Red Dead Redemption – 2010
PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360
Score: 9.5/10
Red Dead Redemption kicked off the new decade with a bang and shook the entire gaming industry for years to come. It’s considered by some to be one of the greatest games ever made, maybe even the best game of that entire generation. Rockstar gave gamers a new setting but with the incredible detail they are well known for. Tight controls, great characters, a story that sucks you in, and just a beautiful world to be lost in. It was my game of the year for 2010 and for good reason.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent – 2010
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Mac – Switch
Score: 8.5/10
Amnesia pretty much started video game streaming. It was a huge phenomenon seeing people get scared of this game and for good reason. It was a terrifying game as it didn’t let you fight back and the monsters were insane and the atmosphere was always eerie. Exploring the mansion and solving puzzles was an incredibly memorable experience as it’s one of the scariest game ever made.
Fallout: New Vegas – 2010
PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360 – PC
Score: 9.5/10
New Vegas took the world by storm and pleased haters of Fallout 3 with a deeper story, better quests, and better gameplay such as weapon mods. New Vegas was a brilliant game despite the dated engine it ran on and the numerous bugs that shipped with it. I have fond memories of this game as it was the first Fallout game I played on my new gaming laptop and my now wife stood in line for me at the midnight launch and won both raffles for an extra set of playing cards and a NCR T-shirt. The collector’s edition sits on my shelf to this day.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 – 2010
Wii
Super Mario Galaxy is one of my all time favorite games and my favorite Mario game. It just felt magical and had a whimsy to it that I hadn’t felt in years when playing a game. It was fun, addictive, beautiful, and perfect. Mario Galaxy 2 was more of the same, but that was a good thing. I was sad when the first game ended, but when this game came out I couldn’t wait to play it. I still had the same whimsical feeling I did when I played the first game and held up my expectations.
God of War III – 2010
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4
Score: 9.5/10
I remember the excitement leading up to this release. God of War is one of my top 10 gaming franchises, and I remember playing the demo multiple times and standing in line at midnight for the launch to pick up the collector’s edition. The buttery smooth 60FPS combat and next-generation visuals were a sight to behold in 2010. This was a juggernaut of a game and didn’t disappoint one bit. It remains one of the best games on PS3 and the remastered version is the best way to go these days.
Bayonetta – 2010
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – Xbox One – PC – Switch – Wii U
Score: 9/10
Bayonetta was a game no one saw coming. Platinum Games hadn’t really made a name for themselves yet and the game felt like another Devil May Cry rip-off. Boy were we wrong. I remember picking this up on launch day and being blown away by the visuals and the insane combat system. The game played so well and was so much fun with so much flash yet a lot of substance. Bayonetta quickly became the next video game icon with a sassy personality and sexy looks.
Alan Wake – 2010
Xbox 360 – PC
Score: 8.5/10
Alan Wake is one of my favorite games of all time, and my favorite game by Remedy. The gameplay itself is fresh and new with the flashlight mechanic mixed with guns. The story is interesting with great characters, and the entire game is set in rural Washington and Oregon which is a personal connection with me as I live near the areas where Alan Wake was inspired by (Snoqualmie, Washington). The atmosphere is tense and the game just feels unique.
Call of Duty: Black Ops – 2010
PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360 – PC – DS – Wii – Mac
Score: 9.5/10
Black Ops was the start of a continued series of games that would soon become a pile of garbage, but the first game in the spin-off series was fantastic. Set in the Cold War, the story had some great scripted events, era specific weapons, and all new multiplayer suite with great maps and addictive gameplay we had grown to love. This remains in my top Call of Duty games list, and I wish it would be remastered already!
