10 Best Games of the 2010s -

The best games of the 2010s helped usher in the modern era of gaming. New consoles and hardware releases failed to bring the same leap forward as past eras.

Still, the new wave of games brought innovation, quality of life improvements, and underdog indie hits breaking into the mainstream.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Rockstar Games’ magnum opus, Grand Theft Auto 5 expands the open world series with unmatched storytelling and the ability to play as three different characters as their narratives intertwine.

There’s a reason GTA 5 has been re-released on so many consoles: It’s a shining example of what’s possible in AAA gaming. While some argue that Red Dead Redemption 2 is the superior Rockstar title, I give GTA the edge.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

While the Nintendo Wii would eventually lose its mainstream appeal, Nintendo loyalists still had plenty to enjoy.

The highlight is Super Mario Galaxy 2, which improves on its already excellent predecessor in every possible way.

Mario Galaxy 2 constantly introduces new gameplay ideas, which miraculously succeed without ever asking too much from its players.

Halo: Reach

Bungie’s final Halo game is one of its most impactful. Although it is not necessarily groundbreaking, it delivers an emotionally impactful story.

Most people spent their time with the game’s multiplayer, which celebrates everything we know and love from Halo.

Unfortunately, the series has lost its popularity over the years, and many consider Halo: Reach a swan song for the once stalwart Xbox franchise.

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Mass Effect 2

As much as we love the original Mass Effect, it desperately needed a gameplay overhaul.

Enter Mass Effect 2, which retains the story and character-driven RPG but overhauls gameplay to be a more polished third-person shooter experience.

Thanks to an expanded amount of content, an impressive voice cast, and avoiding the common pitfalls of being the middle entry in a trilogy, Mass Effect 2 is one of the best games from the 2010s.

Rock Band 3

The Rock Band franchise and Guitar Hero helped deliver a surge in popularity in music and rhythm-based games. It felt like every gamer’s living room was populated by plastic instruments, letting us live out our biggest rock ‘n roll fantasies.

With Rock Band 3, a well-rounded soundtrack combined with much-needed quality-of-life improvements (pick up and play multiplayer is a godsend) that delivers the best Rock Band game in the franchise.

Super Meat Boy

On our list of the best games of the 2010s, we already discussed traditional platforming experiences. However, Super Meat Boy, an indie platforming delight, is anything but traditional.

Once you get past its unique visual design, you’re treated to a rewarding, albeit challenging, platforming experience that rivals the genre’s greats. Yes, that includes Super Mario World.

Persona 5

One of the best JRPGs ever made, Persona 5 is a gigantic game that knows how to make traditional turn-based combat exciting.

Its stylish presentation draws you in with its engaging story that keeps you hooked throughout its lengthy run time.

Persona 5 transcends the restraint of its genre, resonating with a mainstream gaming audience in ways few JRPGs can.

Bloodborne

The Dark Souls games are a mainstay in the 2010s gaming library, though there are arguments about which entry is best.

For me, the PlayStation 4 exclusive Bloodborne stands out because its fast-paced gameplay builds upon the brutally difficult action RPG combat developer FromSoftware is known for.

Combined with its unique Victorian setting and leaning into a gothic horror experience, it’s easy to understand why so many fans are clamoring for a Bloodborne remaster or sequel.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

It’s hard to view Breath of the Wild as a controversial game, but its watercolor art style and non-traditional Zelda gameplay made people nervous about what to expect. As it turns out, those concerns were dumbfounded.

Breath of the Wild gives players an impressive amount of freedom to explore the world of Hyrule and uncover its secrets while delivering some of the best presentation ever seen in a Nintendo game.

Breath of the Wild looks like a work of art and plays like one.

Mario Kart 8

A game so iconic and beloved, it continued to top sales charts a decade after its release.

Mario Kart 8 is the best Mario Kart game ever made. Its arcade-style drift racing is perfect, and the impressive library of tracks from the base game and continued DLC support helps keep gameplay fresh, no matter how many hundreds of hours you’ve put into it.

It’s hard to see how Nintendo will improve on the formula, with many people simply asking the Nintendo Switch 2 to see another version of Mario Kart 8 release with more DLC content.

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