Games of the Decade 2010-2019

It's been an interesting decade for gaming. The rise of DLC and microtransactions. The rise and fall of several software companies, a new hardware cycle, and the death of PC gaming so overstated that Mark Twain would be proud. But without further ado, here is our Top 50 games of the decade, based on games we've actually played, enjoyed, and returned to.

So... drum-roll, please.....

50. Telltale's Walking Dead Season One

With its interesting plot and strong narrative, the first season of Telltale's The Walking Dead really showed us what games and TV-style narrative combined could really do together.

49. 7 Days to Die

Minecraft for horror fans. The game is an almost perfect blend of crafting and survival horror, leaving the gamer on the edge of their seat when it comes to hoping you survive the blood moon.

48. Fight Night Champion

The last, and greatest boxing game from EA Sports' Canada office. Combining a great punch control system, with damage physics, boxing has never felt so real and has ruled the roost for close to a decade.

47. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Assassin's Creed meets JRR Tolkien. With its introduction of the Nemesis System, and it's gripping storyline and brilliant combat (inspired by Arkham Asylum) Shadow of Mordor is a must for any fan of the universe or good games in general.

46. Batman: The Telltale Series

A fresh spin on the Batman mythos with Telltale's signature spin. It's one of the best Batman games made, and provides us with a very unique take on the Joker.

45. Inside

The spiritual successor to Limbo, Playdead's Inside is a perfect blend of puzzle and platform to keep anyone entertained, and with its minimalist aesthetic, it's atmospheric, haunting, and will stay with you long after.

44. Pokemon Go

The only true mobile game to make our list, Pokemon Go made the world social again, with groups gathering to conduct raids or meet up to do battle and trades, this free game gave us it all.

43. Until Dawn

This atmospheric PS4-exclusive played much like a Telltale game, but with beautiful visuals and an intense horror storyline. Topped with the challenge of seeing how many people you can get to survive to the end, Until Dawn was a welcome breath of fresh air.

42. Warhammer: Vermintide II

Left 4 Dead with a Warhammer coat of paint. This melee team-co-op game smashes onto our list due to its tongue-in-cheek fun and replayability.

41. Civilisation 6

Sid Meier's latest installment in his empire-building franchise, it's not quite the versatile powerhouse as its predecessor but is worthy of making the list due to its open and easy to understand nature.

40. Super Mario 3D World

The Wii U-exclusive gave us perhaps the best game on the short-lived console and introduced us to many new mechanics in-game.

39. Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

The Switch port of this classic game is rage-inducing when trying to play with a second party, but the game sings and shines, feeling like a brand new game and giving us that untouchable Mario charm.

38. Injustice 2

No game in the world makes you feel more powerful than the shattering Injustice 2. With its fantastic plotline, excellent mechanics, and glistening roster, Injustice 2 is one of the best fighting games of the last decade.

37. World War Z

With no new Left 4 Dead entry in sight, World War Z, based on the novel and film of the same name, more than makes up for our hunger for a co-op zombie survival game, and with its third-person view and worldwide setting, it mixes it up just enough to make this truly worthy of a place in our top 50.

36. Tomb Raider

Lara's reboot brought us a Lara haunted by the death of her father, written by the remarkable Rhianna Pratchett, it's a fresh reboot that gives Lara a personality and depth for the new generation.

35. Bayonetta 2

The Witch is back (again)! One of the greatest action-shooters in a long time. With its OTT soundtrack, graphics, time-bending powers and alluring protagonist, Bayonetta 2 is worthy of your time, be it on Switch of Wii U.

34. Batman: Arkham Origins

The unexpected hit of the Batman Arkham franchise, and produced by WB Montreal, Arkham Origins manages to not only maintain the theme laid down by Rocksteady, but it also builds and improves upon it in many ways.

33. Bayonetta

The Witch's first outing and a glimpse of Sega still being able to knock it out of the park when it comes to games.

32. Cuphead

With its old-time 1930s cartoon aesthetics, Cuphead is a must for any fan of MegaMan (Rokkuman) who enjoy punishing gameplay and unforgiving deaths. Try playing it two-player and see if you're still friends after.

