This is it, folks. The end of the line. Here are our favorite 210 games of the 2010s.
The 2010s also marked the decade when we (as in myself and Tania) came of age and started viewing video games with a more critical eye. To celebrate this wonderful decade of gaming, we took the time to choose the 210 games that we believe are the best. See you in 2029.
210. OBSERVATION
Release Date | May 21, 2019 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | No Code |
Genre | Adventure |
TANIA PREDA ➞ A space adventure-puzzle like no other, Observation is a sci-fi geeks’ dream come true, as it’s riddled with references to many cult sci-fi films and features a captivating plot that puts you in the role of a space station AI trying to uncover the mysterious loss of its crew. It’s very atmospheric, expertly paced and mesmerizing from start to finish. The only downside is that the game is relatively short.
209. Northgard
Release Date | February 22, 2017 |
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Platform | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Shiro Games |
Genre | Strategy |
208. Forza Horizon 4
Release Date | September 12, 2018 |
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Platform | Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Turn 10 Studios, Playground Games |
Genre | Racing |
207. Unravel
Release Date | February 9, 2016 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | ColdWood Interactive |
Genre | Puzzle Platformer |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ A cute puzzle-platformer released by Swedish company Coldwood Interactive, Unravel was one of the pleasant surprises of the 2010s. Though some critics raised concers about its controls and puzzle variety, Unravel has been universally praised for its visuals, story, protagonist, pacing and soundtrack. It’s a great choice if you like your platformers and charming visuals in one package.
206. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Release Date | April 23, 2013 |
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Platform | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Capcom |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Challenging combat, great world design and entertaining boss fights. This is the essence of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, both the original version and the expanded edition, which is the one that made our list. The setting is a mishmash between realism and fantasy, emulating elements from both Western and Japanese RPGs. If you like open-world RPGs and you’ve somehow missed Dragon’s Dogma, you definitely have to give it a try.
205. Crypt of the NecroDancer
Release Date | April 23, 2015 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Brace Yourself Games |
Genre | Roguelike |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Crypt of the NecroDancer is your average, run-of-the-mill… well, actually, it’s not. It’s a roguelike where you have your character move or attack only if said action matches the beat of the music. It is one of the more novel entries in the roguelike genre, and the best thing about Crypt of the NecroDancer is that, even if you remove the gimmick, it’s still a great game on its own. It’s charming, engaging and highly entertaining. Not to mention that the soundtrack is up there with the likes of Hotline Miami.
204. E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy
Release Date | July 29, 2011 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Streum On Studio |
Genre | Action RPG |
203.Tropico 4
Release Date | August 26, 2011 |
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Platform | Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Haemimont Games, Feral Interactive |
Genre | Management |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ The 2010s saw 3 (three) entries in the acclaimed management/political sim series, but out of them all, Tropico 4 is probably the best. Choose one of the premade avatars inspired by real-life leaders such as Pinochet or Castro or create your own, tend to your citizen’s needs, squash rebellions and lead your nation to prosperity. Of course, that is easier said than done, so it’s up to you whether you choose to become a benevolent ruler or a tyrannical asshole.
202. Anno 1800
Release Date | April 16, 2019 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Blue Byte |
Genre | City-builder |
201. The Forest
Release Date | May 30, 2014 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Endnight Games Ltd |
Genre | Survival |
200. Company of Heroes 2
Release Date | June 25, 2013 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Relic Entertainment |
Genre | RTS |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Company of Heroes 2 received a lukewarm reception upon release due to its bugs, poor optimization and lack of content. Fortunately, after several patches and content updates, it became one of the last relics of a dying genre (RTS). Company of Heroes 2 boasts a painstakingly realistic recreation of World War 2 to the tiniest of details, from gun sounds, uniforms to random chatter amongst the soldiers. The meat of the game is the multiplayer, where players can test their tactical prowess in intense 1v1 matches, or obliterate each other in 4v4 battles with mortars, artillery strikes and tanks. If you’re a WW2 history buff and like RTSs, this game is a must-play.
199. Eurotruck Simulator 2
Release Date | October 19, 2012 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | SCS Software |
Genre | Simulation |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ When it comes to relaxing games, few can beat Euro Truck Simulator 2. However, underneath its deceptive simplicity lies a deeply mechanically complex game with great attention to detail and a high variety of roads and sceneries that offers a great sense of individuality and freedom. These may seem like big words for a trucking game, but trust us, you have to play it to truly feel it. Just writing about it makes me want to install it.
198. Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time
Release Date | July 9, 2013 |
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Platform | iOs, Android |
Developer | PopCap Games |
Genre | Tower defense |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Look, we know – it’s a mobile game. A free-to-play mobile game. Published by Electronic freaking Arts. But out of all the random trash that one can find on mobile stores, Plants vs Zombies 2 shines not only due to the power of its brand, but also because of its strong gameplay, which needs no introduction after so many years. So if there is one thing we have to be grateful for, it’s that the 2010s gave us a mobile game that we can play during our commutes that’s not a flaming pile of garbage.
197.VVVVVV
Release Date | January 11, 2010 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Terry Cavanagh, Nicalis |
Genre | Puzzle Platformer |
196. Satisfactory
Release Date | March 19, 2019 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Coffee Stain Studios |
Genre | Simulation |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ “Hey, not fair, this game’s in Early Access and Epic Store exclusive”. We know, dog, who do you think wrote this damn thing? Anyway, us including Satisfactory in our list of the best games of the 2010s despite being in Early Access should be a testament to its quality. It’s a first-person open world factory building game (basically Factorio with better graphics) with some 4X elements thrown in for good measure. Players are tasked with, well, building factories, exploring and exploiting the alien planet and, of course, battling alien life forms. It’s deep, it’s engaging and there’s not a lot of games like this one out there.
195. Splatoon 2
Release Date | July 21, 2017 |
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Platform | Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development |
Genre | Shooter |
194. Skate 3
Release Date | May 11, 2010 |
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Platform | PlayStation 3 |
Developer | EA Black Box |
Genre | Sports |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Back when you whippersnappers were playing with your Tamagotchis or whatever, the Tony Hawk series was the thing when it came to skateboarding games. Then came Skate, with its great physics system and relatively realistic approach to skating and turned the genre upside-down. Sadly, its best entry, released in 2010, was also the last, and I would give a hand and an arm for a sequel. Until then, Skate 3 will go down in history as not only as one of the best titles of the decade, but also one of the greatest skating games of all time.
193. The Talos Principle
Release Date | December 11, 2014 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Croteam |
Genre | Puzzle |
192. Cooked Served Delicious
Release Date | October 5, 2012 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Vertigo Gaming |
Genre | Simulation |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Ever make a plate of carbonara thinking it would be easy, only to screw it up royally? That’s basically Cook, Serve, Delicious – a restaurant sim that is easy to learn, but hard to master. Cook, Serve, Delicious has players building a restaurant from start to finish and handling the logistics. It’s also accompanied by a charming aesthetic and tons of humor that make you forget how stressful this business is, only to pull you back to reality when chaos strikes and several clients yell that they want their food. It’s deceptively simple, addictive and engrossing.
191. Destiny 2
Release Date | September 6, 2017 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Bungie |
Genre | FPS |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ At release, Destiny 2 was an objective improvement over its precedessor – better graphics, better gameplay, better story. But if we were to pinpoint the one department where Destiny 2 excelled was the post-launch support. This alone turned Destiny 2 from a so-and-so MMOFPS into one of the best this genre has to offer. And with its recent transition to Steam, things can only go up for Destiny 2.
