Following the maturation process that video games underwent between the 1990s and 2000s,the number of notable titles increased exponentially.
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With more funding, a larger market of players, and many more people willing to tell stories through interactive media,the industry grew to one of the world’s largest.
As a result, with nothing to envy from the eras that preceded it, the last decade gave us experiences whose foundations have cemented the wealth of works we enjoy today.
While some trends may be more or less well-liked, the impact of specific games and franchises is undeniable,as summarized in this list of ten video games that defined the 2010s.
10Hollow Knight
The Indie Games Representative
Hollow Knight
Besides being among the best indies in history,Hollow Knightset the standard in many departments, reaching a level of significance only typically reachable by AAA products.
First,it demonstrated that independent games can meet and exceed the quality of blockbusters in their own fields, offering excellent gameplay, audiovisual, and narrative quality.
Furthermore, even without being the original pioneer, it significantly boosted theMetroidvania genretrend we still see today, where everyone seeks to emulateTeam Cherry’s formula.
If we think of indie games from the decade, multiple alternatives come to mind, but they will hardly have the same scope, perfection, and influence as Hollow Knight.
9Pokémon GO
A Video Game For Everyone
Pokémon GO
While I’m not a personal fan of the title, it’s undeniable that whatPokémon GOachieved is comparable to very few video games in history.
The massiveness thatNiantic’s work achieved led it to be almost omnipresent around the world,using the augmented reality genre to connect millions of people in real life.
The way it capitalizes on the childhood desire to be a Pokémon master is astonishing, and it truly resonated with all demographics, regardless of their affinity for video games.
It’s no longer the phenomenon it once was, but thinking about the 2010s in video games inevitably leads us to consider justhow impactful and profound Pokémon GO’s presence was.
8The Last Of Us
Between Cinema And Gaming
The Last of Us
One of the most notable characteristics of video games in the 2010s was their ability to reach a casual audience that wasn’t as interested in delving deeper into the medium.
Although this was typically achieved through mobile, multiplayer, or social media games,The Last of Uswas among the first to combine a profound experience with a wide reach and high production values.
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Through its wonderful cinematography, stunning visuals, and tremendous soundtrack,the franchise appealed to an audience of players accustomed to other types of video games, allowing them to discover video games' communicative and artistic potential.
I wouldn’t say it’s innovative or revolutionary per se, but The Last of Us' ability to strike a chord with everyone thanks to its passionately crafted journey is something that can’t be ignored.
7The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Redefining Open Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Considering one of the decade’s most popular genres was open worlds,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis by far among the most notable titles.
Nintendomanaged to transform the formula once again and redirect the genre towardmore vibrant and spontaneous worlds,with fewer indicators and more natural experiences.
Since its release, it has been rare for an open world to stray too far from the exoskeleton proposed by it, which speaks volumes about the immense impact it had despite the immeasurable number of similar titles released at the time.
Although the developer has always been known for its ability to set trends and drive the industry’s creativity,whatBreath of the Wildachieved is one of its all-time highs.
Rockstar’s Best Video Game
Red Dead Redemption 2
Over the past few console generations,Rockstarhas become one of the most successful developers for obvious reasons.
Since they offer a GOTY contender with every game they release, it’s hard not to include them in a list like this, much less omit what is arguably their finest creation:Red Dead Redemption 2.
Continuing on its magnificent predecessor’s solid foundations and maximizing all the open-world gaming expertise they’ve accumulated so far,Arthur Morgan’s adventure is outstanding in every aspect.
Speaking of vibrant worlds, excessive attention to detail, and perfect stories with flawless characters,Red Dead Redemption 2 is a solid contender to be the most outstanding in each category.
Rather than being groundbreaking or innovative, it stands out for being the ultimate refinement of a long-standingaction formula, which is quite commendable in itself.
5The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Most Immersive Fantasy
As one of thebest RPGs of all time,The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimis among the most impressive displays of immersion and freedom in gaming.
