The Best Video Game of Every Year in the 2010s
Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.
The 2020s aren’t over yet, but many fans are already claiming it is one of the best decades in terms of video games ever. That claim is hard to argue considering it already houses masterpieces such as Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3. Everyone has their preferences, but each decade has provided fans with incredible video games to play, especially the 2010s.
It felt like there was a big shift in the 2010s in terms of graphics, design, audience, and general vibe, with some claiming that video games are now too realistic and lacking soul and creativity. However, the 2010s are so great because they feature the best of both worlds. That is why this list will crown the best video game from every year of the 2010s based on gameplay, design, narrative, visuals, fan opinion, critical acclaim, influence, originality, and overall quality.
2010: ‘Super Mario Galaxy 2’
Nintendo is one of the greatest video game companies of all time, meaning they have a plethora of video games throughout the 2010s, including 2010’s Game of the Year, Super Mario Galaxy 2. Similar to the first game, this one has Mario traveling around galaxies with his green friend, Yoshi, to rescue Princess Peach from the nefarious Bowser.
Whichever is better, the first or second game, is up to fans, but for those who prefer Super Mario Galaxy 2, it is because of the way it added to an already perfect game with new gimmicks, including Yoshi, and polished mechanics. It is one of the most nostalgic Nintendo games because of its charming vibe and timeless platforming gameplay that was a fantastic start to the decade.
2011: ‘Portal 2’
2011 was one of the greatest years for gaming in the 2010s, and maybe all time. The Game of the Year was between The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Portal 2, but ultimately the latter won. Years after the first game, Chell wakes up in an abandoned scientific facility where, with the help of a robot, she tries to escape and avoid the harsh punishments GLaDOS is planning for the player.
It was a tough choice between the two, but Portal 2 is one of the most polished and complete gaming experiences that is ageless. The game innovates with its physics-based engine and core mechanics that offer complete agency and solutions. With some of the most stimulating puzzles and fun mechanics, Portal 2 is a charming game with sharp writing and witty dialogue to pair with its riveting gameplay.
2012: ‘Journey’
It is rare for an indie game to be the best of the year, but 2012 was the perfect storm when the lineup wasn’t the greatest, and Journey innovated more than anyone else. Taking place in an atmospheric desert, the player wanders the barren landscape in order to scale the distinct mountain. But this journey will take them from dark caves to the freezing peak.
Even though 2012 wasn’t the greatest year for gaming, that shouldn’t take anything away from Journey, which became one of the best indie video games ever. The serene atmosphere is one of the most calming and immersive in the medium, enhancing the eerie quest to the mountain. Journey is a short but sweet game that somehow remains underrated despite being the best title of 2012.
2013: ‘The Last of Us’
The 2010s saw some of the best video games, and that partly resulted in many live-action adaptations, including The Last of Us. In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a zombie infection, Joel is a grizzled veteran whose next job is to escort a girl across the country. But when he learns she may be the cure to the disease, the adventure becomes even more dangerous.
In terms of storytelling, there might not be a better game than The Last of Us, which didn’t just show fans the plot, but took them through it in immersive detail that expanded the characters, their dynamics, and their growth. Not to mention, the final plot twist is one of gaming’s best and most somber, proving that The Last of Us is easily the greatest video game to come out in 2013.
2014: ‘Mario Kart 8’
Nintendo has a few entries on this list, and while 2014 could have gone a couple of ways, ultimately it was Mario Kart 8 that took the slot. Players can select from a group of characters and set out to compete in a series of Grand Prix races. From anti-gravity waterfalls to haunted mansions, gamers can race anywhere.
Games like Dragon Age: Inquisition and Dark Souls II were phenomenal, but Mario Kart 8 is one of the most influential racing games. Sure, the Switch port is more popular, but they are essentially the same game. Mario Kart 8 is a perfect Mario video game that gave fans a wide roster of playable characters and colorful, intricate courses to play through, delivering the definitive Mario Kart experience that is as chaotic as it is fun.
2015: ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’
The recent news of the free remastered version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has brought it into the limelight again, reminding fans just how good the game is and how much better it will get. Geralt of Rivia has put off his usual gig of monster hunting in order to find Ciri, his adoptive daughter, who is on the run from a spectral group that wants her for her powers.
The Witcher 3 is known for storytelling being ingrained in every aspect of the design, creating unrivaled lore and worldbuilding. The folklore is fresh and expands the many side quests, allowing players to experience mini-adventures that add to the overall fun. The Witcher 3 was the unanimous Game of the Year in 2015, and fans hope that the upcoming The Witcher 4 will follow suit whenever it comes out.
2016: ‘Inside’
Fans shouldn’t underestimate indie video games, because some of them are Game of the Year favorites, such as Inside. Set in a brutalist and eerie world, players control a child who escapes from a Big Brother-esque scientific facility. However, the only way to get out is by going deeper into its maw, learning uncomfortable truths at every step.
Inside is a masterclass of design through lighting, using it not only as an atmospheric tool, but as a design mechanic to help guide the player. The stark difference between light and dark in this game immerses players in the gritty style. It may mainly be a walking simulator, but it is one of the best side-scrolling video games because of the puzzles and story experienced on this adventure.
2017: ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’
2017 was a competitive year for gaming, mainly by Nintendo since the Switch came out. But among all these juggernauts, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is hands down the best. A hundred years after Zelda sealed Ganon away, Link finally wakes up to venture across Hyrule and defeat the Gerudo King before he breaks the seal and destroys the Kingdom.
Breath of the Wild reinvented open-world games by introducing the concept of open air, which allows the player to climb any mountain, soar through any part of the sky, and basically, go anywhere. The traversal and exploration are some of the best, and with design techniques such as making three landmarks visible from every point on the map, it is easy to see why Breath of the Wild isn’t just the best video game of 2017, but of the entire 2010s.
2018: ‘God of War’
2018 was the most heated argument in terms of gaming, and this list just brought it back by selecting this apparently controversial Game of the Year. God of War follows a mellowed-out Kratos who honors his wife’s final wish for her ashes to be spread over the highest peak. However, along the journey, the gods want something from Kratos’ son, Atreus, making the ascent far more complicated.
Red Dead Redemption 2 and God of War were the front-runners, and while many would choose the former, the latter is the better video game, not just having a renowned narrative, but also boasting satisfying combat. This modern gem of the medium is one of the most fun video games of all time because of the engrossing narrative and father-son dynamics, as well as the acclaimed gameplay.
2019: ‘Disco Elysium’
This list features not one, not two, but three indie games, which should highlight the rise in popularity and quality of this genre during the 2010s. Disco Elysium has the gamer playing as an amnesiac detective with multiple personalities who must simultaneously figure out who he is while also piecing together a murder that has serious political implications.
Disco Elysium rounded out the 2010s with a bang, sending off the decade with one of the greatest indie titles in recent memory. The worldbuilding is detail-oriented and features complex, political, and emotional ties that connect to the character and plot. The gameplay casts aside usual combat in favor of dialogue, encouraging critical thinking to solve problems, truly making Disco Elysium a unique Game of the Year.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.