Acclaimed Video Games
The top 1,400 most recommended games across 920 critic lists from 146 publications.
Updated: October 16, 2026
Most Acclaimed Video Games of the 2000s
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#1 Half-Life 2 (2004) (#5)
Valve
|
WIN
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~13h
|
90 lists
#2 Resident Evil 4 (2005) (#8)
Capcom Production Studio 4
|
PS2,
GC,
Wii
|
Horror /
Third-Person Shooter
|
~16h
|
98 lists
#3 World of Warcraft (2004) (#11)
Blizzard Entertainment
|
MAC,
WIN
|
MMORPG
|
~470h
|
87 lists
#4 Shadow of the Colossus (2005) (#12)
Team Ico
|
PS2
|
Action-Adventure
|
~9h
|
82 lists
#5 BioShock (2007) (#13)
2K Australia, 2K Boston
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~12h
|
92 lists
#6 Portal (2007) (#25)
Valve
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Puzzle-Platformer
|
~3h
|
68 lists
#7 Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) (#26)
Bungie
|
MAC,
WIN,
Xbox
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~10h
|
75 lists
#8 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) (#27)
Infinity Ward
|
MAC,
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~7h
|
80 lists
#9 Deus Ex (2000) (#35)
Ion Storm
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Action RPG /
First-Person Shooter /
Stealth
|
~23h
|
71 lists
#10 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009) (#39)
Naughty Dog
|
PS3
|
Action-Adventure /
Third-Person Shooter
|
~10h
|
77 lists
#11 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) (#41)
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
|
PS2
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~16h
|
56 lists
#12 Metroid Prime (2002) (#42)
Retro Studios
|
GC
|
Action-Adventure
|
~14h
|
68 lists
#13 Diablo II (2000) (#46)
Blizzard North
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG
|
~34h
|
59 lists
#14 Silent Hill 2 (2001) (#47)
Team Silent
|
PS2,
Xbox
|
Horror
|
~8h
|
63 lists
#15 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) (#50)
BioWare
|
MAC,
WIN,
Xbox
|
Role-Playing
|
~29h
|
68 lists
#16 Super Mario Galaxy (2007) (#53)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
Wii
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~13h
|
50 lists
#17 Grand Theft Auto III (2001) (#55)
DMA Design, TransGaming Inc.
|
WIN,
PS2
|
Action-Adventure
|
~14h
|
47 lists
#18 Fallout 3 (2008) (#57)
Bethesda Game Studios
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Action RPG /
First-Person Shooter
|
~22h
|
63 lists
#19 Ico (2001) (#62)
Team Ico
|
PS2
|
Action-Adventure
|
~6h
|
54 lists
#20 Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) (#64)
Rockstar North
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Action-Adventure
|
~27h
|
51 lists
#21 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002) (#66)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
GC
|
Action-Adventure
|
~29h
|
47 lists
#22 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) (#68)
Rockstar North
|
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure
|
~30h
|
50 lists
#23 Counter-Strike / Counter-Strike 1.6 (2000) (#71)
Valve
|
WIN
|
Tactical Shooter
|
~25h
|
51 lists
#24 Ōkami (2006) (#72)
Clover Studio, HexaDrive
|
PS2,
Wii
|
Action-Adventure
|
~33h
|
50 lists
#25 Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) (#77)
Rocksteady Studios
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Action-Adventure
|
~12h
|
45 lists
#26 The Sims (2000) (#79)
Maxis
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Life Simulation
|
~19h
|
48 lists
#27 Halo 3 (2007) (#80)
Bungie
|
X360
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~8h
|
38 lists
#28 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) (#83)
Rockstar North
|
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure
|
~17h
|
40 lists
#29 Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) (#84)
HAL Laboratory
|
GC
|
Fighting
|
~10h
|
41 lists
#30 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002) (#88)
Bethesda Game Studios
|
WIN,
Xbox
|
Action RPG
|
~43h
|
32 lists
#31 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000) (#90)
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3
|
N64
|
Action-Adventure
|
~21h
|
35 lists
#32 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) (#95)
Bethesda Game Studios
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Action RPG
|
~28h
|
43 lists
#33 Braid (2008) (#96)
Number None Inc.
