Acclaimed Video Games
The top 1,000 most recommended games across 904 critic lists from 141 publications.
Updated: February 3, 2026
Most Acclaimed Video Games of the 2000s
Filters
Game Status
Search
1
No series matching ""
No series available
Short
Medium
Long
Showing 100 of 269
100 of 269
#1 Half-Life 2 (2004) (#5)
Valve | WIN | First-Person Shooter | ~13h | 86 lists
#2 Resident Evil 4 (2005) (#8)
Capcom Production Studio 4 | PS2, GC, Wii | Horror / Third-Person Shooter | ~16h | 90 lists
#3 Shadow of the Colossus (2005) (#11)
Team Ico | PS2 | Action-Adventure | ~10h | 75 lists
#4 BioShock (2007) (#13)
2K Australia, 2K Boston | WIN, X360, PS3 | First-Person Shooter | ~12h | 86 lists
#5 World of Warcraft (2004) (#18)
Blizzard Entertainment | MAC, WIN | MMORPG | ~473h | 80 lists
#6 Portal (2007) (#24)
Valve | WIN, X360, PS3 | Puzzle-Platformer | ~3h | 65 lists
#7 Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) (#28)
Bungie | MAC, WIN, Xbox | First-Person Shooter | ~10h | 69 lists
#8 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) (#31)
Infinity Ward | MAC, WIN, X360, PS3 | First-Person Shooter | ~7h | 75 lists
#9 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009) (#36)
Naughty Dog | PS3 | Action-Adventure / Third-Person Shooter | ~10h | 71 lists
#10 Deus Ex (2000) (#37)
Ion Storm | MAC, WIN | Action RPG / First-Person Shooter / Stealth | ~23h | 64 lists
#11 Metroid Prime (2002) (#40)
Retro Studios | GC | Action-Adventure | ~14h | 65 lists
#12 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) (#42)
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan | PS2 | Action-Adventure / Stealth | ~16h | 51 lists
#13 Silent Hill 2 (2001) (#44)
Team Silent | PS2, Xbox | Horror | ~8h | 60 lists
#14 Diablo II (2000) (#47)
Blizzard North | MAC, WIN | Hack and Slash / Action RPG | ~34h | 54 lists
#15 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) (#50)
BioWare | MAC, WIN, Xbox | Role-Playing | ~29h | 64 lists
#16 Super Mario Galaxy (2007) (#51)
Nintendo EAD | Wii | Action-Adventure / Platform | ~14h | 45 lists
#17 Fallout 3 (2008) (#53)
Bethesda Game Studios | WIN, X360, PS3 | Action RPG | ~22h | 60 lists
#18 Ico (2001) (#57)
Team Ico | PS2 | Action-Adventure | ~6h | 52 lists
#19 Grand Theft Auto III (2001) (#58)
DMA Design, TransGaming Inc. | WIN, PS2 | Action-Adventure | ~14h | 40 lists
#20 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002) (#60)
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3 | GC | Action-Adventure | ~29h | 43 lists
#21 Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) (#63)
Rockstar North | WIN, X360, PS3 | Action-Adventure | ~27h | 46 lists
#22 Ōkami (2006) (#67)
Clover Studio, HexaDrive | PS2, Wii | Action-Adventure | ~33h | 46 lists
#23 Counter-Strike / Counter-Strike 1.6 (2000) (#68)
Valve | WIN | First-Person Shooter / Tactical | ~26h | 48 lists
#24 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) (#70)
Rockstar North | WIN, PS2, Xbox | Action-Adventure | ~30h | 45 lists
#25 Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) (#75)
HAL Laboratory | GC | Fighting | ~10h | 39 lists
#26 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) (#80)
Rockstar North | WIN, PS2, Xbox | Action-Adventure | ~17h | 37 lists
#27 Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) (#81)
Rocksteady Studios | WIN, X360, PS3 | Action-Adventure | ~12h | 42 lists
#28 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000) (#82)
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3 | N64 | Action-Adventure | ~22h | 34 lists
