20 BEST VIDEO GAMES.

 

20 Best Video Games

20 best video games of the century so far for this list we'll be looking at the most critically acclaimed commercially successful and influential video games released in the 21st century because this is a tight squeeze only one entry per franchise will be allowed we're also putting a stronger emphasis on their legacy within the gaming industry so there may be a few changes from our best of the decade list shall we now

Number 20

Uncharted 2

Uncharted 2 among thieves when people say Blockbuster Video Game one undoubtedly thinks of uncharted 2 this game perfectly encapsulates everything that makes Blockbuster Video games so much fun a globe-trotting Indiana Jones esque adventure memorable characters and enough excitement to have you shaking from the adrenaline rush there was simply nothing like it at the time and it has arguably never been taught even by its own sequels it perfected the concept of the action movie video game hybrid and thanks to near-perfect execution on the part of Naughty Dog it remains a joy to play even a decade later not bad for last year's model

 Number 19

Metal Gear Solid 5 the phantom pain

Metal Gear Solid 5 the phantom pain this game served as Hideo Kojima's final Konami product and what a curtain call it was the ninth installment in the Metal Gear series the phantom pain contained all the signature Kojima wackiness we've come to expect over the years complete with a seriously convoluted story so you're the so-called white Mamba but it's the powerful themes and brilliant gameplay design that make the phantom pain such a masterpiece if an incomplete one in fact we almost gave this sloth a Snake Eater for that still not only did it expand on the futility of war but it encouraged the player to experiment and tackle objectives to the fullest extent of their boundless creativity the game could be whatever you want it to be and it represented everything that made Metal Gear such an iconic series I'll see you in hell

 Number 18

Dark Souls

Dark Souls is a significant outlier in the video game industry it is incredibly difficult willfully obtuse and fiercely weird and uninviting and yet despite all that it managed to find a devoted player base and launched one of the most celebrated franchises of the century the game was endlessly praised for its rich imagination philosophy and game design and its foundation continues to be utilized by various copycats sequels and spiritual successors to this day looking at you sekito Dark Souls has since been improved upon both mechanically and visually but a palace can't be built without a foundation

Number 17

World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft when it comes to gaming behemoths few can compare to World of Warcraft it has become an iconic piece of entertainment since it's released back in 2004 a brilliant example of implementing gaming and social interaction the addictive mechanics and unique social integration quickly allowed the world of warcraft to balloon in popularity and by 2017 that has become one of the most profitable franchises in gaming history God is watching it's the quintessential MMORPG and successfully managed to shatter the barrier between each pastime and mainstream acceptance despite its age World of Warcraft still feels relevant thanks to the expansions and drops every two years or so I can't attack that target

Number 16

Batman Arkham City

Batman Arkham City remains and may remain for some time yet the quintessential superhero video game all of its stellar elements combined into a magnificent whole that is yet to be bested in the genre the narrative was mature introspective and exciting the world design was vast dark and richly atmospheric but it was the gameplay mechanics that earned the most praise thanks to the imaginative integration of Batman's devices and fluid combat system its systems are still being copied to this day and you may have heard people linking the Arkham series to insomniac spider-man its legacy in the fighting in superhero genres is unrivaled but you all people should do

 Number 15

Portal serious

Portal serious injuries may occur for your own safety and the safety of others portal was the surprise stand out from the Orange Box and it's also a masterclass in game design the popular mechanic was of course refreshing and original and it effortlessly combined intellectual stimulation with ridiculous fun but what's most surprising and a claim worthy is how the game fluidly integrated humor and story into its core puzzle mechanics any contact with the chamber floor will result in an unsatisfactory mark on your official testing report followed by good luck the game was often lauded for its dark sense of humor and its cast including the weighted companion cube and GLaDOS both of which have become iconic within the gaming industry with portal valve proved its incredible talents and creativity by combining tone story and gameplay into a wonderfully original and highly enjoyable hole

 Number 14

Call of duty 4

Call of duty 4 modern warfare Call of Duty is a gaming giant today but there's simply no conveying just what a groundbreaking released the original modern warfare was back in 2007 that year belonged to entirely to Halo 3 and it seemed like nothing could deep it on its console multiplayer crowd enter modern warfare which impressed the millions with its fast paced gameplay and unique mechanics and not only updated the Call of Duty brand for a new generation that it quickly became one of the definitive multiplayer experiences of the decade it was so ahead of its time that its basic ideas are still being copied over ten years later the Call of Duty franchise has often been criticized for its lack of innovation but it's hard to improve upon something so fully formed