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty – 2010
PC – Mac
Score: 9/10
StarCraft II was one of the most anticipated games of all time. Released almost 10 years after the original, it helped respark the RTS genre on PC, but also was met with backlash from hardcore fans. I personally loved it. It was what I wanted in an RTS game, simple gameplay, fun scenarios, great visuals, and a decent story. It was just a fun package all wrapped up into one, but also had a deeply competitive online community that I personally couldn’t get into. It remains one of my top RTS games of all time.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – 2010
PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360 – PC
Score: 9/10
Lords of Shadow is probably the only good 3D Castlevania game in existence. Mercury Steam did a phenomenal job capturing the art and beauty of the series and gave us inspired gameplay from God of War. The combat was perfect, the visuals looked astounding, and the story and voice acting were amazing. Getting Patrick Stuart on board was great, and not to mention the heart wrenching twists and turns of the story. It’s a one of a kind game that just can’t, and hasn’t, been replicated.
Super Meat Boy – 2010
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – PC – Mac – Switch – Wii U – Vita
Score: 9.5/10
Super Meat Boy is a sadists best friend, and despite the insane gameplay, it had amazing tight controls, great visuals, and tons of humor and gore. It remains one of my favorite platformers of all time, and while I never actually finished the game, resetting the 100th time never felt too frustrating as I got a little further every time and completing the levels felt so good. The game also has a soundtrack that’s so good I listen to it to this day.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – 2011
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – Xbox One – PC – Switch
Score: 9.5/10
Skyrim is by far one of the greatest games of all time. Some people think it’s boring, some think it’s too clunky, I say it’s grand and epic. Sure the game shipped with more bugs than probably any other game that to this day still haven’t been patched out, but it was the adventure that made it so memorable. With a great story, characters, and lore deeper than a well, there was something here for everyone. I personally spent countless hours modding this game on PC and even own the collector’s edition.
Gears of War 3 – 2011
Xbox 360
Score: 9.5/10
Gears of War 3 was the end of an era. Gears of War dominated the Xbox 360 since the launch of the first game. It was a mega blockbuster that couldn’t be stopped. With some of the greatest video game characters ever created, and a world that’s deeper than most shooters, Gears of War 3 looked great, perfected the series’ gameplay, and added some great online multiplayer modes.
Mortal Kombat – 2011
PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360 – PC – Vita
Score: 9.5/10
This was one of the few games I was excited about for months before release. I picked up the collector’s edition and watched every trailer and video I could. I played the demo to death and owned it on nearly every system it was released for. It was the return of a juggernaut as MK had slipped into mediocrity during the PS1/PS2 era of consoles and has been unstoppable since. The return to 2D is just what the fans wanted and MK9 delivered.
Portal 2 – 2011
PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360 – PC – Mac
Score: 9.5/10
Portal 2 was so exciting because Valve rarely releases games, and everyone loves Chel and GLADOS, but the introduction of new characters like Wheatley was fun and were added to some of the greatest video game characters ever made. The addition of various gels, expanded levels, and new gameplay ideas made this a perfect game. Portal is one of my favorite games of all time, and remains one of the most unique puzzle games ever created.
Batman: Arkham City – 2011
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – Xbox One – PC – Wii U – Mac
Score: 9/10
The Batman games from Rocksteady are some of the best ever created. Arkham City is the best of the trilogy thanks to it’s perfect gameplay, and bringing the series into Arkham City itself and making it open world. The insanely clever Riddler puzzles, to the uniquely created Batman characters are just some of the best video game pieces ever crafted. I spent a good 45 hours on this game trying to get 100% of everything it was that good. To this day many games copy this series’ fighting system too.
Battlefield 3 – 2011
PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360 – PC
Score: 9/10
Battlefield 3 change the game for online first person shooters. After being dominated solely by Call of Duty, many players wanted something new. Battlefield brought a slower paced shooter that felt like arcade like and was a smash hit. With fantastic maps, excellent gameplay, and using EA’s brand new Frostbite engine, Battlefield 3 took the industry by storm and even provided a decent single player campaign.
