Each decade proves to have its own distinct selection of standout video game experiences, as there will always be inherent nostalgia and love for the best that the decade has to offer, as each video game generation has its own distinct energy and play style. The 2000s especially were a wildly well-beloved decade, between the iconic releases of consoles from the 6th and 7th generations of consoles as well as rising competition from the digital era and mobile devices.
Many see this decade as a real last hurrah for video games that were largely oriented towards player experience instead of making as much money as possible. This is largely seen from the passion and care placed into these games, with many of them feeling timeless in their stature in that they can be endlessly replayed until the end of time. People can always have fun and a great time while playing these games, whether it's their first time experiencing them or hundreds of hours played.
While many people often think of the massively acclaimed Skyrim when considering entries in the Elder Scrolls series, the previous mainline entry in the series, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has a lot of the same strengths and high-fantasy flourishes that made Skyrim such an icon. The vast world of Cyodiil is filled with various quests, enemies, and all sorts of other content that keeps players engaged and invested for hundreds of hours.
Even on replays of the game, there are various different approaches to going about the world of Oblivion, much like Skyrim would do afterward. This incredibly impressive early masterpiece of the 7th generation of consoles would be infinitely more acclaimed and legendary if Skyrim hadn't upped the ante only 5 years later. Still, the game is an icon of high fantasy video games and one of the absolute best RPGs of the 2000s.
9 'Resident Evil 4' (2005)
Image via CapcomOne of the most revolutionary and influential games of the 2000s thanks to its combination of horror and action into a perfect, high-octane combination, Resident Evil 4 is among the most celebrated horror games ever released. It has the same timeless charm of a classic horror movie, with its scares and memorable moments always landing no matter how many times a player has experienced it. This has allowed the game to be ported and re-released to every console imaginable, even receiving a high-profile remake that further delivered RE4 greatness.
Especially as Resident Evil continues to cement itself at the forefront of horror gaming culture, this iconic entry in the franchise grows all the more effective and timely for being replayed and reexperienced time and time again. It's about as impactful and timeless a single-player experience could possibly be within the horror genre, managing to be so exceptional in its action that it completely revolutionized 3rd person shooters in the process.
8 'Diablo II' (2000)
PC gaming in the 2000s was completely dominated by the various works of Blizzard Entertainment, whether it be the continued support of esports icon Starcraft or the massive worldwide phenomenon World of Warcraft. However, in terms of which game from their 2000s catalog has stood the test of time and feels just as fun to play as it did when it first released, Diablo II is still one of the absolute peaks of dungeon-crawling action RPGs.
With pristine moment-to-moment gameplay and a wide array of intricate classes to choose from, there is no wrong way to experience the dark, twisted world of Diablo II, with its procedurally generated dungeons giving it infinite replayability beyond an initial playthrough. This is even further amplified by the game's usage of multiplayer, as going through the entire game with a party of friends is one of the absolute best co-op multiplayer experiences that 2000s gaming has to offer.
7 'Team Fortress 2' (2007)
Online multiplayer gaming saw a massive rise in popularity during the 2000s, especially with the various first-person shooters that saw teams of players facing against each other for endless fun and fast-paced action. One of the best online shooters of this era that distinctly leaned into personality and fun-factor above all else was Team Fortress 2, Valve's premiere sequel that massively popularized the hero shooter genre.
The game has stayed strong with an active community ever since its release, having received an array of updates with new weapons, maps, game modes, and a thriving cosmetic marketplace. That isn't even going into the wide array of fan-made maps and game modes across the servers, giving the game an endless lifeblood even after Valve has stopped giving the game major content updates. There's something inherently charming and joyous about the game that continues to give it an edge over other multiplayer shooters, even nearly 2 decades after its release.
6 'The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker' (2002)
Image via NintendoFew video game franchises have been as massively appraised with legendary status as The Legend of Zelda, with countless games in the franchise achieving all-time status as some of the greatest adventure games of their generation. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is certainly no different, with a distinct cartoon style and a vast ocean to explore making it the definitive fantasy adventure of the 6th generation. Like many Zelda games before and after, there's an inherent joy to traversing the dungeons and world that never gets old no matter how many times the game is played.
Whether the player is only playing through the main story and dungeons or going through all the side quests for 100% completion, The Wind Waker is an exceptionally fun time that has only aged better and better with each passing year. Especially with the prominent remaster The Wind Waker HD on Wii U, that added more quality of life improvements and even greater visuals, The Wind Waker is one of the absolute best Zelda games and will always bring enjoyment on a new playthrough.
5 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' (2004)
Image via Rockstar GamesOftentimes the face of controversial and mature video games while also being one of the most successful video game franchises of all time, it's very easy to simply stick to the latest releases when it comes to the massively acclaimed Grand Theft Auto franchise. However, even after the massive steps forward in Grand Theft Auto V and the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, there is such striking character and charm within Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that makes it a fan-favorite even compared to the extremely polished modern entries.
From the wide array of memorable characters to the overwhelming personality inherent to San Andreas as a location, this game pushes Grand Theft Auto during the 6th generation to its absolute limits, easily being one of the defining releases on the platform and the best-selling game on the PS2. The vast map provides for all sorts of chaotic crime and fun side-quests to do, as even simply exploring and toying around with the world of San Andreas can be an absolute blast.
4 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2' (2000)
While they aren't nearly as prevalent as they used to be, there were a wide array of prominent extreme sports games released in the 90s and early 2000s that tapped into the underground cultura of high-flying tricks and unbelievable stunts. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise was easily at the forefront of this subgenre of sports game, with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 not only being the height of the franchise, but one of the absolute greatest sports games ever made.
The game proves to be the absolute pinnacle of recreating the charm and electrifying energy of hitting a massive, completely impossible trick on a skateboard, utilizing the video game medium to create an experience simply impossible in reality. It builds upon the charm and effectiveness of the original by creating a more timeless, infinitely replayable experience. The controls are tighter and allow for more skill expression while the map creator allows for even more replayability and fun.
3 'Halo 2' (2004)
Halo has always been a massively acclaimed and celebrated franchise within the world of sci-fi video games and first-person shooters, yet it's the infinitely replayable impact of Halo 2 and its online multiplayer that truly supercharged the franchise into all-time status. Halo 2 upped the ante of the previous game considerably with its scope and scale, with its massive online multiplayer culture making the game the face of online multiplayer for an entire generation of gamers.
Video games as a medium were forever changed by the overwhelming success of Halo 2, although the game wouldn't have been nearly as successful or iconic if it weren't an absolute blast to play. The joy of simply hopping onto a server with friends, using your favorite weapon, and getting into some brainless argument in voice chat is one of the quintessential experiences of 2000s gaming. While the series would technically increase in scale and stature with subsequent releases, in the realm of replayability they simply don't compare to Halo 2.
2 'Super Smash Bros. Melee' (2001)
Image via NintendoEqual parts a fun, chaotic party experience and a hardened test of skill expression and mastery in the platform fighter genre, Super Smash Bros. Melee has amassed an overwhelming legacy well beyond the scope and prospects of its original release. The game completely revolutionized the platform fighter genre of fighting games, still having an exceptionally active and hyper-competitive esports scene long after its release, with fans making strides to give the game cultural immortality.
However, even for players who aren't tapped into the world of L-cancelling, wavedashing, and SDI at the competitive level, there's still an infinitely entertaining party experience at its core that will always be a blast to play with friends. There's an inherent charm and passion to the game that shines through long after its release, as the magic of Melee is something that will never truly go away. Even as the Super Smash Bros. franchise receives new and exciting updates, Melee will forever hold a place in the hearts of fans and always be a blast to play.
1 'Super Mario Galaxy' (2007)
Image via NintendoWhile it may not have the edge of being a vast multiplayer experience that can be played with friends and every game feels different, there is a sort of cosmic joy and platforming perfection to Super Mario Galaxy that makes it a timeless video game masterpiece. With so many massively creative levels and some of the most polished 3D platforming that gaming has to offer, it's impossible to not have a great time playing what is the absolute height of the most iconic video game franchise of all time.
Even as other Mario games have tapped into a similar sense of great controls and high creativity, there's a charm and timeless nature to the execution of Super Mario Galaxy so that its whimsical fun factor simply never wears off. Its the type of well-made masterpiece that always brightens the mood of the player and feels purposeful with each environment and world. There's a reason that the game was used as inspiration for the second animated Mario movie, as there's so much love and joy to be had in Mario exploring the vast cosmos.
Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most? Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek
Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one.
🚀Star Wars
💍Lord of the Rings
🧙Harry Potter
👑Game of Thrones
🖖Star Trek
FIND YOUR UNIVERSE →
01
What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning? Every universe is built around a different answer to this question.