190. Frozen Synapse
Release Date | May 26, 2011 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Mode 7 Games |
Genre | Turn-based tactics |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Turn-based tactics game also experienced a mini-renaissance in the 2010s, with Frozen Synapse being one of the first. Players assume the role of a commander assisting a resistance movement against a corporate government regime, in a dystopian-cyberpunk setting. The premise of the game is simple: eliminate the other squad before they eliminate you. The graphics may be a tad dated even as indie-retro games go, but the soundtrack is probably one of the best there is, up there with the original Deus Ex, Journey and Hotline Miami.
189. Long Live the Queen
Release Date | June 2, 2012 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Hanako Games, Spiky Caterpillar |
Genre | RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Wait, no, don’t scroll down. No, really, don’t get fooled by appearances – Long Live the Queen is not what you think it is. In Long Live the Queen, you assume the role of a princess whose mother (the queen) has suffered an untimely death. Being the official heir, you’d think everything is set in stone. However, the queen’s death has triggered a power vacuum, and everything is up for grabs. Your sole job is to survive until coronation day, but trust us when we say that’s easier said than done. Power-hungry nobles will not hesistate to poison, stab, strangle, throw you off the balcony or all of the above if they get the chance. Obviously, you won’t make it to coronation on your first try, and each subsequent failed run will steer you more and more into the dark side until you become a ruthless sociopath with no moral qualms about eliminating both allies and opponents. Oh, by the way – you’re 14 years old.
188. Monument Valley 2
Release Date | June 5, 2017 |
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Platform | iOs, Android |
Developer | Ustwo Games |
Genre | Puzzle |
187. Super Mario Odyssey
Release Date | October 27, 2017 |
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Platform | Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development |
Genre | Platformer |
186. Metroid Samus Returns
Release Date | September 15, 2017 |
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Platform | Nintendo 3DS |
Developer | Mercury Steam, Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development |
Genre | Action-Adventure |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Metroid: Samus Returns is essentially a reimagining of 1991’s Super Metroid 2, with improved visuals, new controls and several new gameplay mechanics such as the ability to fire freely at any range. It’s considered by many fans and critics alike as a return to form for the series, and rightfully so. There’s really not much else to say about this game other than if you own a 3DS and would like the see where the whole Metroidvania trend started, you should check this out.
185. Gone Home
Release Date | August 15, 2013 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | The Fullbright Company |
Genre | Interactive Story |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ What Gone Home lacks in gameplay makes up with a compelling narrative, engrossing atmosphere and a infectious sense of familiarity. No matter where you’re from or when you were born, Gone Home’s mid 90’s Washington State setting and comically bland characters feel deeply relatable, on a personal level. Exploring every nook and cranny of the house and revealing bits and pieces of the family’s history, as well as the personalities of the protagonist’s relatives feels weirdly satisfying, even though you’re essentially rummaging through bland household items and 90’s memorabilia. By the way, this game is a time capsule – the devs absolutely NAILED the mid-90’s setting to a point where it makes me feel nostalgic for a period I barely remember. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go watch Daria for the 4th time.
184. Warhammer 40k: Space Marine
Release Date | September 6, 2011 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Relic Entertainment |
Genre | Third-person shooter |
183. The Swapper
Release Date | May 30, 2013 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One |
Developer | Facepalm Games, Curve Studios |
Genre | Puzzle Platformer |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ A side-scrolling puzzle-platformer set in the far reaches of space, The Swapper impressed critics and gamers alike for the way it innovated on established game mechanics. You play as a female scavenger stranded on an abandoned researched station who gains the ability (through a device) to clone herself and switch her consciousness between them. The puzzles, and the overall gameplay, are built around this mechanic. The Swapper also deserves praise for its atmosphere, soundtrack and visuals. Fun fact: rather than digital textures, they used handcrafted art assets and clay, which explains the novel visuals.
182. Shadow Warrior
Release Date | September 26, 2013 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Flying Wild Hog |
Genre | FPS |
181. Specs Ops: The Line
Release Date | June 26, 2012 |
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Platform | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Yager Development |
Genre | Shooter |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Oh, boy. Back in 2012, much ink has been spilled about Spec Ops: The Line, in particular its anti-war stance, the way it mechanically conveyed the desensitization of soldiers by making the gameplay linear and boring, the subtle way in which it portrayed the gradual mental degradation of the main character, and that scene. Spec: Ops The Line feels more like an interactive version of Generation Kill than a video game, and in the best possible way. It’s shocking, unpredictable, even meta in parts, and it wastes no opportunity to make players feel bad about their actions. As far as anti-war-war games, Spec Ops: The Line is up there with This War of Mine.
180. Watch Dogs 2
Release Date | November 15, 2016 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Ubisoft Montreal |
Genre | Action-Adventure |
179. FEZ
Release Date | April 13, 2012 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Polytron Corporation |
Genre | Puzzle Platformer |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ FEZ, and especially its main designer Phil Fish, got a lot of exposure through Indie Game: The Movie. The debates revolving around whether or not FEZ is overrated and Phil Fish’s propensity to causing controversy aside, no one can deny the fact that it brought a lot of interesting things to the table. The gameplay revolves around the rotation mechanic, which allows players to alternate between four 2D views of the 3D world, revealing new paths and platforms and opening previously innaccessible routes. The puzzles are built around this mechanic, and the plane-switches are as fun to play and fiddle around with as listening to a Madlib beat switch. It may not be a ground-breaking masterpiece, but it’s certainly novel.
178. Rayman Legends
Release Date | August 29, 2013 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Ubisoft Montpellier |
Genre | Platformer |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ What can we say about Rayman Legends that hasn’t already been said? It’s a stellar game from start to finish – stunning visuals, tight controls, catchy soundtrack and ingenious level design and a wide variety of content. Several outlets and many consumers went as far as calling it one of best platformers of all time, and deservedly so.
177. Monster Hunter: World
Release Date | January 26, 2018 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Capcom |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Monster Hunter: World has all the elements that the series has been praised for in one attractive, and more accessible package. The premise of the game is simple: players take control of a monster hunter and are tasked with hunting down monsters, by either trapping them or killing them, in one of the game’s various environments. The player is then rewarded with loot and items to craft better gear to hunt more powerful monsters. It’s an enjoyable and satisfying gameplay loop that encourages players to be persistent and constantly update and revise their hunting strategies. The gameplay itself, combined with the beautifully designed living ecosystems, makes it one of the best games of the 2010s.
176. Jackbox Party
Release Date | November 26, 2014 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Jackbox Games |
Genre | Party Game |
175. Injustice: Gods Among Us
Release Date | April 3, 2013 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Android, PlayStation 3, iOS, Xbox 360 |
Developer | NetherRealm Studios |
Genre | Fighting |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Say what you will about their latest cinematic efforts, but when it comes to video games, DC has more than delivered these past few years. Injustice: Gods Among Us is a tight and highly entertaining fighting game that offers a wide roster of both notorious and more “obscure” DC characters – really, Solomon Grundy? Who the hell is that? Each character has its own movements, combos, and fighting styles, so every fight feels unique. It may not have the gore and violence of something like Mortal Kombat, but it doesn’t have to. It’s definitely one of the best fighting games of the 2010s.
174. Banished
Release Date | February 18, 2014 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Shining Rock Software |
Genre | City-builder |
173. Axiom Verge
Release Date | March 31, 2015 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Thomas Happ Games |
Genre | Metroidvania |
172. Halo Reach
Release Date | September 14, 2010 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Bungie |
Genre | FPS |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ While the 2010s saw the release of several great Halo games, Halo: Reach was the true turning point of the series. Halo: Reach upped the ante in every possible way by increasing the production value, taking all the elements that made the previous games modern classics and improving them and adding tons of new gameplay mechanics. However, its biggest merit is that it attracted an entirely new generation of players to the series. Halo 4 and 5 may be great games on their own, but neither of them has achieved the same level of cultural and historical impact.