DiRT 3 – 2011
PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360 – PC – Mac
Score: 9/10
Dirt remains one of my favorite racing simulators to this day. It was accessible for console players, but was also a powerhouse for PC gamers. I actually completed Dirt 3 100% by finishing first in every single race, and I’ve never done that with a racing game since Gran Turismo 3. It was fun, exciting, had excellent physics and handling, and introduced some fun gameplay modes like Gymkhana, and not to mention top-notch visuals.
The Walking Dead: Season 1 – 2012
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – Xbox One – Vita – PC – Mac – Switch – iOS – Android
Score: 8.5/10
The Walking Dead and Telltales take on adventure games literally brought the genre back from the grave. The Walking Dead is one of my favorite games of all time and it’s all due to great writing, memorable characters, and the choices you make actually making a difference in the game. Yes, the series suffered many bugs and dated visuals, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying every bit of story I could absorb.
Journey – 2012
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – PC – iOS
Score: 9.5/10
Journey is by far one of the greatest indie game ever created. Not only was it a technical marvel in which Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 3 team had to talk to thatgamecompany to figure out how they did sand displacement on the PS3, it was a magical adventure. Sure it was really short, but it was perfect. With a unique social aspect that allowed players to see each other but only communicate through calls, and not to mention a story that was told strictly through visuals, and a fantastic soundtrack that I listen to to this day. Journey is beautiful and a one of a kind ride.
Resident Evil: Revelations – 2012
3DS – PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – Xbox One – Switch – PC – Wii U
Score: 8.5/10
Revelations was the Resident Evil reboot everyone was asking for after Resident Evil 4. The over-the-shoulder third-person shooter action game is what sold fans over, and the fact that a new game debuted on the 3DS was a shock. The game had fantastic controls and put us back in the hands of Jill Valentine. The game took place on a boat, but had a useful map on the second screen, and had great 3D effects. It felt like a classic RE game and is one of the best in the series.
Far Cry 3 – 2012
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – Xbox One – PC
Score: 9/10
Far Cry may be a stale series these days, but it once was an open world masterpiece. Far Cry 3 mixed great open world gameplay with a fantastic story and one of the best video game villains ever created. It was fun, bombastic, and downright brutal and odd. It was made at the pinnacle of Ubisoft’s open world games, just before everyone got tired of them, and remains the best game in the series to date.
Metro: Last Light – 2013
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – Xbox One – PC – Mac – Switch
Score: 9/10
Last Light is by far the best game in the series due to the perfect balance of gameplay and story. The game still feels like a survival game with you scrounging for ammo and being scared of everything that moves. It was a nearly perfect shooters outside of a bunch of bugs, but it also was one of the most technically advanced games upon release. The Redux versions are superior these days, but Metro remains one of my favorite game series of all time.
Tearaway – 2013
Vita – PlayStation 4
Score: 9/10
Tearaway is one of Sony “artsy-fartsy” games that sets their systems apart from the rest. Media Molecule are masters of their craft, and Tearaway remains of the best Vita games on the system. Using every piece of the hardware in unique and interesting ways, Tearaway was an easy but very enjoyable adventure. It was short, but it left a smile on your face and a reason to be a Sony fan.
Papers, Please – 2013
Playstation 4 – PC – iOS – Mac – Vita
Score: 9.5/10
Papers, Please was a surprise to everyone. A game in which you stamp papers and compare facts across different notes and sheets of paper. How does this sound fun? It satisfied the OCD in all of us and it just so addictive. The story behind the game is interesting enough, and the various scripted events that play out on top of trying to balance out your income and not get fired is pure genius. The game has a unique art style and soundtrack and has become a cult favorite among many.
Grand Theft Auto V – 2013
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – Xbox One – PC
Score: 9.5/10
GTA V was not only the only GTA released this decade, but the best selling game of the entire decade as well. GTA V was an unstoppable juggernaut and still kind of is selling copies every single day. The game is just brilliant with perfected open world gameplay, great characters, a good story, and a huge online component. GTA V may have been rough when it first launched, but with better hardware and patches the game became a masterpiece. It’s one of the few games I can constantly play over and over again and always find something new.