#29 Halo 3 (2007) (#83)
Bungie | X360 | First-Person Shooter | ~8h | 36 lists
#30 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002) (#87)
Bethesda Game Studios | WIN, Xbox | Action RPG | ~44h | 27 lists
#31 Persona 4 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (2008) (#89)
Atlus | WIN, PS2, PSV | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~72h | 33 lists
#32 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) (#92)
Bethesda Game Studios | WIN, X360, PS3 | Action RPG | ~28h | 40 lists
#33 Braid (2008) (#94)
Number None Inc. | WIN, X360 | Puzzle-Platformer | ~5h | 42 lists
#34 The Sims (2000) (#95)
Maxis | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~20h | 43 lists
#35 Sid Meier's Civilization IV (2005) (#102)
Firaxis Games | MAC, WIN | Turn-Based Strategy / 4X Strategy | ~13h | 30 lists
#36 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003) (#103)
Ubisoft Montreal | WIN, PS2, GC, Xbox | Action-Adventure / Platform | ~9h | 43 lists
#37 Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000) (#107)
BioWare Edmonton, MumboJumbo | MAC, WIN | Role-Playing | ~67h | 30 lists
#38 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (2000) (#109)
Neversoft Entertainment, Westlake Interactive | WIN, PS, N64, DC | Sports | ~9h | 38 lists
#39 Assassin's Creed 2 (2009) (#111)
Ubisoft Montreal | WIN, X360, PS3 | Action-Adventure / Stealth | ~19h | 34 lists
#40 Mass Effect (2007) (#116)
BioWare Edmonton | WIN, X360 | Action RPG | ~17h | 32 lists
#41 Left 4 Dead (2008) (#119)
Certain Affinity, Turtle Rock Studios, Valve | WIN, X360 | First-Person Shooter | ~7h | 35 lists
#42 Team Fortress 2 (2007) (#120)
Valve | WIN, X360, PS3 | First-Person Shooter | ~284h | 36 lists
#43 Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos (2002) (#123)
Blizzard Entertainment | MAC, WIN | Real-Time Strategy | ~22h | 26 lists
#44 League of Legends (2009) (#127)
Riot Games | WIN | MOBA | ~1161h | 35 lists
#45 God of War (2005) (#129)
SCE Santa Monica Studio | PS2 | Hack and Slash / Action-Adventure | ~9h | 32 lists
#46 Advance Wars (2001) (#131)
Intelligent Systems | GBA | Turn-Based Strategy | ~16h | 31 lists
#47 Rez / Rez HD / Rez Infinite (2001) (#144)
United Game Artists | DC, PS2 | Shooter / Music | ~2h | 25 lists
#48 Left 4 Dead 2 (2009) (#148)
Turtle Rock Studios, Valve | MAC, WIN, X360 | Horror / First-Person Shooter | ~10h | 31 lists
#49 Burnout 3: Takedown (2004) (#150)
Criterion Games | PS2, Xbox | Racing | ~13h | 29 lists
#50 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) (#154)
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan | WIN, PS2, Xbox | Action-Adventure / Stealth | ~13h | 24 lists
#51 Battlefield 1942 (2002) (#158)
Digital Illusions CE | WIN | First-Person Shooter | ~8h | 27 lists
#52 Final Fantasy X (2001) (#159)
Square Product Development Division 1 | PS2 | Role-Playing | ~46h | 27 lists
#53 Street Fighter IV (2008) (#160)
Dimps | ARC, WIN, X360, PS3 | Fighting | ~2h | 31 lists
#54 Beyond Good & Evil (2003) (#168)
Ubisoft Montpellier | WIN, PS2, GC, Xbox | Action-Adventure | ~11h | 26 lists
#55 Katamari Damacy (2004) (#173)
Keita Takahashi, NOW Production | PS2 | Action / Puzzle | ~6h | 24 lists
#56 God of War II (2007) (#178)
SCE Santa Monica Studio | PS2 | Hack and Slash / Action-Adventure | ~12h | 22 lists
#57 Dead Space (2008) (#181)
EA Redwood Shores | WIN, X360, PS3 | Horror | ~11h | 28 lists
#58 Wii Sports (2006) (#183)
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2 | Wii | Sports | ~5h | 31 lists