171. Devil May Cry 5
Release Date | March 8, 2019 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Capcom |
Genre | Action-adventure |
170. This is the Police
Release Date | August 2, 2016 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Weappy Studio |
Genre | Strategy |
169. Risk of Rain
Release Date | November 19, 2013 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Hopoo Games |
Genre | Roguelike |
168. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Release Date | September 8, 2010 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Frictional Games |
Genre | Survival Horror |
167. Thomas Was Alone
Release Date | June 30, 2012 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Mike Bithell |
Genre | Puzzle Platformer |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Think fast: what’s the last thing that made you cry? A kitten snuggling with a duck? A video of a Golden Retriever carrying a baby back to its crib? Hachiko’s Wikipedia page? How about some geometrical shapes? Yeah, you heard me right. Thomas Was Alone is the kind of game that will make you weep for an overweight cube who can’t climb up a platform, or a rectangle who’s either too slim or too chonky to fit anywhere. But in a weird way, it’s also a game about friendship and acceptance – to solve most puzzles and advance the storyline, players have to arrange the shapes in certain combinations… You know what, now I’m realizing that I’m starting to sound like a madman. Just play the damn game and leave me alone.
166. Tomb Raider
Release Date | March 5, 2013 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One |
Developer | Crystal Dynamics |
Genre | Action-Adventure |
165. The Last Guardian
Release Date | December 6, 2016 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Sony Interactive Entertainment, SIE Japan Studio, Team Ico |
Genre | Action-adventure |
164. Nuclear Throne
Release Date | December 5, 2015 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Vlambeer |
Genre | Roguelike |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Looking back, it wouldn’t be a stretch calling the 2010s “The Decade of the Roguelike”. One of the roguelikes that stood out from the crowd was Nuclear Throne. Boasting the chaos of classic bullet hell games, tight controls, a well-developed perk system and a weird setting, Nuclear Throne was a breath of fresh air and it still holds up today. Oh, and the guns in this game sound AMAZING, so I want to give a big shout out to Joonas Truner, the sound effect designer.
163. Kentucky Route Zero
Release Date | January 7, 2013 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Cardboard Computer |
Genre | Adventure |
162. Insurgency
Release Date | January 22, 2014 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | New World Interctive |
Genre | FPS |
161. Darksiders II
Release Date | August 14, 2012 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PalyStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Vigil Games, Gunfire Games |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Darksiders II is a great example of how to make an Action Adventure game with RPG elements. In addition to the tight gameplay mechanics, Darksiders II puts forward vast maps that can be explored either on foot or by horse, with a plethora of dungeons, side quests, mini-bosses and some puzzles, for good measure. Plus, it’s always a pleasure to play as Death itself – you double wield scythes, for crying out loud. How cool is that?
160. Doki Doki Literature Club
Release Date | September 22, 2017 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Team Salvato |
Genre | Graphic Adventure |
159. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Release Date | August 21, 2012 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 |
Developer | Hidden Path Entertainment, Valve Corporation |
Genre | FPS |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ We couldn’t have done an honest job without including the juggernaut called Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. This game needs no introduction – it’s freaking huge, people are making a living from playing it competitively, Rush B, give me AWP, you know the drill. And please, for the love of God, don’t smoke mid on dust_2 if one of your teammates buys an AWP.
158. Xenonauts
Release Date | June 17, 2014 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Goldhawk Interactive |
Genre | Turn-based Strategy |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Xenonauts is basically X-Com for people who either didn’t like the reboot, or miss the originals. Of course, Xenonauts isn’t just a shoddy clone – the devs took the template of the old series and put their own spin on it. Just like in X-Com, you control a multi-national military organization (called Xenonauts) defending the Earth of an alien invasion, only instead of being set in modern times, the action takes place during the Cold War. You’ll have to balance the needs of your own nation versus the needs of the Earth, manage your funds, recruit scientists and soldiers and, overall, make sure that aliens don’t conquer the world. As always, make sure you don’t name your soldiers after loved ones.
157. Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Release Date | June 24, 2014 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android, Xbox One, iOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Ubisoft Montpellier |
Genre | Puzzle |
156. War for the Overworld
Release Date | April 2, 2015 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Brightrock Games |
Genre | God Game |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Remember the first two Dungeon Keeper games? Pretty sad the third one was canceled, right? Don’t worry then – War for the Overworld is here to save the day. This is the true spiritual successor to the cult hit series of dungeon sims. Similar to Dungeon Keeper, players build intricate dungeons with deadly traps to kill heroes that enter. Since not even Underlods rule alone, players have to hire armies of dastardly minions to dig, build, and fight foes. The funniest thing to me is that the minions are actually paid contractors and not enslaved, which leads me to believe that the undeworld must have some strong labor laws in place. Or maybe the minions managed to unionize sometime before the events of the game? Whatever. You can still slap the minions, tho.
155. Soma
Release Date | September 22, 2015 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Frictional Games |
Genre | Survival Horror |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ When I said the 2010s were good for horror games, I wasn’t exaggerating – we got Amnesia, Outlast and Soma in the span of just five years. Soma, made by the same guys who made Amnesia, takes the story from the early Victorian Era to an underwater research facility in the year 2104. Initially a sophisticated facility built by two major conglomerates, it has fallen in disrepair after a comet devastated the Earth and became the last outpost of humanity. The game employs a System Shock-like system of delivering lore, and most of the horror elements, through audio logs, tapes and notes scattered throughout the station. It also delves into heavy subjects such as what it really means to be human, but saying more would spoil the whole fun. If you’re looking for Blade Runner mashed psychological horror, make sure to check out Soma.
154. Oxenfree
Release Date | January 15, 2016 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Night School Studio |
Genre | Graphic Adventure |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Even in the context of the indie explosion of this weekend incentivizing more developers to experiment than ever, games with coming-of-age stories are still relatively rare. Oxenfree is a wonderfully-written and paced supernatural thriller coming of age story that takes elements from all over the place – especially 1980s teenage horror films. It also has an intelligent conversation system which changes the story and other elements based on your decisions, a catchy synth-pop soundtrack, and tons of voice talent from other acclaimed games, like The Wolf Among Us and The Walking Dead. If you liked Always Sometimes Monsters and Night in the Woods, Oxenfree is a must-play.
153. Limbo
Release Date | July 21, 2010 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Playdead |
Genre | Puzzle |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Melancholic, artfully designed and uncannily creepy in parts, Limbo is one of the games that defined the 2010s. At its core, Limbo is a straightforward 2D side-scrolling puzzle adventure thingy that requires players to take a creative approach to advance the story. However, Limbo subverted the tropes of the genre right from the get-go, with its twisted, dark world filled with traps, creepy enemies, and terrifying, oppressive vistas. Weirdly enough, the puzzles, as well as the death animations, reveal a bleak and twisted sense of humour, as if the devs realized that players will need the occasional relief from the horror and dread.
152. Legend of Grimrock 2
Release Date | March 18, 2015 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Almost Human |
Genre | RPG |
151. Firewatch
Release Date | February 9, 2016 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Campo Santo |
Genre | Adventure |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Say what you want about Firewatch, but nobody thought it would become so popular. The story follows Henry, a fire lookout in the Shoshone National Forest. Set one year after the real-life Yellowstone fires of 1988, the story revolves around a series of suspicious events and Henry’s efforts to uncover the mystery. Though criticized for its myriad of bugs and ending, Firewatch is a pinnacle of the adventure genre (or walking sims, whatever you want to call them), together with Gone Home and What Remains of Edith Finch. It has stunning visuals inspired by New Deal advertisments, an intriguing story and flawless writing – one of the best of the decade, without a doubt.