31. X-Com 2

The strategic alien invasion game. X-Com 2 picks up after the world has fallen under the heel of the alien menace, with survivors leading a brave resistance against the occupation.

30. Alien: Isolation

The best game based on the Alien franchise ever made, and also the true successor to the Alien film series. Our protagonist, Amanda Ripley, goes looking for her mother, lost deep in space, but meets a very familiar threat. Tense, terrifying, and authentic.

29. Payday 2

The co-op crime caper. Payday 2 is the Left 4 Dead of cops and robbers games. Supported on and off by its developers, it feels like Michael Mann was sitting there the whole time giving notes when it was in development. A must-play for any wannabe bank robber or jewel thief.

28. Red Dead Redemption

The game that made cowboys cool again. John Marston, a man haunted by a criminal past, is tasked to hunt down the remainder of his old gang. With its open-world gameplay, authentic western flavour, and gripping storyline and soundtrack, it was one of the best games of the decade, which would have finished much higher were it not for the impossible prequel going on to greater things.

27. Fire Pro Wrestling World

The greatest wrestling game ever made. It may not be graphically as good as any WWE game, but its gameplay, mechanics, game logic, and move-set make it as competitive as it is fun. Playable within five minutes, but taking a lifetime to master.

26. Super Mario Odyssey

Mario's first original venture onto the Switch, and certainly not his last, Super Mario Odyssey introduced us to Cappy and others, in this unoriginal but fun adventure that for replayability was nothing but pure fun.

25. Marvel's Spider-Man

Spidey's PS4 is hands down one of the best takes on Spider-Man in any medium. Inspired by Sam Raimi's film trilogy, this finds a Peter Parker that is settled and comfortable, but with a well-written script, an MJ that is so much more than a damsel in distress, and a world where anything really can happen, this is the closest anyone can get to becoming the wall-crawler. A must play.

24. Braid

The time-reversing platformer. Braid gave us fantastic platformer gameplay with a unique twist. Often seen in sales across many platforms, Braid showed us that graphics mean nothing when you have decent gameplay.

23. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Nintendo's cross-franchise brawler gave us their largest roster and best-balanced game in years, and with the continual DLC characters being added (the base roster has 70+ for anyone screaming cash-grab)SSBU is the most fun you can have on a Switch when there's a crowd, allowing you to answer manage age-old grudge matches. You want to know who wins out of Sonic v Mario? This is where it gets answered.

22. God of War 3

The final stand of Kratos before he went soft and moved to Norway and had family number two. God of War 3 is a frenetic ball of fury as the fallen Spartan captain elicits his final revenge against the Greek pantheon. Bloody, brutal, and unforgiving, it set the bar for scale and left many of its competitors in its wake. The perfect end to one of gaming's perfect trilogies.

21. Horizon Zero Dawn

Set thousands of years after the fall of mankind, HZD gave us a fantastic plot, with gripping characters, a very different take on a post-apocalyptic world, and a brilliant protagonist in Aloy. This is one of the few games worth buying a PS4 to play. After you finish, the story revelations will stay with you after, leaving you hoping and praying for a sequel.

20. Super Mario Maker 2

The Mario level editor unleashed for a second time. An unlimited game of possibilities, this is perfect for anyone who enjoys platformers and Mario games. With hundreds of thousands of creations from creators all over the world, Super Mario Maker 2 is a desert island game, the one game any Mario fan could take with them and never get bored... as long as they have an internet connection.

19. Ultra Super Street Fighter IV

The last of the Street Fighter franchise, before the game was carved up into a DLC frenzy. This is the perfect game for any Street Fighter fan, and if anything feels like a reimagining of Street Fighter II. Street Fighter V doesn't come anywhere near this version for fun gameplay and the content that comes with even the base game. One of the best games of the franchise.

18. Total War: Rome II

Creative Assembly's strategy game set in the Ancient World is back. A fantastic arcade-like dip into ancient warfare, intrigue and politics. Rome II puts us in charge of a number of different cultures, all vying for survival and domination. Anyone who can take Britannia is doing very well, and if you can match the pace Caesar took Gaul, you're doing incredibly well.