#59 Gears of War (2006) (#184)
Epic Games | WIN, X360 | Third-Person Shooter | ~9h | 28 lists
#60 Halo 2 (2004) (#191)
Bungie | Xbox | First-Person Shooter | ~9h | 20 lists
#61 Thief II: The Metal Age (2000) (#195)
Looking Glass Studios | WIN | Stealth | ~20h | 22 lists
#62 Ikaruga (2001) (#197)
Treasure | ARC, DC, GC | Shooter | ~2h | 17 lists
#63 Max Payne (2001) (#201)
Remedy Entertainment | MAC, WIN, PS2, Xbox | Third-Person Shooter | ~8h | 21 lists
#64 Dragon Age: Origins (2009) (#213)
BioWare Edmonton | MAC, WIN, X360, PS3 | Role-Playing | ~40h | 22 lists
#65 Rome: Total War (2004) (#216)
The Creative Assembly | WIN | Real-Time Tactics / Turn-Based Strategy | ~34h | 18 lists
#66 Gears of War 2 (2008) (#217)
Epic Games | X360 | Third-Person Shooter | ~10h | 26 lists
#67 Psychonauts (2005) (#228)
Double Fine Productions | WIN, PS2, Xbox | Action-Adventure / Platform | ~12h | 20 lists
#68 Hitman: Blood Money (2006) (#230)
IO Interactive | WIN, PS2, Xbox, X360 | Stealth | ~12h | 16 lists
#69 Rock Band (2007) (#231)
Harmonix Music Systems, Pi Studios | PS2, PS3, X360, Wii | Music | ~9h | 21 lists
#70 Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (2005) (#234)
Capcom Production Studio 1 | PS2 | Hack and Slash / Action-Adventure | ~12h | 21 lists
#71 Rock Band 2 (2008) (#236)
Harmonix Music Systems | PS2, PS3, X360, Wii | Music | ~10h | 15 lists
#72 Guitar Hero (2005) (#242)
Harmonix Music Systems | PS2 | Music | ~5h | 22 lists
#73 Bayonetta (2009) (#243)
Nex Entertainment, PlatinumGames | X360, PS3 | Hack and Slash / Action-Adventure | ~12h | 22 lists
#74 Final Fantasy IX (2000) (#245)
Square Product Development Division 1, Square USA | PS | Role-Playing | ~38h | 17 lists
#75 LittleBigPlanet (2008) (#247)
Media Molecule | PS3 | Sandbox / Platform | ~9h | 25 lists
#76 Company of Heroes (2006) (#251)
Relic Entertainment | WIN | Real-Time Strategy | ~19h | 18 lists
#77 Demon's Souls (2009) (#254)
FromSoftware, SCE Japan Studio | PS3 | Action RPG | ~28h | 14 lists
#78 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005) (#255)
Ubisoft Montreal | WIN, PS2, GC, Xbox | Action-Adventure / Stealth | ~13h | 17 lists
#79 Battlefield 2 (2005) (#256)
Digital Illusions CE | WIN | First-Person Shooter | ~8h | 14 lists
#80 Fable II (2008) (#257)
Lionhead Studios | X360 | Action RPG | ~13h | 22 lists
#81 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006) (#260)
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3 | GC, Wii | Action-Adventure | ~37h | 20 lists
#82 Soulcalibur II (2002) (#261)
Project Soul | ARC, PS2, GC, Xbox | Fighting | ~3h | 18 lists
#83 Animal Crossing (2001) (#265)
Nintendo EAD | N64, GC | Life Simulation | ~66h | 16 lists
#84 Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (2001) (#274)
Polyphony Digital | PS2 | Racing | ~40h | 18 lists
#85 WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! / Minigame Mania (2003) (#280)
Nintendo R&D1 | GBA | Action | ~2h | 15 lists
#86 Burnout Paradise (2008) (#287)
Criterion Games | WIN, X360, PS3 | Racing | ~13h | 16 lists
#87 Kingdom Hearts (2002) (#288)
Square Product Development Division 1 | PS2 | Hack and Slash / Action RPG | ~28h | 16 lists
#88 Kingdom Hearts II (2005) (#295)
Square Enix Business Division 3, Square Enix Product Development Division 1 | PS2 | Hack and Slash / Action RPG | ~32h | 16 lists
#89 The Sims 2 (2004) (#300)
Maxis | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~26h | 13 lists
#90 Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (2004) (#303)