The Last of Us – 2013
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4
Score: 9/10
The Last of Us was one of the last games to ring out the PS3. It looked fantastic, played well, and had a beautiful setting with memorable characters and a fantastic story. It’s one of Naughty Dog’s best games, and probably one of the top PlayStation games of all time. If you own a PlayStation console you must play this game as it’s one of the defining games for the platform.
Tomb Raider – 2013
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – Xbox One – PC – Mac
Score: 9.5/10
Tomb Raider is a game of a decade for sure as it rebooted a long running series that was sliding down hill fast. It’s also one of the most iconic game characters re envisioned into something more modern and respectable. Tomb Raider had familiar gameplay but it was all tied into an amazing package of amazing and groundbreaking visuals and character development. Tomb Raider was the first mainstream game to use hair physics among other graphical effects. I feel it has the strongest impact over the sequels as what it did helped remold open world games.
Bit.Trip Presents… Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien – 2013
PlayStation 3 – PlayStation 4 – Xbox 360 – PC – Vita – iOS – Wii U
Score: 9/10
Bit.Trip 2 is one of my favorite platformers of all time, and it’s all because of its addictive nature of timing. Rather than skill based off of how well you jump or how you control the character, Bit.Trip is an endless runner that require precise timing and memorizing the levels. This is a new form of excellent gameplay that I loved from the first game. The game features wacky visuals, fun characters, and smooth and tight controls. It’s a game I can play over and over and always have fun.
Monument Valley – 2014
iOS – Android
Score: 9/10
Monument Valley is one of the few mobile games that makes you want to play them. It’s a short puzzle game with great visuals and a beautiful soundtrack. The MC Escher style art and puzzles will make you think, and wish that the game never ended. The game is one of a kind and you can’t get anything else like it on other platforms. It left a big imprint on me and most other mobile games don’t hold a flame to this.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited – 2015
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Mac
TESO is by far my favorite MMO of all time. It’s not only an Elder Scrolls game, but after the abysmal launch the dev team did a 180 and crafted a beautiful and fun world to explore. The game constantly expands with nearly every province in Tamriel now available as of this writing with more to still come. The gameplay barrows from Skyrim a lot to make it feel familiar, but even playing by yourself, there’s so much to explore and the focus on dialogue and lore is just amazing. If you love stories and lore and characters, then this is a game to really pick up even if you have never played a TES game before.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – 2015
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Switch
The Witcher 3 is a masterpiece, and a game you only get maybe once every 5 years. While The Witcher 2 was fantastic for its time, The Witcher 3 expanded on the already amazing world with top notch voice acting, writing, and a giant world to explore with unique quests and endless fun and things to keep you sucked in. While it has a steep learning curve, the game rewards players with intricate combat, great lore and characters, and hours of masterclass gaming.
Mortal Kombat X – 2015
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
Score: 9.5/10
MKX helped push what MK9 in the same direction. With next-generation visuals and additional gameplay tweaks, great new characters, and upping the notch on the gore. I hadn’t been this excited for a game in a long time as well. I bought the Coarse collector’s edition and even bought all the beers that were released for the game. It remains a favorite among fans, but also the start of a possible new cycle of MK games that may require a reboot soon.
Rocket League – 2015
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Switch – Mac
Score: 9.5/10
Rocket League is by far one of the most fun games I’ve played this decade. It’s just pure and simple fun. I can play this game anytime, any day, for a few minutes or several hours. There’s something that just works here. Cars batting around a giant ball is something I never thought would work. As the game continues new items are added with customizing cars being a ton of fun and unlocking new items is exciting. This game will always remain one of my favorite online games of all time.
