2005 undoubtedly was one of the best years in gaming history. Not only did many legendary video games come out that year (like Resident Evil 4, God of War, Shadow of the Colossus, and many more), but some groundbreaking systems launched during it as well, like the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation Portable.
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Before the turn of the millennium, these video games made their entry and were sadly forgotten.
Needless to say, it’s only understandable that gamers have mostly forgotten about all the other great titles that were released during that cavalcade of masterpieces. Whether they were based on other properties that are no longer relevant, they are part of dead franchises, or they just haven’t aged all that well, the following 2005 games are truly great, and yet, nobody talks about them in 2026.
Mercenaries: Playground Of Destruction
This Groundbreaking Third-Person Shooter Came Out The Same Day As Resident Evil 4
Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
- Released
- January 11, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
Resident Evil 4 is often credited for directly influencing many other third-person shooters with its innovative over-the-shoulder perspective. Weirdly enough, however, another groundbreaking title in this genre was literally released on the same day, and yet, almost nobody talks about it now. Developed by Pandemic Studios (the same studio behind the classic Star Wars: Battlefront titles), Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction was an incredibly ambitious video game for its time.
This game lives up to its title, since it's an open-world, third-person shooter that perfected the sandbox formula that Grand Theft Auto 3 had introduced a few years prior and allowed players to thoroughly explore a vast map full of enemies, weapons, and vehicles. Of course, Mercenaries lacked the over-the-shoulder camera of Resident Evil 4, but its shooting mechanics were still fluid and fun, and even the stealth gameplay was surprisingly intuitive. This game, and the short-lived series it spawned, deserve a lot more love.
Banjo-Pilot
Rare’s Last Hurrah With The Banjo-Kazooie IP
Banjo-Pilot
- Released
- January 10, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
Microsoft’s acquisition of Rare was devastating for Nintendo fans, since it meant that the British studio would no longer be able to release its games on Nintendo consoles. Fortunately, however, since Microsoft was not interested in the handheld market, it allowed Rare to make a few Game Boy Advance exclusives, with one of the most noteworthy ones being Banjo-Pilot.
This charming little racer feels like a spiritual successor to the excellent Diddy Kong Racing, which makes sense considering that it was originally going to be exactly that before the Microsoft buyout. Banjo-Pilot is a very simple game, but the concept of a racing title with planes instead of cars is novel enough to make the experience worth it, not to mention that it also boasts colorful graphics and a catchy soundtrack. Needless to say, it’s a lot better than the next racing project starring the bear and bird duo that Rare developed, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.
The Punisher
The Absolute Best Game That Frank Castle Has Starred In
The Punisher
- Released
- April 12, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Superhero video games have always been very popular, but they seemed to have gone through a major resurgence in the early 2000s. Many iconic Marvel heroes and anti-heroes got to star in their own digital adventures during that era, and Frank Castle (aka the Punisher) was obviously no exception.
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Volition’s The Punisher was widely praised for its fast-paced third-person shooter gameplay and its dark narrative that featured many recognizable characters from the original comics, like Jigsaw, Bullseye, Daredevil, and even Iron Man. However, this game particularly stood out due to its extreme levels of gore and violence, especially during its gruesome torture/interrogation sequences, which earned it the title of one of the most gruesome video games ever made. Despite the controversy, it’s safe to say that this specific element perfectly fits the tone and themes of the Punisher IP.
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
An Incredibly Unique (Albeit Bizarre) First-Person Shooter
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
- Released
- January 25, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Crude Humor, Language, Mild Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, Action-Adventure
It’s truly fascinating to think about how malleable the Oddworld IP was: it began its life as a narrative 2D platformer, it later evolved into a 3D platformer, and it eventually proved that it could also work as a first-person shooter, with the release of 2005’s Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath.
In this game, players take control of the titular Stranger, a deadly bounty hunter who has to capture various outlaws to earn money. To do so, he wields a strange crossbow that uses a variety of unconventional ammunition, like bugs, bats, and other living beings. The gameplay is fast-paced and addictive, the main setting oozes weirdness and personality, and even the story has a few shocking twists that will stick in the minds of players. It’s a real shame that Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath sold poorly, because the gaming industry needs more experimental and creative projects like this one.
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
Another Ambitious Third-Person Shooter That Deserves More Recognition
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
- Released
- June 14, 2004
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
It seems like almost every third-person shooter from this time period that didn’t have the opportunity to replicate Resident Evil 4’s over-the-shoulder camera has been unfairly forgotten by the larger gaming community, and that’s quite unfortunate, because Midway’s Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy is definitely one of the best action games of the sixth console generation.
