Lists

Best of the Decade: Video Games

By Tracey John | December 11, 2009 | +
istockphoto.com

FULL LIST: Techland’s top video games of the 2000s.

It’s not easy to go back through 10 years of gaming and choose just 10 titles to represent the best video games of the decade. (See the other “best of the decade” lists here).

Especially since Lev, Peter and I have different tastes; we went back and forth on games we personally loved and the ones we thought were some of the most influential titles. Titles that, without their existence, our new favorite games wouldn’t even exist.

(More on Techland: Top 10 Video Games of 2009)

And think about it — we’ve been through about as many consoles in as many years. Just this decade alone we got the GameCube, the Wii, the PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 3, the Xbox, the Xbox 360, the Game Boy Advance, the DS, the PSP, the iPhone and iPod Touch. Not to mention the myriad of browser-based games and Facebook games.

When we started thinking about this list, there were over 50 titles in it. Now, after much struggling and debate, we’ve painfully whittled it down to just 10.

So with blood, sweat, and even some tears (sorry Peter), here’s:

FULL LIST: Techland’s top video games of the 2000s.

More on Time.com:

Cover Story: The Decade From Hell

Tech Buyer’s Guide 2009

The 50 Best Inventions of 2009

Related Topics: best of the decade, lists, top 10s, Gaming & Culture, Lists

  • Latest on Techland

    Jared Newman/Techland
    Apps & Software February 10, 2012

    The 12 Best Android Widgets for 2012

    With all due respect to smartphone apps, sometimes you don’t want to open a new program just to get some quick info or perform a minor task. That’s where Android widgets come in handy, bringing the functionality of those apps right to the phone’s home screen. But not all widgets are wonderful. Some are glorified app launchers, while others are downright ugly. Here are the 12 best widgets that no discerning Android user should be without.

    From our Partners

    The Thermostat WarsSlate

    Soulo
    Apps & Web February 9, 2012

    Review: Soulo Converts iPad into Karaoke Machine

    Karaoke lovers typically fall into two categories: Those who enjoy it, and those whose arms have to be twisted to get up and sing in public. Enter Soulo, a software and microphone kit that can turn an iPad or other Apple device into a karaoke machine. It gives you instant karaoke in the privacy of your own home, or wherever you carry your Apple gadgets. That’s the idea, anyway.

  • http://explosionhead.wordpress.com explosionhead

    I am amazed that you were able to get a top ten list. I would have been okay with a top twenty.

    just one question though: Did you guys play through all 50 titles you were considering or did you go by memory?

    Either way, it must have been a tough job.

  • Tracey John

    @explosionhead – I think between the three of us, we had played most, if not all, the games that were under consideration. Yeah, picking just 10 was brutal! Were there any that you would’ve put in or taken out?

  • okkervil1

    Hm. I just don’t see how Mario Galaxy can be left off a list like this. Not even an honorable mention. Glad to see WoW at the very top, at least (although my personal favorite of the decade is actually Warcraft III). The rest of my top 5 would include Metroid Prime, WoW, Galaxy and Fallout 3.

  • Tracey John

    @okkervil1 – For me, I don’t think Mario Galaxy warranted a spot in the top 10 of the entire decade. Maybe if the list were expanded to 50. And actually, Warcraft III, Fallout 3 and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion would be on my personal list of all-time favorite games.

  • okkervil1

    Yeah, it’s all down to personal taste, of course. Still, seeing Animal Crossing and Wii Sports as the represenation of Nintendo games for this decade is a little disheartening. If this list was going for “most impactful” or “biggest” (in terms of popularity) of the decade, I might feel better about some of the choices. There just isn’t enough to Wii Sports to grant it “best of decade” status. Is it important? Yeah, kinda, if getting grandma to play is that important. That’s more of a breakthrough for video game marketing than it is for video game design, I think. Because honestly, I don’t think the technology is quite yet where it needs to be to fulfill what the Wii originally promised.

  • Tracey John

    @okkervil1 – Actually, by “best,” I think for this list we did go with games we loved along with what was “most impactful” or “biggest” (most popular), and Wii Sports would fit into that. Feel better? ;)

    I think Wii Sports is important because it convinced *us* to play, as well as Grandma. Maybe a lot of it was marketing but if it didn’t play well or feel right to convince us that the motion controls worked and were fun, the Wii would’ve tanked.

    Regarding the Wii’s technology, what promises do you think weren’t fulfilled?

blog comments powered by Disqus