“My Top 10 Games In The 2010s!”
5 min read
Can you believe it? We’re coming to the end of a literal era. The 2010s in gaming survived the darkest and the grittiest, the pixelated indie wave, any number of new/old nontroversies, and motion controls. The future is bright, but before we step into 2020, I thought it was high time to look at the decade as a whole and pick out my top 10 games in the 2010s, one for each year.
You can join in, too!
Let us know: What is your favorite game for every year in the 2010s. 10 games in total! No cheating! Yes, yes, I know it’s difficult.
Here are my choices. I (likely) would’ve nominated these for game of the year in each of their respective years. *NOTE* that these are favorite games, not necessarily the best games of the year. Though they might be, that’s a different question entirely.
2010 – Monster Hunter Tri
I wasn’t playing many games at the start of the 2010s, largely thanks to feeling alienated by a failing Nintendo and a nightmarishly monotone AAA scene (my personal feelings). Tri helped get me into the swing of things again. I got it on a cashier’s recommendation and didn’t regret it. Gave me something non-Nintendo to play on the Wii.
2011 – Batman: Arkham City
I’ve been a Batman fan for as long as I can remember, so picking up the Arkham series was a no-bat-brainer. While City isn’t my favorite entry (that privilege goes to the focused claustrophobia of Asylum), it’s perfect to mark 2011. What a great realization of the Batman universe.
2012 – Journey
This was my pick for game of the year for 2012, and I’ve already shared many much words on the impact Journey had on me as a person. I won’t rehash all that here. It’s safe to say, though, that it gave me an experience I’m still searching to replicate in other games.
2013 – Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
As a big Studio Ghibli and JRPG fan (well, I was in the old days), Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch felt like it was made just for me, custom-fitted like a glove. I spent a ton of time in its worlds and enjoyed (mostly) every single minute. Even though I broke the game wide open by over-farming Tokos. Ah well…
2014 – Alien: Isolation
Isolation just narrowly beat out Shovel Knight for my fave of 2014. Why? Well, it’s because I didn’t want you to think that all I play is pixel indies. Nah, just kidding. It’s because Isolation’s made incredible achievements in atmosphere and enemy AI. It also helps that Alien is one of my favorite films ever.
2015 – Undertale
While I didn’t play Undertale contemporaneously in 2015, when I finally did get around to playing it, I was struck by its self-awareness, its quirks and humor, its cast, and its approach to refreshing the traditional elements of classic JRPGs. Although I haven’t reached the point of shipping characters together in my fan art, I really do love this game a lot. And what a soundtrack!
2016 – Hyper Light Drifter
Officially in the GINSUA category (Games I Never Shut Up About), Hyper Light Drifter exemplifies everything that I love about indies at their best: it’s a focused experience eschewing mass appeal by leaving out all the bloat and baggage, a game that knows what it wants to say and doesn’t get muddled down by being over-produced or over-designed. Its simple, engaging, fast-paced systems of gameplay, its haunting, word-less narrative, its dissonant, alien soundtrack, its stylish, much-replicated cyan and pink diamond visuals… I love it so much. This was an easy year to figure out.
2017 – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
A million traditional Zeldas already exist, but Breath of the Wild decided to take the future by the horns and craft an open-world gameplay experience actually focused primarily on the joys of discovery and exploration, rather than stumbling over its own feet trying to tell a typical cinematic story with cutscenes scattered across vast distances of hours upon hours, rather than chasing down pinpoints of light by playing a mini-map, rather than boxing players in via mountain ranges and bodies of water. This daring nature meant it would also be controversial, especially among the old guard of the Zelda fandom, but if it is treated as a singular experiment within the evolution of that franchise, it’s just fine by me. I’m not saying I want every Zelda to come out exactly like it.
2018 – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Switch was the first console I purchased at launch since the original PlayStation, and the little hybrid that could brought me screaming into the modern world of games, revitalizing my interest in the PlayStation line of consoles as well as Nintendo’s resurrection of IPs. Nowhere is that newfound affection clearer than with Smash Ultimate, which is currently the game I’ve played the longest on my Switch. And they keep adding characters to this thing! Holy moly, what a roster.
2019 – The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
When I first made this list, I had Cuphead in this spot since it was ported to Switch in 2019, but in retrospect, I wanted to give the spot to a new title. Ironically, Link’s Awakening is a remake of a Game Boy classic. I just couldn’t win. Anyhow, Awakening has been my favorite Zelda since the old days, so I completely expected to re-love the remake all over again. And I did. And I’m still crying.
And that’s my list! What are your picks?
Red formerly ran The Well-Red Mage and now serves The Pixels as founder, writer, editor, and podcaster. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves in the midst of a culture obsessed with the latest controversy, scandal, and news cycle about harassment, toxicity, and negativity. Pick out his feathered cap on Twitter @thewellredmage, Mage Cast, or Story Mode.
Great choices! I might do this as a separate blog post… although, as slow as I am, it’ll be out in June sometime! Haha!
