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.
Each decade is full of masterpieces that define the era with innovative titles and masterfully crafted works. While the 2020s aren't over, many believe that the decade has taken a step back, with worse video games than before.
The 1990s had innovative classics such as Metal Gear Solid, and the 2000s impressed with hit sensations including Halo, but what did the 2010s offer? Lots of fans say that gaming peaked in the 2010s, with a mix of that nostalgic old style of games that had quick turnarounds and tight design, alongside the open world craze that is so popular.
That is why this list will rank the ten greatest video game masterpieces from the 2010s based on gameplay, narrative, design, originality, art, how well they represent the decade, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality. 10 'Batman: Arkham City' Marvel has ramped up their video games, but it wasn't long ago that DC reigned supreme with its incredible games, including its magnum opus, Batman: Arkham City. The titular city is a sectioned-off part of Gotham City, and when Bruce Wayne is thrown inside, he must become Batman and learn of Hugo Strange's mysterious protocol, all while slowly dying with Joker's blood in his system.
Batman: Arkham City is the pinnacle of superhero games, mastering its combat that makes players feel like Batman. The gameplay is satisfying, from the explosive combat to the engaging traversal, all set in one of the best iterations of Gotham City.
Batman: Arkham City explores the psychology of Batman and his villains, expanding worldbuilding and lore alongside its free-flowing combat. 9 'God of War' 2018 was a fantastic year for video games, with two in particular being named some of the best, and one of them is God of War. This modern iteration of the franchise sees a grizzled Kratos and his son travel across a Norse world to spread the ashes of his wife.
However, the gods have different plans, and with their sights set on Atreus, the two must face off their wrath to accomplish their goal. God of War has one of the best narratives in video game history, blending its mythological worldbuilding alongside its personal story that integrates flawlessly into every aspect of the gameplay and mechanics. This masterful video game adventure has a cinematic prestige with incredible storytelling and emotional themes.
Not to mention the combat is dynamic and compelling, crafting a glorious modern video game better than most. 8 'The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt' There are more and more live-action video game adaptations, and one of the most popular is The Witcher, and its most popular game is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Geralt of Rivia is a Witcher who must put aside his typical monster-hunting jobs to find Ciri, his adoptive daughter, who is being hunted by the Wild Hunt, which is intent on using her powers for evil.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an immersive action-adventure game where everything connects, from the gameplay to the side quests to the main narrative. Whether fans choose to hunt a monster or continue on the quest to find Ciri, they are greeted with lore, worldbuilding, and emotional complexity.
With profound themes and a fantastic story, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a must-play fantasy masterpiece. 7 'Grand Theft Auto V' Grand Theft Auto might be the most popular video game franchise of all time, and Grand Theft Auto V is its most impressive title. This game follows a group who plan on the heist of the century to make some money.
But will the former bank robber, street hustler, and psychopath be able to work together and pull off this dangerous task? As fans wait for Grand Theft Auto VI, which could be the greatest video game of the 2020s, GTA V is still the best the franchise has to offer. This is one of the most ambitious video games of all time, building an expansive world with systemic gameplay that could arise out of anything.
Whether fans play through the main story, role-play as whatever in free roam, or compete in the fan-made races, Grand Theft Auto V is a technical masterpiece that redefined gaming and remains a cultural landmark. 6 'Super Mario Odyssey' This list just mentioned that GTA might be the most popular gaming franchise, but Mario is the most recognizable, and with so many legendary games, Super Mario Odyssey stands at the top. It follows a similar story where Bowser captures Princess Peach, deciding to force her to marry him.
Now, Mario and his new hat, Cappy, must travel across multiple kingdoms to gather enough moons to make it where Bowser is and stop him. Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Super Mario Odyssey are both masterpieces, but the latter barely wins out because of its new innovative mechanics, whereas the former just improved upon the first game. No one plays Mario for the story, but they love it for the engaging platforming gameplay.
The kinetic experience delivers unparalleled joy, using its capture mechanic and platforming glory to reinvent the genre with renowned level design and creativity. 5 'The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim' The Elder Scrolls is in a similar situation to Grand Theft Auto, where fans are left waiting decades for the sixth entry while forced to play the critically acclaimed early 2010s video game. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim gives players the choice of what their character looks like and sets off on an adventure to find and kill Alduin: The World Eater, a dragon that is prophesied to destroy the world.
