The Best Years in Video Game History

Video games have come an awfully long way in a relatively short amount of time, both when it comes to graphics and general gameplay. With each passing year, more and more big-budget titles are released, helping to further push the boundaries of what many gamers had thought possible. Some years have been much more fruitful than others though, either due to the quality or the quantity of the games released throughout them.

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The best years in gaming tend to offer a decent mix of both, bringing sequels to fan-favorite franchises while also introducing innovative new IPs. Then there are the years that helped to usher in new home console generations, which typically bring with them a whole host of exciting new video games. There are many things that can make a year great for gamers, but the very best years in gaming tend to offer a little bit of everything.

15 1980

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: N/A

While the video game industry first started taking off in the 1970s, 1980 was the year in which it experienced one of its first real peaks. The Atari 2600, one of the first-ever home video game consoles, was given a significant second wind with the launch of Space Invaders, causing it to become one of the most-wanted bits of tech on the market.

Back in 1980, though, the best gaming experiences couldn't be found sitting in front of the TV, but rather in arcades, where the superior version of Space Invaders continued to gobble up quarters. Pac-Man also hit arcades in 1980, showing that video games had much more widespread, mainstream appeal than a lot of people expected.

14 1985

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: N/A

Video games were hot in the early eighties, but then the video game crash of 1983 brought everything to a halt. The video game market was flooded with shovelware, lackluster titles that were hurried out to make a quick buck with no regard to their quality, with one of the most notorious of these being E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. E.T. Was so bad that many of its unsold cartridges ended up buried in landfills.

Then, in 1985, Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System in the West. The NES was like a shot in the arm for the North American video game industry, launching alongside a slew of titles that would be looked back on as absolute classics. This includes the original Super Mario Bros., which launched one of gaming's biggest and longest-running franchises, influencing countless games for decades to come.

13 2017

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: 16

Following the financial disappointment that was the Wii U, a lot was riding on Nintendo's next console, the Nintendo Switch. A home console/handheld hybrid that has since gone on to become one of the best-selling video game consoles of all time, the Nintendo Switch really came out swinging, launching with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

A few months later, the Switch was treated to Super Mario Odyssey, another landmark release that helped to make the console a must-have for many gamers. These weren't the only notable video game releases in 2017 though, with Cuphead, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Nier: Automata, and the Western release of Persona 5 also dropping that year.

12 1996

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: 9

The 16-bit era of gaming had many top-tier releases, but no single year really stands out from that era, with all of the excitement spread out fairly evenly. In 1996, though, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System gave way to the Nintendo 64, which joined Sony's previously-released PlayStation in helping video games make the leap from 2D to 3D.

Not only was 1996 a massive year for video games in terms of innovative new hardware, but it was also huge for its high-quality releases. Super Mario 64 drew the blueprint for how 3D games should control, while some of gaming's most treasured franchises were also established in 1996. This includes Capcom's survival-horror mainstay Resident Evil, as well as the classic Tomb Raider franchise.

11 2010

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: 22

Five years into a console generation, one might think that things could start getting stale. However, 2010 proved that the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii all had plenty more to give. Some of the generation's best games were released that year, with some highly-anticipated sequels like Mass Effect 2 and Super Mario Galaxy 2 hitting store shelves.

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Rockstar Games delivered Red Dead Redemption to critical acclaim, plus gamers got to play the likes of God of War 3, Halo: Reach, and Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. While 2010 wasn't necessarily a great year in terms of new IP, it was a great year for high-quality gaming experiences in general, with great new titles coming out regularly.

10 2011

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: 31

The momentum that the gaming industry had in 2010 was carried over into 2011, which saw the launch of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, a game that's still a part of the conversation today. Not only that, but 2011 also saw the full release of Minecraft, which has since gone on to become one of the best-selling video games of all time.

In terms of hardware, Nintendo launched its 3DS handheld. It had a rough start at first, likely due to a combination of its relatively high asking price and a lack of noteworthy games. However, the 3DS would eventually become a wildly successful handheld, with many top-tier titles released for the console throughout its lifespan.

9 1997

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: 10

The PlayStation 1 and the Nintendo 64 really started to hit their stride in 1997, which saw the release of some of the generation's defining games. On Nintendo 64, the big release of 1997 was GoldenEye 007, which quickly became one of the most beloved multiplayer shooters of the era and firmly established the N64 as a multiplayer machine.

On PS1, the big game was Final Fantasy 7, the first numbered Final Fantasy game to skip a Nintendo console and one that is widely considered to be one of the best games ever made. These two titles alone make 1997 a fantastic year for gaming, but there were plenty of other critically acclaimed video games released that year, maintaining a '90s hot streak that would continue into the next year.

8 2004

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: 26

A few years into the sixth console generation, all three major consoles had well-established libraries full of great games. 2004 just added to the pile, though it's notable for having two of the biggest game releases of the entire generation. Xbox fans got their hands on Halo 2, the hotly-anticipated sequel that helped innovate online multiplayer gameplay for console gamers. The PS2 received Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which is generally considered to be the best GTA game of the era.

The PC also received two of its most important game releases in 2004, with World of Warcraft launching and never really relinquishing its spot as the premiere MMORPG. Half-Life 2 was also released on PC in 2004, with many praising it as a revolutionary FPS thanks to its physics-based puzzles and innovative storytelling mechanics. It was such a success that many fans are still holding out hope for a Half-Life 3, though it still hasn't materialized just yet.

7 2018

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: 21

When it comes to video game reboots, few have been quite as successful as God of War (2018). The game does a fantastic job of humanizing series protagonist Kratos, who had previously been both defined and consumed by his rage. That wasn't the only great Playstation exclusive released that year either, with Marvel's Spider-Man also hitting shelves toward the end of the year.

Elsewhere, Xbox players were treated to Forza Horizon 4, while Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was released on Switch. As for multiplatform titles, Red Dead Redemption 2, Monster Hunter: World, and Fortnite were among the most notable, although indie darlings like Celeste and Return of the Obra Dinn also deserve a special mention.

6 2013

Number of 90+ Rated Releases on Metacritic: 21

2013 saw the release of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but neither console really launched with that compelling of a lineup. Instead, the year is remembered for some truly fantastic PS3 and Xbox 360 releases. These included some of the biggest games of the generation, helping to ensure that these fan-favorite consoles went out with the fanfare that they deserved.

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PlayStation got The Last of Us, while both consoles were treated to the likes of BioShock Infinite and the record-breaking Grand Theft Auto 5. 2013 was also when the Nintendo 3DS really started to hit its stride, with Fire Emblem: Awakening and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds just two of many great titles released for the console throughout the course of the year.