Nostalgia is a powerful drug that makes every childhood game a blast to revisit over and over again. Players love the memories that come flooding in as they clock in their umpteenth playthrough in these titles.
The 2000s were a major decade for gaming, with these years seeing massive tech advancements that made every title mind-blowing in the eyes of many. It's a golden era full of nostalgia that many prolific gamers checked out during this decade.
8 Half-Life 2
One Of Valve's Most Popular Games That Needs No Introduction
The stranglehold that Valve had on the gaming industry can't be stated enough, with fans loving how revolutionary and engaging the video games released by this developer were. The most notable example of this is Half-Life 2.
The game had the weight of everyone's expectations, given that it was poised as a sequel to one of the greatest FPS games ever made. Half-Life 2 didn't disappoint in the slightest, expanding on the universe's worldbuilding and letting players mess around with a brilliant physics engine that's still mind-blowing to this day.
7 Bully
One Of Rockstar's Most Unique Games That Deserves A Remaster, Remake, Or Sequel
Bully is a beloved Rockstar game that feels completely unique from their usual offerings. Jimmy Hopkins is forcibly enrolled into Bullworth Academy, only to find himself embroiled in a controversy for the ages after an opportunistic student takes advantage of him to rise up the social hierarchy at his expense.
Players loved starting from nothing and eventually earning the trust of every notable clique in the school before taking their sweet revenge on Gary. The cartoonish violence and unique school simulation elements helped Bully stand out as a noteworthy open-world game that any 2000s gamer is familiar with.
6 Max Payne
This Stylish Shooter Put Remedy On The Map
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS2, Xbox (Original), Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Android, iOS
The stylish gunplay of Max Payne, coupled with its neo-noir aesthetic, ensures that fans will have a great time with this cinematic video game. It marked a major evolution for tasteful storytelling in video games while letting fans engage with its fun, intense shootouts that encouraged players to use Bullet Time.
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Players enjoyed shooting through their foes in style and helping a vengeful Max Payne clear his name while learning more about the Valkyr drug. The tough yet fun shootouts coupled with the game's iconic brand of storytelling ensured that 2000s gamers would lap up both this title and its sequel.
5 The Sims 2
A Massive Improvement Over Its Predecessor And One Of The Best Life Sims Ever Made
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Crude Humor, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PC, macOS, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Nintendo DS, PS2, PSP, Xbox (Original)
The Sims was a great first entry for this life simulation franchise, and fans wondered how the sequel would top this title's success. With better visuals, surprisingly deep lore, engaging gameplay loops, and a wealth of other improvements, The Sims 2 established itself as one of the best entries in the series by a country mile.
Players loved exploring the many neighborhoods in this game and becoming intimately familiar with its residents. Every household had a unique story to tell as players helped various families mature and grow their dynasties.
4 Age Of Empires 2: The Age Of Kings
An RTS Game So Massive That It Still Boasts A Massive Community
Age of Empires 2
- Released
- September 27, 1999
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Mild Blood, Mild Language, and Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ensemble Studios
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 2
Age of Empires 2 is an RTS game so legendary that fans still can't stop playing this title even now. Age of Empires 4 emulated much of what made this game special while modernizing some elements, and even that wasn't enough to dissuade Age of Empires 2's dedicated community.
Learning the ropes in this RTS masterpiece before eventually trying to conquer other enemies in multiplayer is a huge part of what made this game so special. It was fun all the way back in the 2000s, and it's still engaging in the 2020s.
3 Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
A Massive Step Forward For The Call Of Duty Series That Helped It Attain Worldwide Fame And Popularity
While Call of Duty had a decent fanbase, the franchise's popularity truly exploded with the launch of Modern Warfare. The shift to modern war settings was slightly controversial, but it did a great job of helping Call of Duty nail an identity of its own that other FPS shooters tried to replicate.
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The campaign of this title is legendary to this day, featuring everything from one of gaming's greatest sniping missions to a nuclear blast that will be seared in the minds of fans for years to come after they're finished with this game. Call of Duty may seem like a repetitive franchise now, but Modern Warfare was the peak of this series and paved the way for the franchise to become a modern gaming icon.
2 Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time
One Of The Greatest Action-Adventure Games Ever Made, With A Great Story And Fun Platforming
- ESRB
- Teen // Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, PC, Mobile
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is one of the greatest video games ever made that needs its remake to come out sooner rather than later. This title was released during a time when fans actually looked forward to Ubisoft releases because of how creative and engaging they could be.
The amazing storytelling and novel platforming of this game made it a classic that fans still replay. While later titles in the series improved the combat (the one weakness of The Sands of Time) and expanded on the platforming, they lost a lot of the original's charm along the way. That being said, many fans love the dark tone and metal music of Warrior Within, while The Two Thrones has its fans despite its short length.
1 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
One Of Valve's Most Popular Games That Needs No Introduction
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
The 3D GTA trilogy is legendary for all the right reasons, with every title being a nostalgic romp for 2000s gamers. However, most people agree that the gargantuan scope of San Andreas, coupled with some unique role-playing and simulation elements, made it a massive improvement over its predecessors.
CJ's story is epic and takes him across the many major cities in San Andreas before he eventually makes his way back to Los Santos to help his gang enjoy the superiority they deserve. It's one of the best 2000s video games that many players have fond memories of.
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