Spanning over two console generations and a mid-console refresh, the 2010s gifted us with some awesome video games that still hold up to this day. I was fortunate enough to own both an Xbox 360 and PS4, switching between the two during my 20s. Minus a couple of PS3 exclusives that my colleagues tell me belong here (LittleBigPlanet 2 and Infamous 2) and the Xbox One-exclusive Halo 5: Guardians, this gave me access to most games at the time.
Naturally, ten years means there are a lot of games to choose from and it was particularly difficult to narrow down. A top ten is almost entirely subjective, so don’t get too hung up if your greatest isn’t here. These are simply the games I happily spent countless hours playing.
I have a penchant for single-player, narrative-driven, open-world, and RPG titles. Which, come to think of it, is sort of what defined the 2010s. Beefed-up hardware allowed for bigger games, better graphics, and intricate gameplay mechanics.
Unlike multiplayer titles, you can still play these games in their original form. There’s also the added benefit that these games are in the best shape they’ve ever been, thanks to updates squashing launch bugs and performance issues. It’s a win-win situation should you wish to go back in time and try them out for yourself.
Minecraft
| Release date | October 7, 2011 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, ChromeOS tvOS, FireOS, Raspberry Pi, Windows Phone Nintendo Switch, Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS Xbox One, Xbox 360 PS4, PS3, PS Vita |
| Genre | Sandbox, survival |
Indie titles became increasingly popular in the 2010s due to the Xbox Marketplace and PSN Store. It gave aspiring creators and small development studios the opportunity to showcase their talent to a much wider audience other than PC. Besides this, YouTube expanded the doors of the gaming community, allowing a natural sharing of ideas and opinions.
Minecraft is one particular title that blew up because of this young and burgeoning landscape. In fact, the game primarily spread through word of mouth with no publisher or commercial advertisement. Still, throughout its history, the game has experienced virality on numerous occasions and has become the best-selling video game in history, with over 300 million copies sold and nearly 140 million monthly active players as of 2023.
Minecraft sets itself apart from the crowd because of its pixelated and procedurally generated open world. Combined with survival gameplay mechanics, it has no required goals or story. It simply allows players a large amount of freedom and opportunity for creation.
You can discover and interact with various materials, craft tools and items, and build both structures and intricate logic machines. In fact, the game’s complex crafting system and easy-to-learn yet hard-to-master mechanics are important aspects of the open-ended gameplay.
Couple that with an infinite open world, nostalgia-inducing ambient music and aesthetics, continuous and free major updates that add new creatures, biomes, items, and enhanced features, a strong modding community, and the ability to run on almost any device, and you have a game that will likely exist until the end of time.
Red Dead Redemption
| Release date | May 18, 2010 |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch Xbox 360 PS4, PS3 |
| Genre | Action-adventure, open-world |
The Wild West genre was popular enough in movies, but studios struggled to translate the time period into a commercially successful video game. Yes, we had Gun, Red Dead Revolver, and other Western-inspired tales before it, but Rockstar broke the mould when building its first cowboy adventure.
You take on the role of ex-outlaw John Marston, who’s blackmailed by the Bureau of Investigations using his past crimes. They force him to take down his former posse in exchange for his family’s safe return.
The game takes you on an open-world journey spanning a fictionalised version of the Western United States and Northern Mexico. The story might be linear, but you get to pick and choose how and when Marston completes missions to progress through the story. You’ll probably get back to the main path quickly, though, thanks to some epic dialogue and highly detailed cutscenes featuring beautiful Old West-inspired vistas, closeup shots, and gritty realism.
The open world features random encounters you can interact with, including public hangings, ambushes, and pleas for assistance. There are also some weird and captivating side stories, should you wish to partake. Even more so, Rockstar fills the world with optional side activities that include duelling, bounty hunting, herb collecting, gambling, drinking, horseshoes, and hunting. The mechanics are quite intricate too, and include a few additional systems inspired by Rockstar’s other video game hits.
The physics remains a sight to behold. They’re an extension of Rockstar’s Table Tennis and GTA 4, which first introduced Euphoria’s Natural Motion. Red Dead’s proprietary RAGE engine bakes the system in and makes for some exciting non-scripted animations. NPCs realistically fall and tumble, reacting specifically to where you shoot them in a gunfight. They also hilariously stumble across their own feet after a few too many tequila shots, including Marston.
