A lot can happen in the video game industry in ten years. Thousands of games are released every year, and while some of them are great, many more are not. On top of that, gaming trends and expectations change dramatically over time, and a title that would have been considered a top 10 game in one year could be completely ignored the next.
That said, some games stand the test of time and are great no matter when they’re released. Certain games most players can agree are fantastic and well-made, no matter the genre. Even though it’s difficult to condense 10 years of amazing games down to just 10 entries, these titles are undoubtedly amazing and left their mark on gaming history.
10 Hogwarts Legacy Showed the Wonder of the Harry Potter World
The Magical World of Hogwarts Is Worth Exploring
Hogwarts Legacy is one of those long-awaited titles that actually lived up to the hype. Fans of Harry Potter have wanted a proper open-world game that lets them explore many of the areas made famous in the Harry Potter books and films. Setting the game in the past also allowed the developers to have unique storylines and characters without needing them to relate heavily to the canon storyline.
Exploration is the best part of Hogwarts Legacy. There are so many secrets and challenges to find, even just within Hogwarts Castle. The Harry Potter lore is enticing enough, but it’s great exploration and puzzle-solving even if it were an original IP. The fact that exploration is rewarded and players actually want to go out of their way to complete the many optional challenges makes this a game worthy of the top 10.
Hogwarts Legacy
Systems
- Released
- February 10, 2023
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Software
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Interactive
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
9 Monster Hunter: World Made an Old Series Mainstream
It Added so Much to the Monster Hunter Franchise
Monster Hunter is a series that has been around for over 20 years and has always done well in Japan. Even though most of the Monster Hunter games were also released in North America, the series didn’t have the same appeal to Western audiences and had more of a niche following outside Japan.
That changed when Monster Hunter: World was released. It came with great improvements to the series while keeping the same core gameplay. The much better graphics and systems that took advantage of modern consoles, and later PC, made it a hit among the mainstream gaming audience. The latest release, Monster Hunter Wilds, has a similar style to World, so fans should expect the series to stick around.
Monster Hunter: World Game
Systems
- Released
- January 26, 2018
- ESRB
- Teen
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- MT Framework
- Franchise
- Monster Hunter
8 Final Fantasy VII: Remake Is a Reimagined Classic
It is a True Remake that Expands on the Original FFVII
Final Fantasy VII is one of the greatest JRPGs and Final Fantasy games of all time. Fans had wanted a remake for years, but what they got was much more than anyone could have imagined. It not only upgraded the graphics and battle system, but it also expanded greatly on the lore and story from the original.
The combat shifts from a turn-based battle system to a real-time one. Many of the same spells and abilities are present in Final Fantasy VII: Remake, but the new combat system allows for more to be done. Though some fans may have wanted the traditional battle system and unchanged story and plot, Final Fantasy VII: Remake shows just how involved a true video game remake can be.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Systems
- Released
- April 10, 2020
- ESRB
- Teen // Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
7 Cyberpunk 2077 Is a Sci-Fi RPG Masterpiece
The CD Projekt Red Game Brings a Harsh Technological Future to Life
D Projekt Red was praised for The Witcher games, so when Cyberpunk 2077 was announced, fans couldn’t wait to see how they’d handle the Cyberpunk universe. Few games immerse players in a living, breathing city quite like Cyberpunk 2077.
Though it had a rocky start on consoles, the base game was already impressive. Not only are the storyline and worldbuilding throughout are phenomenal, but it actually feels like a place the player can live in. The expansion, Phantom Liberty, improved on an already great game and showed just how committed the developers were to delivering the best experience possible.
Cyberpunk 2077
Systems
- Released
- December 10, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Engine
- REDengine 4
- Cross-Platform Play
- ps, xbox, pc
- Cross Save
- yes
6 NieR: Automata Mixes a Tragic Story with Great Action
The Square Enix Game Tackles Serious Themes and Philosophies
NieR: Automata is an interesting one because it’s the sequel to a spinoff of the Drakengard series. It also requires multiple playthroughs to get the full experience, but dedicated fans are rewarded with an unforgettable story. In fact, many fans consider it to have one of the best stories in a modern JRPG.
