10 2010s Video Games That Are Officially Classics in 2026

6 days ago 25

Samara using her biotic powers in Mass Effect 2

Published Oct 23, 2026, 7:45 AM EDT

Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.

It feels like it has only been a few years since the 2010s, when the world was obsessed with Marvel movies and Pokémon Go. However, it has been over a decade and a half since the start, and seven years since 2019. It is getting to the point that fans are becoming nostalgic for these video games, with plenty of titles from this decade already being regarded as classics.

When fans think of classic video games, they mostly imagine titles from the 1990s and maybe even the 2000s, but the 2010s have been over for a while, meaning there are plenty of classics from this era. That is why this list will feature ten video games from the 2010s that are already classics in 2026 based on aspects such as gameplay, design, narrative, visuals, how well they hold up, originality, influence, and representation of the era.

'Halo: Reach' (2010)

One of the greatest and most nostalgic video game franchises is Halo; unfortunately, the series has fallen off in later years. However, it still contains one classic from the 2010s, and that is Halo: Reach. This video game prequel follows a group of Spartans fighting a losing war that will undoubtedly take their lives, but their sacrifices will help save the world.

The 2010s weren't the kindest era for the Halo franchise, yet it at least provided one last masterpiece that fans can consider a classic of the decade. Halo: Reach was Bungie's swan song for the gaming series, and it delivered the darkest entry in the franchise with a bleak yet emotionally resonant ending that many fans hold in high regard, especially for the refined multiplayer experience.

'Far Cry 3' (2012)

A man with a gun looking pensive in Far Cry

More and more gaming franchises are becoming movies and shows, and the next one up is Far Cry, which will likely adapt the best game in the franchise, Far Cry 3. A group of friends is living their best vacation on an island, but after being kidnapped by traffickers, they must look for a way to escape. This leads Jason down a spiraling journey to find salvation if he doesn't lose himself first.

The Far Cry franchise is home to some of the wildest video games that dial it up to eleven, and that is exactly what Far Cry 3 does. Jason's arc of descent into violence and chaos is one of the greatest examples of character development in video games. The game's thematic concerns are further enhanced by the excellent villain of Vaas, who pushes the narrative into a thrilling ride that proves why it is such an intelligent video game.

'Mass Effect 2' (2010)

If this list could, it would include the entire Mass Effect trilogy, but if only one were to be selected, it would have to be Mass Effect 2. After the first game and the apparent death of Commander Shepard, he comes back to lead a group of soldiers on a journey to stop an alien race known as the Collectors, which plan to use their powers to harvest the remaining human colonies.

Mass Effect is a franchise known for its branching narrative that involves in-depth writing and worldbuilding that utilizes every single race and their history, conflicts, and future. Mass Effect 2, in particular, represents the very best of the sci-fi series, making fans emotionally connected to the cast as it explores their past and the evolving dynamics that shift the narrative and world.

'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' (2017)

The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's greatest franchises ever, and while it has a few 2010s classics, its best is, hands down, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. One hundred years after Ganon and Zelda were sealed away, Link wakes back up to a Hyrule Kingdom that has been taken over by nature. He must awaken the Divine Beasts and defeat Ganon once and for all before he reawakens.

Breath of the Wild would be higher on this list, but as the newest title featured, it isn't as much of a classic compared to the rest — not yet, anyway. Still, this game reinvented the open-world format with the innovative open-air style, allowing players to run, climb, and glide anywhere they want. As one of the greatest Zelda games of all time, Breath of the Wild is a classic that remains one of the best games ever.

'Batman: Arkham City' (2011)

The 2010s were the biggest decade in terms of superhero popularity thanks to the MCU, but that also extended to video games with Batman: Arkham City. The titular prison is a sectioned-off ward of Gotham, and when Hugo Strange initiates Protocol 10, Bruce Wayne is thrown into the stronghold and must don the cape and cowl in order to stop him before it is too late.

Batman: Arkham Asylum was an amazing first game, but Batman: Arkham City improved on almost everything. The open-world is expansive and atmospheric, allowing fans to immerse themselves in this remarkably grim city. The combat is revered as some of the best in video game history, and paired with the worldbuilding, narrative, and aesthetic, makes for a superhero classic of the modern age.

'Minecraft' (2011)

Steve and Alex back-to-back in Minecraft

While all these video games are perfect to play anytime, no one can deny that their peak is behind them. That is true for all the entries on this list except for Minecraft. Dropping players into a sandbox world, they can do whatever they want, from building a house to exploring the procedurally generated world, fighting the Ender Dragon, and crafting anything that comes to mind.

Minecraft is a video game that hasn't lost a step since 2011, constantly improving and updating to keep things fresh and fans entertained. It is more than a mere game; this title is a genuine cultural event everyone knows about. Minecraft is nostalgic and modern, containing so many fond memories for fans, with more potential experiences in the future as it continues to impress.

'The Last of Us' (2013)

As mentioned earlier, video games are a good baseline for TV shows, even if they mostly don't turn out well. But one exception is The Last of Us, even if the video game is much better. Years after the start of the zombie apocalypse, Joel is a grizzled veteran who takes a job to deliver a girl across the country. But when she might be the cure to the disease, the mission becomes even more dangerous and important.

The second video game is much more polarizing, but the original title is regarded as one of the best narratives in gaming history. The Last of Us is a touching, dark, and intriguing story that puts the two characters at the center and slowly develops their relationship through traumatic events and bonding moments. Not to mention, the survival gameplay is tense and perfect even in 2026.

'Portal 2' (2011)

A robot jumping between portals in Portal 2

Valve used to deliver some of the greatest video games of all time, but has since focused on their platform, Steam. Still, fans at least have Portal 2 to love, especially since it is a classic from the 2010s. Chell wakes back in the same scientific facility, but now that it is abandoned, she tries to escape with the help of a robot named Wheatley.

There are so many perfect details and aspects of Portal 2, from its gameplay to the writing, charm, puzzles, and uniqueness. The writing and wittiness have made it one of the funniest video games ever, but the comedy doesn't get in the way of the stimulating gameplay that presents fascinating gameplay that flawlessly teaches the players.

'Grand Theft Auto V' (2013)

Three characters holding guns in Grand Theft Auto V

Rockstar Games is among the greatest game studios, with many fans looking forward to Grand Theft Auto VI. While that will be a classic of the 2020s in the future, Grand Theft Auto V is a classic from the 2010s. Michael, Trevor, and Franklin are an odd match of characters, but they must work together in order to pull off the most ambitious heists in Los Santos.

Grand Theft Auto V is the culmination of Rockstar's ambition and the technological innovation of the franchise, providing a masterclass of emergent gameplay that allows players to do whatever they want in its world. The groundbreaking aspects of Grand Theft Auto V have kept fans playing for a decade, and while that will end soon, it has remained an undisputed classic that is still perfect in 2026.

The Elder Scrolls is in a very similar situation to Grand Theft Auto, with a highly anticipated sixth game coming out decades after the fifth. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has players setting out on an adventure to kill Alduin, the world eater, a giant and ferocious dragon that is prophesied to destroy the world if gamers don't stop it.

It is wild to think that Skyrim has been around for a decade and a half with no sequel, but that only speaks to its influence and staying power. Its ability to keep gamers playing is a testament to its timelessness, which is specifically seen in worldbuilding, side quests, immersive style, and wide combat, proving that the 2010s are the best video game decade full of classics.