Soma – 2015
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Mac
Score: 9/10
Soma isn’t just another adventure game by the guys behind Amnesia. This game had a story that rocked my core and has to be one of the best video game stories I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience. While the gameplay is similar to other horror adventure games, the visuals and art style are just phenomenal, along with the voice acting and writing. I was glued to my seat and didn’t want to put the game down. The story was so intense and the twist at the end just blew my mind.
Until Dawn – 2015
PlayStation 4
Score: 9/10
Until Dawn helped push the PS4’s exclusive library and prove it was the system to win this generation. With amazing visuals, great voice acting, and an interesting enough to story to keep players going, Until Dawn was a fun adventure game with slasher horror elements, and with choices that mattered. It was so much fun to play that I didn’t want to put it down until it was over. It remains one of my favorite PS4 games.
Lifeline – 2015
iOS – Android – PC – Mac
Score: 9.5/10
Lifeline is one of the few mobile games that were unique and memorable to me. A text based adventure isn’t something you think you would see on this list, but the game did things so differently and had an incredibly amazing story. Being stranded in space has always been a fascinating thing to me and the psychological aspects of it. Lifeline digs exactly into that with a stranded astronaut sending you messages, and in real time you have to wait for him to reply. Your choices help guide him to safety and the things he goes through is awful, yet engaging. There’s nothing else like it out there.
Firewatch – 2016
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Switch – Mac
Score: 8.5/10
Another adventure game to add to the list. Firewatch is just told very well and each set piece and event is done in a way that grabs you and has become one of my favorite adventure games of all time. Being stranded out in the middle of nowhere is another concept that fascinates me on the psychological side of it. It makes human do incredibly strange things, and Firewatch is a game that slowly digs into your psyche. It’s well told, and while the ending isn’t all that great, the journey leading up to had me playing through the end in one sitting.
Overwatch – 2016
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Switch – Mac
Score: 9.5/10
This game is by far one of my favorite multiplayer games of all time. The characters are memorable, and oddly enough became some of the biggest video game sex icons in history, and just has some really simple yet fun multiplayer action, but what sets this game apart from the others is each characters unique abilities and backgrounds. The maps are well done, the graphics are beautiful, and it’s a game I spent dozens of hours in and can still just jump into. There are always new characters being added and tweaks being made, but the characters is what really sells the game. Some of the best video game characters ever created bar none.
Battlefield 1 – 2016
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
Score: 9/10
Battlefield desperately had to change things up. Everyone was tired of the yearly modern shooters, and ironically missed the WWII shooters of yore. Battlefield 1 came swinging with WWI stuff and had gripping mini-stories within its campaign and fantastic online multiplayer. It remains my favorite Battlefield game to this date and I enjoy the campaign every once in a while. The visuals were fantastic and is still a favorite among fans.
DOOM – 2016
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Switch
Score: 9/10
DOOM took the world by storm. It was a skeptical hype train, but once the game released it blew everyone’s minds. id Software had managed to recapture the magic of the original game in a new generation. The visuals were breaktaking, the gore and gameplay were there, the movement was fact paced and insane, it felt like classic Doom. There were plenty of secrets and something for everyone. It remains one of my favorite shooters of all time.
Forza Motorsport 7 – 2017
Xbox One – PC
Forza 7 perfects the series gameplay and adds a ton of cars and just gives us more of what we already love. Forza 7 remains the best console racing simulator and quickly has become one of the top PC racing simulators. I personally am still playing through this game with my racing wheel setup on PC, and is one of the game that made me want to invest in one. The handling is amazing, the visuals are astounding, and I can never get enough of it.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy – 2017
PlayStation 4
Score: 8.5/10
Lost Legacy is probably my favorite Uncharted game story wise. The banter between Cloe and Zoe is just so amazing and I got hooked and sucked into the world more than the main games in the series. That’s not saying they were bad, but the writing is so tight and clever here and I loved the locales of this game. It was shorter than previous games, but I couldn’t put the game down thanks to the amazing voice acting and writing. It’s a slightly overlooked game that was overshadowed by Uncharted 4, but should be played by any PlayStation fan.
