When it comes to video games, there are certain eras that bookmark big points in history. For example, before the console market, the arcade era ruled with an iron thumb, which weaved into simple consoles like the Atari 2600. Then there was the NES era of consoles, which brought video games to prominence. After that was the rise of the HD and online market of consoles that changed everything, like around the 2010s, which were well into the PS3 and Xbox 360 generations.
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These games from the 2010s offered the best bang for your buck in each year, as they could be frequently replayed without losing any of their appeal.
Some big games before the 2010s include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue, and Half-Life 2. Those are examples of popular games that also sold well. The following 2010 games are not guaranteed to be THE best games since the 2010s, but they have been some of the most game-changing.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Kicking Things Off
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is one of the earliest games that kicked off the new generation, cementing itself as open-world royalty. The Elder Scrolls games before this were open, but never quite like this, between the varied locales, quests, and the progression system.
Since 2011, it has hit almost every console known to man, and it somehow always sells despite looking a bit dated. It just goes to show that when the gameplay is as fun as it is in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, players are willing to look the other way when it comes to graphics.
Grand Theft Auto 5
Three Characters Are Better Than One
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Grand Theft Auto 5 was big even though it launched right before the new consoles launched: PS4 and Xbox One. Thanks to its online component, the game is still relevant too, with it continuing to sell and be played.
It was an innovative open-world game at the time, giving players three characters to swap between and an incredibly engaging story. The heists were definitely a highlight both in the campaign and the online sections, as they offered multiple ways to get through them.
Dead By Daylight
Horror Games Reborn
Dead by Daylight
- Released
- June 14, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Horror, Survival
When multiplayer games blow up, usually they are high-octane shooters like Call of Duty. That’s why Dead by Daylight is such an outlier, as it’s a horror game at its core and one that is not easy to get a victory in. It became a platform for all things horror, from original creations to collaborative efforts like Halloween, Stranger Things, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and so much more.
It even added Nicolas Cage for crying out loud, and that’s one heck of an achievement for any development team. Between being a survivor or being the killer, each multiplayer match brought something new to the table, and fans have rarely been disappointed.
Stardew Valley
A Life-Sim To End All
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Stardew Valley is another game that proves graphics are not everything, as the simple pixel art was enough of an engaging design choice to hook players into this life-sim. Since its launch in 2016, the game has opened itself up with different types of customization options, like new farmlands to start with.
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Without any sort of real goal in mind, players were free to raise their farm as they saw fit, along with dates whom they wanted in town. Stardew Valley was the kind of experience that could be played casually over a long period, serving as a relaxing escape from reality, even without exciting set pieces.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Going Open-Air
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild may have launched on two consoles, the Wii U and the Switch, but it’s predominantly thought of as a Switch launch game. Without a killer app like that, no one knows where the Switch would have ended up.
The open nature of the gameplay was truly remarkable, giving players plenty of tools to play with the physics, like freezing water to reach higher surfaces. The ability to climb and the paraglider all made exploring more worthwhile as well, and the combat, while challenging, made each counter more engaging.
Destiny 2
Checking Back In
Destiny 2
- Released
- August 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For TEEN for Blood, Language, and Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Destiny 2 has continued to soar since its debut in 2017, and it has certainly been on a journey between updates, expansions, and following a free-to-play model. There are dips in player counts between big updates, but Destiny 2 is the kind of game that is great to have installed when the need arises.
It’s become a comfort food for shooters to pop back in, collect some event items, and then put away. There is something compelling about the character progression, list of worlds, and weapons that all make this one of the finest shooters, certainly of the past decade, showcasing the talent and dedication at Bungie.
Fortnite
A Platform, Not A Game
Fortnite
- Released
- September 26, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Epic Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, iOS
Fortnite was announced in 2011 as a game about defending their base from a zombie apocalypse, and that’s how it eventually launched in 2017. Then, after the Battle Royale expansion was released months after the initial launch, Fortnite just didn’t become a game; it became a platform.
The number of properties that have collaborated with Epic Games since then is astounding, including getting characters in from Marvel, Star Wars, DC, and more, to fully reworking the map, like with the Springfield update for The Simpsons collaboration. Among all of the Battle Royale games that came out during the 2010s, Fortnite is the one that survived on a global level, and it still continues to grow.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Feed A Horse, Ride A Cowboy
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Grand Theft Auto 5 catered to a wider audience since it took place in a modern society, whereas Rockstar’s other massive game, Red Dead Redemption 2, was made for a different kind of enthusiast. Driving cars and robbing banks with the latest tech is all well and good, but there’s simply no other gangster type that is as cool as the bandits of the Old West.
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Riding up to trains and robbing them is much more exhilarating, but the game was more than just a thief simulator, as it was all about the dying age of the Old West. Players could escort the anti-hero, Arthur Morgan, down a righteous path of redemption, or stay on course for being a lowdown piece of dirt. Either way, it was one of Rockstar’s most gripping narratives with a lot of action, heart, and melancholy.
Elden Ring
Freedom Of Challenge
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
FromSoftware slowly grew into a household name with every new Soulslike game they made following Demon’s Souls in 2009, but Elden Ring took off on a new level. The same basic structure was there between character and class customization that didn’t lock players into anything, but the open-world environment was new.
Players were free to tackle bosses and areas out of order, leaning into or away from harder difficulty curves. It was not easy by any stretch, but Elden Ring certainly became one of FromSoftware’s most accessible titles thanks to the open-ended structure of the map and the ability to create diverse builds.
Baldur's Gate 3
You Do You
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
Baldur's Gate 3 returned a classic series that had been dead for decades. There are a lot of reasons why it became so popular so fast, and most of them relate to the customization options. This game gave players freedoms that they had never experienced in a game before, between character options, classes, and the dynamic choice structure of dialogue.
Every situation in the game had multiple solutions that took into account alignment, race, and actions. The tactical combat also made for a good challenge outside of making grander story decisions, plus co-op was an option.
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