LEVEL-5, Square Enix Product Development Division 9 | PS2 | Role-Playing | ~61h | 15 lists
#91 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (2001) (#305)
Neversoft Entertainment | WIN, PS, PS2, N64, GC, Xbox | Sports | ~7h | 19 lists
#92 The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (2004) (#314)
Starbreeze Studios, Tigon Studios, Virtual Programming | WIN, Xbox | Action-Adventure / Stealth | ~8h | 15 lists
#93 F-Zero GX (2003) (#315)
Amusement Vision | GC | Racing | ~9h | 15 lists
#94 Valkyria Chronicles (2008) (#319)
Sega WOW | WIN, PS3 | Tactical RPG | ~30h | 10 lists
#95 Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003) (#324)
Remedy Entertainment | WIN, PS2, Xbox | Third-Person Shooter | ~6h | 15 lists
#96 Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) (#327)
Sora | Wii | Fighting | ~12h | 15 lists
#97 Ninja Gaiden (2004) (#334)
Team NINJA | Xbox | Hack and Slash / Action-Adventure | ~18h | 13 lists
#98 Call of Duty 2 (2005) (#339)
Infinity Ward | WIN, X360 | First-Person Shooter | ~8h | 13 lists
#99 Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (2005) (#346)
Activision | X360 | Shooter | ~4h | 9 lists
#100 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) (#348)
Kojima Productions | PS3 | Action-Adventure / Stealth | ~18h | 17 lists
#1
#5
Half-Life 2
2004
#2
#8
Resident Evil 4
2005
#3
#11
#4
#13
BioShock
2007
#5
#18
World of Warcraft
2004
#6
#24
Portal
2007
#7
#28
Halo: Combat Evolved
2001
#8
#31
#9
#36
#10
#37
Deus Ex
2000
#11
#40
Metroid Prime
2002
#12
#42
#13
#44
Silent Hill 2
2001
#14
#47
Diablo II
2000
#15
#50
#16
#51
Super Mario Galaxy
2007
#17
#53
Fallout 3
2008
#18
#57
Ico
2001
#19
#58
Grand Theft Auto III
2001
#20
#60
#21
#63
Grand Theft Auto IV
2008
#22
#67
Ōkami
2006
#23
#68
#24
#70
#25
#75
#26
#80
#27
#81
#28
#82
#29
#83
Halo 3
2007
#30
#87
#31
#89
#32
#92
#33
#94
Braid
2008
#34
#95
The Sims
2000
#35
#102
#36
#103
#37
#107
#38
#109
#39
#111
Assassin's Creed 2
2009
#40
#116
Mass Effect
2007
#41
#119
Left 4 Dead
2008
#42
#120
Team Fortress 2
2007
#43
#123
#44
#127
League of Legends
2009
#45
#129
God of War
2005
#46
#131
Advance Wars
2001
#47
#144
#48
#148
Left 4 Dead 2
2009
#49
#150
Burnout 3: Takedown
2004
#50
#154
#51
#158
Battlefield 1942
2002
#52
#159
Final Fantasy X
2001
#53
#160
Street Fighter IV
2008
#54
#168
Beyond Good & Evil
2003
#55
#173
Katamari Damacy
2004
#56
#178
God of War II
2007
#57
#181
Dead Space
2008
#58
#183
Wii Sports
2006
#59
#184
Gears of War
2006
#60
#191
Halo 2
2004
#61
#195
#62
#197
Ikaruga
2001
#63
#201
Max Payne
2001
#64
#213
Dragon Age: Origins
2009
#65
#216
Rome: Total War
2004
#66
#217
Gears of War 2
2008
#67
#228
Psychonauts
2005
#68
#230
Hitman: Blood Money
2006
#69
#231
Rock Band
2007
#70
#234
#71
#236
Rock Band 2
2008
#72
#242
Guitar Hero
2005
#73
#243
Bayonetta
2009
#74
#245
Final Fantasy IX
2000
#75
#247
LittleBigPlanet
2008
#76
#251
Company of Heroes
2006
#77
#254
Demon's Souls
2009
#78
#255
#79
#256
Battlefield 2
2005
#80
#257
Fable II
2008
#81
#260
#82
#261
Soulcalibur II
2002
#83
#265
Animal Crossing
2001
#84
#274
#85
#280
#86
#287
Burnout Paradise
2008
#87
#288
Kingdom Hearts
2002
#88
#295
Kingdom Hearts II
2005
#89
#300
The Sims 2
2004
#90
#303
#91
#305
#92
#314
#93
#315
F-Zero GX
2003
#94
#319
Valkyria Chronicles
2008
#95
#324
#96
#327
#97
#334
Ninja Gaiden
2004
#98
#339
Call of Duty 2
2005
#99
#346
#100
#348
Filters
Game Status
Search
Release Year
Drag or shift+click for ranges
Platform
Genre
Series
No series matching ""
No series available
Playtime (HowLongToBeat)
Short
Medium
Long