Looking back at video games of yesteryear availale on a mm2 shop may make for nostalgic viewing, but no one can deny that the 2010s has brought us some of the greatest titles ever produced.
1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim, winner of multiple Game of the Year awards and still making waves today, provides players with an unforgettable experience. Boasting one of the largest virtual worlds ever imagined in video game form, it should not be missed for RPG enthusiasts.
Bethesda’s role-playing series takes place in Tamriel, an imaginary continent which blends pre-medieval real world elements with high fantasy medieval themes. Players are free to roam this vast land freely while discovering its mysteries – as well as complete hours-long side quests, dungeons and other adventures!
2. The Last Of Us
The Last of Us takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States devastated by a fungal infection, offering stunning gameplay and story that pushes video game boundaries. Notably, Nolan North’s acting talents shine through in an endearing romance between 14-year-old Ellie and Joel.
This remastered edition boasts enhanced graphics and adds features such as No Return roguelike mode, galleries of concept art, unlocked frames, three Lost Levels and developer commentary – making this version essential for fans of the original game!
3. BioShock Infinite
BioShock Infinite, like its predecessor, offers a dreamlike blend of world building, philosophical debate, and bullet hell shoot-em-up action that makes it hard to put down and even harder to forget.
Bioshock Infinite takes aim at many aspects of American history, from Rapture’s Gilded Age bigotry to Columbia’s turn-of-the-century nationalism – while also reflecting upon video gaming as an institution itself.
Unfortunately, Infinite places too much emphasis on moving its plot forward and providing the player with weapons and skyrails, rather than allowing its ideas to flourish into something truly innovative and significant.
4. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild completely breaks from traditional Zelda formula, creating a massive open world game that redefines its genre. Drawing inspiration from other games in its genre like crafting and survival games while staying true to Nintendo and fitting seamlessly into its world.
Its brilliant design encourages exploration and discovery rather than grinding through repetitive quests, while its clever checkpoint system allows players to easily solve puzzles.
5. Minecraft
Minecraft is a blocky sandbox game in which players create whatever they can imagine, including survival mode where players must fight off creatures to stay alive in an ever-expanding universe.
Overwatch is an engaging shooter that draws inspiration from class-based shooters such as Team Fortress 2. Blizzard consistently adds new modes and maps, with its dozens of heroes all having unique backstories that keep players coming back for more action.
6. Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption’s original edition may have been released 13 years ago, yet it still plays beautifully on PS4. Boasting an expansive open world and memorable characters – not to mention an emotive story that leaves an inexorable sense of hopelessness – Red Dead Redemption continues to provide great gameplay on PS4.
The game follows John Marston, an ex-outlaw seeking redemption and the American dream. It received multiple end-of-year accolades and even inspired a sequel and downloadable content.
7. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers one of the largest, brightest open worlds in its series. With breathtaking snowy white-stone isles, sun-blasted desert vistas, and alabaster cities as backdrops, its vast and stunningly colorful terrain will take your breath away.
Origins has made significant strides toward making the series an RPG with character and weapon levelling, along with more versatile equipment available for combat swapping. This latest installment builds upon these initiatives.
8. Portal 2
Portal 2 is Valve’s follow-up to its 2007 hit game Portal and offers innovative gameplay by allowing you to use an “portal gun” to make short cuts through physical space.
The original Portal was an entertaining puzzler with great humour and atmosphere, while Portal 2 builds on this success by adding an immersive story centered around Aperture Science labs in decay.
Ellen McLain returns as the sarcastic GLaDOS, while new characters like Wheatley add depth to the narrative. Furthermore, this game boasts impressive production values with superb music and voice acting performances.
9. Half-Life: Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx is an immersive VR FPS that puts players into Alyx Vance’s shoes as she fights against the Combine after Black Mesa has taken place.
Half-Life 3 provides all of its trademark aliens and zombies, but this time with an added horror element. When seeing a headcrab lunge at you or exploring dark corridors filled with alien overgrowth it can be truly terrifying.
Half-Life 3 focuses heavily on its physics simulation, made even more impressive with VR headsets. This includes being able to physically pick up and manipulate objects – an improvement on what was possible with Half-Life 2. It even lets players pick up weapons in Half-Life 2, unlike half of them had their weapons disabled through using the crowbar in Half-Life 2.