The Dead Eye system inspired by Max Payne allows players to slow down time. It’s quite useful in gunfights. There’s also a bounty system that’s an extension of the ‘wanted system’ in the GTA series. Witnesses call the county sheriff if they catch you being a criminal. Finally, the Honor system ties this together, measuring how NPCs perceive your morality.
It’s a truly great title if only for the open world alone. The first Red Dead Online was one of the best multiplayer options to roleplay as a gun-toting bandit with friends. Sadly, Rockstar has since taken the servers down, and the multiplayer experience is missing from the recent remastered versions. Though, it’s still worthy of a second playthrough or third.
Skate 3
| Release date | May 11, 2010 |
| Platforms | Xbox 360 PS3 |
| Genre | Sports, open-world |
Why does everyone love Skate 3? There’s an entire subreddit dedicated to this question. Perhaps it was the accessible controls with a steep learning curve to truly master. Or, it could be the endlessly addictive need to nail the cleanest and most perfect trick.
While some purists might argue that Skate 2 is the most realistic and best title in the franchise, I and many others would agree to disagree. One thing’s for sure: in terms of polish, accessibility, features, and fun, Skate 3 was a marked improvement overall.
The physics were more forgiving, allowing you to perform some unbelievable stunts. The walking animations were a whole lot better and far less tank-like. And the city, Port Carverton, featured beautiful environments perfect for some of the sickest lines.
It was also a complete package, much unlike the recent EA games we have today. Shots fired. The developers at Black Box peppered the game with epic new additions like the park editor, item dropper, skate teams, trick analyser, and a beefed-up Hall of Meat mode. It even brought in the fan-favourite darkslide, letting you use your grip tape to grind.
The soundtrack was also quite a treat. Neil Diamond belting out “Cracklin’ Rosie” still gets me pumped, and I get down with my two left feet as soon as I hear the intro beat for ODB’s “Shimmy, Shimmy Ya.” This is all much to my wife’s embarrassment. It was the sound of my youth and I would go as far as to say that it beats Tony Hawk Pro Skater’s original score. Please don’t hurt me.
The game is a near-perfect skateboarding simulator that’s still unrivalled. Sadly, there was no PC port available for this one. From what I understand, you can still play it via an EA Play subscription on Xbox and PS consoles or purchase it through the Xbox store.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
| Release date | November 11, 2011 |
| Platforms | Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox 360 PS5, PS4, PS3 |
| Genre | Action RPG, open-world |
Hot off the heels of a very successful reboot of the Fallout franchise came the greatest game of all time. Yes, I said the greatest! Now let me take you back to 2010. My first experience of a Bethesda Games title was Fallout 3. It had me instantly hooked. The next game that followed was Fallout: New Vegas. I wept; it was so good.
Finally, on December 11, 2010, at the Video Game Awards, it happened. Todd Howard came out in his signature leather jacket amidst a crowd of chanting, cloaked druids, looking like an absolute Chad, and announced The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I fell out of my chair and cheered with excitement. This was the single most epic video game announcement since GTA IV (that reveal trailer was epic; I vividly remember Peter Moore brandishing his foolish tattoo at E3 2006).
Based on the teaser alone, we all knew that this game was going to be great. You must understand something. Yes, Red Dead Redemption was a technical achievement of great proportions, but Bethesda, for all its faults, took the open-world RPG genre and elevated it to the next level. There’s a reason why the game is still a joy to play even to this day. It’s that very same reason that Skyrim has several re-releases and two remasters – for better or worse.
You see, Bethesda took a great leap of faith when designing the overall gameplay loop for Skyrim. It replaced the old traditional RPG, experienced-based levelling system and flipped it on its head. Instead of grinding your characters to oblivion (pun intended), this new fluid system allowed players to level up their major skills by using them more in action. Do you prefer a Barbarian-type build? Level up your single-handed weaponry skill simply by wielding your axe. I would also suggest wearing light and nimble armour paired with a shield to bolster your defence.