Nier Automata – 2017
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
Nier Automata was a huge surprise as the first game wasn’t received very well. With amazing visuals, superb combat, and a wonderful art style and memorable characters, this was Platinum Games next magnum opus. They remain one of the greatest hack and slash developers of all time. Nier also created one of the biggest video game sex icons next to Overwatch. Google 2B and you will see what I mean. The 2B butt contest on Twitter probably didn’t help that either during development.
Star Wars Battlefront II – 2017
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
Despite being one of the most controversial video games of all time, it quickly turned around by removing loot crates and has remained one of the best games in the Star Wars game universe. The game has a great single player campaign along with a constantly expanding multiplayer suite. It brings back memories of the original games on PS2 and holds up to that standard.
Super Mario Odyssey – 2017
Switch
Score: 10/10
Super Mario Odyssey is one simple word: Perfect. It’s the best Mario game ever made in my opinion, and is just pure simple fun. It looks great, players great, and each level and action Mario does is amazing. There’s so much to discover and do that I spent dozens of hours in this game and got lost, I never wanted to put the game down. It’s a testament of Nintendo’s game development that after all these years they can still make amazing games. There’s literally nothing like it out there.
Horizon: Zero Dawn – 2017
PlayStation 4
Horizon is a huge departure from Guerrilla Games’ usual Killzone outings, but it became one of the best game released this decade. The game featured a great story, characters, an a beautiful world that pushed the PS4 to its limits. I have yet to complete the game, but its deep combat, and no-so-easy approach to enemies means this isn’t your usual easier open world outing.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus – 2017
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Switch
Score: 9/10
Wolfenstein II is one of the few shooters that provides a fantastic story and characters, and a great setting. With the Nazis having won WWII BJ and his crew are still trying to find a way to take down Hitler and his band of merry men. Classic Wolfenstein gameplay is in play with great level design and some tense scripted events. It remains one of the best shooters of all time.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy – 2017
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Switch
N. Sane Trilogy set the standard for video game remakes. We’ve had HD remasters and upgrades for over a decade and they were getting tiresome and not adding enough to these games outside of making them playable on newer systems. N. Sane Trilogy took three entire games and remade them from the ground up with new visuals, improved gameplay, and all the love but into the originals. Many games have followed suit and total remakes from the ground up are the best way to go.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War – 2017
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
Shadow of Mordor was a new era of Lord of the Rings games. While the older ones from EA in the early 2000’s were considered nigh perfect, there wasn’t much since. Shadow of War introduced the fantastic fight system from the Batman: Arkham games and added an open world with amazing visuals, characters, and expanded lore. There was a lot to do here and it was the first game set in this universe that fully immersed the player. Shadow of War just did this and then some by perfecting what was already done and creating a better story.
Forza Horizon 4 – 2018
Xbox One – PC
Forza Motorsport is already one of the best console racing sims out there, but take that and add some arcade flair and you have one of the best arcade racing games in recent memory. Horizon 4 expands on Horizon 3 tenfold with more cars, better visuals, better wheel support, and fun new expansions. The open world racing has never been better and Horizon 4 remains some of racing fans greatest games of all time.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy – 2018
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Switch
Following Crash Bandicoot’s footsteps, Spyro was the next PlayStation classic to be remade from the ground up with love. While some fans didn’t like some gameplay changes in the game, it still remained in the pinnacle of video game remakes. With gorgeous visuals, refined controls, and three whole games wrapped into one, there is so much to love here.
Red Dead Redemption II – 2018
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
Red Dead II is probably one of the most anticipated games of all time. While it feels very different from the first game, it’s slower paced, more realistic, and extremely heavy on survival aspects, it’s still a fantastic Wild West simulator with amazing visuals, great characters, well written dialog, and plenty to do and explore. Rockstar games are events and chapters in gaming history, not just releases.