Even by today’s standards, the sheer scale ofBethesda’s universe is staggering, especially given thecountless secrets,side quests,special events,characters,and adventures within.
While such elements have been a constant feature ofThe Elder Scrollsseries since its inception, its latest installment raised the bar due tohowit integrated the community through mods to further extend its lifespan.
During the height of video content creation, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim provided the substance needed for countless people to learn about and fall in love with the industry through others' experiences.
While a masterpiece in itself, with its unparalleled immersion, atmosphere, and fantasy,what Skyrim meant to the gaming community is an addition few titles possess.
4Grand Theft Auto 5
Generational Omnipresence
Grand Theft Auto 5
Few video games in history have been as fruitful, enduring, and popular asGrand Theft Auto 5, a benchmark in so many ways that counting them all would be impossible (including its chops as athird-person shooter, something people often underestimate).
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Whether through its campaign or its online mode,the game has remained alive in an almost arcane way, reaching hundreds of thousands of new players with each passing year despite its age.
While at the time it marked an undeniable example of how to create a flawless open world,Grand Theft Auto 5’s greatest achievement is staying current and relevant regardless of what other games,technologies,or trends were on the market.
For other developers, content creators, long-time gamers, and casual players alike, this video game is practically the holy grail, capable of generating consensus about its greatness regardless of background.
The New Video Game Reference
What began as an additional game mode for a title with different features,Fortniteproved itself as a turning point in the modern video game industry.
The way this multiplayer game revolutionized the market has very few parallels in history, as it went on to influence video game development at all levels and an entire generation of players.
Establishing the Battle Royale genre, strengthening the concept of Battle Passes and seasons, and taking the concept of a video game as an ecosystem to a new level,Fortnite is a titan of inconceivable dimensions using traditional metrics.
As time has passed,Epic Gameshas curated a formula it has mastered to perfection, becoming even more enormous with each collaboration to form a multiverse for all digital entertainment franchises.
Measuring it by regular standards of success isn’t enough, as it’s a global benchmark that has become embedded as part of human culture. It’s also agreat free-to-play time sink, but that’s funnily enough the lesser of its accomplishments.
2Minecraft
The Century’s Best-Selling Video Game
Mojangmay have become aone-hit wonder developer, but saying this about the people who created the globalMinecraftphenomenon seems incredibly flattering.
Like Fortnite, only in a different era, Minecraftimpacted an entire generation of new and veteran players,offering endless possibilities like no other game.
As the century’s best-selling title, used in schools for teaching, adapted into a film, and serving as a benchmark for independent video game development, the number of spheres Minecraft has influenced is remarkable.
With its accessible and inclusive approach, available to countless players regardless of their tastes and personalities, and present on all industry platforms since its original release,Minecraft’s reach is unparalleled.
From the toddler on their tablet to the young adult on their laptop, from the teenager on their phone to the grandparent on their computer, Minecraft is and has been for everyone, thus achieving absolute iconic status.
1Dark Souls
Generational Masterpiece
Dark Souls
Although not as popular as the previous two titles on this list,Dark Soulshas guided the 2010s like no other video game, propelling an entire movement in its image.
Whether through the fragmented narrative as a storytelling mechanism or the return to the roots of difficulty and challenge of classic games,almost no game has escaped following its lead.
With its dedicated world building,exceptional DLCs, vibrant multiplayer, and unforgettable bosses,Dark Souls proliferated a genre and changed others. Without being the first of its kind or strictly implementing something never seen before, it inspired everyone.
Shooters, driving games, platformers, puzzlers, and more have taken a fraction of Dark Souls and implemented it within themselves. Influencing new and long-running franchises, thetrilogy’s origin has transformed the medium for years.
Along with its eventual global reach, forming one of the most passionate and large communities in the sector,one cannot understand video games in the past decade without going through Dark Souls,the most defining work of its generation.
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