Number 13

God of War

God of War now this is how you revamp a franchise God of War took nearly everything that was beloved about the series and threw it out the window hyper realized stories a crazy protagonist Greek mythology all gone in favor of a more subdued and introspective character study about fathers sons and legacies all playing out across a gorgeous Norse backdrop do you remember the way to the witch's house yes the woods with the blood-red leaves of course it did keep the bombastic bossfights and incredible combat mechanics because it wouldn't be god of war without battling unstoppable gods and massive monsters Santa Monica studio has to be commended here they took a major risk with this title but it paid off beautifully boy

Number 12

Bioshock

Bioshock by 2007 video games were finally being taken seriously but it was arguably Bioshock that finally titled the mediums reputation from enjoyable pastime to legitimate art the distinction is thanks in large parts of Bioshock story and themes which ignore typical action game tropes to focus on the writings of aim rant objectivism capitalism player agency and free will and I'm here to ask you a question is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow it didn't hurt that it all took place in the visually appealing and inventive setting of rapture add in some iconic characters flawless blending of fps and RPG mechanics and one of the best plot twists in gaming history and you've got yourself the all-time classic that is Bioshock

Number 11

Super smash

Super smash brothers melee it's the game that has defined the couch multiplayer scene since the turn of the millennium and to this day it is still being played both casually and competitively Super Smash Bros has now become the greatest crossover franchise of all time and it has melee to thank for putting it in that position fights are easy to pick up to play yet incredibly tough to master the diverse roster can stoop to multiple play styles and it has a devoted fan base that still insists that it's better than its successors these days many others will argue that ultimate is the better smash title but for the massive legacy this game left Malee's importance cannot be understated

Number 10

Minecraft

Minecraft we don't think anyone could have predicted minecraft success this little game was independently created by Markus Persson and didn't seem to offer much in the way of total world dominance however it was instantly lauded upon release with many critics and players singling out it's brilliant crafting mechanic creative freedom and countless unique experiences that naturally arise from playing the game all of this combined with the game's signature visual design helped it become popular with YouTube gamers who in turn helped spread the fun to their viewers before long minecraft was the best-selling game ever a perfect example of youtube's rising influence on gaming and a bonafide cultural phenomenon in short minecraft helped define a generation

Number 9

The Last of Us 

The Last of Us we almost called uncharted to Naughty Dog's masterpiece but then we remembered the Last of Us this game was a monumental achievement and storytelling and voice acting and it is still regarded as one of the best told stories in gaming history while most of the acclaim typically goes to the games writing and acting this is doing a large disservice to its amazing gameplay which perfectly balanced elements of survival horror RPGs stealth action and Naughty Dog's signature adventure flare should be a straight shot through here all right actually kind of pretty ain't it yes the game also comes equipped with stellar production values in visual design both of which help to immerse the player in a realistic post-apocalyptic hellscape no game is perfect but the Last of Us comes pretty close okay

Number 8

Grand Theft Auto five

Grand Theft Auto five honestly if it wasn't for the one per franchise rule GTA would have taken five slots on this list yet it's the story surrounding GTA 5 that has made it such a Titan it instantly broke sales records becoming the fastest selling entertainment product in history after grossing 1 billion in just three days but while the single-player was a landmark it's the online component that is the true star here this expansive and seemingly boundless piece of virtual insanity has helped the game ship over 115 million copies making it both one of the most profitable entertainment products ever and the third highest selling video game of all time behind only Tetris and minecraft

 Number 7

Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 uh what we would do to relive the glory days of mass effect mass effect to promised and arguably delivered the future of gaming it was an intensely personal experience as players were able to create a character and affiliate relationships and mold the plot through unique choices and interactive storytelling of course this wouldn't mean much without an intriguing story but luckily Mass Effect 2 offered an original and deeply engrossing tale complete with rich characters and wonderfully imaginative world building it also improved on its predecessor in numerous ways offering cinematic production values and a livelier atmosphere it's undoubtedly one of the greatest story based video games ever released I've had enough of this station to last a lifetime Oh - in your case come on

