Nostalgia is a powerful drug that makes every childhood game a blast to revisit over and over again. Players love the memories that come flooding in as they clock in their umpteenth playthrough in these titles.
The2000s were a major decade for gaming, with these years seeing massive tech advancements that made every title mind-blowing in the eyes of many. It’s a golden era full of nostalgia that many prolific gamers checked out during this decade.
The stranglehold that Valve had on the gaming industry can’t be stated enough, with fans loving how revolutionary and engaging the video games released by this developer were. The most notable example of this isHalf-Life 2.
The game had the weight of everyone’s expectations, given that it was poised as a sequel to one of thegreatest FPS games ever made.Half-Life 2didn’t disappoint in the slightest, expanding on the universe’s worldbuilding and letting players mess around with a brilliant physics engine that’s still mind-blowing to this day.
Bullyis a beloved Rockstar gamethat feels completely unique from their usual offerings. Jimmy Hopkins is forcibly enrolled into Bullworth Academy, only to find himself embroiled in a controversy for the ages after an opportunistic student takes advantage of him to rise up the social hierarchy at his expense.
Players loved starting from nothing and eventually earning the trust of every notable clique in the school before taking their sweet revenge on Gary. The cartoonish violence and unique school simulation elements helped Bully stand out as a noteworthy open-world game that any 2000s gamer is familiar with.
The stylish gunplay ofMax Payne, coupled with its neo-noir aesthetic, ensures that fans will have a great time with this cinematic video game. It marked a major evolution for tasteful storytelling in video games while letting fans engage with its fun, intense shootouts that encouraged players to use Bullet Time.
Players enjoyed shooting through their foes in style and helping a vengefulMax Payneclear his name while learning more about the Valkyr drug. The tough yet fun shootouts coupled with the game’s iconic brand of storytelling ensured that 2000s gamers would lap up both this title and its sequel.
The Simswas a great first entry for this life simulation franchise, and fans wondered how the sequel would top this title’s success. With better visuals, surprisingly deep lore, engaging gameplay loops, and a wealth of other improvements,The Sims 2established itself as one of the best entries in the series by a country mile.
Players loved exploring the many neighborhoods in this game and becoming intimately familiar with its residents. Every household had a unique story to tell as players helped various families mature and grow their dynasties.
Age of Empires 2isan RTS game so legendarythat fans still can’t stop playing this title even now.Age of Empires 4emulated much of what made this game special while modernizing some elements, and even that wasn’t enough to dissuadeAge of Empires 2’s dedicated community.
Learning the ropes in this RTS masterpiece before eventually trying to conquer other enemies in multiplayer is a huge part of what made this game so special. It was fun all the way back in the 2000s, and it’s still engaging in the 2020s.
WhileCall of Dutyhad a decent fanbase, the franchise’s popularity truly exploded with the launch ofModern Warfare. The shift tomodern war settingswas slightly controversial, but it did a great job of helpingCall of Dutynail an identity of its own that other FPS shooters tried to replicate.
The campaign of this title is legendary to this day, featuring everything from one of gaming’s greatest sniping missions to a nuclear blast that will be seared in the minds of fans for years to come after they’re finished with this game.Call of Dutymay seem like a repetitive franchise now, butModern Warfarewas the peak of this series and paved the way for the franchise to become a modern gaming icon.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Timeis one of the greatest video games ever made that needs its remake to come out sooner rather than later. This title was released during a time when fans actually looked forward to Ubisoft releases because of how creative and engaging they could be.
The amazing storytelling and novel platforming of this game made it a classic that fans still replay. While later titles in the series improved the combat (the one weakness ofThe Sands of Time) and expanded on the platforming, they lost a lot of the original’s charm along the way. That being said, many fans love the dark tone and metal music ofWarrior Within, whileThe Two Throneshas its fans despite its short length.
The 3DGTAtrilogy is legendary for all the right reasons, with every title being a nostalgic romp for 2000s gamers. However, most people agree that the gargantuan scope ofSan Andreas,coupled with some unique role-playing and simulation elements, made it a massive improvement over its predecessors.
CJ’s story is epic and takes him across the many major cities in San Andreas before he eventually makes his way back to Los Santos to help his gang enjoy the superiority they deserve. It’s one of the best 2000s video games that many players have fond memories of.