Perhaps you’re the sneaky type? Well, then shuffle around and use lock picks to break into unsuspecting homes. Don’t forget to stock up on arrows to master the archery skill so you may stealthily strike your foes from a distance. I heard a guild in Riften can make great use of your skills. Pair that with the ability to choose among a large list of various races, and you’ve got yourself near endless levels of choice. Be who you want to be; that’s the name of the game!
Skyrim is also uniquely immersive. After the initial opening scene, a large, beautiful, carefully crafted open world greets you. I still get chills when you’re almost free to explore as you head towards Riverwood. The quaint little town almost seems ripped from a page of a Tolkien novel. Bethesda also has a truly talented team known for creating this deeply rich and intricate lore, fascinating characters, and compelling storytelling that instantly draws you into its world.
I have spent countless hours just exploring the world and taking in its beauty. Bethesda has this innate ability to suck you in and never let go. There’s always just one more corner you want to poke your head around. “One more hour,” you say. “I’ll just complete this quest objective, and then I’m off to bed.” Before you know it, daylight breaks.
Max Payne 3
| Release date | May 15, 2012 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS X Xbox 360 PS3 |
| Genre | Third-person shooter |
Rockstar Games took over Sam Lake and Remedy’s Max Payne franchise a few years after the impressive yet underselling Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. This John Woo-inspired, action-packed, third-person shooter doesn’t feature the previous neo-noir setting of New York, nor the occult themes present throughout. Instead, sunny Sao Paulo, Brazil, is the destination for Max’s escapades.
Perhaps this is why people slept on it, initially, although it does carry over the noire-styled storytelling to great effect. The game offered a more realistic and gritty retelling of Max Payne, and I quite enjoyed it. Nine years after the events of the second game, Max drifted from bad to worse. After retiring from the NYPD, he now spends most of his days nursing old wounds with alcohol and painkillers. Max, as always, gets himself into hot water, trying to defend a woman at a bar. The aftermath forces him to leave New York.
He accepts an offer from former NYPD-affiliate Raul Passo, who was present at the incident, and eventually becomes a private security contractor for a wealthy real estate mogul and his family in Brazil. Of course, there is no happily ever after, and sure enough Max gets himself into a kidnapping plot that involves local street gangs, paramilitary, corporate espionage, and a black-market organ theft ring. This guy never catches a break.
I won’t spoil it more than that but it’s the in-between gameplay that makes it so much fun. Much like its predecessor, it also introduced a series of gameplay mechanics the studio is known for.
The game experiments with interactive cutscenes that transition seamlessly into continuing gameplay. This is a trick that would eventually find its way into GTA V and RDR2. The auto-aim and covering system from Red Dead Redemption was vastly improved, making for a rather smooth and efficient gunplay experience.
Finally, Rockstar vastly improved the bullet time system for which the game is famed for. Thanks to the RAGE Engine, bullet time visuals now reveal intricate details, and it’s possible to see every bullet strike an enemy. The physics remains a mind-bogglingly realistic experience, and the animations are satisfying to boot.
Sadly, despite selling more than four million copies by 2013, the game did not meet Take Two’s expectations. The franchise has since been shelved indefinitely. However, it has built a cult following online, and many consider it one of Rockstar’s greatest masterpieces.
Sleeping Dogs
| Release date | August 14, 2012 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS Xbox One, Xbox 360 PS4, PS3 |
| Genre | Action-adventure, open-world |
Sleeping Dogs had a long and troubled history. Thankfully, it became one of the most satisfying GTA clones of yesteryear. Originally, Sleeping Dogs was intended as a True Crime: NYC successor.
Unfortunately, Activision Blizzard faced some trying times during those days, resulting in budget cuts and project delays. Eventually, Square Enix saw potential in the game and purchased the publishing rights. It renamed the title Sleeping Dogs without True Crime backing, and the game is often considered a spiritual successor to the franchise. Honestly, it was for the best.
This time, players take on the role of Wei Shen, a Chinese American police officer who goes undercover to infiltrate the Sun On Yee Triad gang in Hong Kong. The story is undoubtedly inspired by one of many undercover films you’ve seen before, but it’s masterfully told, and you soon get attached to the over-the-top characters in this tale. It didn’t win any awards for great storytelling, but it was certainly a satisfying plot that was fun and kept the game interesting from beginning to end.