|
WIN,
X360
|
Puzzle-Platformer
|
~5h
|
45 lists
#34 Persona 4 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (2008) (#103)
Atlus
|
WIN,
PS2,
PSV
|
Role-Playing /
Life Simulation
|
~73h
|
32 lists
#35 Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000) (#105)
BioWare Edmonton, MumboJumbo
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Role-Playing
|
~68h
|
32 lists
#36 Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos (2002) (#110)
Blizzard Entertainment
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~22h
|
30 lists
#37 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (2000) (#112)
Neversoft Entertainment
|
PS,
N64,
DC
|
Sports
|
~9h
|
39 lists
#38 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003) (#113)
Ubisoft Montreal
|
WIN,
PS2,
GC,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~9h
|
47 lists
#39 Mass Effect (2007) (#115)
BioWare Edmonton
|
WIN,
X360
|
Action RPG
|
~17h
|
34 lists
#40 God of War (2005) (#117)
SCE Santa Monica Studio
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~9h
|
36 lists
#41 Sid Meier's Civilization IV (2005) (#119)
Firaxis Games
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Turn-Based Strategy /
4X Strategy
|
~14h
|
29 lists
#42 Assassin's Creed 2 (2009) (#127)
Ubisoft Montreal
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~19h
|
35 lists
#43 Team Fortress 2 (2007) (#131)
Valve
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~287h
|
38 lists
#44 Left 4 Dead (2008) (#134)
Certain Affinity, Turtle Rock Studios, Valve
|
WIN,
X360
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~7h
|
34 lists
#45 League of Legends (2009) (#136)
Riot Games
|
WIN
|
MOBA
|
~1162h
|
34 lists
#46 Final Fantasy X (2001) (#139)
Square Product Development Division 1
|
PS2
|
Role-Playing
|
~45h
|
30 lists
#47 Left 4 Dead 2 (2009) (#140)
Turtle Rock Studios, Valve
|
MAC,
WIN,
X360
|
Horror /
First-Person Shooter
|
~10h
|
34 lists
#48 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) (#143)
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
|
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~13h
|
27 lists
#49 Advance Wars (2001) (#147)
Intelligent Systems
|
GBA
|
Turn-Based Strategy
|
~16h
|
32 lists
#50 Burnout 3: Takedown (2004) (#150)
Criterion Games
|
PS2,
Xbox
|
Racing
|
~13h
|
32 lists
#51 Battlefield 1942 (2002) (#152)
Digital Illusions CE
|
WIN
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~8h
|
29 lists
#52 Rez / Rez HD / Rez Infinite (2001) (#156)
United Game Artists
|
DC,
PS2
|
Shooter /
Music
|
~2h
|
27 lists
#53 Street Fighter IV (2008) (#170)
Dimps
|
ARC,
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Fighting
|
~2h
|
31 lists
#54 Gears of War (2006) (#172)
Epic Games
|
WIN,
X360
|
Third-Person Shooter
|
~9h
|
32 lists
#55 Wii Sports (2006) (#173)
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2
|
Wii
|
Sports
|
~4h
|
33 lists
#56 Halo 2 (2004) (#177)
Bungie
|
Xbox
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~9h
|
23 lists
#57 Beyond Good & Evil (2003) (#180)
Ubisoft Montpellier
|
WIN,
PS2,
GC,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure
|
~11h
|
29 lists
#58 Dead Space (2008) (#183)
EA Redwood Shores
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Horror
|
~11h
|
29 lists
#59 Katamari Damacy (2004) (#185)
Keita Takahashi, Now Production
|
PS2
|
Action /
Puzzle
|
~6h
|
25 lists
#60 Rome: Total War (2004) (#198)
The Creative Assembly
|
WIN
|
Real-Time Tactics /
Turn-Based Strategy
|
~34h
|
21 lists
#61 Max Payne (2001) (#202)
Remedy Entertainment
|
MAC,
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox
|
Third-Person Shooter
|
~8h
|
23 lists
#62 God of War II (2007) (#205)
SCE Santa Monica Studio
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~12h
|
22 lists
#63 Ikaruga (2001) (#207)
Treasure
|
ARC,
DC,
GC
|
Shooter
|
~2h
|
18 lists
#64 Thief II: The Metal Age (2000) (#213)
Looking Glass Studios
|
WIN
|
Stealth
|
~20h
|
22 lists
#65 Dragon Age: Origins (2009) (#216)
BioWare Edmonton
|
MAC,
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Role-Playing
|
~40h
|
24 lists
#66 Psychonauts (2005) (#224)
Double Fine Productions
|
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~12h
|
24 lists
#67 Final Fantasy IX (2000) (#225)
Square Product Development Division 1, Square USA
