We’ve picked the very best games released this decade.
Guess which titles ended up at the top?
What a difference 10 years make.
What future will the 2020s bring?
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Theres nothing quite like this game, and we doubt there ever will be.
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It also didnt turn it into a global phenomenon (that would beFortnite).
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Youve probably even played one with friends.
New Super Mario Bros.
Us greatest trick is how it takes advantage of the Wii Us often underutilized tablet controller.
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Its flat-out badass to wreck shop and squash foes like ants.
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StarCraft II
2010 | Blizzard | PC
Its amazing that we finally got aStarCraftsequel this decade.
This is indeed a RTS masterpiece and every bit the sequel that fans had long hoped for.
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But this goose isnt just gonna sit by and let peace and order reign.
Few games are as funny or exude more charm than this deceptively simple and truly engaging little indie.
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Splatoon
2015 | Nintendo | Wii U
Aside fromGoldenEye, Nintendo has never been known for its competitive shooters.
The Big N has pretty much relied on the same cast of gaming icons for the past 25 years.
Fortunately,Splatoons Inklings are the best character designs Nintendo has created in years.
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Boundary-pushing doesnt even begin to describe this instant-classic from developer Davey Wreden.
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The multiplayer component alone is worth the price of admission.
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Remarkably, this game comes fairly close to achieving its loftiest goals.
Its a meticulously well-crafted nod to a time gone by as well as a look at what could be.
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Theres rarely a dull round ofApex Legends.
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Still,Super Mario 3D Worldhas always felt like an especially underrated part of the platformer series.
In a just world, it would rightfully compete for a spot on the Mt.
Rushmore of Mario titles.
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Did such an outlandish piece of gaming truly exist?
It did, andGod of War 3represents the thrilling climax of everything it gave to gaming.
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Its sequel upped the insanity enough to finally establish an identity of its own.
But it wasSaints Row: The Thirdthat kicked down the door.
It still stands as the franchises finest hour.
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Thats becauseSekiroisnt just another Soulsborne game.
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Some say that its shortcomings resulted in the innovations ofBreath of the Wild.
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It also happens to be the absolute scariest horror game of this decade.
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Super Meat Boyis one of the first modern platformers to embrace that mentality.
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AsShovel Knightshows, nostalgia is sometimes more than justified.
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But more importantly, its one of the most unique educational tools ever created.
Its as frightening as it is enlightening.
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Heavy Rain
2010 | Quantic Dream | PS3, PS4, PC
IsHeavy Rainperfect?
Quantum Dreams three-pronged noir thriller is janky in both presentation and design.
Today, cinematic games are commonplace.
But back in 2010, Quantic Dream was breaking new ground.
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Injustice 2is one of the best examples of this exciting trend.
Its for DC fans, fighting fans, and, most importantly, fans of good games.
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And that ending…that ending is truly something else.
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And yet, here we are, writing about how greatSouth Park: The Stick of Truthis.
But jokes aside, the game is well-made and hilarious, and deserves its spot on this list.
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Among this action RPGs many highlights is the variety of gameplay options you have at your disposal.
Want to sneak into enemy territory, complete your mission, and get out?
Or do you want to go loud and kill every last bad guy in a building?
Offensive augmentations like damage resistance and the ability to punch through walls are key here.
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Bastionfeatured a distinctive art style, refined gameplay, and compellingly simple story.
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Blazkowicz, a Nazi-killing machine who will stop at nothing until every last one of Hitlers men is dead.
Its really as simple as that.
Some ofThe New Orders levels rank as the very best in the franchises history.
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That mod would soon become one of themost important PC games of all-time.
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This remake isnt just about reviving what worked in the 90s but making it new again.
Resident Evil 2is a masterpiece of horror atmosphere.
The music swells as Mr. Xs booming footsteps grow louder as he gets closer to his prey.
Rooms covered in shadow reveal flesh-hungry predators waiting around the corner.
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Considering thatMetroid IIhas long been referred to as one of the bestMetroidtitles, thats quite the treat.
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Theres also an enjoyable story and a few colorful characters to boot.
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Resident Evil 7ultimately won over many of its doubters by being the scariest Resident Evil title in years.
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If nothing else, the appeal ofHearthstonewill always be partially based on how it digitized the CCG genre.
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But the truth is thatFortniteis much more than that.
Heres the question: isFortnitethe ultimate representation of modern gaming or simply the game that solidified its trends?
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Fezremains one of the most facinating indie games released to date.
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The game takes B.J.
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The Binding of Issacwas one of the clearest early declarations that the roguelike genre was here to stay.
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That just sounds like a recipe for success, and it proved to be just that.
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Limbo is a perfectly crafted adventure that proves that personality wins the day in game design.
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Few games feel as affecting asGone Homeits a privilege to play.
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Here is where you truly become the Big Boss.
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Undertalecalls back to RPGs likeEarthboundwith its quirky characters, active combat mechanics, and humorous writing.
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After bringing the series original story to a close, Ubisoft had to figure out new territory to explore.
Oh, and you’ve got the option to do some parkour-heavy assassin stuff, too.
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This one also features one of the most gruesome playable sequences ever put in a video game.
We love to see it.
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29. Who really killed JFK?
Youll find out here.
We lost hours playing these in college!
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The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worldsdeserves to be near the top of that list.
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Overall, its a fine game if not exactly the major jump fans expected after the seminalFallout 3.
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About as well as BioWare did in 2012.
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Marvels Spider-Mansuggests that the future may offer something brighter than that, though.
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The fact thatOverwatchmanaged to meet or surpass nearly every initial expectation remains one of the decades most impressive accomplishments.
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Its how the game encourages you to experience it.
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Bloodborne
2015 | FromSoftware | PS4
It would have been so easy forBloodborneto be anotherDark Soulsgame.
From a creative standpoint, its clear thatDark Soulsstill had plenty left in the tank.
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Its a ravishing game thats not chaotic, but serene.
Not competitive, but empathetic.
Not rigid, but nebulous.
When the story reveals itself in full at the games conclusion, its a revelation.
But really, its the way the sand glistens.
Its the feeling you get when a trusty companion leaves your side without a word.
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There are no conceits or pretensions here.
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Red Dead Redemption IIis more than that.
It challenges preconceived notions of video game pacing and open-world storytelling.
Its Rockstars best open-world game yet.
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The games themes, characters, worlds, and mechanics have firmly divided everyone who has played.
It also happens to feature arguably the best uses of licensed music in video game history.
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Whats more, the game is as fun to watch as it is to play.
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimaterepresents the best of both worlds.
This game proves that theSmash Bros.concept can really be so much more.
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Fortunately,Fallout: New Vegasrepresents the glorious comeback of those more complex RPG elements.
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Mass Effect 2
2010 | BioWare | PS3, X360, PC
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This is the ultimate party game.
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But Nintendo exceeded expectations and gave us what is arguably the greatest 3D platformer ever made.
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What makesGod of Warwork as well as it does is the quality of its writing.
This is one of gamings greatest marriages between personal journeys and epic adventures.
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But the true beauty ofPortal 2is its story and characterizations.
).Valvecreated a masterpiece inPortal, butPortal 2takes The Cake.
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Its possibly the most profound apocalyptic story sinceThe Road.
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Matthew Byrd is a staff writer forDen of Geek.
You canread more of his work hereor find him on Twitter at@SilverTuna014.
Bernard Boo is a freelance contributor.
Read more of his workhere.