17. Super Mario Galaxy 2

The sequel to Super Mario Galaxy, the Wii exclusive brought us a unique Mario game, with each level centering around small planetoids Mario had to navigate around to collect stars and push for his final showdown against his old nemesis. Super Mario Galaxy 2 really showed us how you do a true sequel to Super Mario 64 and actually started out as leftover levels from the first game, but ended up its own game. One of Nintendo's finest.

16. No Man's Sky

The comeback game of the decade. No Man's Sky was mauled by many critics on release, feeling they had been missold a game, but Hello Games' commitment to the development of the game, along with a strong community base has led to one of the most fascinating and wonderous games of the decade. A game that can truly capture the loneliness of being light-years from anyone, and the wonder of space, time, and exploration.

15. Limbo

Playdead's noir puzzle platformer. A young boy goes to the land of the dead to retrieve his sister, with its infamous spider and truly haunting visuals, Limbo is one of the best games of the last decade. Lasting a little under four hours, there hasn't been a game like this in years that not only is so simple but moving without making a single sound. One of the video games you could argue is true art.

14. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Ninja Theory's masterpiece. The studio responsible for the underrated Heavenly Sword delves into the touchy waters of mental illness by providing a character that suffers from extreme psychosis, along with a riveting fatalistic storyline of lost love, Hellblade tells a riveting tale set across the world of the invading Northmen.

13. Heavy Rain

A hard-boiled thriller told through the eyes of four protagonists. The Origami Killer is on the loose, and with it a child has gone missing and its up to one parent to find his missing son before it's too late. With its atmospheric rain-soaked streets, gritty dialogue, and shocking denouement, Heavy Rain feels like it's come off the slab of Se7en director David Fincher.

12. Crusader Kings II

The game of political and military intrigue set in the medieval world of Europe. Crusader Kings II allows the player to rewrite history and change the course of dynasties forever. From making a lowly lord into the king of England to a what-if the Norman invasion never happened? Crusader Kings II is a sandbox game that comes with repercussions, brutal sackings, unsteady alliances, and backstabbing, it's as bloody a game as it is a time-suck.

11. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Nintendo's last Zelda game for the Wii U, and the first chronologically in the Zelda timeline. This is the game that gives us the history of Hyrule and sets the legend in place that would follow for many entries. Skyward Sword is like a beautiful painting come to life, with its unique, but sometimes criticised use of the Wiimote, Skyward Sword raised the Zelda bar so high it would be almost impossible to top.

10. Batman: Arkham City

The second chapter in the Arkham trilogy and the final showdown between Joker and Batman. This is our Empire Strikes Back that deals heavily with loss and legacy, and when it wraps up, the player will never feel the same again. The closing scene is still chilling and is one of the finest Batman stories ever made, comics, films, every other piece of media included. A must for any fan of gaming, a necessity for a batfan.

9. Journey

Thatgamecompany's minimalist masterpiece set across a sprawling desert. A game to be experienced, not explained. For years critics have tried to interpret the meaning behind Journey, but even if it has no real core meaning, it will move you in ways you could never imagine. With an accompanying score that will be on your Spotify playlist for months and years to come, it's a game that shows off how the medium can be art.

8. Red Dead Redemption 2

The prequel to the original and a prequel that actually builds on what was gone before, whilst adding in a narrative that follows the world of Red Dead Redemption through the eyes of Arthur Morgan, and what actually happened to cause the original's John Marston to part from the gang. Tackling such issues as the subjugation of the Native Americans, the coming of the railroads, the taming of the West, and everything else that went into defining the United States, Red Read Redemption 2 feels like a history simulator, with the accuracy and authenticity bleeding out of every bullet fired, bandit lassoed and bank robbed. Red Dead Redemption 2 leaves you in tears, and with its online component adding to the Old West, it could well pass as the closest you would get to be able to experience Westworld in this day and age.

7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Geralt of Rivia's latest and greatest outing and the final instalment in the Witcher trilogy. The game is a true open-world masterpiece. Masterful graphics, unrivalled score, and attention to detail never seen in a game before, all seen through the eyes of a witcher. The final showdown in Kaer Morhen when the Wild Hunt finally arrives is sadder than any beat you've seen in a well-known cinematic trilogy. Unparalleled in its storytelling, emotional depth, and a great final sign-off to a series. If this game never saw another entry, we could die happy knowing we could be thankful for what we had. Geralt's life has been one of tragedy and compromise, and this is no game where everything turns out as a happy ending. Dealing with such issues as homophobia, xenophobia, lost loves, and parenthood, The Witcher 3 could be argued into the number one spot on any list.

