Feature: The Best PC Games Of The Decade (2000-2009)

Aol | Mail | You might also like GameDaily, Games.com, PlaySavvy, and Joystiq

BIGdownload

Send Feedback

Main Downloads Games News MMO Hub

Breaking Stories

Feature: The Best PC Games Of The Decade (2000-2009)

Posted Dec 18th 2009 5:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Features

It's hard to believe but we are close to finishing the first decade of the 21st century. The past ten years have seen a ton of major changes to PC gaming. Naturally, games have taken quantum leaps in improving graphics, but the gameplay has also become more sophisticated, and the lines that define genres are becoming increasingly blurred. Massively multilayer online games exploded in popularity in the past ten years, changing the way we interact and think of being social. Perhaps the biggest change to hit PC gaming is the rise of digital download retail, which lets gamers purchase their games without ever leaving the comfort of their own home, or deal with the hassle of putting in a disc when they want to play.

In the midst of all this evolution came some of the best PC games ever made. 2000 to 2009 brought quite a few memorable games and many surprises. The team at Big Download has debated on which games were the best of the past ten years and have come up with a list of 26 games that have left a mark on gaming history. We know there will be lots of debate about what games we put in this list and in which position, but as usual you are free to debate our choices in our comments section. Click on the logo above to see our choices for the best PC games of the decade.

Editor's Note: Big Download team members Steven Wong and James Murff contributed to the making of this feature.

Gallery: The Best PC Games Of The Decade (2000-2009)

Tags: featured, top-pc-games-of-the-decade

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

I always appreciate when NOLF gets it's due respect. Such a great FPS.Posted at 5:57PM on Dec 18th 2009 by Kyle

I mostly agree with this list, but there are some games that really shouldn't be on there.

Oblivion 2, CoD2007 and Mass Effect definitely need to go.

How about Escape from Butcher Bay, Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines and Portal in their places. That sounds right to me.

I'd also swap Far Cry for Crysis. I know FC came first and all, but Crysis is so much better in every way.

Posted at 7:31PM on Dec 18th 2009 by asfm

A few big omissions in my opinion. First being Portal, this single-handedly carried the Orange Box while Valve was messing with TF2 (which doesn't deserve to be in front of the much better CSS).

The other big omission is Borderlands. That is one of the most inventive, and good games of this decade (if not all time). It should be in the top 15. Posted at 12:14PM on Dec 19th 2009 by Sonic

A minor nitpick, but TF2 only has 1 class left to go (the Engineer). The text says two.Posted at 4:49AM on Dec 21st 2009 by drk

Oblivion 2, Asfm? Don't you mean Fall...oh, I C WAT U DID THAR!

I agree though. I enjoyed Oblivion much more than I did Fallout 3. I also agree with Asfm that Crysis should be there over Farcry.

Also, putting Sims 1 there instead of Sims 2? Why? That's really dumb. Often, and in the case of both Sims 2 and Crysis, later games are better then their predecessors.

P.S. Where is the love for Torchlight?Posted at 5:55AM on Dec 21st 2009 by Veko

Uhm ... where's Portal?Posted at 10:39AM on Dec 21st 2009 by NOOK

Rome Total War or Empire Total War should surely be on there.Posted at 4:32PM on Jan 2nd 2010 by Mr Mobius - the wandering artist

Baldur's Gate 2?
Dragon Age?

Both better than quite a few games on this list.Posted at 7:19PM on Jan 2nd 2010 by Meatball

Disappointed to see Psychonauts wasn't on here. And ditto NOOK -- No love for Portal?Posted at 10:10PM on Jan 2nd 2010 by Code Echo

Doom 3 anyone? That game is better than half that garbagePosted at 3:19AM on Jan 10th 2010 by Richie