Feeling nostalgic? How about taking one of the classic games for a spin once more?
In case you’ve got trouble deciding which one to pick, here’s a list of arguably the best PC games of the 2000s.
Fable
| Release date: | 2014-09-12 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | Lionhead Studios |
First on the list is an epic journey in a fantasy world full of dangerous creatures, magic, and loot.
Fable is a beautiful RPG and such a pleasure to look at, but the game’s selling point is its morality system. As you play, you can make various choices that will have consequences, affecting the whole gameplay in certain ways. Depending on whether you’re doing good or bad, NPCs will take your deeds into account. What you wear may also affect your interactions, not to mention the titles you may be holding, which greatly boosts immersion. One can’t also forget about the narrator and a bit of humor and satire in the narrative.
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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
| Release date: | 2002-10-29 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Rockstar Games |
Enter the fictional Vice City, rise to the top as a mobster, and enjoy the 80s vibe.
Vice City remains one of the most appreciated Grand Theft Auto games up to date, even though objectively it may be not the best game in the series. The studio perfectly nailed the atmosphere, giving players a unique opportunity to travel back in time and feel like they’re a part of a classic American crime film. The unparalleled freedom, top-tier songs, and a captivating story with charismatic characters; there’s everything you need and more.
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Resident Evil 4
| Release date: | 2014-02-27 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | CAPCOM |
A mind-controlling parasite is causing people to go full berserk and you find yourself in the middle of madness.
Resident Evil undoubtedly shaped the horror genre and RE 4 is often considered the peak of the franchise. Rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter and carry out the given tasks as you fight your way through hordes of intelligent zombies that can dodge, use weapons, and coordinate their actions as a group. A survival horror in its most intense form, where action is just as important as fear-inducing environments.
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Diablo II
| Release date: | 2000-06-29 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | Blizzard North |
Behold one of the greatest games of all time.
Diablo 2 is the pinnacle of the classic isometric hack-and-slash genre. Games that could be considered to have surpassed the king are still few and far between, even today. Slash through hordes of demonic creatures, obtain rare loot, and customize your hero the way you want. And don’t forget about the Lord of Destruction expansion pack that makes an already perfect game even better. Alternatively, you can try Diablo II: Resurrected, a classic D2 experience with modern graphics and various quality-of-life improvements.
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Mafia
| Release date: | 2002-08 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Illusion Softworks |
There’s probably no better game series focused on the Mafia than Mafia itself.
When talking about old computer games from the 2000s, one can’t forget about Mafia. Non-linear third-person gameplay in a setting inspired by the USA from the 30s combined with a praise-worthy story and a more serious tone when compared to its main competitor, GTA, was a recipe for success. The two series were often compared, but Mafia managed to stand out enough to be considered a timeless masterpiece of its kind.
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World of Warcraft
| Release date: | 2004-11-23 |
| Genre: | MMORPG |
| Developer: | Blizzard Entertainment |
The king is present as well.
As hard as it may be to believe, WoW still manages to keep millions of players engaged and logging in on a regular basis to complete their tasks, beat challenging raids, talk to friends, or just explore Azeroth and other realms. That’s an astounding feat considering the game was initially released in 2004 and runs on a subscription-based business model.
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Half-Life 2
| Release date: | 2004-11-16 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Valve |
For a game representing the first-person shooter genre, look no further than HF 2.
Half-Life 2 revolutionized the gaming industry in a variety of ways and you could mention narrative design, facial expressions, or atmosphere here, but what made the biggest difference was how well the game handled advanced 3D physics that made environments feel more believable and interactive. Even if you take dated visuals into account, the game aged like wine and is still a worthy play today.
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The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
| Release date: | 2002-04-29 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | Bethesda Game Studios |
Jump right into Tamriel and write your own story as you save the world from a demigod usurper.
Even after the release of absolutely fantastic Skyrim, Morrowind is still considered by some the best Elder Scrolls game ever made and it’s not purely for nostalgia reasons. If you can get through the retro graphics, there’s still a lot of fun to be had. A huge open world and open-ended gameplay that incentivizes exploration will easily steal hours upon hours of your free time. Can be a bit difficult for newcomers, though, but that’s part of the game’s beauty.
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Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
| Release date: | 2007-11-12 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Aspyr (Mac) |
CoD 4 brought a breath of fresh air to FPS, freeing players from being constantly stuck in WW2 or sci-fi settings.
People have a personal bias when it comes to naming the best CoD game in the franchise, but you must admit that MW brought a change the players desperately needed. Gameplay in CoD 4 favors a more arcade approach and sacrifices realism for added fun. You can still feel like a soldier on a modern battlefield, but it’s not as punishing as a real simulator would be and forgives many mistakes, making the title more approachable, especially for newcomers.
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BioShock Remastered
| Release date: | 2016-09-15 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | 2K Australia |
If a classic FPS is not what you’re looking for, perhaps a scary one with added superpowers would grab your attention.
The final game on the list is a spiritual successor to System Shock and will take you to the underwater city of Rapture, the elitist utopia inspired and heavily influenced by 1930s architecture and Art Deco. Although the game is not strictly a horror game, it can give you an occasional fright but not in the form of a cheap jump-scare. Grab your gun, ready your superhuman plasmids, and find your way out of this god-forsaken place.
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Conclusion
The early years of the current millennium brought tons of astonishing video games, some of which turned into timeless classics we still love to return to. Hopefully, with the help of our list, you’ll be able to find some of the top games you missed.
It’s never too late to pay respects to the games that shaped the industry, so pick your favorites and savor every moment as you play.