Opinion: 10 most important games since 2000

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A look at the 21 century’s most important games so far

Although we've only recently dipped our feet into the 21st century, the gaming industry in the last 9 years has seen enormous growth and development. We have compiled a list of our ten most important games to appear since 2000.

1. World of Warcraft (2004) – PC - Metacritic Score 93%

WoW is currently sitting on over 11.5 million subscribers. It is the most popular and arguably the best MMORPG in the world. We have chosen this as our most important game this side of the year 2000 for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the game was launched 5 years ago and its subscriber base is still growing. It is therefore unique in an industry that caters to low attention spans and is constantly looking for “the next big thing”. It is still a regular feature on monthly top ten PC sales charts around the world, and in many ways is the game that brought MMOs to the masses.

More importantly than its commercial success perhaps, is the fact that WoW is a truly awesome game. It offers a truly massive, deep, engrossing, rewarding and enjoyable experience, and it is no surprise that it has garnered an almost cult like following. It has made countless headlines, been featured in an episode of South Park as well as other television shows such as The Big Bang Theory, been used in personality disorder case studies, and has its own virtual economy that extends itself to real world black market WoW gold trading. Most recently, PETA has launched an anti seal clubbing campaign within the confines of the game world.

The scope and reach of this game is unmatched by any other, and is therefore our most important game this side of the century divide.

2. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) – PC, Xbox 360, PS3 – Metacritic Score 94%

Call of Duty 4 is arguably the best developed and most popular title in the Call of Duty series. This first-person shooter, developed by Infinity Ward, was released on all platforms bar the PS2 and was given considerable praise by critics receiving an average score of 94% on Metacritic.

It was 2007’s biggest seller and had sold over ten million copies by June 2008. The single player campaign, while being excellent in its own right, is not Call of Duty 4’s real draw card. It is the multiplayer component which propels it to our number 2 spot on this list. It is currently the most played multiplayer first person shooter in the world, and its implementation of levelling and weapon customization has given it mainstream longevity.

Single player games are important, but once having finished them they are put away and forgotten. A solid and addictive multiplayer component such as the one provided by Modern Warfare gives a game longevity, which is essentially why this game is number two on our list.

3. Halo 3 (2007) – Xbox 360 – Metacritic Score 94%

It has sold around 9.3 million units worldwide, making it the number one selling Xbox 360 game to date. It was also 2008’s most played game over Xbox Live, and remains the Xbox 360’s flagship first person shooter. Although we are not massive fans of the game, its average Metacritic score of 94% speaks for itself, and the sheer force with which it imposed itself on the Xbox 360 landscape makes it a very important game.

4. The Sims 2 (2004) – PC – Metacritic Score 90%

You don’t have to like it, but you can’t deny the importance of this title in the modern gaming landscape. Not only does it appeal to an entire demographic that is largely untapped by video games, but it actually offers compelling and unique gameplay.
The entire Sims series, including the Sims, its expansions, the Sims 2 and its expansions, has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. There is therefore no denying the importance of this game.

5. Gears of War – Xbox 360, PC - Metacritic Score 94%

Gears of War, developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Games Studio, was a flagship title for the Xbox 360 and did remarkably well, selling over three million copies in only ten weeks. In November 2008, Gears of War 2 was released and offered what was essentially more of the same (in a good way).
GoW optimizes the pinnacle of over-the-shoulder-third-person-cover-based-combat, and is an absolute must have for Xbox 360 owners. It was in our opinion the first truly huge Xbox 360 exclusive, and is therefore one of the most important games since 2000.

6. Half Life 2 (2004) – PC, Xbox 360, PS3 - Metacritic Score 96%

This eponymous follow up to Half Life, developed by Valve, was released in November of 2004 and sees the player doing their best as scientist Gordon Freeman to survive against insurmountable odds after an alien race, the Combine, has enslaved civilisation. The game was a serious step forward for AI, sound, narration, physics and graphics and snatched up the PC game of the year award in 2004. It has since been ported to the Xbox, Xbox 360 and the PS3 and as of December 2008 has sold over 6.5 million copies.

7. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock (2007) – Xbox, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC - Metacritic Score 86%

Guitar Hero has become a household name and the third instalment in the franchise, Legends of Rock, is arguably the most widely played and accessible release of them all. Developed by Neversoft and published by Red Octane and Activision, Guitar Hero 3 introduced old school rock and roll back into the youthful psyche of kids and adults everywhere.

8. Crysis (2007) - PC- Metacritic Score 91%

Although Crysis had its flaws, and many criticised it for not actually being a lot of fun to play, it is still an important game. What is perhaps more important than the game itself, is the CryEngine which powers it. In terms of visual quality, Crysis has still yet to be surpassed and it was released over a year ago.

In short, Crysis is the most technically important game this side of 2000, and is therefore one of the most important games of the 21th century.

9. Little Big Planet (2008) – PS3 – Metacritic Score 95%

This PS3 exclusive, developed by Media Molecule, is a platformer with a heavy focus on user-generated content. The game earned critical acclaim with its user generated content tool and unique artistic direction. It subsequently won the AIAS Interactive Achievement Award for Overall Game of the Year in 2008. The sheer originality and creativity that went into LBP makes it one of the most important games in the past nine years.

10. Bioshock (2007) – PC, Xbox 360, PS3 – Metacritic Score 96%

Developed by B2K Boston/B2K Australia and released in 2007, this first person shooter finds the protagonist, Jack, lost in Rapture, an underwater utopia gone wrong in 1960, and having to defend himself against "splicers" who have excessively modified their genetic codes through the use of "plasmids".

The game relies heavily on survivalist horror elements as well as role playing and manages to combine several design elements which make it particularly unique. In terms of richness of storyline, originality of characters and design Bioshock still remains virtually unparalleled, and therefore earns its spot in this list.

There were many more that we could not include, and many will undoubtedly complain that their favourite game was left out. Metal Gear Solid Fans along with Killzone 2 devotees will undoubtedly have something to say, and so will the real-time strategy enthusiasts. A number of games were left out, not out of disrespect, but honestly just because there was not enough space. Oblivion: The Elder Scrolls immediately springs to mind.

However, these games were all carefully selected for specific reasons, and remember kids; it’s really just an opinion.

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