God of War – 2018
PlayStation 4
Score: 10/10
God of War is by far, and most wouldn’t argue, the best game released for this generation cycle. It’s exactly what we all thought this generation would bring. Groundbreaking, breathtaking visuals, exciting cinematic gameplay, and not to mention, and entire reboot of one of Sony’s best franchises. The story is phenomenal, the gameplay is a blast, and while it’s short, there’s so much to explore and find. This is one game that every gamer is missing out and worth picking a PS4 up for.
Marvel’s Spider-Man – 2018
PlayStation 4
Score: 9/10
Spider-Man isn’t something you would think would be one of the best games on a PlayStation console. Being a Sony exclusive is a huge strategy move, and any fan of the hero is missing. This is one of the best games of this generation cycle, and on PS4. With amazing visuals, a huge sprawling world, and combat similar to the Batman: Arkham games, there’s not much to dislike here. The story is great, the characters and writing are well done, and the visuals are some of the best you will ever see.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – 2019
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
Score: 9/10
Modern Warfare isn’t just another Call of Duty game. It’s a smart reboot that very well may have saved the entire franchise from its own demise. The game hearkens back to the original trilogy of Modern Warfare games by bringing us back to the good old boots on the ground gameplay that we grew to love. With the best campaign in the series history, and a fantastically well done multiplayer suite that is bar none some of the best online gaming you will ever experience, Modern Warfare is nearly perfect.
Resident Evil 2 – 2019
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
RE2 pretty changed the way we look at remasters/remakes. No one will except just a resolution bump anymore. RE2 is an entirely new game while also still being the same game we loved. It’s one of the best games ever created, and somehow is better than the original. It stays faithful to the original game while also being new. It features the most realistic zombies ever made and not to mention outstanding visuals. It’s a game of an era and hopefully more are to follow.
A Plague Tale: Innocence – 2019
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
Score: 9/10
A Plague Tale was a shocking surprise to me. An indie game that feels like a AAA game. A heart wrenching story, great voice acting, gorgeous visuals, and some of the best paced gameplay I’ve ever experience with each section feeling fresh and exciting. It’s a wonderful game that many should play as it’s one of the best of this generation cycle.
Super Mario Maker 2 – 2019
Switch
Very rarely due Mario games become memorable to me, but Mario Maker 2 is basically The Best Of Mario. It features all the physics and visuals of every Mario generation wrapped into a level editor with endless content. It’s the perfect 2D Mario game. You can play any type you like with thousands of different levels from the developers and players. There’s endless fun here and it’s exactly what makes this game so amazing and exciting.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – 2019
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC
Score: 9/10
Fallen Order isn’t just one of the best Star Wars games, it’s the best Star Wars game ever made, at least an action one. There is so much here that works such as the amazing combat system, the puzzles, the story and characters, and dialog that feels like it was written for a movie. The visuals are fantastic and I felt like I was sucked into a Star Wars universe. There’s so much here that works and it’s original and not based on a movie which is hard to find these days. I just feel this is the Star Wars game everyone has wanted for years, and what we thought The Force Unleashed would be.
Life is Strange 2 – 2019
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Mac
Score: 9/10
What I love about Life is Strange 2 is that it feels close to home for me (I live in the Seattle area) and it has all the makings of a memorable game that feels real and down to Earth. These two brothers becoming homeless while running from the law is a real thing that can happen. Each chapter in the game feels raw and powerful and up close and personal. I was glued to my seat and sat through the whole game in one play through it was so good. Your choices really matter here.
Mortal Kombat 11 – 2019
PlayStation 4 – Xbox One – PC – Switch
MK11 is, hopefully, the end of an era for the series. We have three amazing 2D fighting games that are within the same generation of each other. X-Rays, environmental hazards, and the storyline, which is the best fighting storyline ever created, is fantastic with so much lore and content. MK11 may have changed a little too much for some players, but I love the visuals, gore, and all new content available here.
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