The Best Games of the Decade

Updated: 5 Mar 2020 9:35 AM PST
Posted: 27 Jan 2020 2:26 PM PST

The past 10 years have presented the video game community with some of its most treasured gems. They spawned endless memes, won countless awards, and hold a fond place in millions of hearts worldwide.

Best Games of the Decade

These games made us laugh, cry, and everything in between. They spawned an entire generation of creators and introduced a new group of gamers to the world. Let's check out some of the greatest games from 2009-2019!

These games made us laugh, cry, and everything in between.


Minecraft

The game that changed the face of sandboxes forever released in 2009. Everyone recognizes the beloved blocky main character, Steve. Minecraft launched a world where it was possible to build anything.

Minecraft is one of the ultimate games of all time and one of the best in the last 10 years!

The modding community thrived in this game, and Minecraft developers embraced it in every way. The result is a video game that's a staple even in the gaming community 10 years later. YouTubers stream it nightly, they write songs about it, and there are spin-off games. It's available on every major modern device, from consoles to mobile to PC.


Fallout: New Vegas

Video game behemoth Bethesda breathed fresh life into the Fallout franchise soon after getting its hands on the franchise in 2007.

Shortly after that, Fallout: New Vegas released in 2010. It received critical acclaim as being everything that Fallout 3 provided while expanding that post-apocalyptic wasteland. The story and characters are still revered nearly a decade later.

This open-world RPG style shooter rivaled anything that gamers had in 2010, and still brings joy to the community 9 years later.


Skyrim

Bethesda wasn't content to create one game worthy of withstanding a decade. The greatness of Fallout: New Vegas was soon upstaged by what many consider a titan of RPG games. Skyrim was released in 2011. It single-handedly brought the RPG adventure genre to new levels.

A world with countless character paths like weapons and magic was only the beginning of how players customized their Dragonborn. Gamers spent countless hours taking on dragons in the ultimate quest to solve the mysteries behind Alduin the World-Eater.

Skyrim was the beginning of a fantastic decade for adventure RPGs, easily withstanding the test of time and cementing a spot in the top games of the past decade.


The Last Of Us

Occasionally, a game comes along with a story so heart-wrenching that it becomes unforgettable. The Last Of Us, released in 2013, brought gamers a new sort of horror. Joel and Ellie were an unlikely pair: a criminal and his young ward during an apocalyptic scenario.

Survival has consequences, and few games in the last decade left gamers feeling the weight of choices made. The game was visually stunning, and its combat gritty. The impression The Last of Us left earned it a remaster the following year, bringing it to the current generation of PlayStation and introducing a whole new set of fans.

The Last of Us 2 is one of the most anticipated games of 2020. It's no wonder why, then, that its predecessor belongs in the list of best games.


Witcher III: Wild Hunt

2015's Game of the Year earns a spot as one of the best from the decade as well. Its enchanting story followed Geralt, a monster hunter called a witcher. CD Projekt breathed new life into Geralt with this installment of the popular franchise.

The third person fantasy RPG featured intense combat with man and beast alike. Its sprawling world was vibrant both graphically and lore-wise. Fights proved challenging, and the story delivered stunning depth. There were flawless RPG features such as crafting and upgrading Geralt's skill tree. The game is so successful that it is now available on all major consoles as well as PC.

Gamers still come back to Wild Hunt because of its fleshed-out world, character-driven story, and beautiful graphics.


Destiny

Single-player games experienced a fantastic resurgence over the last 10 years, but there were tons of great online experiences as well. In 2014, Destiny introduced an online sci-fi shooter that spawned 3 DLC packs. There is even an entire second game packed full of content and DLC.

The immersive futuristic world was inhabited by powerful allies and enemies alike. Destiny flawlessly offered RPG aspects while keeping combat fresh through weapon upgrades and weekly merchants. The end-game content offered co-op raids for grinding. Additionally, Destiny's PvP was some of the most accessible in the genre, making it a top choice for the community.

This franchise from Bungie continues to deliver nearly six years later.


Overwatch

This team-based online game exploded onto the scene officially in 2016. It has gone on to become a classic. Overwatch's success is partly because it is friendly to newcomers and veterans alike. It pitted over 2 dozen super-trained heroes against one another in online matches with several modes. Each hero offered unique skills, making it accessible for casual and hardcore first-person shooters alike.

Furthermore, the casual play was celebrated by both critics and the community. Of course, Overwatch birthed a huge e-sports movement. The multi-million dollar industry now spans the world. Blizzard's hit is expecting a sequel, Overwatch 2, that will add PVE content and expand even more on the beloved PVP community.


Stardew Valley

Some games release and then become beloved by the community over time. Stardew Valley began on PC in 2016 and has since spawned a massive following on all major consoles and mobile devices. The charming farm simulator offered a relaxing environment that the community found addictive. Tending crops and animals was only the beginning.

Stardew Valley offered relationships with the NPCs, all the way up to marriage and kids. Mines for exploring had endless enemies to slaughter and gems to discover. Furthermore, multiplayer was only introduced in 2019. This adorable indie title still has tons to offer in the upcoming years!


Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The release of the Nintendo Switch introduced the latest major installment of this classic series. Breath of the Wild redefined The Legend of Zelda. Its open world was beautifully crafted and waiting for players to explore.

The characters were heartwarming while the monsters were difficult and interesting. Combat was tough but rewarding. Fans solved puzzles in tons of creative ways with Link's abilities like time freeze or magnetism. Gamers shared their successes in the community and across the internet.

This game not only spawned a renewed love of Zelda but also produced several DLC packs and spanned across two generations of Nintendo consoles.


Honorable Mentions and Beyond

Across 10 years, some games stand apart in an industry that's always evolving and changing. Many things determine what makes something the best. Its influence on the community as well as accessibility and sales are all important factors.

Some games, though while maybe not as traditionally successful, still deserve a second look in the next 10 years. A few honorable mentions are listed below.

What a decade it was! All in all, gamers look forward to a bright future of upcoming titles and plenty of fresh games yet found.

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