Besides, it’s the action that gets you hooked. This game takes Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham fighting system and adds it’s very own unique and gruesome spin to it. Wei fights opponents from multiple directions, utilising counterattacks, grapples, and basic light and heavy melee moves to chain together large, satisfying combos.
As the game progresses, enemies increase in difficulty, featuring large and threatening brute opponents and those wielding knives and other melee weapons found in the environment. Wei can also use the surrounding environment to kill his opponents. It’s gruesome, gory, and weirdly satisfying when done right.
There are also some unique John Woo-styled action set pieces peppered through the main and side mission stories. Wei can vault over obstacles, sending him into a slow-motion bullet time that allows him to shoot down opponents with a variety of weapons in rapid succession.
The open world was also quite satisfying to live in. Hong Kong’s streets is lined with neon-filled lighting, interesting side characters, and NPCs. There’s also a bunch of side activities that rivalled GTA V in many instances.
For one, you can visit multiple stores across Hong Kong and purchase various items of clothing and vehicles, among other things. You can attain health and face buffs by ordering food and drinks from stalls or vending machines littered throughout the city. It also featured a karaoke bar starring classic songs from Steely Dan and Air Supply. Plus, carjacking, street racing, and even an option to join a fight club – but I mustn’t talk about that.
It’s not exactly a side activity, but Wei can perform action hijacks between vehicles while driving. My brother and I found great fun trying to see how many cars we could hijack at high speed before inevitably hitting a wall.
It’s a great game with a unique setting that is never repeated in any other GTA clone thereafter. Plus, it punched way above its weight class, hence it deserves a spot on my list.
Grand Theft Auto 5
| Release date | September 17, 2013 |
| Platforms | Windows Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox 360 PS5, PS4, PS3 |
| Genre | Action-adventure, open-world |
My next guest needs no introduction. Released in 2013, GTA 5 has become one of the most influential and successful video games of all time. The game has received numerous GOTY awards and accolades and sold over 170 million copies worldwide. That’s not even counting the shark cards.
GTA 5 is a game that has it all: a huge, highly detailed open world, a brilliant and diverse story, and not one but three protagonists. The gameplay is both immersive and exciting, and the story features superb writing that pokes fun at our consumerist culture. It’s satire at its finest.
In fact, satire is one of the most distinctive and recognizable aspects of the game. It’s expressed through the game’s characters, dialogue, music, radio, TV, internet, advertisements, and more. There are also some hilarious and insightful references to popular culture from video games, books, and films, from which it gets inspiration. It adds to the game’s immersion and realism and makes this fictitious world feel more authentic and relevant than anything before it.
GTA V’s story follows the lives of three protagonists: Michael, a successfully retired bank robber who is unhappy with his family and lifestyle; Franklin, a young street hustler who wants to make it big in the criminal world; and Trevor, a psychotic and unpredictable former partner of Michael who lives in a trailer park.
Take a closer look, and you’ll find deeper meaning in these characters. Franklin is the quintessential GTA archetype. He represents the classic rags to riches story. Michael represents that big what-if, showing what happens after the curtains close when the game ends. Meanwhile, Trevor represents the players’ desire to cause absolute chaos. He mows down pedestrians, gets into heated gunfights, and does the most daring acts of debauchery you can think of, all without batting an eye.
To say that GTA 5 has set the standard for the quality and scale of open-world video games is an understatement. Take this for example. Right around the time the very first GTA V trailer came out, famed video game director Hideo Kojima announced that he was depressed by the quality of the game and thought that Metal Gear Solid V would never be able to measure up to it. Yes, GTA V made your favourite video game director cry.
The game’s mechanics are an amalgamation of everything that came before it. The team took great inspiration from its previous works, including GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption, and Max Payne 3, and it’s quite evident here.
In terms of gameplay, the shooting and cover systems have been wholly improved. Each character has at least one trait or special move inspired by Max Payne 3. Trevor’s rage allows him to become invincible. Franklin can trigger slow motion in vehicles, and Michael has a bullet time ability. However, the true-to-life driving mechanics from GTA IV are not present here. This was done intentionally. Fun and fluid vehicular controls returned from games of old. Euphoria’s natural motion is also far less intricate. Rockstar decided to simplify these mechanics for the more quick-paced, action-packed gameplay.