150. Fable 3
Release Date | October 26, 2010 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Lionhead Studios |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ In some ways, Fable III is more of a lateral step than a step forward – it’s basically Fable II with higher production values and simplified gameplay. While the game suffers from lackluster combat mechanics and repetitive side-quests, Fable III compensates with a compelling story and clever writing. The world is gorgeous and brimming with humour and personality, even more so than previous entries in the series. Fable III manages to pull players into its world and make them care about the story and characters. Plus, look at the voice cast – Ben Kingsley, Stephen Fry, Simon Pegg, Michal Fassbender. It’s ridiculous.
149. Enter the Gungeon
Release Date | 2016 |
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Platform | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Dodge Roll |
Genre | Roguelike |
148. A Way Out
Release Date | March 23, 2018 |
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Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Hazelight Studios |
Genre | Action-adventure |
147. Terraria
Release Date | May 16, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Re-Logic |
Genre | Action-adventure |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Since its release, Terraria, together with Half Life 2 and Left 4 Dead, has joined the ranks of the games that absolutely everyone owns on Steam (no, really, show me a person who doesn’t). Terraria is essentially the ultimate basebuilding/survival/sandbox game. You exploit the resources in a procedurally generated 2D world, build stuff and fight waves upon waves of monsters and critters, all while trying to survive. It’s pretty straightforward compared to other survival games, but that’s precisely what makes it so appealing.
146. Tyranny
Release Date | November 10, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
Genre | RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Tyrrany is essentially a high-fantasy RPG, but in reverse. The forces of evil led by Kyros have already conquered most of the world, and the only thing standing between him and total domination is a rebellion brewing amongst his forces. You, the Fatebinder, one of the higher-ranked members of Kyro’s circle, are sent to impose order and squash the rebellion. The game presents the player with a multitude of options and choices, with the most interesting being deciding how the Fatebinder influenced the previous 3 years of conquest during character creation. Though short, Tyranny is an interesting experiment in game development that subverts most of the genre’s tropes
145. The Division 2
Release Date | March 15, 2019 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia |
Developer | Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft Reflections, Red Storm Entertainment, FreeStyle Games |
Genre | Action RPG |
144. Prey
Release Date | 5 May 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Arkane Studios |
Genre | FPS |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Some critics described Talos 1, a space station which serves as the setting of Prey, as a “luxurious sci-fi playground”, while many criticized its combat and parts of the story. That’s fair. So why is Prey so high on this list? Because once every ten years, there comes a game that is so marvelously executed in some parts that you’re willing to forgive it for its other shortcomings. Prey falls into that category. The setting is so well-crafted that the lackluster combat and thin plot can become minor inconveniences rather than full-on dealbreakers.
143. Starcraft II
Release Date | July 27, 2010 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Blizzard Entertainment |
Genre | RTS |
142. Return of the Obra Dinn
Release Date | October 18, 2018 |
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Lucas Pope |
Genre | Puzzle |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ If you were surprised by how entertaining playing a border agent is in Papers Please, wait until you pick up Return of the Obra Dinn. You play as an insurance adjuster who is trying to determine what happened aboard the Obra Dinn after it disappeared for five years and returned to port. Boring, right? Wrong. Return of the Obra Dinn plays out as a classic whodunit, where players are tasked with working out the sequence of events aboard the ship by either using the Memento Mortem, a device that when activated plays back the audio of certain events, or by finding clues. Return of the Obra Dinn comes with a stunning aesthetic and an intriguing plot, and uncovering the mystery bit by bit was one of the best gaming moments I’ve experienced this decade.
141. Octopath Traveler
Release Date | July 13, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Square Enix |
Genre | RPG |
140. Observer
Release Date | August 15, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Bloober Team |
Genre | Psychological Horrror |
139. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Release Date | September 30, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Monolith Productions, Feral Interactive |
Genre | Action-adventure |
138. Kerbal Space Program
Release Date | April 27, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Squad |
Genre | Simulation |
137. Infamous Second Son
Release Date | March 21, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Sucker Punch Productions |
Genre | Action-adventure |
136. Frostpunk
Release Date | April 24, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | 11 bit Studios |
Genre | City-builder |
135. Dust: An Elysian Tail
Release Date | August 15, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Limited Run Games |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ More of a platforming game at heart than a metroidvania, Dust: An Elysian Tail is a gorgeous, hand-drawn game that follows the story of an amnesiac warrior known as Dust and his flying fox Fidget. The game offers a fluid and masterfully animated combat system, tight platforming, and an incredible soundtrack. Our colleague Smoghtown also lauded Dust for its exploration elements, while noting that the game can get repetitive – which is a fair assessment. It’s one of the most gorgeous games to bless our screens this decade, so make sure to give it a shot.
134. Darkwood
Release Date | August 18, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Acid Wizard Studio |
Genre | Survival horror |
133. Doom 2016
Release Date | May 13, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | id Software |
Genre | FPS |
132. Celeste
Release Date | January 25, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Matt Makes Games |
Genre | Platformer |
131. Torchlight II
Release Date | September 20, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One |
Developer | Runic Games |
Genre | Action RPG |
130. The Stanley Parable
Release Date | October 17, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Galactic Cafe |
Genre | Interactive Story |
129. Overcooked 2
Release Date | August 7, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Team17 Digital Limited |
Genre | Simulation |
TANIA PREDA ➞ Overcooked 2 manages to bring a lot of silly fun that can get surprisingly intense. It encourages cooperation, coordination, and communication in a way that few games really can without severe consequences. And some proper yelling, but what’s a fight between friends when they forgot to chop that freaking salad? And it’s all fun and games until the floor starts moving. The developers also keep it updated, add DLCs, and special events that just the host player needs to own.
128. That Dragon Cancer
Release Date | January 12, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Numinous |
Genre | Adventure |
127. Final Fantasy XV
Release Date | November 29, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Square Enix Business Division 2 |
Genre | Action RPG |
126. Sunless Sea
Release Date | 6 February 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Failbetter Games |
Genre | Roguelike |
125. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Release Date | March 22, 2019 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | FromSoftware |
Genre | Action-adventure |
124. Superhot
Release Date | February 25, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Superhot Team |
Genre | FPS |
123. Xenoblade Chronicles
Release Date | June 10, 2010 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo Switch, Wii |
Developer | Monolith Soft |
Genre | Action RPG |
122. Gunpoint
Release Date | 3 June 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Suspicious Developments |
Genre | Platformer |
121. Gris
Release Date | December 13, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo Switch, iOS, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Nomada Studio |
Genre | Platformer |
120. Atom RPG
Release Date | December 19, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | AtomTeam |
Genre | RPG |
119. Astroneer
Release Date | February 6, 2019 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | System Era Softworks |
Genre | Adventure |
118. Europa Universalis 4
Release Date | 13 August, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Paradox Development Studio |
Genre | Grand Strategy |
117. Wasteland 2
Release Date | September 19, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | inXile Entertainment |
Genre | RPG |
116. Civilization V
Release Date | September 21, 2010 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Firaxis Games |
Genre | Turn-based strategy |
115. Arma 3
Release Date | September 12, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Bohemia Interactive |
Genre | FPS |
114. Beyond Two Souls
Release Date | October 8, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Quantic Dream |
Genre | Adventure |
113. Yakuza 0
Release Date | March 12, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Sega |
Genre | Action-adventure |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Yakuza 0 is a stylish crime story set between 1988 and 1989 in fictionalized recreations of Tokyo and Osaka where players take control of two up-and-coming criminals who are eager to climb the ladder of Japan’s underworld. Yakuza 0 marked the debut of the series on PC, and it’s the best game the series has so far produced. It features a stellar cast of voice actors, excellent writing and storytelling, fun brawling-focused gameplay mechanics, a variety of side missions that range from funny to absolutely ridiculous and a bustling, gorgeously recreated nightlife that deserves its own article. Yakuza 0 is a highly entertaining gangster epic that, unlike Mafia 2 and 3, is actually fun to play.