|
PS
|
Role-Playing
|
~38h
|
20 lists
#68 Gears of War 2 (2008) (#230)
Epic Games
|
X360
|
Third-Person Shooter
|
~10h
|
25 lists
#69 Rock Band (2007) (#231)
Harmonix Music Systems, Pi Studios
|
PS2,
PS3,
X360,
Wii
|
Music
|
~9h
|
22 lists
#70 Company of Heroes (2006) (#234)
Relic Entertainment
|
WIN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~19h
|
20 lists
#71 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006) (#239)
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3
|
GC,
Wii
|
Action-Adventure
|
~37h
|
22 lists
#72 Guitar Hero (2005) (#244)
Harmonix Music Systems
|
PS2
|
Music
|
~5h
|
24 lists
#73 Hitman: Blood Money (2006) (#248)
IO Interactive
|
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox,
X360
|
Stealth
|
~12h
|
17 lists
#74 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005) (#249)
Ubisoft Montreal
|
WIN,
PS2,
GC,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~13h
|
20 lists
#75 Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (2005) (#251)
Capcom Production Studio 1
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~12h
|
20 lists
#76 Battlefield 2 (2005) (#254)
Digital Illusions CE
|
WIN
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~8h
|
15 lists
#77 Fable II (2008) (#255)
Lionhead Studios
|
X360
|
Action RPG
|
~13h
|
23 lists
#78 Bayonetta (2009) (#256)
Nex Entertainment, PlatinumGames
|
X360,
PS3
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~12h
|
22 lists
#79 Rock Band 2 (2008) (#258)
Harmonix Music Systems
|
PS2,
PS3,
X360,
Wii
|
Music
|
~10h
|
15 lists
#80 LittleBigPlanet (2008) (#260)
Media Molecule
|
PS3
|
Sandbox /
Platform
|
~9h
|
25 lists
#81 Demon's Souls (2009) (#273)
FromSoftware
|
PS3
|
Action RPG
|
~27h
|
14 lists
#82 Animal Crossing (2001) (#275)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
N64,
GC
|
Life Simulation
|
~66h
|
17 lists
#83 Soulcalibur II (2002) (#276)
Project Soul
|
ARC,
PS2,
GC,
Xbox
|
Fighting
|
~3h
|
17 lists
#84 Kingdom Hearts II (2005) (#277)
Square Enix Product Development Division 1
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG
|
~32h
|
15 lists
#85 Kingdom Hearts (2002) (#279)
Square Product Development Division 1
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG /
Platform
|
~28h
|
18 lists
#86 Burnout Paradise (2008) (#282)
Criterion Games
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Racing
|
~13h
|
17 lists
#87 Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (2001) (#294)
Polyphony Digital
|
PS2
|
Racing
|
~40h
|
18 lists
#88 Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (2004) (#299)
LEVEL-5, Square Enix Product Development Division 9
|
PS2
|
Role-Playing
|
~60h
|
16 lists
#89 The Sims 2 (2004) (#300)
Maxis
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Life Simulation
|
~26h
|
14 lists
#90 WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! / Minigame Mania (2003) (#308)
Nintendo R&D1
|
GBA
|
Action
|
~2h
|
15 lists
#91 Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003) (#312)
Remedy Entertainment
|
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox
|
Third-Person Shooter
|
~6h
|
16 lists
#92 The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (2004) (#315)
Starbreeze Studios, Tigon Studios, Virtual Programming
|
WIN,
Xbox
|
First-Person Shooter /
Stealth
|
~8h
|
17 lists
#93 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (2001) (#316)
Neversoft Entertainment
|
WIN,
PS,
PS2,
GC,
Xbox
|
Sports
|
~7h
|
20 lists
#94 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) (#317)
Kojima Productions
|
PS3
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~18h
|
18 lists
#95 Ninja Gaiden (2004) (#322)
Team NINJA
|
Xbox
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~18h
|
15 lists
#96 Vagrant Story (2000) (#325)
Square Product Development Division 4
|
PS
|
Action RPG
|
~25h
|
12 lists
#97 Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) (#330)
Sora
|
Wii
|
Fighting
|
~12h
|
15 lists
#98 F-Zero GX (2003) (#336)
Amusement Vision
|
GC
|
Racing
|
~9h
|
16 lists
#99 Valkyria Chronicles (2008) (#342)
Sega WOW
|
WIN,
PS3
|
Tactical RPG
|
~30h
|
10 lists
#100 Call of Duty 2 (2005) (#344)
Infinity Ward
|
WIN,
X360
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~8h
|
14 lists
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