Number 6

Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 this entry took a major risk by deviating from the established formula but it paid off in unimaginable ways of course the biggest change came in the form of the third-person perspective but it also took this series in a more action-oriented route while still providing players with the core puzzle and horror elements they'd come to expect from the series the result was a magnificent mixture of old and new and the game became a bona fide trendsetter for future third-person shooters it forever changed camera perspectives precision aiming mechanics and inventory management it also influenced future game developers helping to pave the way for classics like dead space Last of Us God of War and uncharted so Thank You Resident Evil 4

Number 5

Halo combat Evolved

Halo combat Evolved get Cortana off this ship keep her safe from the enemy if they capture her they'll learn everything force deployment weapons research I understand squeezing just inside the 21st century is halo one of the most influential first-person shooters of all time with this game did four first-person shooters is not unlike what citizen kane did for movies complete with amazing weapons and combat mechanics a massively popular multiplayer component and a richly inventive story halo helped redefine the limits of the FPS genre it also spawned countless imitators all of which were deemed halo clones and all of which failed to meet nevermind surpass the heights of its influence throw in the sequels spin-offs remakes machinima and novels and what takes shape is an FPS that not only shook the genre to its core but also spawned an entire game Empire

Number 4

The elderscrolls v Skyrim

The elderscrolls v Skyrim few open-world titles can compare to Skyrim while Bethesda had been developing the Elder Scrolls series for years it was Skyrim that finally broke through to the mainstream thanks to its streamlined gameplay mechanics and gorgeous open world the game became exceedingly popular through YouTube compilations and old-school Elder Scrolls fans were able to delve deeper into the universe's lore but casual and hardcore fans could find enjoyment in exploring the breathtaking settings that the game offered and yes the hilarious glitches added an undeniable charm video games don't get much more imaginative than this

Number 3

The Legend of Zelda breath of the wild

The Legend of Zelda breath of the wild she really is quite special you be sure to protect her with your life since its release breath of the wild has become the most commercially successful Zelda game to date and it's not hard to see why set in an expansive open world that allows limitless freedom and creative problem-solving it really does have something for everyone if you can imagine it chances are there is a way to do it it also deftly blends numerous genres like adventure action puzzle and RPG and offers a personal story unlike anything seen before in the Zelda canon last but not least it accomplishes all of this within a welcoming and surprisingly calming atmosphere a visual design that helped differentiate it from its predecessors in short it's magic in video game form

Number 2

The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt 

The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt the Emperor does not ask anyone for anything you will ride with us to get SEMA sure about that don't even try you may argue that breath of the wild we invented the open-world but we'd argue that Wild Hunt is the better game for one thing Wild Hunt also boasts an enormous and unique open-world filled with magnificent settings countless quality side quests and enough lore to fill a stephen king sized novel but it gets the leg up thanks to its narrative an expansive fantasy epic filled with interesting characters and morally ambiguous situations to navigate no but it doesn't look dangerous hmm I guess that starts it established CD Projekt RED as one of the decades most popular and acclaimed developers and it introduced the witcher franchise to its now massive player base it's an undeniable masterpiece of the fantasy genre I need to be your best and must not what I came for before we look at the greatest video game of the 21st century here are a few honorable mentions be you a cowpoke or athlete this elixir developed with the wisdom of the East keeps the muscles supple and relaxes the cards it loosens the joints and gives a feeling of youth and vigor to the whole system before we continue be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them if you're on your phone make sure to go into your settings and switch on notifications

Number 1

Half-life 2

Half-life 2 there is a very good reason why the last decade has been filled with demands for half-life 3 the first two half-life games are still regarded as the greatest and most groundbreaking games ever made but not for any one reason in particular for half-life 2 so many things went right including the unique integration of cutscenes and gameplay the haunting atmosphere the realistic character and facial animations and of course the revolutionary physics engine and iconic gravity gun it admittedly doesn't sound like much on paper but the sum is far greater than its individual parts every FPS that came after has followed in half-life 2's footsteps it was a trailblazer not just for the genre but for gaming as an artistic medium in the mood for more awesome gaming content be sure to check out this video here on mojo plays and don't forget to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos