Half-Life 2 showed the difference between playing as a character and being a character better than any game ever had before, and arguably ever has to date. It was linear, but never felt constrictive. It told a story without telling it to you. It led you by the hand, but you always felt in control. Not a single great FPS in the last 5 years would have reached its potential without Half-Life 2 showing them how to do it right.

2. World of Warcraft
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Platform: PC

Like it or not, World of Warcraft brought the MMO genre to the masses with its easy-to-play-but-tough-to-master game mechanics, astounding art direction (even by today’s standards) and unparalleled support. Ever since its release, other games have claimed to be the “WoW killer”, and yet still it stands, strong as it was in 2004.

3. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Publisher: LucasArts
Developer: BioWare
Platform: PC , Xbox
Year: 2003

Before Knights of the Old Republic, BioWare’s take on RPGs was as a crafted PC experience, made entirely with a keyboard and mouse in mind. With Knights of the Old Republic, the studio took the action down to the ground, and crafted the best Star Wars story since the original trilogy, to bring in a whole new legion of fans. The genre hasn’t been the same since.

4. Grand Theft Auto III
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: DMA Design
Platform: PS2
Year: 2001

As genre-defining moments go, few could argue against the indelible mark that Grand Theft Auto III left on PlayStation 2 owners in 2001. Rockstar North, through the combination of tight script, intense action, freedom and violence, gave players a revolutionary new way to experience mature-targeted action games. A true classic.

5. Super Mario Galaxy
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Platform: Wii
Year: 2007

Did Super Mario Galaxy top Nintendo’s revolutionary Super Mario 64? That’s open to debate – but what is certain is that Mario Galaxy is the Wii’s finest gaming experience. Drawing on more than twenty years of platforming expertise, Super Mario Galaxy masterfully blends an absurdist level design with compulsive and extremely polished gameplay. Stunning.

6. Counter-Strike
Publisher: Sierra Studios
Developer: Valve
Platform: PC
Year: 2000

It’s still one of the best online shooters around. Though other games have passed it by in terms of graphics and the range of options, few have even come close to capturing the near-perfect pacing and balance of this online FPS. Ten years later, people are still playing this one.

7. Fallout 3
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Platform: PC , PS3 , Xbox 360
Year: 2008

It’s tough for a studio to take over a beloved franchise from another group of developers. Bethesda’s Fallout 3 is a roadmap to success. Blending elements of old with its patented open-world design, the group that cut its teeth on The Elder Scrolls franchise brought back a classic while taking it to new heights.

8. Okami
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Clover Studio
Platform: PS2
Year: 2006

Okami was released the year after high definition gaming was introduced on Xbox 360 and it still managed to steal the hearts of gamers with its beautiful artwork. Its original and whimsical approach to the adventure genre was refreshing not only for the way gamers would paint their attacks, but also the way actions brought the world back to life.

9. Battlefield 1942
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Digital Illusions CE (DICE)
Platform: PC
Year: 2002

Judged purely by the amount of time we spent playing, there are few multiplayer games that were as popular among the IGN staff as DICE’s intense online shooter. Combining land, sea and air combat with lots of vehicles and different infantry kits, Battlefield 1942 brought World War 2 to life in a way that no other game ever has.

10. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog Software
Platform: PS3
Year: 2009

It seemed unlikely that Naughty Dog could develop an even better game than the original Uncharted, but the studio did so with flying colors. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was a virtually ideal sequel: it continued all the great traditions that Uncharted began and also implemented a full suite of multiplayer options. To call it a “must-buy” is an understatement.

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It was a long time in coming, but Half-Life 2 delivered everything it promised and more. Between the level design, multi-layered characters, stunning visuals (remember going up the citadel spire for the very first time?) and the impact of the physics-based gameplay, HL2 displayed just how involving a first-person-shooter could be.

2. World of Warcraft
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Platform: PC

Like it or not, World of Warcraft brought the MMO genre to the masses with its easy-to-play-but-tough-to-master game mechanics, astounding art direction (even by today’s standards) and unparalleled support. Ever since its release, other games have claimed to be the “WoW killer”, and yet still it stands, strong as it was in 2004.

3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami JPN (KCEJ)
Platform: PS2

A franchise prequel, Snake Eater sets most of the events of the Metal Gear series into motion and redefines its stealth action gameplay. The player’s environmental surroundings were vital in this Cold War tale set on the brink of nuclear war.

4. Ninja Gaiden
Publisher: Tecmo
Developer: Team Ninja
Platform: Xbox

It’s one thing to bring back a classic. It’s another to re-invent the game entirely and set a new standard for an entire genre. Ninja Gaiden could be soul crushing in its difficulty, but this was due to lightning fast gameplay and incredible AI. Tomonobu Itagaki made a game that was better than you, and he wanted you to know it.

 
5. Halo 2
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bungie Software
Platform: Xbox

Xbox Live ushered in a new era of online console gaming, and Halo 2 helped Microsoft lead the charge. In addition to its high-octane single-player campaign, Halo 2 allowed gamers to compete online for glory. It was an instant success, and Bungie rode the wave to online multiplayer stardom.

6. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North
Platform: PS2

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas gave you everything the other GTA titles did, but then it added in about 400-percent more. Now you could eat fast food to become fat, workout to get jacked, ride bikes, fly planes, date, skydive, and get lost in the story of Carl Johnson’s return to Los Santos and all of the headaches that came with it. The story, violence, and open world of GTA was back, and it was amazing.

 
7. Rome: Total War
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Creative Assembly
Platform: PC

Creative Assembly has proven in the past that it could fuse turn-based strategy gameplay with large-scale, real-time battlefield management, but never before was the chaos of battle brought to life as it was in Rome. Buoyed by a number of gameplay refinements and a massive graphical upgrade over previous series entries, Rome proved to be one of the prettiest, deepest, and most satisfying gaming experiences ever made.

 
8. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Retro Studios, Inc.
Platform: GameCube

While developer Retro Studios may have fallen short of expectations set by the first Metroid Prime, the team’s sophomore effort, Prime 2: Echoes, remains an impressive, landmark release in the GameCube library. Retro’s talents in marrying classic gameplay appeal to modern presentation and immersive environments evolved with Metroid Prime 2 to stunning, if not revolutionary, effect.

 
9. Burnout 3: Takedown
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Criterion Games
Platform: PS2 , Xbox

Criterion took everything we never knew we wanted from a driving game and stuffed it all into Burnout 3: Takedown. In Crash mode, we used cars as virtual weapons, destroying our surroundings. In Road Rage, we took out our latent driving aggression, pushing cars off the road with manic glee. Fantasy fulfillment at its finest.

10. ESPN NFL 2K5
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: Visual Concepts
Platform: PS2 , Xbox

As a slap in the face of EA’s Madden series, ESPN NFL 2K5 managed to grab and hold onto a firm legion of NFL fans. The game, which – you know – involves two teams on a field running headlong into each other while carrying a synthetic ball, remains as playable and enjoyable as ever – even if the presentation has taken a hit over the years.

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