20 Greatest Video Games of the 21st Century

One of the fastest-evolving media is video games, which have jumped leaps and bounds in the span of a couple of years. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, video games were a new form of media that was at an all-time high thanks to arcades and home consoles, with must-play classics such as Pac-Man and Final Fantasy VII. However, the innovation didn’t stop there, because gaming would take a whole new shape in the new millennium.

The 2000s, 2010s, and currently the 2020s are all home to some of the greatest and most influential games ever, which is why this list will rank the best video games of the 21st Century of all time. Based on aspects such as design, gameplay, narrative, visuals, innovation, originality, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these video games are the masterworks of the past few generations.

20

‘Fortnite’ (2017)

Image via Epic Games

If there is one quintessential multiplayer game of the 21st Century, it is Fortnite, as the uber-successful Battle Royale game has fans of all ages around the entire world. Wielding nothing but a pickaxe, players are dropped into a zone and left to mine materials and find loot and guns in order to survive until they are the last one standing.

Love it or hate it, Fortnite is arguably the most defining video game of the past decade. Not only is it the most popular title among millions of fans, but it also trailblazed the way for Battle Royale games, popularizing the genre, making it an influential staple as well. Fortnite is a polarizing game, but it is also one of the most important of the 21st Century.

19

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ (2015)

Image via CD Projekt

Some of the best games of the 21st Century are open-world fantasies, which are essentially a recipe for success in the modern age. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt follows Geralt of Rivia, who puts aside his usual monster hunting gig in order to save Ciri, his adopted daughter who is on the run from the titular spectral soldiers who wish to steal her powers for their own evil intentions.

The Witcher 3 is a prestigious video game fantasy that raised the bar in terms of storytelling, using it in every facet of the world and design to create a narrative masterpiece. The main quest is fun, but the side quests are some of the best in gaming history, adding depth to the lore and worldbuilding. The Witcher 3 creates a dark and lived-in world that is so immersive to explore and learn about everything that is happening in it.

18

‘Undertale’ (2015)

Image via Toby Fox

Even though this list mostly consists of AAA blockbuster games, indie titles are just as influential and well-designed, such as Undertale. The Underground is a subterranean realm inhabited by monsters who were sealed away there. When a young girl accidentally falls into the world, one kind soul helps her navigate the abyss, but she alone must choose for herself what methods she uses to get back home.

Undertale was created almost entirely by one person, Toby Fox, highlighting the time and effort that went into creating this perfect indie game. By subverting classic RPG tropes by allowing gamers to play in different peaceful ways, it becomes a fascinating experience that also boasts a profound narrative that hooked an entire generation of fans.

17

‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’ (2018)

Image via Nintendo

Fighting games were a highlight of the previous century, especially in arcades, but they have also found a home on consoles, including titles like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Selecting from a massive roster of Nintendo and some third-party characters, players can battle it out on dozens of stages with unique power-ups based on their favorite franchises.

Some games meticulously balance their systems to have a sense of order, but Super Smash Bros. Ultimate balances through chaos, evening the playing field with items galore. There are so many emergent possibilities that can spawn through the connection of mechanics and gimmicks. With one of the biggest video game rosters, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the definitive fighting game experience.

16

‘The Last of Us’ (2013)

Image via Naughty Dog

A handful of games on this list have got their own live-action Hollywood adaptation, but anyone who has played the games knows that they are better than any show or movie. The Last of Us follows Joel, a veteran of the zombie apocalypse who agrees to escort a girl across the country. As they slowly bond, he learns that Ellie could be the key to finding a cure, making the mission even more important.

The narrative in The Last of Us was so good that it proved video games could be a form of prestige storytelling. The slow and building character development that climaxes with the shocking twist in the finale was a spectacular gaming moment. The Last of Us also has a tense gameplay style that takes survival to the extreme.

15

‘Halo: Combat Evolved’ (2001)

Image via Microsoft

Xbox is moving away from console exclusives, unfortunately, which should take fans back to the original Xbox and its games, such as Halo: Combat Evolved. Crashing into a massive world known as Halo, Master Chief and Cortana wage war against the Covenant on the structure, only to learn of a parasitic race of aliens known as the Flood.

There are a couple of other flawless Halo games that could have made this list, but the first one is by far the most influential and innovative, meaning it earns this spot. So many mechanics and systems that are common were innovated by Halo: Combat Evolved, such as analog controls, grenade mapping, two-weapon limits, and regenerating shields. This proves why it is one of the most influential video games of all time.

14

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment

It may not be the newest game featured, but Elden Ring is already a modern sensation, easily being FromSoftware’s magnum opus. With the titular objects shattered and the pieces claimed by the children of Queen Marika, the last hope for The Lands Between is the Tarnished, who must travel around the land while defeating the demi-gods to take the shards, form the ring, and become the Elden Lord.

Soulslike games are the biggest genre at the moment, and Elden Ring stands at the peak of it through its expansive open-world and challenging, yet rewarding gameplay. The unguided world means players have unlimited agency to explore wherever their curiosity takes them, making discovery much more rewarding and earned, especially if it leads them to lore, worldbuilding, or an impossibly difficult boss.

13

‘Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’ (2004)

Image via Rockstar Games

Rockstar Games houses some of the best titles out there, but so far, their best Grand Theft Auto game is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. CJ has given up the life of crime, but when he returns home after his mother’s murder, he is framed for the crime. Now he must reenter the life in order to clear his name, protect his family, and expose those who framed him.

Grand Theft Auto VI may change things, but as it stands, San Andreas is the best GTA game ever. The scope of this game was almost too big, combining three cities into one game world, which was unprecedented for the time. San Andreas is a technical marvel and an ambitious video game that defines the modern-day open-world.

12

‘Half-Life 2’ (2004)

Image via Valve

There are high hopes that Valve will start making new games again, especially Half-Life 3. That hope may never come true, but at least Half-Life 2 is one of the best games ever. Years after the events of the first game, Gordon Freeman wakes up to find aliens in control of the planet. Joining the human resistance, he aids in the revolution to take their planet back.

This game blended gameplay and narrative into one, telling the story while gamers played through the main missions, meaning it didn’t waste time or interrupt the flow of gameplay. The Gravity Gun was one of the most entertaining mechanics in gaming, making everything a puzzle and earning Half-Life 2 the title of masterpiece.

11

‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)

Image via Rockstar Games

As mentioned, Rockstar is a prolific game studio, and their best game is arguably Red Dead Redemption 2. Arthur Morgan is a cowboy and leader of his gang, but when he discovers he has tuberculosis, his time is slowly running out. Set in 1899, the dying era of the Wild West, he sets out on one last adventure, searching for redemption to make up for a life of mistakes.

Set in one of the most immersive video game worlds, it reflects the protagonist and features dozens of authentic mechanics and fun quests; Red Dead Redemption 2 is a wonder to explore. It uses this flawless setting to tell a touching and engaging narrative that features some of the best character development in video games, highlighting its writing prowess.