Many look back at the 2000s as a golden era of video games.
New consoles represented a major leap forward in technology, and the jump from the PS2/Xbox/GameCube era into the world of theXbox 360andPlayStation 3is one of the most noticeable leaps forward regarding graphical power and gameplay.
Then, of course, there was Nintendo, content to do their own thing with theNintendo Wii, breaking into the mainstream and turning every living room into a sports complex that featured bowling, tennis, and shattered television sets.
Ranking every Game of the Year award winner from the 2000s is a difficult feat;most, if not all, of these titles would have a great chance of taking home the award today. It’s a task we’re going to try to complete, though.
To make sure we’re on an even playing field, as countless outlets present year-end awards, including us, we’re ranking the GOTYs from the D.I.C.E. Awards, presented by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.
10Call of Duty
The one that started it all
Call of Duty (2003)
Modern gamers may find this hard to believe, butback in the 2000s, there was a time when the premiere WW2 FPS wasMedal of Honor.
2003 saw the birth of theCall of Dutyfranchise, forever changing the face of gaming.
It may not have been the best FPS of the decade (we’ll discuss those games much later in this list), but it was a landmark title that helped shape the foundation of modern gaming.
We now take for granted all ofCall of Duty’s innovations in terms of its campaign, multiplayer, and overall gameplay. At the time of its release, there wasn’t much of anything like it.
It feels weird to say this about a game released in 2003, but it’s true: this felt like the future of gaming, something that wasn’t content to rest on the laurels of past shooters and push the genre forward.
9LittleBigPlanet
Sack Boy’s Debut
LittleBigPlanet
BeforeAstro Bot, there wasLittleBigPlanet, the charming PS3 platformer from Media Molecule.
The main hook here was the community-driven level creation. Well beforeSuper Mario Makerwas released,LittleBigPlanetwas ahead of the curve, allowing gamers to share their custom-created levels with the world.
Sack Boy was also the perfect mascot for the game, acting as a wonderful blank canvas for further customization.
Using the internet to enhance a game wasn’t new, but this was one of, if not the, first times where it felt like you were missing out if you were playingLittleBigPlanetoffline.
As enjoyable as the default stages and levels were,nothing can match the creativity ofLittleBigPlanet’s community. It was an absolute delight to experience some of the more creative levels the community created and watch them outperform Media Molecule at their own game.
8God of War
The PS2’s swan song
God of War (2005)
To this day,I have no idea how this game was able to exist on the PS2 hardware.
Yes, we all know and loveGod of War’s brutal combat and buttery smooth gameplay, but it’s everything else that makes it one of the best games from the 2000s.
For those who don’t remember, the PS2 was seen as the weaker console graphically compared to the Xbox and GameCube, butGod of Wardidn’t get the memo.
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The game looks fantastic, its animations are incredible, and the score is one of the most immersive seen in a video game.
While the God of War franchise has matured with its recent reboot, it still owes everything to the original PlayStation 2 release.
7Gears of War
Rev up those Lancers, boys
Gears of War
The Xbox 360 released at the end of 2005, but it didn’t receive its “killer app” until 2006 withGears of War.
Everyone was still enjoyingHalo 2online, but that quickly changed with the release ofGears.
Yes,it’s responsible for introducing the late 2000s/early 2010s trend of non-stop cover shooters, but there was a reason for that: its cover shooter mechanics were that good. It added a tactical element to the visceral gameplay that wasn’t often seen in a shooter. Plus, sneaking up on your enemies and decapitating them remains oh-so-satisfying today.
The real treat is the multiplayer; I have countless memories of staying up all night playingGears of Waronline, complaining about the host advantage, and having the time of my life.
While subsequent entries in the Gears of War franchise would find ways to up the ante, nothing beats the original.
Here’s to hoping that we see a remastered re-release leading up toGears of War: E-Day.
6Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
One of the best Call of Duty games ever
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
First, I want you to all sit down before I say this:Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfarewas released just 4 years after the originalCall of Duty.
Now, you might respond with “big deal, they’re all released on an annual basis these days.” This is true, but here’s the thing: all of these original Call of Duty games were not just spectacular (except for 3), but they were all developed by Infinity Ward. Somehow, they churned masterpiece after masterpiece without issue.
