Best Games of the 21st Century: TOP-10 Video Game Rating

The world of modern video games opens up endless possibilities for a person. In it, you can become both the greatest villain and the nation's favorite hero, learn any profession and even transform into an animal.

But which games can give gamers the most pleasure and are worth spending their precious time on? The Guardian answered this question by publishing a list of the greatest games of the 21st century. We present to you the top ten.

10. Bloodborne (2015)

mdg5rsnnGenre: Action/RPG
Platform: PlayStation 4

This dark, Victorian-Gothic game begins in the dilapidated city of Yharnam, whose inhabitants have been stricken with a disease that turns people into monsters. The player, acting as a monster hunter, must navigate the bloody web of magic and intrigue that has entangled the city and its inhabitants.

The best part of Bloodborne, according to players, is the design of the game's locations, well-developed characters, and dynamic battles.

9. BioShock (2007)

by2tav4nGenre: first person shooter
Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3, MacOS

Set in a doomed underwater utopia, BioShock is part shooter, part RPG, and part morality tale that the developers convey to players through exploring the secrets and reasons behind the fall of Rapture.

Famed for its massive bosses, genetic modifications, Art Deco architecture, and reimagining of the ideas of philosopher and writer Ayn Rand, the game remains one of the most talked about and popular.

8. Portal 2 (2011)

nefxeuv0Genre: puzzle
Platform: Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Linux, MacOS

Building on the solid foundation of its predecessor, Portal 2 adds co-op to its compelling narrative and ingenious physics puzzles.

Here, the Portal Nature Research Laboratory is a gigantic, almost gothic structure, with bizarre test chambers and robotic production lines filled with light bridges and Frankenturrets.

7. Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)

n3vinumdGenre: first person shooter
Platform: Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox, Xbox One, MacOS

One of the best shooters about the war between aliens and humanity. Playing Halo, especially on Legendary difficulty, you will be surprised how quickly these shifty and group-loving Covenant can get on your nerves.

Halo spawned the now-popular universe of space opera shooters, and was the first game to be adapted for a video game console at a time when the idea of a first-person shooter on a console was laughable. It was ahead of its time and deserves a place on a list of the best video games of the 21st century.

6. Grand Theft Auto V (2013)

4ft0tbziGenre: action-adventure with an open world
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC (Windows)

For the first time in the history of the Grand Theft Auto series, players were presented with three main characters: a retired bank robber whose family hates him, a young man trying to escape what seemed to be a predetermined life of crime, and a mentally unstable ex-pilot. Each of them had unique abilities.

These characters could be switched between at any time (for the most part), and they were also satirical representations of modern America.

Another unique feature of Grand Theft Auto V was the animals that could be interacted with (trained, played with, etc.).

5. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

prkz3ypmGenre: action/RPG
Platform: Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

No list of the most popular games of the 21st century would be complete without mentioning The Witcher, a true triumph for CD Projekt RED. And Geralt of Rivia is one of the most iconic video game heroes of all time.

Many games offer a superficial choice between good and evil, but The Witcher shows what happens when you navigate history and politics beyond your control. Geralt of Rivia is no hero; he’s just an outcast living in turbulent times. It turns out that plenty of interesting and dangerous adventures are easy to find, even if you’re not concerned with saving the world.

4. Half-Life 2 (2004)

10g011ijGenre: first person shooter
Platform: PC (Windows, Linux, macOS), Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, SHIELD Portable

There are plenty of good video games that feature alien invasions, but Half-Life 2 makes the whole concept feel fresh and scary. In the second installment, which takes place several years after the original story, Gordon Freeman wakes up to find Earth almost entirely conquered by Combine forces, with a few pockets of resistance.

Realistic physics, unprecedented levels of interaction with the environment, and the famous gravity weapon make this game a unique experience that is interesting even in 2019. In the world of Half-Life 2, you can truly hate your enemies and live every moment with interest.

3. Dark Souls (2011)

42q5j1m2Genre: action/RPG with an open world
Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows

By plunging you into an endless cycle of death and rebirth in a grim medieval world, Dark Souls lets its dark fantasy rush forward as you fight and struggle to survive (a bit of a double-edged sword, considering you play as the undead).

Some players accused the game of being too difficult, while others liked it, because the harder the fight, the more pleasant the victory. But almost everyone liked the deep development of the game world, its visual component and interesting combat system.

2. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

hy0hgeg1Genre: action/RPG with an open world
Platform: Wii U, Nintendo Switch

The game from the cult series Legend of Zelda is not like its predecessors. Now players are allowed to wander around a non-linear open world, paving the way for a real adventure.

Breath of the Wild relies on your curiosity, intelligence, and ingenuity, giving you thousands of ways to use them to fight the monster known as Calamity Ganon.

This is the first game in the series that, in addition to Japanese and English voice acting, also features Russian voice acting.

In June 2019, Nintendo announced a sequel to the game, so we can expect more of Link and Zelda's adventures soon.

1. Minecraft (2009)

bwzhrovbGenre: sandbox
Platform: Windows, Xbox 360, Android, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, Windows Phone

The greatest game of the 21st century is based on the idea of an advanced Lego-like construction game. In 2009, word of this unusual block-based simulation quickly spread through PC gaming forums. And a community of enthusiasts began to gather around the project, downloading a version developed by Swedish programmer Markus Persson but adding their own rules and graphics.

From the start, Minecraft was a labor of love, shared between creator and fans. By the time it was released on PC in November 2011, Minecraft had already reached 10 million registered players.

Later, ports from PC to Xbox, PlayStation and even smartphones occurred, which led to the emergence of a new audience.

A vital element of Minecraft’s success and importance has been its dozens of experiences “under one roof.” These involve building complex models, as well as mining and managing resources. Participants can build alone or join friends for creative online collaboration.

Using the “redstone” mechanic that allows objects in the Minecraft world to be powered by electricity, some fans have begun creating complex machines, including working calculators. Others have built scale models of the Star Trek Enterprise, Hogwarts, the British Museum, and other famous fictional and real-life locations.

Nowadays, Minecraft is more than a game.

  • Servers have been created for people with autism to provide vital tools for meeting and communicating with others.
  • Hundreds of schools around the world use Minecraft for Education to teach physics, geology, electronics, and other sciences.
  • Minecraft has been vital to the rise of YouTube celebrities, with names like StampyCat and DanTDM familiar to millions.

And this is far from a complete list of the areas that Minecraft has influenced. Game makers sincerely believe that video games, like literature, cinema and art, can change lives. And this game is a clear confirmation of this.