Meanwhile, the fictionalized Los Angeles and Southern California is as visually impressive as it was when it debuted. There are a lot of mechanics at play here. Rockstar’s attention to detail echoes across San Andreas and the city of Los Santos. It truly makes for a lived-in and believable world. There’s dynamic weather, a day and night cycle, large draw distances, advanced lighting systems, and pedestrians and traffic cycles that spawn realistically depending on the time of day and location.
I can’t forget the licensed music and radio stations. It features classic headbangers, up-to-date pop music, and everything in between. It’s all presented by over-the-top caricatures of real-life artists and radio hosts. These provide amusing social commentary and sick jams while you mow down unsuspecting victims. Chef’s kiss.
Overall, the artistry here is amazing and you’ll find countless opportunities for exploration, discovery, and interaction. It’s simply a masterpiece. I can’t wait for GTA 6.
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
| Release date | May 19, 2015 |
| Platforms | Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One PS5, PS4 |
| Genre | Action RPG, open-world |
Before Cyberpunk 2077, there was The Witcher. Before that, two fellow gamers wanted to localise Western titles for their beloved home of Poland. Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński founded CD Projekt and did just that.
The studio’s first major success was porting the original Baldur’s Gate. Interplay (the original publisher) was so impressed it asked CD Projekt if it could do a similar treatment to Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, a console title released in 2001. This localization project failed to materialize but as a result, CD Projekt realized it had the potential to make its own video games. Lighting strikes once again.
The Witcher takes place in a fantasy world based on the novels by Andrzej Sapowski. Players take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer for hire who has a certain set of otherworldly skills. Geralt’s adventures feature a blend of social and political intrigue amid a world filled with magic, mystery, and dangerous monsters.
Throughout the main campaign and side quests, you’ll find intricate narratives that feature morally grey choices. These decisions will then shape a rich and immersive world. This allows for multiple playthroughs and encourages exploration – both fundamentals in creating a gripping RPG.
The third iteration sees our hero embark on a journey across the Continent to find Ciri, his missing adoptive daughter. Along the way, Geralt runs into all sorts of mischief, mystery, and mayhem, featuring humans, elves, dwarves, monsters, and other supernatural creatures. Geralt must also navigate a war between the Nilfgaardian Empire and the Northern Kingdoms.
The Continent is split up between three main regions. Your journey starts in the rural and quaint White Orchard, an area that cleverly teaches the basic gameplay mechanics and where you find that there are consequences to Geralt’s actions. Not long after, you travel to the war-ravaged, swampy province of Velen, the city slums of Novigrad, and the Norse-inspired Skellige Isles.
Geralt is more mobile and agile than ever before. He walks, runs, rolls, dodges, jumps, climbs, and swims – all important traits when monster slaying. Speaking of weapons, he also has a variety, including bombs, crossbows, and his trusty two swords. One for business, the other for pleasure. Geralt also has five magical signs at his disposal that will aid greatly in fending off foes and killing gruelling monsters.
Blacksmiths scattered across the world will offer to craft various weapons and armour. I remember with great fondness finding, unlocking, and upgrading unique Witcher School armour sets you can discover throughout the world. Potions, mutagens, and food are also important when preparing Geralt for specific quests. Plus the bestiary is immensely detailed, offering both a deeper look into the lore and providing some useful survival tips. Lest I forget Gwent, The Witcher card game that you’ll most likely spend countless hours playing.
It’s this sheer amount of detail and variety that makes the Witcher undoubtedly one of the best RPGs of yesteryear. While the main story might be a bit predictable at times, it’s the side quests that provide some of the greatest narrative experiences and emotional payoffs within this fantastical world. Besides this, there are two meaty expansions that help flesh out the remaining lore, and give our hero and friends a fairy tale send off they deserve. It’s all there, just waiting for you to discover.
God of War
| Release date | April 20, 2018 |
| Platforms | Windows PS4 |
| Genre | Action-adventure, hack-and-slash, open-world |
How do you redefine a classic? According to Santa Monica Studios, you continue the story of its main character, transition the game’s main setting from Greek to Norse mythology, and rebuild everything from the ground up, featuring a modern over-the-shoulder perspective. It does all of this while maintaining its core identity.