112. Control
Release Date | 27 August 2019 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Remedy Entertainment |
Genre | Third-person shooter |
111. Total War: Three Kingdoms
Release Date | May 23, 2019 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Creative Assembly |
Genre | Strategy |
110. Shadowrun: Hong Kong
Release Date | August 20, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Harebrained Schemes |
Genre | RPG |
109. Salt and Sanctuary
Release Date | March 15, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Nintnedo Switch, Xbox One |
Developer | Ska Studios |
Genre | Action RPG |
108. Hyper Light Drifter
Release Date | March 31, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, |
Developer | Heart Machine |
Genre | Action RPG |
107. Journey
Release Date | March 13, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Thatgamecompany |
Genre | Adventure |
106. Jazzpunk
Release Date | February 7, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Necrophone Games |
Genre | Adventure |
105. What Remains of Edith Finch
Release Date | April 25, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Giant Sparrow |
Genre | Adventure |
104. Fire Emblem: Awakening
Release Date | April 19, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo RDS |
Developer | Intelligent Systems |
Genre | Tactical RPG |
103. Dying Light
Release Date | January 27, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Techland |
Genre | Action-adventure |
102. Horizon: Zero Dawn
Release Date | 28 February 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Guerilla Games |
Genre | Action RPG |
101. Factorio
Release Date | 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Wube Software |
Genre | Management Simulation |
100. Alien: Isolation
Release Date | October 7, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Creative Assembly |
Genre | Survival Horror |
99. Alpha Protocol
Release Date | May 27, 2010 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
Genre | Action RPG |
98. Dead Cells
Release Date | August 7, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Motion Twin |
Genre | Metroidvania |
97. Heavy Rain
Release Date | February 18, 2010 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 |
Developer | Quantic Dream |
Genre | Action-adventure |
96. Hitman 2
Release Date | November 13, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | IO Interactive |
Genre | Action stealth |
TANIA PREDA ➞ The Hitman series was ahead of its time back in the day. They were some of the first to properly introduce us to different ways of resolving a quest or task, straying a bit from the familiar linearity that we were used to seeing. Hitman 2 has some of the most interesting missions in the game and the mechanics have vastly improved over its predecessors. Each target has a story that you’ll want to know more about and the locations you travel to are absolutely spectacular. The variety it offers makes Hitman 2 the most entertaining entry in the series from skillful stealth options to ridiculously reckless methods. Seriously. Grab a fish and start smacking people dead.
95. Oxygen Not Included
Release Date | February 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Klei Entertainment |
Genre | Survival |
94. Nier: Automata
Release Date | February 23, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Platinum Games |
Genre | Action RPG |
93. Rainbow: Six Siege
Release Date | December 1, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Ubisoft |
Genre | FPS |
92. Prison Architect
Release Date | 6 October 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Introversion Software |
Genre | Simulation |
91. Super Meat Boy
Release Date | October 20, 2010 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Team Meat |
Genre | Platformer |
90. The Long Dark
Release Date | August 1, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Hinterland Studio |
Genre | Survival |
89. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Release Date | December 6, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Mimimi Productions |
Genre | RTT |
88. Thronebreaker: Witcher Tales
Release Date | October 23, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | CD Projekt Red |
Genre | Card Game RPG |
87. Guild Wars 2
Release Date | August 28, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | ArenaNet |
Genre | RPG |
86. Titanfall 2
Release Date | October 28, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Respawn Entertainment |
Genre | FPS |
85. Duck Game
Release Date | May 13, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Landon Podbielski |
Genre | Action |
84. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Release Date | August 7, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows Phone, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Starbreeze Studios |
Genre | Adventure |
83. Night in the Woods
Release Date | February 21, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Infinite Fall |
Genre | Adventure |
82. Always Sometimes Monsters
Release Date | May 21, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Vagabond Dog |
Genre | RPG |
81. Battle Brothers
Release Date | March 24, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Overhype Studios |
Genre | Tactical RPG |
80. Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag
Release Date | October 29, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Ubisoft Montreal |
Genre | Action-adventure |
TANIA PREDA ➞ The Caribbean adventure brought a much-needed breath of fresh air to the franchise. Even with the latest Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey coming out with better graphics and more of an RPG touch, Black Flag is still the best entry in the past 10 years. You get to play as Edward, who is half pirate, half assassin basically, and not be encumbered by your high morals or need for revenge. His motivation is simple through most of the game: loot. Get rich and stay alive, which weirdly made him much more interesting than honor-bound Connor from AC 3. The setting of crystal blue waters and green jungles is gorgeous, and the naval combat is executed perfectly. Personally, this brought me back to Assassin’s Creed after I had completely given up on the franchise.
79. Batman: Arkham City
Release Date | October 18, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U |
Developer | Rocksteady Studios |
Genre | Action-adventure |
78. West of Loathing
Release Date | August 10, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Asymmetric Publications |
Genre | RPG |
77. The Banner Saga
Release Date | January 14, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Stoic Studio |
Genre | Tactical RPG |
76. Stellaris
Release Date | May 9, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Paradox Development Studio |
Genre | Grand Strategy |
75. Telltale’s The Walking Dead
Release Date | April 24, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Telltale Games |
Genre | Action-adventure |
TANIA PREDA ➞ As much as we might not want to admit it, this game was a tearjerker and one of the saddest games we can think of. It made us laugh, hope, and cry through its wonderfully-weaved story in a post-apocalyptic world. Telltale’s ability to tell a story and make you become attached to the characters has never shone more brightly than it did for their Walking Dead series. It’s memorable, the characters are complex, and it’s thrilling to see where each of your decision takes you. The art style is classic Telltale and, while the engine never upgraded which likely led to the developer’s demise, in the end, there’s something so charming and recognizable to it that makes this game everlasting.
74. South Park: The Stick of Truth
Release Date | March 4, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
Genre | RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ I’m not what you would call a die-hard South Park fan, but once I catch an episode on TV, I can’t help but run to the internet and blast an entire season in one go. South Park: The Stick of Truth is not only a good South Park game, but a good, well, game in general. It’s essentially an interactive South Park season that everybody can enjoy, whether they’re familiar with the series or not. The RPG elements, while adapted to match the tone and humor of the universe, are very well-implemented and fleshed-out. It’s easy to dismiss it as a derivative cash-crab, but if you play it, you soon realize that under the wacky names and fart jokes lies a deceptively complex RPG that could go head-to-head with the likes of Pillars of Eternity and Divinity: Original Sin 2. What? It was developed by Obsidian Entertainment? Oh.
73. L.A. Noire
Release Date | May 17, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Rockstar Games |
Genre | Action-adventure |
72. Persona 5
Release Date | September 15, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 |
Developer | P-Studio |
Genre | RPG |
71. Grand Theft Auto V
Release Date | September 17, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
Developer | Rockstar Games |
Genre | Action-adventure |
70. Fortnite
Release Date | July 25, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Epic Games |
Genre | Battle Royale |
TANIA PREDA ➞ Fight it as much as you want, but Fortnite has been a gaming phenomenon, at least the Battle Royale mode. Unlike Save The World, which took six years to develop and came out grindy and a little too heavy on the microtransactions, Battle Royale introduced something fresh. It kept the colorful, animated theme, and the fun combat, and made a decent plan to handle the microtransactions. It’s a relatively simple game that can be mastered. When I got into early-access and played the co-op version of the game, I was charmed but ultimately disappointed in the lack of updates when all of Epic Games’ attention went to their battle royale mode. However, I can see its appeal and how the intuitive building and fun gunplay drew in millions of people.
