Thanks to certain games, some years are highly rated overall for gaming.
Metacritic is an online portal that consolidates the reviews and opinions of the most respected critics from around the world. The website has a collection of video games and movies from the best years in entertainment and gives each title a Metascore that is a testament to its achievement.
As per Metacritic’s 100 Best Games of All Time, there are several milestone years in the gaming industry that witnessed the launch of celebrated games. These games include everything, like action, adventure, FPS, puzzle-solving, platformer, sports, RPGs, and others. Take a look at the best years in gaming, according to Metacritic.
Super Mario Galaxy – Metascore 97
Super Mario Galaxy is a 3D action-adventure game that was released for the Nintendo Wii and Wii U in November 2017. The platformer game is the third major release in the Mario franchise and the follow-up to Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. The game takes place in deep space with levels involving many planets and planetoids. Super Mario Galaxy sold more than 13 million copies worldwide.
BioShock – Metascore 96
BioShock is an FPS game published by 2K Games. The game is inspired by the writing of Ayn Rand, an American author. Set in the year 1960, BioShock unravels the adventures of Jack, the lone survivor of an airplane crash as he discovers the underground city of Rapture. The game was released for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and iOS.
Red Dead Redemption – Metascore 95
Published by Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption is an action-adventure that was launched in May 2010. The third-person perspective game unfolds in America during the year 1911. It is centered around John Marston, a hired gun out on a mission to bring justice to his family. The game was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and has sold over 23 million copies to date. Red Dead Redemption also has an online multiplayer mode that allows up to 16 players to fight in cooperative and competitive gameplay.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Metascore 97
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a platformer game that was released for Nintendo Wii in May 2010. The plot of Super Mario Galaxy 2 revolves around Mario in his effort to rescue Princess Peach from the Koopa King, Bowser. The game was an improvement of the original Super Mario Galaxy and sold more than 7 million copies. It included many characters from the Mario franchise such as Luigi, Lubba, Yoshi, and Rosalina.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Metascore 96
Released in March 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an action-adventure game that was developed for Nintendo Switch and Wii U. Gamers play as Link, a fabled hero who awakens after a hundred-year slumber in order to restore the kingdom of Hyrule by defeating his enemy Calamity Ganon. The open-world game encourages people to explore the land of Hyrule and discover interesting quests as they progress.
Super Mario Odyssey – Metascore 97
Super Mario Odyssey is a platformer game that was released in October 2017 for the Nintendo Switch. The game introduces people to Mario and his new ally Cappy, a character that has the Capture ability. Using Capture, Mario can take control of other characters and objects on his journey to save Princess Peach. Super Mario Odyssey has loads of mini-games including Luigi’s Balloon World.
The Last of Us – Metascore 95
The Last of Us is an action-adventure game that was developed by Naughty Dog and was launched in June 2013. It sold more than 1.3 million units for the PlayStation 3 in its first week. The horror survival game is weaved around the lives of Joel and Ellie as they work together to find a cure for a fungal plague that has infected a majority of humanity.
BioShock Infinite – Metascore 94
Developed by Irrational Games, BioShock Infinite is an FPS game. It was released in March 2013 for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Switch. The action game is the third game in the BioShock series. People can play as Booker DeWitt as he ventures into the airborne city of Columbia. He must find and rescue Elizabeth, a young woman held captive in a castle in the sky. On his journey, Booker can meet allies from the Vox Populi and defeat Comstock, the founder of Columbia.
Grand Theft Auto IV – Metascore 98
Grand Theft Auto IV is an action game that was published by Rockstar Games. It was released in 2008 for PlayStation 3, PC, and Xbox 360. The game is the sixth title in the main Grand Theft Auto series and takes place in Liberty City. In this game, the player is= Niko Bellic, a war veteran from Eastern Europe. Players can roam freely in Liberty City, shoot dozens of dangerous weapons, and drive fast cars. Grand Theft Auto IV broke industry records by earning $310 million on its first day.