The combat is fast-paced hack-and-slash action with various other types of gameplay throughout, such as text adventure and shoot ’em up sections. Beyond that, both the characters and existential themes in NieR: Automata are top-notch and should be experienced by anyone, regardless of whether they enjoy the JRPG genre or not.
NieR: Automata
Systems
- Released
- March 7, 2017
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Franchise
- NieR
5 Elden Ring Brought the Dark Souls Series to a New Setting
The Famed Author of Game of Thrones had a Role in it
Elden Ring was highly anticipated as it combined the gameplay of FromSoftware’s Dark Souls games with the worldbuilding of George R.R. Martin, known for Game of Thrones. What came from this union was an amazing game that players could easily get lost in.
Dark Souls is known to be brutally difficult and unforgiving, but rewarding. The satisfaction of learning an enemy’s attack pattern and how to defeat it, then executing it, is unparalleled. Elden Ring also provides plenty for players to explore in addition to the satisfying combat and progression. The style of game may not be for everyone, but there’s no denying how well it nails the genre.
Elden Ring
Systems
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
4 Persona 5 Is an Amazing, Standout JRPG
It Proves That Turn-Based JRPGS are Still Popular
Persona has always been a great series, particularly since the formula was changed in Persona 3. It never quite hit mainstream popularity, though, until Persona 5. Fans of the series loved it, of course, but it also appealed to gamers who have never played a JRPG, let alone any Persona game.
Persona 5 allows players to travel into dungeons to battle and level up, while also offering a life/dating sim experience at other times. It’s a unique blend of genres and experiences with memorable characters and a fantastic story. Persona 5 is also one of the few games that actually takes 100 hours to beat the main game, not including the side content.
Persona 5
- Released
- September 15, 2016
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- P-Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Franchise
- Persona
3 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Is an Amazing Sequel
It Improved on the Already Fantastic Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda is an old series. Ocarina of Time has often been called one of the greatest games of all time, so the series is no stranger to accolades. However, Breath of the Wild defined a whole genre and changed both the series and gaming with its release.
The fact that Tears of the Kingdom improves on the perfection of the previous game is a testament to just how good this game is. It is the definitive open-world Zelda experience with much to uncover and explore that any fan of video games in general will enjoy.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Havok
- Cross-Platform Play
- N/A
- Cross Save
- N/A
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Ias an Immersive World and Incredible Storytelling
Even Witcher 3’s Side Quests Are Worth Completing
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is such an incredible game with qualities that cannot be understated. It offers a full open-world experience where players can just go around exploring without focusing on anything in particular. Nearly everyone who spends time with the game will run into a quest or experience that leaves a lasting impression.
The well-written characters and immersive storylines of The Witcher 3 are what make it so memorable. Many games have side quests and “filler” content to artificially bloat the game, but The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt does the opposite. Its side content does what any open-world game is supposed to do: expand on the world. Several side quests and the DLCs offer stories on par with, if not better than, the main quests in other great games.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Systems
- Released
- May 19, 2015
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Engine
- REDengine 3
- Cross-Platform Play
- yes
- Cross Save
- yes
1 Baldur’s Gate 3 Shook Up the Industry
Baldur’s Gate 3 Had Studios Scrambling to Make Excuses for Their Own Games
Few games have left an impression on the gaming industry in the last 10 years quite like Baldur’s Gate 3. Independent developer Larian Studios proved that even a small Belgian studio could make a game that rivals AAA companies. The fact that it beat out The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Game of the Year is enough to know this is an incredible game.
Though Baldur’s Gate 3 is a party-based RPG set in Dungeons & Dragons’ Forgotten Realms, it was a hit even for casual gamers. The masterfully written characters and story alone are worth experiencing. It also delivers a gameplay experience that stays true to the source material and allows players to combine skills and interact with the world in unique ways to progress through the game. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a unique game that deserves to be number one on this list.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Systems
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