69. Pillars of Eternity
Release Date | March 26, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
Genre | RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Pillars of Eternity may seem a bit dated compared to more recent cRPGs, but most people seem to forget that before Pillars was released in 2015 and Wasteland 2 a year earlier, the genre was basically dead. Pillars of Eternity proved that there’s a market hungry for Baldur’s Gate-style high fantasy cRPGs (which is ironic considering how poorly the sequel sold), and for that, we owe our eternal gratitude to the people that made it happen. The game’s knack for lore dump, hard to digest real-time with pause combat and hard to follow plot makes Pillars a hard sell for many people, but I’d still recommend it for the brilliant writing and intricate RPG systems. If you’re looking for an old-school RPG with all the quirks and perks, the original Pillars of Eternity is a must-play.
68. Invisible Inc.
Release Date | October 6, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Klei Entertainment |
Genre | Turn-based strategy |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Invisible Inc. is a turn-based tactics/roguelike game developed by Klei Entertainment where you take control of a rogue espionage agency that has come under attack from, what else, tyrannical multinational corporations.This game forces you to think strategically and hack and sneak your way to accomplishing objectives, which can vary from obtaining valuable intelligence to sabotaging corporate infrastructure. All levels and objectives are randomly generated, and once an agent is killed, be becomes unavailable for the rest of the run. Oh, and you have 72 hours to overthrow the corporations or it’s game over. No pressure. If I learned anything from my experience playing Invisible Inc., it would be that spies don’t make for good fighters. So before playing this game, you’d better take a cue from George Smiley instead of Archer.
67. Hollow Knight
Release Date | February 24, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Team Cherry |
Genre | Metroidvania |
66. Into the Breach
Release Date | February 27, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Subset Games |
Genre | Turn-based strategy |
65. Mount and Blade: Warband
Release Date | March 30, 2010 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Android, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One |
Developer | TaleWorlds Entertainment |
Genre | Action RPG |
64. Far Cry 3
Release Date | November 29, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Ubisoft Montreal |
Genre | FPS |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ I don’t know about you, but Far Cry 3 has one of the funniest premises in gaming history: you play as a spoiled, rich dudebro on vacation on a tropical island who is forced by circumstance to become a warrior. That’s why I play video games, man. Anyway, I decided to choose the third entry over the other ones not only because of the ridiculous, tongue in cheek story but also because it brought the biggest jump in quality in the series. It has its fair share of gamey nonsense, like the fact that you need to “upgrade” your wallet to hold more cash, and the last upgrade can be performed only with shark skin, but the rest is just pure, shooty-shooty, get eaten by crocodiles while you’re stealthily scouting an enemy camp fun. And who can forget about that mission?
63. Dead Space 2
Release Date | January 25, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Visceral Games |
Genre | Survival Horror |
62. The Outer Worlds
Release Date | October 25, 2019 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
Genre | RPG |
61. Borderlands 2
Release Date | September 18, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Gearbox Software |
Genre | FPS |
TANIA PREDA ➞ Shoot things. In the face. THE FACE! From the comic-like graphic style to the highly interesting characters and weapons, Borderlands 2 deserves its place on this list without a question. It’s all about enjoying an FPS with your friends, with plenty of ‘wtf’ moments. The NPCs are over the top, comical, and questionable in every sense of the word. But as you play around as a Vault Hunter and do missions, you start to understand them a little better. This is the world of Borderlands. It’s different, exaggerated, loud, Mad Max-esque, and crazy. It definitely distinguishes itself from the myriad of FPS co-op games out there. It might not be the newest installment in the game, but the story makes it worth it and the devs released an Enhanced Edition so you can enjoy it without enduring older graphics.
60. Bayonetta
Release Date | October 29, 2009 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | SEGA of America, PlatinumGames, Nex Entertainment |
Genre | Action-adventure |
59. Warframe
Release Date | March 25, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Digital Extremes |
Genre | Action RPG |
TANIA PREDA ➞ Create your customized, badass character, otherwise known as a warframe. This is the game that did microtransactions right, that was updated on a constant basis and that kept our hope alive that devs can be fair. Warframe set the standard for the rest of the world on how to make a game fun and how to keep the players coming back each time. You wouldn’t think this wonder also looks good and plays well, but it does. The combat and world traversing are entertaining as all hell, the quests are interesting, and this game just seems to get better and better. The effort the devs put in this game is admirable, from the updates to the hauntingly beautiful anthem of capitalism. Did I mention it’s free to play?
58. Wolfenstein: The New Order
Release Date | 20 May 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
Developer | Machine Games |
Genre | FPS |
57. Transistor
Release Date | May 20, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Supergiant Games |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Transistor is Supergiant Games’ stylish and melancholic follow-up to Bastion. Though quite linear and short, Transistor never wastes a single second of your time – no filler, full of substance. The combat, which is turn-based, is perfectly balanced, never feeling too difficult or simplistic. But the real draw of the game is the setting and the atmosphere, and like every great work of art, Transistor tells its story through them rather than bouts of endless exposition. The environments that you explore ooze with a romantic, melancholic cyberpunkish aesthetic comparable to Blade Runner’s version of near-future Los Angeles. Transistor is a haunting, beautiful game that will stick to you long after you beat it.
56. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Release Date | May 10, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Naughty Dog |
Genre | Action Adventure |
55. This War of Mine
Release Date | November 14, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Android, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One |
Developer | 11 Bit Studios |
Genre | Survival |
54. The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth
Release Date | September 28, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One |
Developer | Nicalus |
Genre | Roguelike |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Some may call The Binding of Isaac the ultimate roguelike, and who can blame them? Even in its original state, this game had near infinite replayability, and the subsequent updates and DLCs have only extended its longevity. The sheer number of item synergies in this game is mind-boggling, and together with the randomly generated levels and item order, no run is similar to the next. It’s the perfect “Whatever” game, as Jum aptly put it.
53. Door Kickers
Release Date | October 20, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | KillHouse Games |
Genre | RTS |
52. Rocket League
Release Date | July 7, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Psyonix |
Genre | Sports |
51. Resident Evil 2
Release Date | January 11, 2019 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Capcom |
Genre | Survival horror |
50. Papers Please
Release Date | August 8, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS, PlayStation Vita |
Developer | 3909 LLC |
Genre | Puzzle |
49. Ori and the Blind Forest
Release Date | March 11, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Moon Studios |
Genre | Adventure |
48. Mortal Kombat 9
Release Date | April 19, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita |
Developer | NetherRealm Studios |
Genre | Fighting |
47. Mark of the Ninja
Release Date | September 7, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Klei Entertainment |
Genre | Action stealth |
46. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Release Date | February 13, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Warhorse Studios |
Genre | Action RPG |
45. Life is Strange
Release Date | January 29, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Dontnod Entertainment |
Genre | Adventure |
44. Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain
Release Date | September 1, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
Developer | Kojima Productions |
Genre | Action-adventure |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Look man, I may not be part of the Kojima fan club, but once I played The Phantom Pain, I understood why he’s considered an auteur. There’s something about this game that makes it stand out from your average action-stealth game. I can’t quite put my finger on it – it may be the presentation, the writing, or the emergent, open-world gameplay. Playing The Phantom Pain felt like watching Drive, when what I assumed would be an average car-chase film turned out to be a stylish, deeply cerebral piece of media.
43. Spider-Man
Release Date | September 7, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Insomniac Games |
Genre | Action-adventure |
42. Diablo III
Release Date | May 15, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Blizzard Entertainment |
Genre | Action RPG |
TANIA PREDA ➞ Diablo III was a rollercoaster for me. I finished and farmed in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction more times than I can remember, and I stood in line at midnight to get my hands on Diablo III. Only to get hit with the 404 Error and be kinda disappointed with the game when I finished it in a couple of hours. I was ready to give up. Until that update hit and it made the game a whole lot better. Diablo III brought back everything I loved about its predecessor, only with better graphics and new abilities. It’s fun to play alone and it’s fun to play co-op. The world-building is one of the best you’ll see, something expected of Blizzard. It’s grueling, bloody, miserable, and cool AF. While it’s a hack-and-slash, pay attention to the story. It’s worth it.
41. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Release Date | August 8, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Ninja Theory |
Genre | Action-adventure |
40. Don’t Starve
Release Date | April 23, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Klei Entertainment |
Genre | Survival |
39. Detroit: Become Human
Release Date | May 25, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Quantic Dream |
Genre | Adventure |
38. Dishonored
Release Date | October 9, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | Arkane Studios |
Genre | Action-adventure |
37. Cities: Skylines
Release Date | March 10, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Colossal Order |
Genre | City builder |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Building a functional city after 20 hours of grinding make me feel like an urban planning genius. That is, until I watched a few cities made by actual urban planners and civil engineers on Youtube and I realized that I should never, ever be put in charge of something like this. Virtually all cities that I designed were a couple of badly placed intersections away from a complete shutdown, and even then they were hanging by a thread. Trash sat for days on people’s front porches because the trucks were stuck in endless traffic jams, bodies were decomposing in people’s living rooms because there weren’t enough cemeteries to support the city’s high mortality rate, which in turn was caused by faulty sewer networks that flooded houses with poop, long story short, I was the worst mayor ever. And yet, I loved every second I spent in Cities Skylines.
36. Until Dawn
Release Date | 25 August 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Supermassive Games |
Genre | Adventure |
35. Slay the Spire
Release Date | November 15, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Mega Crit Games |
Genre | Roguelike |
34. Sleeping Dogs
Release Date | August 14, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Developer | United Front Games |
Genre | Action-adventure |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ If you have an affinity for hardboiled undercover cop stories like The Departed and Infernal Affairs, you will love Sleeping Dogs, because it was basically inspired by those films. Set in a vibrant, colorful and masterfully reproduced Hong Kong, the story follows Wei Shen, an undercover Hong Kong-American police officer on assignment to infiltrate and destroy a local triad organization. What starts out as a standard assigment soon turns into a moral dilemma of immense proportions, as Wei Shei reconnects with his roots, befriends fellow triad members and the line between his real identity as a police officer and undercover persona gets thinner by the day. Sleeping Dogs scratches all my itches for undercover-cop thrillers with labyrinthian plots, mafia flicks and Hong Kong cinema, and for that, it will forever hold a special place in my heart.
33. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Release Date | November 11, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | Even on your microwave |
Developer | Bethesda Game Studios |
Genre | Action RPG |
TANIA PREDA ➞ Even without the many, many mods the community made for Skyrim, the vanilla version of the game was always good. Sure, it was buggy, but it introduced us to a vast world filled with side quests and an open landscape that was ours to explore. Unlike most games, it can be argued that the side quests are better than the main Dragonborn storyline, which only adds to the different approaches you can take to it. There’s a lot more to Skyrim than the memes and the backlash Bethesda is getting these days.
32. Bastion
Release Date | July 20, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Supergiant Games |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ If you read my entry about Transistor, you probably saw this coming. Bastion is masterfully-constructed action RPG set in a beautiful, hand-painted post-apocalyptic universe where the world was fractured into thousands of floating pieces following a calamity. Supergiant Games know how to build engaging worlds with absorbing atmospheres, and Bastion is no exception. Few games have managed to captivate me like Bastion. I was fully absorbed by its world for the entire duration of my first (and only) playthrough, trying to discover every bit of lore and information related to that universe. The graphics, music, presentation and story are so well-crafted that you can almost forgive Bastion for its dissappointing combat. It’s an amazing game with an equally amazing story that raised the bar for many indie games to come.
31. Bloodborne
Release Date | March 24, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4 |
Developer | FromSoftware |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Earlier this year, I wrote in my best fantasy RPGs roundup that if Dark Souls 2 was the neglected stoner child, Bloodborne was the child that was sent to violin lessons from an early age and enrolled in the best private schools. Bloodborne is a miserable and depressing journey through a Lovecraftian crapsack world that will have you slash, and crush and shoot your way to whatever the Elder God’s have in store for you (I’m not going to spoil it). Unlike standard souls games, Bloodborne features faster-paced combat based on dodging, parrying and counterattacking. It’s a huge departure from the defensive style of Dark Souls, and Bloodborne even mocks you by placing a useless, broken shield in an early area of the game. An addictive RPG with chaotic combat and a haunting gothic world, Bloodborne is truly one of a kind.
30. The Wolf Among Us
Release Date | October 14, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Telltale Games |
Genre | Adventure |
29. Spelunky
Release Date | December 21, 2008 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita |
Developer | Mossmouth, LLC |
Genre | Open-source indie |
28. Rimworld
Release Date | October 17, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Ludeon Studios |
Genre | Colony Sim |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ I don’t think we’ll ever get a colony sim as comprehensive as Rimworld. I’m not saying it’s physically impossible, but I don’t think any sane game developer would bother developing a colony simulator on the same level as Rimworld when they could just, you know, play Rimworld. This game lets you shape your colony however you want, and with colonists having a wide variety of stats, backgrounds, quirks, and perks, the roleplaying possibilities are nearly endless. To give you an idea, during one of my playthroughs, I created a settlement of vegan colonists who made a living out of kidnapping people and selling their organs on the black market. Of course, my settlement was eventually destroyed by a group of cannibals. Ironic, to say the least. Rimworld is an emergent narrative at its best.
27. Hotline Miami
Release Date | October 23, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Dennaton Games |
Genre | Top-down shooter |
26. Subnautica
Release Date | January 23, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, MacOS |
Developer | Unknown Worlds Entertainment |
Genre | Survival |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ In Subnautica, you crashland in a colorful and beautiful ocean where literally everything is hostile to you. And who can blame the poor sea creatures? You have no business being there. You’re nothing more than an intruder scavenging their backyard for resources and ship-building materials like a hobo rummaging through the trash for a half-eaten quesadilla. I never thought a world could be as beautiful and at the same time as hostile as the ocean in Subnautica. One moment you’re picking plants and admiring the vistas, the next you’re attacked by a huge sea monster. And you know what? I’m totally fine with that.
25. Outlast
Release Date | September 4, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Red Barrels |
Genre | Survival Horror |
24. Max Payne 3
Release Date | May 15, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Rockstar Studios |
Genre | Third-person shooter |
23. Darkest Dungeon
Release Date | January 19, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Red Hook Studios |
Genre | RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Darkest Dungeon made me realize that no person, no matter how heroic and stoic they may seem, can witness their companions getting killed by cosmic abominations and smelly fish people without going through AT LEAST one sleepless night. That stuff gets to you. This notion is deeply ingrained in the core mechanics of Darkest Dungeon, as your roster of dungeon-crawling adventurers are on the brink of mental collapse. For that reason, despite the high-fantasyish horror thematic, Darkest Dungeon is by far the most grounded and humane roguelike in recent memory,
22. Crusader Kings 2
Release Date | February 14, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Paradox Development Studios |
Genre | Grand Strategy |
21. Faster Than Light
Release Date | September 14, 2012 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Subset Games |
Genre | Roguelike |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ I have hundreds of hours in this thing and I still managed to beat this game only once, on the lowest difficulty with the easiest starting ship. But to use an age-old cliche, in Faster the Light, it’s the journey that matters, not the destination. Jumping from system to system, encountering random events, interacting with characters, fighting pirates, and desperately looking for a repair station when your ship is about to fall apart, that’s the core experience of Faster than Light and what makes it a roguelike classic.
