#Finest video games that turned 20 in 2024, ranked. – Destructoid

Sure, 2004, among the best years in gaming historical past is almost legally sufficiently old to drink. Which means we’re even older, sure, however it’s additionally trigger for celebration.

Let’s use this chance to not rely our grey hairs, however to have a good time so many video games that the majority gamers don’t even understand got here out in such a brief span of time, so way back.

11. Burnout 3: Takedown

If you happen to miss the Burnout collection, that’s doubtless due to its highest level: Burnout 3: Takedown. Gone are the real looking physics of Gran Turismo, in are essentially the most ridiculously enjoyable automotive crashing mechanics ever put right into a sport.

No sport earlier than or since has made merely driving as quick as you’ll be able to, and toppling your opponents in essentially the most spectacular methods as enjoyable as Takedown. I can’t, for the lifetime of me, perceive how such a seemingly easy but multifaceted get together collection has been dormant for therefore lengthy.

10. Fable

The unique Fable stays among the best solutions to the turn-based RPGs that dominated the gaming panorama again then, in addition to the very best sport within the franchise. There’s simply no beating Fable in relation to embarking on a journey to grow to be a hero — or a villain.

There’s no denying that, in true Peter Molyneux vogue, Fable underdelivered concerning its authentic promise, however what we ended up getting was ok to beginning a basic. Additionally, Molyneux can completely defend himself by claiming it wouldn’t be a lot of a fable if all of his guarantees had been based mostly on laborious info.

9. Ninja Gaiden

This was the unique “laborious sport with good graphics” earlier than Darkish Souls claimed that distinction.

You would even argue Ninja Gaiden was tougher than Darkish Souls as a result of it didn’t curse you with restricted stamina and was nonetheless tough as all hell. And it was far more than that. Ninja Gaiden stays one of the crucial thrilling and general finest motion video games ever made. It’s unhappy to see the collection lose its mojo with Ninja Gaiden 3 and see Crew Ninja pivoting to tough video games that straight-up mirrored the Souls collection.

I really like Nioh, however I miss Ninja Gaiden’s high-octane sort of problem.

8. Doom 3

Upon launch, many had been let down by DOOM 3. It wasn’t as enjoyable as basic Doom, and it simply didn’t function anyplace close to the number of contemporary gameplay choices obtainable in its modern shooters. The individuals who didn’t prefer it again then now even have the hindsight of claiming it paled as compared with the newer Doom titles, however I feel they’re simply taking a look at it mistaken.

If you happen to’re into slow-burn horror, Doom 3 is definitely one hell of a sport, able to scaring the crap out of contemporary gamers even at present.

7. Far Cry

I normally accuse the Far Cry collection of being all downhill after the primary sport, however that’s not me being imply. Far Cry 2, Far Cry 3, and Far Cry Instincts are all good video games, however the authentic was simply higher. Keep in mind the terrible “Ubisoft tower” mechanic that plagues all Far Cry titles post-3? Keep in mind the extremely low enemy selection in most of those video games? Properly, you’ll be able to overlook all of that right here.

The unique Far Cry won’t function the open world sport design you see within the different entries, however it’s such a finely crafted (albeit extra linear) gameplay expertise that you just doubtless received’t even discover you’re not as free as in different video games. You probably have by no means tried it as a result of it’s “outdated”, give it a shot. It’s completely price it.

6. Sid Meier’s Pirates

Do you’re keen on Sea Of Thieves, Murderer’s Creed Black Flag’s finest moments, and/or had been you hyped by the reveal of Cranium and Bones? All of them exist due to Sid Meier’s Pirates, the primary — and nonetheless finest — pirate life simulator.

If you wish to have loads of enjoyable conquering the excessive seas, this considerably underplayed masterpiece is one thing you must check out, as a result of it feels prefer it hasn’t aged a day.

5. World Of Warcraft

Accuse me of dishonest all you need as a result of yeah, World Of Warcraft has by no means actually stopped popping out, however ’04 was its first yr on this land.

It stays essentially the most profitable MMO ever since its launch and greater than earns it this spot on this listing. The truth that it’s going to doubtless stay that manner for the foreseeable future greater than earns you the suitable to complain about me not rating it even greater.

Sure, it’s no shock that Konami is releasing Steel Gear Strong Delta by early 2025. They know MGS3 is probably going essentially the most beloved entry within the franchise, and that huge 20-year-old mark is the proper time to money in on a masterpiece.

The unique MGS just about turned your entire online game business on its head when it got here out. MGS3 may’ve simply surfed on the tsunami it had created and nonetheless managed to promote hundreds of thousands and get excessive essential reward, however that was not sufficient. MGS3 dared to alter the setting fully to inform a brand new story, and it labored superbly.

Whereas I’d argue the Subsistence model that got here out a short time later is the definitive model of the sport due to the superior digicam, Snake Eater stays one of the crucial epic and gut-wrenchingly superior prequels of all time.

3. Halo 2

We knew Halo 2 was particular as quickly as ’03s E3 confirmed among the best gameplay demos of all time.

We knew Halo 2 was particular as quickly as we started taking part in it, although we rapidly realized the E3 demo wasn’t a part of it — as a result of it was by no means meant to be greater than a cool tech demo.

Courtesy of getting to observe up on among the best debuts of all time, Halo 2‘s devs at Bungie needed to undergo hell to clear the excessive bar set by Halo: Fight Developed, in file time. Nonetheless, the consequence was not simply one of the crucial memorable (even when disjointed) campaigns of all time, but in addition what was by far the console technology’s finest on-line expertise.

2. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas was the best-selling sport of the best-selling console of all time, and it was no fluke.

It got here out after GTA 3 and Vice Metropolis, two titles that may’ve deserved that spot had SA not materialized, however San Andreas was the uncommon sequel to go even greater than its already humungous predecessors, and nonetheless not really feel bloated due to it. Attending to wreak havoc not in a single, however three completely different GTA-fied spoofs of actual america, the countryside, and at last even attending to swim made SA really feel much less like a sport, and extra like a complete saga in a single field.

1. Half-Life 2

Naturally, selecting the very best sport out of such an eclectic listing will all the time come down to private style — however not this time. I child, however I truthfully do suppose Half-Life 2 was and, not less than till the arrival of Darkish Souls, remained essentially the most severe contender for the sport of the century.

Half-Life 2 not solely amped all of the stakes launched by its stellar predecessor, however it additionally launched a wide selection of mechanics that really feel contemporary even so a few years later. One of many causes Half-Life 3 may by no means materialize is Valve’s attainable incapacity to provide you with something even higher, and that’s okay.