Psi-Ops is a third-person shooter with impeccable shooting mechanics, fast-paced gameplay, and even some solid puzzles, but of course, the thing that made this game stand out from its contemporaries was the various psychic abilities that its protagonist, Nick Scryer, can use for both combat and puzzle-solving. Telekinesis, pyrokinesis, mind control, and more; these powers were like the secret ingredient that turned Psi-Ops into an underrated masterpiece from that era that everyone needs to play at some point.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
DK’s Most Overlooked 2D Platformer Is Actually Quite Good
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
- Released
- February 4, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Both Nintendo and its fans like to divide the Donkey Kong franchise into different eras: from its humble beginnings in the arcades to Rare’s groundbreaking Donkey Kong Country trilogy and even recent endeavors like the two Retro Studios platformers and the excellent Donkey Kong Bananza. However, there’s one particular era that they tend to forget: the DK Bongos era. Donkey Konga and its sequels were generic rhythm games, but Donkey Kong Jungle Beat definitely deserves more love.
In this unique 2.5D platformer, players can use the DK Bongos (or a controller) to move Donkey Kong around and use his powerful vibrating claps to defeat enemies. The gameplay goes at breakneck speeds while maintaining a weird but appealing rhythm that feels surprisingly good, and it peaks during the game’s epic and over-the-top boss fights. DK fans who have enjoyed all corners of this franchise but have somehow skipped Jungle Beat should definitely give it a try.
Predator: Concrete Jungle
Proof That The Predator Doesn’t Always Need The Alien To Star In A Great Game
Predator: Concrete Jungle
- Released
- April 15, 2005
- Developer(s)
- Eurocom
- Publisher(s)
- Vivendi Games
- Genre(s)
- Action
When it comes to cinematic rivalries, it seems like the Aliens have starred in way more high-quality games than the Predator, including some classic crossover titles featuring both, like 1999's Aliens vs. Predators. However, the Yautja starred in one particularly memorable PS2 game in 2005, and it’s simply known as Predator: Concrete Jungle.
In this game, players take control of Scarface, a young Predator who explores large open-world maps while hunting down various targets, and what’s especially satisfying is that he has a vast array of classic movie weapons and tools at his disposal to complete his missions, including bombs, boomerangs, and thermal vision. Truth be told, Concrete Jungle's reception was quite mixed at the time, but it has aged surprisingly well, seeing as it’s the perfect “Predator simulator” that any fan of this classic film franchise can enjoy.
Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge Of The Sith
One Of The Best Video Game Adaptations Of A Star Wars Film Ever Made
Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith
- Genre(s)
- Action
Movie-licensed video games for home consoles are a dying art, and their presence in the modern industry is basically non-existent. However, the mid-to-late 2000s were filled to the brim with solid game adaptations of recent feature films, with Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith being one of the best and most popular ones on the market.
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Revenge of the Sith is significantly better than its predecessors, as it lets Star Wars fans relive some of the best scenes of the movie it’s based on, but with enjoyable action-adventure gameplay that's elevated by its light RPG elements. Nevertheless, the most notorious and memorable part of this package was its PvP Versus Mode, which was basically the best Star Wars fighting game that had been made up to that point. Unfortunately, the more modern films in this series will never be adapted into a fun action game like this one (with the occasional LEGO Star Wars game being a rare exception).
Advance Wars: Dual Strike
This Excellent Strategy Title Showcased What The DS Was Capable Of
Advance Wars: Dual Strike
- Released
- June 23, 2005
- ESRB
- Everyone // Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based Strategy
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS
The Nintendo DS entered its second year in 2005, and the entire world was paying attention to what Nintendo’s new handheld had to offer. While high-quality exclusives like Kirby Canvas Curse or Nintendogs were released during that year, the DS also received one of its best games in 2005: Advance Wars: Dual Strike, which unfortunately flew under most people’s radar because it belongs to one of the company’s lesser-known franchises.
Dual Strike is the third game in the Advance Wars series, and it cleverly uses the properties of the Nintendo DS (like the dual screen or the touch controls) to improve its signature turn-based strategy gameplay. Not only are the encounters very engaging and challenging, but the colorful presentation and solid narrative elevate the entire experience as well. The original Advance Wars trilogy peaked with Dual Strike, and fans of turn-based strategy RPGs (like Fire Emblem) should give this one a shot.
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game Of The Movie
A Surprisingly Immersive Survival FPS (With The Occasional Big Ape Level)
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
- Released
- November 17, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
Making a licensed game based on a King Kong movie but not featuring the titular big ape on most of its levels was quite a huge gamble by Ubisoft Montpellier, but, much to the player’s surprise, it ended up working extremely well. In many ways, Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie is even better than the film it’s based on, as it allows players to take control of Jack Driscoll and survive the many dangers that inhabit Skull Island.
What makes this movie-based title so remarkable is its minimal HUD, which adds to its dark atmosphere and deep levels of immersion. Walking around Skull Island while avoiding giant dinosaurs and fighting off smaller (but very deadly) creatures is both intense and entertaining. Of course, this game does have some levels in which King Kong himself is a playable character, and he can engage in fierce battles against other monsters. These segments are great fun, and they feel like a satisfying reward for players who were able to maintain their patience and tenacity during the first-person levels.
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