Top 5 Games Of The Past Decade

This article doesn’t consider mobile games. It doesn’t count mobile games not out of some sort of bias, but because console and PC game markets are very different to mobile games, especially since most mobile games are free. Also, despite the fact that online gambling games are big business, and despite the fact that a New Casino game often garners ten times the attention that a new indie game does, it would still be unfair to list casino games in this article, especially since they have the added benefit of allowing people to win money. So, with that clarified, here are the top 5 games of the past decade.

Red Dead Redemption Two

Universally loved by all critics and gamers alike, an epic game, a fantastic story, amazing character acting, brilliant graphics, and amazing attention to detail. Plenty of games create lovely skyboxes for you to look at, but few outside of Dark Souls actually allow you to visit all the places you can see on the map. Each square foot is loaded with different details, from animal tracks to hidden items. The hunting section alone is worthy of a game in itself considering the sheer weight of detail it contains.

Plus, unlike many games, there is often more than one way to complete a mission or task, and there none of the side missions affect the impact of the main story. It never gets dull, there is a karma system that actually affects the outcome, and everything from the clothes you wear to the rate your beard grows is organic, timed, realistic, and perfectly executed. There have been many great games over the past decade, but this game takes the prize for being the most universally liked.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

A top rated game indeed but is it really as good as it seems. Sadly, Super Mario Galaxy 2 exists in a review bubble. The Wii has some good games but very few excellent games. Therefore, when an excellent game comes along, it is rated far higher than it should be. As a result, Super Mario Galaxy enjoys a far higher rating on review boards than it actually deserves. Yet, let’s not throw out the Lamborghini because it has a scratch on its back bumper. Even if this game was generously reviewed due to circumstances and timing, it is still a great game. Its entry in the history books may seem unfair to some, but the fact is that it was an excellent game that came along right when Nintendo gamers were crying out for a great game.

Dark Souls (1, 2 or 3)

Whether the first, second or third is the best is really up to you, as that topic alone would require its own series of books to fully explores. Unlike RDR2, the Dark Souls games are not universally loved, but they have such a dedicated following that the game created its own gaming subsection. Now, in this day and age, there are a great many games that are described as “Like Dark Souls,” and yet so few games come close it its perfection because what makes Dark Souls so addictive is hard to nail down.

Some of the most commonly cited reasons are the fact that the game is very hard, but rarely considered unfair. It rewards you for learning how to defeat different enemies and doesn’t really ask you to repeatedly pull off the same power moves. Other people like how the setting tells most of the story rather than being pulled down a linear path of set pieces. Whatever the reason, the Dark Souls fan base is immovable in its love for Dark Souls.

Faster Than Light (FTL)

Another game that created its own genre is the indie classic FTL. A mix of random number generator events and permadeath doesn’t sound like a recipe for success, but the game has a remarkable amount of balance in a way that is rarely seen in other games. Despite its permadeath status, it is still possible to earn rewards without completing the game, which means you can switch it up with new ships, new crews, and even new weapons. The game is very punishing, but that is why you feel such an accomplishment when you actually complete the final boss.

Plus, the game gives you all the rewards whether you complete it on easy, hard, or normal. There are so many facets to gameplay, and yet one is never more overpowered than another. Augmentations, weapons, utilities, and even crew types will affect your game style, and your game style may change as the game progresses and you go from being a smash and blast player, to a cloak and board player. Plus, the fact that you can pause and continue to give orders is the icing on the already icing-covered cake.

Portal or Witcher 3

Number five is a draw between Portal, which is possibly one of the best puzzle games to ever hit the market, to Witcher 3, which is one of the most epic fantasy RPGs. Portal has a mix of comedy, clever game mechanics, a unique idea, and a very well-produced and directed premise. Witcher 3 is the culmination of years of fantasy RPG gaming bundled into what is probably a perfect fantasy RPG game. Does it have the detail of RDR2? No. Does it have the gamer fun of Mario Galaxy, or the tactics of FTL? No. But it does encapsulate everything a fantasy RPG player wants outside of a Final Fantasy game. And even with that said, many FF fans are also Witcher fans.