Modern Warfareis the best Call of Duty of the 2000s, featuring the fast-paced action and killstreak rewards that the franchise became known for.
If you want to know why Call of Duty became so popular, this is the answer.The 2003 Game of the Year was good, butModern Warfaremakes it look obsolete.
5Battlefield 1942
What Battlefield fans still crave today
Battlefield 1942
I get it—theBattlefield franchiseis a bit of a joke today since the games are a technical disaster upon release. Still, there’s a reason why the fanbase exists, and it’s the original games.
Battlefield 1942is still better than most shooters on the market today.
Sure, the single-player experience is a thing that is best ignored, but the multiplayer more than makes up for it.
There was really nothing like it back in the day:a completely open-ended battlefield with no limits that scaled larger than any arena shooter could ever dream ofin the 2000s.
All of the things we take for granted in massive multiplayer shooters today are thanks toBattlefield 1942. It’s easy to forget how revolutionary this game was on release.
As someone who was there, fighting on the virtual frontlines, it’s something I’ll never forget.
Maybe one day, Battlefield will return to these heights.
4Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The best in the franchise
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The originalUnchartedis still a lot of fun today, but even upon release, it was an imperfect game with issues and flaws.Uncharted 2addresses those and perfects the formula.
It offers aseamless integration between gameplay and cutscenes, creating an immersive environment that wasn’t all too commonin gaming back then.
Most will recall the storytelling; looking back, this is where Naughty Dog turned the corner and established themselves as one of the best storytellers in the industry.
Others will fondly recall the multiplayer as being a breath of fresh air from, ironically, the Call of Duty and Battlefield listed above.
Maybe one day, Sony will give us a modern release of these games. I mean, they’re remastering everything else, but this… andBloodborne, please.
3Diablo II
Evergreen fun
No game on our list of the best GOTYs from the 2000s has had the staying power ofDiabloII. Its multiplayer community continues to thrive today, and that was before Blizzard remastered the game.
Many argue that this is the pinnacle of theARPGgenre, and they have good reason for that. The design choices, character balance, and gameplay remain at the top of its class.
Sure, portions of the game feel dated, even in the remastered version, but in the eyes of some, including myself, that’s okay. It’s incredible how familiar yet novel theDiablo IIexperience remains today.
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There’s a reason why I had so many friends pick up the free computer mice our school’s computer lab would always offer: they kept breaking theirs from extendedDiablo IIplay sessions.
No matter how many times I’ve explored its dungeons, played through its campaign, and obtained the best loot available, I keep coming back for more all these years later.
2Halo: Combat Evolved
Transformative combat
Halo: Combat Evolved
Without Halo, there would be no Xbox. Without Halo, the console FPS space would not be what it is today.
2001’sHalo: Combat Evolvedis, bar none, one of the best games of all time. Bungie’s perfection in storytelling, level design, and gameplay is unmatched.
Of course, the real treat for many is the multiplayer, which offers a great balance between the open-ended design of Battlefield and the tight-level design of an arena shooter.
Even today,Halo: Combat Evolvedholds up extremely well and is a great reminder of how great the Halo franchise once was.
The Master Chief Collectionwas an excellent trip down memory lane that shows how wellHalo: Combat Evolvedholds up today. Getting together with friends for a LAN party isn’t just something we do for nostalgia; it’s as much fun today as it was 20 years ago.
If only Microsoft could recapture the magic…
1Half-Life 2
Still waiting for Episode 3
Half-Life 2
Did you really expect anything else?
If you look across the field of Game of the Year awards for 2004, there’s one common response:Half-Life 2.
For those who never played it back then, consider this:a 2004 video game offered impressive graphics without needing a powerhouse computer to run them. Yes, Valve loves to show off its physics engine, but they do so because it’s fantastic, and the storytelling remains second to none even today.
Most of the innovations that were present are something that is expected in the industry today, but believe it or not, there are still several things thatHalf-Life 2does better than modern FPS releases, particularly when it comes to the story and design.
Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Gravity Gun, one of the best weapons in gaming history.
If Valve ever gets around to releasingHalf-Life 3orEpisode 3or whatever they want to call it, do yourself a favor and take a trip down memory lane with Gordon Freeman. You won’t regret it.
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