LittleBigPlanet – Metascore 95
Published by Sony Computer Entertainment, LittleBigPlanet is a puzzle-platformer game that was released for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita. People can play as Sackboy, an adorable character that can jump, run, grab, and push objects in a physics-based environment to solve puzzles. The game is known for its user-generated content that has been shared by millions in its online community.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – Metascore 95
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is an outstanding action game that was published by Rockstar Games in October 2002. As the best-selling video game of 2002, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City sold over 17.5 million copies. The third-person perspective game lets people play as the iconic Tommy Vercetti as he ascends to the top of Vice City’s criminal underworld. Players can get involved with numerous gangs that control drug deals in and around the city. The game can be played on PlayStation 2, PC, Xbox, Android, and iOS.
Metroid Prime – Metascore 97
Developed by Retro Studios, Metroid Prime is an FPS game. It was among the earliest games to use 3D computer graphics to enhance its gameplay and was released in November 2002. The game lets people play as Samus Aran as she battles Space Pirates to thwart their biological experiments on planet Tallon IV. Players must find 12 Chozo artifacts and enter the Phazon meteor impact crater to complete the game.
Portal 2 – Metascore 95
Portal 2 is a puzzle-platformer game that was published by Valve in April 2011. The game takes place in the Aperture Science Enrichment Center and lets people play as Chell to solve puzzles using portals, tractor beams, lasers, and light bridges. Portal 2 has gained a reputation for being a humorous game with simple yet enjoyable mechanics.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Metascore 94
Published by Bethesda Softworks, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an RPG game. Players can explore the open world of Skyrim as the Dragonborn and attempt to prevent Alduin from destroying the world. People can complete countless quests and unlock dragon shouts to support their journey. The immersive world of Skyrim lets people craft weapons and items that can help them survive. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim sold more than 7 million copies in its first week of release.
Devil May Cry – Metascore 94
Devil May Cry is an action-adventure game published by Capcom in August 2001. The hack-and-slash game puts players in control of Dante, a hunter on a mission to defeat the demon lord Mundus. Dante can use a range of weapons to perform spectacular combos against demons and monsters. The game introduces the Devil Trigger mechanism that grants players amplified abilities and increased durability during battles.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 – Metascore 97
Published by Activision O2, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is a skateboarding game that was released in October 2001. The sports game can be played on Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. Players can perform numerous tricks and combos on exciting maps such as Canada, Suburbia, Los Angeles, and Tokyo.
Final Fantasy IX – Metascore 94
Final Fantasy IX is an RPG game that was published by Square Enix in July 2000. It sold more than 5.5 million copies within its first year of release. The top-down perspective game has various quests that involve riding chocobos, sailing boats, fighting enemies, and piloting airships. The combat system of the game lets players fight with physical attacks, use items, and cash spells. Final Fantasy IX can be played on PlayStation, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, and iOS.
Perfect Dark – Metascore 97
Perfect Dark is an FPS game that was released for the Nintendo 64 in May 2000. The game has a campaign mode that lets people control Joanna Dark, an agent involved in the extraction of a scientist from a high-security research facility. Players can use an array of weapons in the game, including handguns, assault rifles, rocket launchers, sniper rifles, shotguns, and combat knives.
Half-Life – Metascore 96
Half-Life is an FPS game that was developed by Valve in 1998. The action-packed game takes place at the Black Mesa Research Facility. Gamers play as Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist armed with dozens of weapons such as a crowbar, submachine guns, shotguns, and a rocket launcher. He must do what it takes to prevent aliens from invading the planet. The success of the game gave rise to several titles in the series including Opposing Force, Blue Shift, Half-Life 2, and Half-Life: Alyx. Half-Life won over 50 PC “Game of the Year” awards.
Gran Turismo – Metascore 96
Gran Turismo is a racing game that was published by Sony Computer Entertainment in May 1998. It has sold more than 10 million copies of the game for the PlayStation. There are over 180 supercars in the game that include the Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Chrysler Viper RT, Honda NSX, and Toyota Supra RZ. Autumn Ring, Deep Forest Raceway, Grand Valley East, and High-Speed Ring are a few of the tracks available in the game. Gran Turismo led the way toward the release of titles such as Gran Turismo 3, Gran Turismo 5, and Gran Turismo 6.
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Chetan Shekar is a marketing professional from Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India. His favorite games include Half-Life, Age of Empires, Age of Mythology, Warcraft, Starcraft, Darkstalkers, Marvel Vs. Capcom, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Defense of the Ancients (DotA), Bayonetta, Icey, and Transistor to name a few. He is also a published author.