ABeing part of something larger than myself — a cause, a rebellion, a fight for freedom that outlasts me. BThe journey itself — the places I'll go, the companions beside me, the world I'll discover on the way. CLearning — unlocking what I'm capable of, understanding the world's hidden mechanics, growing into something more. DLegacy — the name I leave behind, the power I build, the mark I make before the world moves on without me. EUnderstanding — exploring what exists beyond the horizon and asking what it means to be alive in a universe this vast.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit? The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully.
AA galaxy of planets, each with its own culture — connected by conflict, trade, and the Force. BAncient lands of breathtaking beauty, deep history, and a creeping darkness at the edges. CA world hidden inside our own — full of wonder, community, and magic waiting to be learned. DA brutal, beautiful continent where power is everything and every alliance is a calculation. EA future where humanity has reached the stars — and must decide what kind of species it wants to be.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
How do you prefer your conflicts resolved? The shape of a world's conflicts tells you everything about its soul.
AThrough sacrifice and courage — someone has to make the impossible choice so others don't have to. BThrough fellowship — the impossible becomes possible when the right people walk the same road. CThrough growth — confronting what you fear, understanding what you lack, and becoming equal to the challenge. DThrough strategy — outthinking, outmaneuvering, positioning yourself so the outcome was never in doubt. EThrough dialogue — finding the third option, the peaceful resolution, the answer that doesn't require a body count.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
Who do you want beside you when things get difficult? Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for.
AA small crew — a pilot, a rogue, a warrior — each broken in their own way, unbeatable together. BA fellowship of different kinds of people, bound by purpose and deepened by the long road. CFriends who grew up alongside me — who knew me before I knew myself, and stayed anyway. DAllies whose loyalty I've earned — and tested — and whose ambitions align with mine, for now. EA crew of brilliant, curious, principled people from every corner of known space.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
What is your relationship with power? How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are.
AI want to use it to protect — and I'm terrified of what I might become if I'm not careful. BI distrust it. The most important power in this story is the courage to give it up. CI want to earn it — through knowledge, through effort, through becoming someone worthy of it. DI want to wield it. Preferably before someone else decides to wield it against me. EI want to understand it — its structures, its limits, its ethical dimensions. Power without accountability is the real threat.
NEXT QUESTION →
06
How does your universe treat good and evil? A world's moral architecture tells you more about it than any map.
AThere is a dark side and a light side — and the choice between them is always present, always personal. BEvil is real and ancient and patient — and goodness, however small, is the only thing that can undo it. CGood and evil are real, but they live inside people — and people are complicated, always capable of both. DGood and evil are mostly a matter of perspective and proximity. Power is the only honest currency. EEvil is usually the result of ignorance, fear, or broken systems — and understanding it is the first step to solving it.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
What role would you naturally fall into? Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying?
AThe reluctant hero — ordinary origins, extraordinary moment, changed forever by the choice to act. BThe unlikely carrier — the one nobody expected to matter most, quietly bearing the weight of everything. CThe student — not yet who I'll become, learning through every mistake, growing into something the world needs. DThe player — sharp enough to see the game for what it is, ambitious enough to try to win it. EThe explorer — drawn to the unknown, driven by curiosity, most alive when standing somewhere no one has stood before.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
What do you ultimately believe about the future? The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you.
AThat hope is real — that even in the darkest galaxy, a new hope is always possible. CThat even the smallest person can change the course of the future, if they have the courage to try. CThat love and friendship and doing what's right will matter in the end, even when everything says otherwise. DThat the wheel keeps turning — that power shifts, winters end, and what endures is those willing to fight for it. EThat humanity — or whatever we become — is capable of extraordinary things, if we choose to be.
REVEAL MY UNIVERSE →
Your Universe Has Been Chosen You Belong In…
Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose.
Star Wars
You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast.
- You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance.
- You'd find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources.
- Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story.
- The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is.
Lord of the Rings
You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world's beauty is worth protecting even at great cost.
- Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate.
- You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival.
- Tolkien's universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance.
- Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world.
Harry Potter
You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what's right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise.
- The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle.
- You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete.
- Harry Potter's universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying.
- That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely.
Game of Thrones
You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it.
- Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation.
- You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don't confuse the world as it is with the world as you'd like it to be.
- Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer.
- Winter always comes. You are already prepared.
Star Trek
You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation.
- Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear.
- You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is.
- The Federation is the universe's most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better?
- You don't just hope that's possible. You think it's the only thing worth working toward.
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