The final 25. Which of your favourites have been disgracefully overlooked? Which left-field choices have been arbitrarily placed in the top ten?
If you missed it, you can see which games were ranked between 50-26
here. Alternatively, you can tell me to get a life
here.
25. Guitar Hero 2005, PS2
The only plastic instrument I ever played was a recorder, but for popularising rhythm action games I couldn't ignore this.
24. Little Big Planet 2008, PS3
A revolution in user-generated content.
23. Beyond Good & Evil 2003, PC, Xbox, PS2, GC
Michael Ancel's classic is era-defining.
22. Street Fighter IV 2008, Arcade, Xbox 360, PS3
Saved the fighting genre from near oblivion.
21. Pro Evolution Soccer 2000-2009, all platforms
Lost its way a little recently, but for most of the decade was untouchable.
20. Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain? 2005, DS
Some will scoff, but it made the mass popularity of the DS possible, and by extension, set the agenda for Nintendo's Wii. Also taught me how to do sudoku.
19. Halo: Combat Evolved 2002, Xbox
The jewel in the original Xbox's launch line-up, and behind much of Microsoft's subsequent success in the console making business.
18. Dreamfall: The Longest Journey 2006, PC, Xbox
About as sophisticated as storytelling in games gets.
17. Fallout 3 2008, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Few games capture the thrill of discovery this well, and it's full of surprising and poignant moments.
16. Rome: Total War 2004, PC
Life-consumingly in-depth strategy game.
15. Shenmue II 2001, DC, Xbox
Despite clumsy controls, awful voice acting, and teaching the world what QTE stands for, this great unfinished symphony has aged magnificently and is arguably as essential now as it’s ever been.
14. Resident Evil 4 2005, Gamecube, PS2, Wii
A near-perfect action adventure game, if not as scary as the games from the previous decade.
13. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2003, PC, Xbox
George Lucas couldn't quite ruin
everything.
12. Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare 2007, PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
A lot of games try to imitate Hollywood action movies. This is better than any Hollywood action movie.
11. Wii Sports 2006, Wii
The game that sold the Wii to 60m people (and counting).
10. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 2000, N64
The darkest, most varied and inventive Zelda game ever made.
9. Left 4 Dead 2008, PC, Xbox 360
A revolution, helping to show the world how cooperative games should be done.
8. Ico 2001, PS2
Perhaps the most atmospheric game of the decade.
7. Grand Theft Auto 4 2008, Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Annoying phone calls and the lack of a jetpack don't stop this from being the pinnacle of the series.
6. Super Mario Galaxy 2008, Wii
At least as good as any previous Mario game, although it would have benefited from a little less exposition of its nonsense story.
5. Warioware, inc. 2003, Gameboy Advance
The essence of videogames distilled into five-second bursts of fun.
4. Half Life 2 2004, PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3
Here for giving the world the Source engine, as much as its own brilliant design.
3. Advance Wars 2001, Game Boy Advance
The best game for a handheld since Tetris. No more needs to be said.
2. Deus Ex 2000, PC
Still a landmark in storytelling and open-ended level design.
1. Civilization IV 2007, PC, Mac
“He's got the whole world, in his hands, he's got the whole wide world, in his hands...” The definitive God game.
Word! All very good games.
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