Gaming in the 2020s has, for better or worse, been defined by life after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global lockdowns had a massive effect on game development, with studios shifting from working in offices to remote environments. As a result, developers faced unprecedented challenges, combined with the rising cost of game budgets.
Despite these obstacles, the 2020s have seen some of the best games ever made. Here are some of our favorites from the decade thus far.
Elden Ring
FromSoftware’s magnum opus, Elden Ring is a culmination of everything that makes the Soulslike genre great.
Its open-world gameplay gives players an impressive amount of freedom to conquer any challenge they encounter. Players are rewarded with some of the most difficult bosses they’ll ever face in a video game.
It Takes Two
The success of a co-op platformer is a testament to just how good It Takes Two is. That’s not to say the platforming genre is suffering; far from it, as we’ve seen success from recent Super Mario Games and 2024’s Game of the Year, Astro Bot.
Having said that, it’s important to remember that It Takes Two is strictly a two-player co-op experience through and through, with an impressive amount of humor and heart alongside its impressive gameplay. Despite its seemingly limited appeal, it still succeeds.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a massive, massive RPG with infinite possibilities.
Developer Larian Studios has crafted the perfect Dungeons & Dragons style experience with incredible storytelling, memorable characters, and the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure paradise.
RPGs don’t get much better than this.
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Cyberpunk 2077
CD PROJEKT RED.
Considering the disastrous launch Cyberpunk 2077 had, it’s remarkable to see CD Projekt Red turn things around.
The team worked hard to make Night City a destination worth visiting, and they’ve truly succeeded. Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba’s performances certainly help, but even without them, Cyberpunk 2077 is an excellent story about a dystopian future backed by a killer soundtrack.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo pulled off the impossible by improving on 2017’s Breath of the Wild.
The same open-world Hyrule is here, with the added benefit of one of the most impressive crafting systems ever put in a video game. Sure, you can run around and explore just like before, but why do that when you can build killer mech robots?
You heard that right: killer mech robots in a Zelda game.
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
Remaking one of the most beloved Final Fantasy games of all time was nearly impossible, especially following the mistakes of the bloated Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is up to the task, though, with the team at Square Enix learning from the mistakes of Remake and crafting one of the best modern-day RPG experiences I’ve ever played.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
If you’re unfamiliar with the Yakuza franchise, now releasing under the Like A Dragon moniker, it’s time to get acquainted.
Infinite Wealth is a breath of fresh air in the JRPG genre. It combines a deep, emotional story with a seemingly endless number of side quests and auxiliary content.
You can play through the game’s main campaign and enjoy yourself, but there’s also collecting Sujimon, building up an island resort ala Animal Crossing, and so much more.
Alan Wake 2
It took 13 long years for Alan Wake to get a sequel, but the wait was well worth it.
Remedy’s survival horror game takes a more action-oriented approach than its Xbox 360 predecessor but doesn’t lose sight of what makes these games special.
It’s a surreal, unique experience that captures the magic and artistic creativity of the best video games.
Animal Well
I never thought I’d say that a game published by a YouTuber would rank among the decade’s best, but here we are.
Developed by Billy Baso and published by videogamedunkey’s Bigmode, Animal Well is a Metroidvania for the ages. Its mystery and puzzle-solving are perfectly intertwined with the gameplay, resulting in an experience that, while sometimes frustrating, is incredibly rewarding.
People often say, “They don’t make ’em like they used to,” but Animal Well proves that they indeed do.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Dotemu.
A throwback to the arcade games of old, Shredder’s Revenge is an excellent side-scrolling beat ’em up.
It combines the best parts about the old-school games we grew up on with some added modern updates and improvements, making it well worth our time as a change of pace from the more demanding games that dominate the industry today.
Tunic
Tunic is inspired by the old-school Legend of Zelda games and FromSoftware titles. That, alone, makes it among the best of the decade thus far, but there’s something else that makes Tunic magical.
Its enchanting visual style adds a sense of wonder and delight to the game’s mystery. The gameplay involves a lot of exploration, and the idea that you’re a little fox traversing through a big, mysterious world enhances that.
Hades
Stylish, action-packed, intense, Hades has it all.
It’s a fantastic spin on the roguelike genre, where once you die, you lose your progress and have to start your game all over. The catch, though, is that you obtain any new skill or ability you’ve leveled up, meaning you become stronger with each death.
Its excellent gameplay is coupled with one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard in a video game; the music keeps you going, even when you think there’s nothing left in the tank.
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