20. Overwatch
Release Date | May 24, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Blizzard Entertainment |
Genre | FPS |
19. Cuphead
Release Date | September 29, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft WIndows, Xbox One |
Developer | StudioMDHR |
Genre | Run and gun |
18. Undertale
Release Date | September 15, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Vita |
Developer | Toby Fox |
Genre | RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Undertale is a meta-masterpiece of immense proportions that functions as a deconstruction of the entire medium of video games. I’d go so far to say (wait, I already did that) Undertale is a landmark example of postmodernism in video games because it subverts all expectations and turns all the conventions of the medium upside down. Undertale is smart enough to identify our deeply-rooted tendencies as gamers and spins them around. The result is a game packed with plenty of meta-jokes and fourth-wall-breaking moments that will make you ponder the philosophical implications of things as banal as saving and loading your game. Or it will make you sad. Very, very sad.
17. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Release Date | August 23, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Eidos Montréal |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ If the original Deus Ex is set in a crapsack world where multinational corporations have overthrown governments and society was reduced to a caste system, Human Revolution is set in a world that’s on the brink of that happening, but it’s still okay because hey, augments! All jokes aside, out of Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, the former is the one that fully captures the spirit of the original, both narratively and mechanically. Human Revolution is one of the best examples of the power of emergent gameplay, and every single piece of the game is built to support it. Also, after all this time, I still believe that Hengsha is a landmark achievement in level design because of how carefully and painstakingly constructed it was. To paraphrase Adam Jensen, nobody asked for this sequel – but thank god somebody made it.
16. BioShock Infinite
Release Date | March 26, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, OS X, Linux |
Developer | Irrational Games |
Genre | FPS |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ A wacky steampunkish adventure with a surprisingly strong narrative and a gut-punching ending, Bioshock: Infinite is one of the most artistically and aesthetically impressive games of this decade. If I’m allowed to be a bit snarky, this is probably one of the few instances where I saw a Pinkerton agent portrayed sympathetically – not surprising considering what they did in real life. A lot of ink has been spilled about this game’s beautiful setting (the airborne city of Columbia), visuals and labyrinthian plot, so there’s nothing much I can say that hasn’t been already covered. It’s the Bioshock series at its best, and together with the DLC, it’s a modern classic.
15. Metro: Last Light
Release Date | May 14, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 |
Developer | 4A Games |
Genre | FPS |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Metro: Last Light was to the Metro series what The Witcher 2 was to the Witcher series: its big-budget, long-expected breakthrough into the mainstream. Last Light follows pretty much the same formula as its predecessor, but with more weapons, smoother gameplay, better presentation and writing and a stealth system that actually works. Add a compelling story filled with intrigue and backstabbing, a plethora of factions with interesting backstories and you get a world that will fully absorb you. Also, Venice has to be one of the most gorgeous and atmospheric levels I’ve ever seen in my life.
14. XCOM 2
Release Date | February 5, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Firaxis Games, Feral Interactive |
Genre | Turn-based strategy |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ XCOM 2 is the excellent successor of Enemy Unknown, the modern reboot of the classic series which taught us that it’s never a good idea to name your soldiers after loved ones, unless you want to see them brutally murdered by aliens. While XCOM 2 is essentially more of the same, but with a graphical upgrade and a guerilla theme, its expansion, War of the Chosen, is the definitive version of the game that everybody should play. It adds bosses, allies, interesting characters and a separate story that ties in neatly with the main narrative. XCOM 2 is a tactical, turn-based spectacle with lots of customization options and high replay value.
13. The Last of Us
Release Date | June 14, 2013 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Naughty Dog |
Genre | Action-adventure |
12. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Release Date | November 18, 2014 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 |
Developer | BioWare |
Genre | Action RPG |
11. Stardew Valley
Release Date | February 26, 2016 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | ConcernedApe |
Genre | RPG |
10. Red Dead Redemption 2
Release Date | October 26, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Rockstar Games |
Genre | Action-adventure |
9. Mass Effect 2
Release Date | January 26, 2010 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 |
Developer | BioWare |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ If you’re looking for a Sci-Fi story that plays out as a classic heist film, then look no further than Mass Effect 2. Compared to the grand, bombastic feeling of the first and third entries of the series, Mass Effect 2 is more intimate and personal in scope, and as a result, there’s more space for the writing to shine and the characters to bloom and fully develop. The entirety of your playtime is spent roaming the galaxy and recruiting volunteers for a high-reward suicide mission and making the necessary preparation, and though there’s no time limit or anything, the prospect of failing is always lurking in the back of your mind. Mass Effect 2 is the best that the series has ever been, and I doubt it will ever achieve the same level of greatness.
8. God of War
Release Date | April 20, 2018 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 4 |
Developer | Santa Monica Studio |
Genre | Action-adventure |
7. Fallout: New Vegas
Release Date | October 19, 2010 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Fallout: New Vegas is the best Fallout game since the 90s classics. It’s diverse, intuitive, ingeniously written (Chris Avellone was lead writer, after all) and it was developed over the course of two years with a limited budget. This is an RPG in the truest sense of the word, with a branching questing system that molds according to the player’s decision and an overall design philosophy that allows people to play the game exactly as they want, with no restrictions. New Vegas is the closest the series will ever get to emulating the spirit and freedom of the original series – at least until Bethesda sells the rights to the franchise. Which, let’s be honest, will never happen.
6. Portal 2
Release Date | April 18, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows |
Developer | Valve Corporation |
Genre | Puzzle |
5. Disco Elysium
Release Date | 15 October 2019 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
Developer | ZA/UM |
Genre | RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ How can a small studio from Estonia make a RPG so fresh, so groundbreaking, so out-of-the-box that it makes other RPGs look stale in comparison? Disco Elysium features no combat – all interactions are handled through dialogue trees and skill checks. But what sets Disco Elysium apart from virtually all RPGs I’ve ever played is how it managed to simulate human thought processes and consciousness. How? By making your skills – which can vary from mundane to abstract – “talk” to each other, giving hints during dialogue about the best course of action. As for the writing, Disco Elysium flows like a hardboiled detective novel written by Fitzgerald on his best day – filled with sadness, melancholy and at the same time an explosive humor that references everything from Kant to DMX and Snoop Dogg. This is my The Wire of games – I’ll compare all future games with Disco Elysium.
4. Dark Souls
Release Date | September 22, 2011 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Developer | FromSoftware |
Genre | Action RPG |
MARCO GIULIANI ➞ Sometimes I just want to wipe all my memories of Dark Souls, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind style, and play it as if it were the first time. Dark Souls is a mesmerizing, cerebral experience that will make you go through the entire emotional spectrum – sadness, frustration, anger, happiness, melancholy. Some of the more difficult fights will destroy you mentally and physically, and then the game will reward you with a beautiful vista. Everything in Dark Souls clicks, from the genius level design featuring an intricately interconnected world, difficult, but fair combat and the environmental storytelling that it’s, as of 2019, unmatched.
3. Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Release Date | March 3, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Nintendo Switch, Wii U |
Developer | Nintendo Entertainment |
Genre | Action-adventure |
2. Divinity: Original Sin 2
Release Date | September 14, 2017 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | Larian Studios |
Genre | RPG |
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Release Date | May 19, 2015 |
---|---|
Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Developer | CD Projekt RED |
Genre | RPG |
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The ranking is horrendous, the list is filled with garbage indie games that are only there to please the hipsters who are stuck in the 8 bit era, and there are several important games missing, like Endless Legend, The Witness, MGR: Revengeance, Battle Chasers: Night War, Layers of Fear, RiME, Mutant: Year Zero, just off the top of my head. Even the omission are forgivable, as no one person can play every game, and some are bound to slip your mind, but the ranking is just straight up bad. You’ve got Doom on 133? Bloodborne on 31? Hellblade on 41? Sekiro all the way at 125? Meanwhile, you’ve got garbage like Undertale and Hotline Miami ranked high? At least you got number 1 right…
As we stated (twice) in the article, this is a list of games that WE consider to be the best and WE enjoyed playing, so it’s inherently subjective. Of course, we took into consideration other factors such as community consensus, number of awards, Steam reviews, etc, but our personal opinions played a much bigger factor in the selection process.