Do it! …In June 🙂
Hey better late than never, right?
1. SOMA
2. The Last of Us
3. Night in the Woods
4. Octopath Traveler
5. The Last Guardian
6. Child of Light
7. Ori and the Blind Forest
8. Oxenfree
9. Valiant Hearts
10. What Remains of Edith Finch
SOMA is definitely number 1, but the rest of the list isn’t in order.
I must needs play some SOMA
You really do. It’s an experience I’ll NEVER forget.
2010- Super Mario Galaxy 2
2011- Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
2012- New Suoer Mario Bros U
2013- Super Mario 3D World
2014- Super Smash Bros for Wii U
2015- Yoshi’s Wooly World
2016- Paper Mario: Color Splash
2017- Kingdom Hearts 2.8
2018- Super Smash Bros Ultimate
2019- Kingdom Hearts III
Seriously, some years are easy (looking at you 2015) while others had too much great games (looking at you 2012 and 2017). I also realise that I didn’t play a lot of games from recent years (looking at you 2018 and 2019). I took the liberty to cheat and add titles I debated upon.
2010: Fluidity, an underrated gem on WiiWare.
I also thought of Metroid: Other M (don’t judge me, I liked it!) and Kirby’s Epic Yarn.
2011: Radiant Historia
Trine 2 was a good contender too.
2012: Xenoblade Chronicles
This year gave me trouble. It was easy choosing Xenoblade, but I also realised that it was the year of FTL, Gravity Rush, Diablo III and The Last Story…
2013: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Honourable mentions to Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch and Velocity Ultra. 2013 also saw the release of the gem SteamWorld Dig.
2014: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call
Another year with quite a few great games. The Wii U saw one of its most charming entry with Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. Quality titles on the 3DS too with Bravely Default and Fantasy Life. The incredible Child of Light was also released that year, as was the fast-paced Velocity 2X.
2015: Xenoblade Chronicles X
Human Resource Machine was also very good and a great learning experience for programmatic concepts. In addition, Yoshi’s Woolly World might be the most lovely game even conceived.
2016: No Man’s Sky
I strongly hesitated with Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE here. World of Final Fantasy has some merits too and Severed uses the touch screen in a fantastic way.
2017: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Now we arrive at the most difficult year. Put in a simple unordered list: Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Horizon Zero Dawn, Gravity Rush 2, Metroid: Samus Returns, Cosmic Star Heroine…
2018: Into the Breach
Octopath Traveler came close to my favourite for 2018, but the grinding of unused characters killed the game. Phenomenal music and presentation though! I also enjoyed playing Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom and Detroit: Become Human.
2019: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Nothing much to say here… except that I often play games years after they come out. Maybe I’ll have more to say about 2019 in a decade.
This is too hard, I give up…
2010: Xenoblade Chronicles (JP release)
2011: Xenoblade Chronicles (EU release)
2012: Xenoblade Chronicles (NA release)
2013: Xenostuff 0
2014: Was Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Out Yet?
2015: Xenoblade Chronicles X
2016: Xenoblade Chronicles XYZ
2017: Xenoblade Chronicles 2
2018: Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country
2019: Xenoblade When?
(bonus) 2020: Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition
Lol all Xenos haha
2010. Rock Band 3
2011. Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People
2012. Thomas Was Alone
2013. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle
2014. Might and Magic X: Legacy
2015. Also Undertale
2016. Pokemon Sun/Moon
2017. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
2018. Octopath Traveler
2019. Fire Emblem Three Houses
1. Mass Effect 2-2010
2. Arkham City-2011
3. Final Fantasy XV-2016
4. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild-2017
5. Kingdom Hearts 3-2019
6. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3-2017
7. Castlevania Lords of Shadow-2010
8. Assassins Creed 3-2012
9. Mortal Kombat-2011
10. Dante’s Inferno-2010
This is a tough one. Really tough.
2010: Super Mario Galaxy 2
2011: Batman: Arkham City
2012: Xenoblade Chronicles
2013: Pikmin 3
2014: Outlast
2015: Splatoon
2016: Doom
2017: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2018: God of War
2019: Resident Evil 2
Shoot – I see now I missed that you had to pick one game from every year… I will rectify this via Twitter!
Some great picks here Red – great idea for a post as we approach another year that ends in zero. A couple of your selections are definitely in my top 11-20 – specifically Arkham City and BoTW (currently playing)
My ’10s top ten (without thinking too hard) looks like this:
1) Titanfall 2 (2016) – my personal GINSUA
2) Forza Horizon 3 (2016)
3) Destiny (2014)
4) Stardew Valley (2016)
5) Mafia 3 (2016)
6) Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017)
7) Forza Motorsport 4 (2011)
8) DiRT Rally 2.0 (2019)
9) Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)
10) Halo: Master Chief Collection (2014) – can this count, since its a massive compilation?
On retrospect, 2016 was one heckuva year!
Stardew was so close to making my list, it’s crazy