6. X-Com

The remake of the original 1994 UFO: Enemy Unknown. One of the greatest games ever made, strategy, or otherwise, and certainly one of the best PC games of all-time. The remake not only managed to capture the feel of the original, it went and topped it for scope and achievement. The formula wasn't changed too much, but merely updated, giving fans of the original exactly what they wanted.

5. Civilisation V

Civ V set the bar high for all strategy games, but was just building on the legacy already laid down by series godfather Sid Meier. A game so well made that people are still playing this version over its successor. The game was a tongue-in-cheek civilisation builder, with enough scope and replayablity that you could lose entire weekends to it and still be going back for more. Graphically, it was nothing special, but Civ V was where the team really hit their mark, with many games now plagued by additional DLC, this game had just enough to make any purchase worthwhile.

4. Portal 2

Valve's last foray into the world of Portal (itself a shared world with Half-Life) Portal 2, like its predecessor was told with comedic menace and gave us one of gaming's greatest guns, not to mention the audible delights of famed Bristolian Stephen Merchant. Whilst simple in concept, the game would go on to gain a cult following, a heavy community workshop base, and would also be added to the famed Valve list of games that demand a sequel. However, the real charm of the Portal series, besides its menacing puzzles, is its famed AI villain GLaDOS, a sinister sentient machine that would give Ultron a run for his money. Ofteen seen below £3 on Steam sales, Portal 2, along with Portal, are some of the best pounds for your pound you will ever get.

3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

There is nothing more satisfying than defeating someone at Mario Kart, one of the best racing games ever made, and despite its cartoonish nature, it really goes beyond that, delivering an immersive and challenging experience that is best played with others. For sheer replayability there is little like it. Mario Kart 8 is one of those games that if that's the only game you had it would be fine. There's plenty of different tracks and CC settings to challenge you, along with the option to play online players from all over the world.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The almost perfect game. It's not often the word masterpiece actually belongs on anthing but it does with Breath of the Wild. Link awakens from a 100-year sleep to find Hyrule in ruin and Zelda locked in Hyrule Castle holding back the great evil that is Ganon. The rest follows on from there, with its quirky cast of characters, truly breathtaking animation, and true feeling of exploration and freedom to go wherever and whenever, the game is so packed with Easter eggs and details that you could be fooled into thinking you are stepping into another living, breathing world. There's a whole bestiary of creatures to slay or hunt, fairies to impress to be granted priviliges, and more sidequests than you could shake a tree branch at. This is the game that gave the Switch its unofficial launch name - the Zelda Box. This is the game that made me buy a console on day one of launch to play. This is a game that despite being three years old I am still playing though again to this day. There is no other game on the planet like Breath of the Wild and is Nintendo's masterpiece. If the company went out of business tomorrow this would be a game to finish on. An amazing storybook feel supported by an understated, quiet score that will leave you smiling each time you play.

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Fus Ro Dah! The Elder Scrolls V: Syrim smashes onto into our number one spot with more power than Alduin the dragon back for revenge. This game is beyond anything you've ever played before and will go down in history as one of the greatest games of all-time. Each playthrough is different, each time you play the game something unexpected might happen, and the world is so dense and packed you feel like you are in another world. Not only that, this game has been ported to almost every system that there was once a joke that it would be playable on a fridge. This wouldn't be surprising. The visuals are stunning, the lore rivals Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones and the many, many quests and sidequests are laced with so much humour it's like wandering around in a Monty Python sketch with some of the genuinely funny one-liners. There are very few games I will return to again and restart, but Skyrim is one of them. To play it best, play it on a PC and dip into the many mods the community has made. The best mod, however, has to be Ultimate Skyrim that adds 16 mods together to give you an entirely new gameplay experience. Skyrim is like falling in love, you never forget your first playthrough, and you will be coming back for more. Again, and again. The game has won literally hundreds of awards and deserves every single one of them.