Despite seeming like a tall order, 2018’s God of War did just that. It revitalised the series and introduced the world to a much older and wiser Kratos, who now has a son. The story is masterfully told and starts with the death of Kratos’ second wife and Atreus’ mother, Faye. The two embark on a journey to fulfil her last dying wish to spread her ashes at the highest peak of the nine realms. Along the way, our two heroes must traverse the realm of Midgard, encountering various mythological creatures, monsters, and gods of the Norse world. Some are friends, some are foes.
Even though God of War maintains its core gameplay elements, it switches out its fixed camera for a free-flowing third-person perspective. It wasn’t the first to do it, but the game’s notable for its cinematic approach with no loading screens. The transition from gameplay to cutscenes is seamless and you won’t see a cut to black until the curtain calls.
You control Kratos in combo-based combat scenarios. This Kratos no longer uses his signature double-chain blades but is instead given a magical battle axe called the Leviathan. The Spartan Rage ability returns, but now Kratos can use visceral hand-to-hand attacks to obliterate his enemies. The game also introduces RPG elements, a semi-open world, and more puzzles than you can shake a stick at. There are resources to craft, including upgrading and crafting unique armour sets, weapons, and shields.
Nevertheless, it received critical acclaim and is often considered one of the greatest ever made, winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2018. It features an amazing story, a strong world design, beautiful art direction, and an awe-inspiring sound track and voice acting, with memorable characters.
Control
| Release date | August 27, 2019 |
| Platforms | Windows, Amazon Luna, Stadia Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
What better video game to end off 2010s large and impressive catalogue than Control. Developed by Remedy Entertainment, this action-adventure game took the world by storm with its fast-paced third-person shooting mechanics, paranormal setting, and superpower abilities.
It was also one of the first games to take full advantage of Nvidia’s real-time ray tracing tech. The advanced lighting effects and realistic shadow rendering undoubtedly enhanced the game’s art and design, of which it received critical praise and proved that ray tracing was here to stay.
Control is set within the Oldest House, a paranormal skyscraper set in New York City, and the headquarters of the fictional Federal Bureau of Control. Players take on the role of Jesse Faden, who ultimately becomes the Bureau’s new director through a series of events.
Players must traverse a corrupted reality and paranormal events using powerful abilities to defeat a deadly enemy known as Hiss. You see, the Oldest House is a place of power, and its interior shifts, defying the laws of spacetime. Hiss is an entity of this otherworldly dimension and constantly attempts to defeat the player by altering the architecture and its inhabitants.
The game utilises every trick that Remedy is known for and shares inspiration with its predecessors, Alan Wake and Quantum Break. However, the large and complex story is told from a non-linear perspective, and it’s up to the player to discover and unlock its secrets. How far down the rabbit hole are you willing to go?
This was done by fleshing out the world with optional documents, audio logs, and live-action video footage that players can find and review at their own leisure. Plus, a Metroidvania-styled format and roguelite levelling system that keeps the action challenging and fresh. It has the perfect balance of a strong narrative with high replayability.
Ultimately, Control is a labour of love, with complex gameplay mechanics, gorgeous visuals, and a well-written story. What more could you ask for?
We’ve finally reached the end of the rainbow. Ten picks are clearly insufficient to contain the sheer amount of excellent titles released in the 2010s. Nonetheless, I would be remiss not to include a few honourable mentions that didn’t quite make the cut but certainly deserve a shout-out.
Honourable mentions
- Doom (2016)
- Dishonored (2012)
- Ratchet and Clank (2016)
- What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)
- TellTale Games: The Walking Dead (2012)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
- Far Cry 3 (2012)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
- The Last of Us (2013
- Fortnite (2017)
Editor’s note for the reader: I, Damien, can’t tell you how wrong it feels to relegate Dishonored, Doom, and Breath of the Wild to honourable mentions. I’m just as shocked as you. For what it’s worth, though, they face incredibly stiff competition from a jam-packed decade. If anything, it makes me feel wonderful to live through a true golden age of gaming, with plenty more to come in the 2020s.
