschewing typical dungeon design in favor of a mind-bogglingly expansive open-world adventure. Link once more set out to aid folks in need and save the realm of Hyrule, but this time it’s undertaken as freeform objectives carried out at one’s leisure. Climbing up sheer rock faces and tackling the game’s many activities is made all the more memorable with inspiring sound design and a brilliant watercolor-mimicking look to Hyrule. The sequel wasn’t half-bad, either.
#1: “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” (2015)
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Once in a while, those interested in an artistic medium are fortunate enough to witness a major step forward as it’s occurring, rather than piecing together the significance after the fact. “The Witcher 3” may well be one such major step, a triumph of development direction and carefully-considered scale that delivers on numerous wondrous role-playing moments. Stoic anti-hero Geralt, with all his dry quips and stern glares, proves admirably well-suited to unraveling the murky political dimensions of the Continent. No area lacks for lush environmental design, no quest proves entirely without merit or compelling complications. It’s a thing of beauty, truly. Which video game of the last decade do you cherish above all others? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to subscribe for more great videos every day!
