Though it might have felt just like yesterday, in just over a month the 2010s are coming to a close. In that span of ten years a lot has changed around the world: some for the better, some for the worse. But in spite of all that, one thing that arguably changed for the better has been the world of video games.
In the span of that ten year window, the video game industry has changed considerably. This past decade saw the final years of the PS3/Xbox 360/Wii generation and the introduction of the next generation (PS4/Xbox One/Wii U/Switch),with the NEXT next-generationlooming around the corner in the coming year. The last decade saw the rise of the live-service online game, as developers shifted towards experiences that players could keep coming back to for years on end. The last decade also proved that single-player games are, in fact, not dead with massive worlds to explore, emotional stories to be told, and memorable characters that will last us a lifetime.
With the decade drawing to a close, the staff atDualShockersgathered together to look at what we felt were the best video games to represent the last decade (2010-2019). By “best,” we meant the games that had significant impact on a cultural, artistic, or development level across both the landscape of video games and larger mainstream culture.
To put together our final list, theDualShockersstaff assembled their own top 50 games lists, with each “tier” of games (1-10, 11-20, etc.) receiving a scored point value. Once calculated, our list then comprised of the games with the highest point totals among all of the staff that had voted. Ultimately, no list is 100% perfect, and surely there will be disagreements and acknowledgements of where we went “right” and “wrong,” but we hope you enjoy going back in time and seeing what we felt were the games that defined the last ten years.
With that being said, here are the games that we considered the best and most important of the last decade.
50. Inside
Playdead, 2016 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Mobile)
Insideproved that developer Playdead wasn’t just a one-hit wonder. 2016’s follow-up toLimbohas much in common with its predecessor, but features a far more eerie world.Inside’s immaculate pacing and intelligent game design make it a worthwhile addition to this list on its own merits, but it’s the game’s finale that makes it truly stand out all these years later. Pound for pound, it’s one of the most memorable experiences you’ll find within the past 10 years.- Logan Moore, Managing Editor
ReadDualShockers' review.
49. Titanfall 2
Respawn Entertainment/EA, 2016 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Titanfall 2is one of Respawn’s utmost masterpieces and a true mixture of lessons learned at the beginning of the decade and the innovation created near the end of it. Through both a masterfully-crafted story and a satisfying, pure-fun multiplayer mode,Titanfall 2is one of the most enjoyable games of the decade.- Ben Walker, Contributor
48. Marvel’s Spider-Man
Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment, 2018 (PS4)
After years of dormancy,Marvel’s Spider-Manmarked a triumphant return to console games for both the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler and Marvel Games as a whole. Insomniac nailed the look and feel of Spider-Man, and just swinging around New York is a joy. On top of that,Marvel’s Spider-Manfeatures an excellent story with a surprising amount of nuance and character development.Marvel’s Spider-Manwas one of the best games of 2018 and is the best selling first-party PS4 title ever, so it definitely earned its spot on this list.- Tomas Franzese, News Editor
47. FTL: Faster Than Light
Subset Games, 2012 (PC, Mobile)
FTLis the most addictive game of the decade; I’ve spent many nights on it when it initially released. It’s probably the single game that I played the most this decade along withBOTW,Super Robot Wars Z3.1,Phantasy Star Online 2, andLost Technology.- Iyane Agossah, Senior Staff Writer
46. Gone Home
Fullbright, 2013 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Mobile)
Call it a narrative experience, “walking simulator,” or otherwise, there is no denying that Fullbright’sGone Homehas had a tangible effect on the way that we tell stories in games, and how the medium can approach storytelling in a more immersive, involved way. With the twists and turns that the story takes as players explore the home of its main character, Katie Greenbriar,Gone Homeevolves from something tragic and somber, to something far more profound.- Ryan Meitzler, Features Editor
45. Super Mario Galaxy 2
Nintendo EAD Tokyo/Nintendo, 2010 (Wii)
WhileSuper Mario Galaxy 2may have been upper-handed by laterMariogames likeSuper Mario Odyssey, there’s no denying that even nearly ten years later, it still has left its mark as one of Mario’s most energetic and creative endeavors yet. Following up the joyousSuper Mario Galaxywas no easy feat, but Nintendo managed to up the ante withGalaxy 2by making its already vast galaxy even more expansive and endless. Plus, any Mario game that features a ton of Yoshi will always make me happy.- Ryan Meitzler, Features Editor
ReadDualShockers’review.
44. Resident Evil VII: Biohazard
Capcom, 2017 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Resident Evil VIIdidn’t just stand as a return to form for the beloved horror series when it released: it essentially became the turning point for Capcom as a whole. Prior to its arrival, the Japanese publisher had gone through a rough stretch and was in desperate need of a critical and commercial success.Resident Evil VIIended up being both of those, thanks in large part to the game’s new RE Engine, which has gone on to be used in games like this year’sResident Evil 2remakeandDevil May Cry 5. In the latter half of this decade, Capcom has been one of the strongest third-party publishers around, but that success all started here withResident Evil VII.- Logan Moore, Managing Editor
43. Valkyria Chronicles 4
Sega, Media.Vision/Sega, 2018 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
After a slightly disappointing second entry, a good third episode (but limited by its PSP hardware), and a random spin-off that no one asked for,Valkyria Chronicles 4marked the return of Sega’s tactical-RPG series in all its splendor. It’s the perfect example of a remarkable JRPG, with its initially stereotypical characters all ending up having strong personalities and struggles. The gameplay was further improved from the first game and better balanced. The story also delivers and is quite original in how it functions as both a prequel and a sequel to the first game, the most beloved in the series.Valkyria Chroniclesalso played its part in making theSakura Taisenfranchise more popular in the west, especially seeing the series share the same development teams. The upcomingShin Sakura Taisen, tentatively titledProject Sakura Warsin the west, probably wouldn’t have had a localization announced right away, or even a French translation, if not for theValkyria Chroniclesseries and4in particular.- Iyane Agossah, Senior Staff Writer
42. Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
Game Freak/The Pokemon Company, Nintendo, 2009 (DS)
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilveris the closest example to the perfectPokémonexperience. At the time, Game Freak incorporated refreshingly welcomed ideas, such as returning to the beloved Johto region with the ability to have a Pokémon follow you, as well as the introduction of the PokéWalker, a real-life device allowing you to transfer your pocket critters into it and leveling them up along the way. With the reprise of traveling through Johto and Kanto, catching the iconic red Gyarados, and of course, climbing to the peak of Mt. Silver and challenging Red when you were truly ready to end your journey,HeartGold and SoulSilverbrought these incredibly memorable gaming moments to life in a new light.- Cameron Hawkins, Staff Writer
41. Death Stranding
Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment, 2019 (PS4, PC)
One of the biggest stories of this decade was without a doubtHideo Kojima’s departure from Konamiand the eventual founding of his own studio. Kojima finally would be moving on from working on the belovedMetal Gear Solidfranchise and would instead be creating something entirely new. The resulting product ended up beingDeath Stranding, and the pre-release cycle for the game was one of the most dumbfounding and intriguing of all-time. Over a span of years, Kojima continued to tease fans with bizarre trailers, nonsensical explanations of the game’s world, and the promise thatDeath Strandingwould signal the arrival of an entire new genre. While the finished game ended up being a bit divisive, there’s no question thatDeath Strandingwas one of the most anticipated games of the decade for a variety of different reasons.- Logan Moore, Managing Editor