There aren't many better RPGs than Skyrim, which delivers an expansive open world where fans are encouraged to get lost and experience whatever the game throws at them. As one of the best fantasy video games of all time, its supreme worldbuilding and intriguing lore are full of political complexity and narrative wonders.
Skyrim's open world design and the agency it gives further enhances the sandbox experience, which is one of the best games of the 2010s. 4 'The Last of Us' As mentioned, live-action adaptations of video games are becoming increasingly popular, and one of the best is The Last of Us. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Joel is a veteran who reluctantly takes the job to escort Ellie across the country.
However, she may be the key to stopping the virus and creating a cure, but will Joel be able to put his feelings aside? Many fans will agree that The Last of Us has one of the greatest stories in video game history, which brought prestige-level storytelling to the interactive format. The bond between the two characters and their gradual relationship is an engaging narrative that is emotional and well-crafted.
The thematic depth of The Last of Us and its grand conclusion still resonates with viewers over a decade later. 3 'Portal 2' Fans may never get a sequel, but at the very least, they know that Portal 2 is one of the greatest video games ever. Set in a crumbling testing facility, the player wakes up, being forced to be part of experiments when Glados reawakens.
Alongside an endearing robot, Chell must navigate the maze that is this abandoned testing facility. Portal 2 features some of the greatest writing in video games, having witty, dark, sarcastic, and sharp dialogue. As one of the greatest video games of all time, it also boasts remarkable gameplay in the shape of masterful puzzle design.
Its portal gun mechanic with imaginative gimmicks works together to create one of the most creative, stimulating, and engaging video games ever. 2 'Red Dead Redemption 2' Rockstar already has one game on this list with Grand Theft Auto V, but another masterpiece from the 2010s they produced is Red Dead Redemption 2. Arthur Morgan is the leader of a dying gang whose members fall by the day.
As he struggles to find purpose in the dying era of the Wild West, he goes on one last adventure. This list features some narrative heavyweights, but Red Dead Redemption 2 might just be the champion, boasting an emotional and grounded story with philosophical depth. Almost feeling like a Western simulator, there is so much detail in this game, with players able to eat, fish, and shave.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the most recent game on this list, but with a phenomenal character arc grounded in Western detail, it is a landmark of the 2010s. 1 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' Nintendo is a prolific company with some of the most recognizable franchises, with one of them being The Legend of Zelda. Releasing some of the best games of every decade, one of their best is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
After Zelda sealed Ganon away, Link wakes up after a hundred years to officially defeat the demon lord, but first, he must travel around the overgrown kingdom of Hyrule. There aren't many games better than Breath of the Wild, and at least not any from the 2010s, because it completely reinvented the open world format by introducing open air. Players can run, climb, or glide anywhere, with the only limits being their imagination.
Breath of the Wild has an in-depth physics system that offers even more gameplay potential. With a grand sense of adventure and some of the best intrigue in gaming history, this is truly one of the best video games of all time. COLLIDER Collider · Quiz Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap Six heroes.
One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory? 🕷️Spider-Man 😈Daredevil 🤖Iron Man 💀Punisher ⚡Thor 🛡️Cap FIND YOUR HERO → QUESTION 1 / 10MOTIVATION 01 What drives you to do what's right?
Choose the answer that feels most like you. AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can't protect themselves. BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the dark. CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I've learned that others depend on me now.
DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay. EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms. FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 2 / 10YOUR CITY 02 It's 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you'd think. ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood.
BRunning rooftops in Hell's Kitchen, listening for trouble. CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a cold cup of coffee nearby. DStaking out a target I've been tracking for three weeks. ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand.
FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn't sleep.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 3 / 10CONFLICT STYLE 03 How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What's yours? AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again.
BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside. CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins. DMake sure they don't escape a third time.
Permanently. EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end. FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it's hard.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 4 / 10SECRET IDENTITY 04 How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything. AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am. BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face.
COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I'd do it again. DI'm a ghost. The less people know about me, the better. EMy name is known across the Nine Realms.
There's no hiding it. FI don't hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 5 / 10LOSS & GRIEF 05 You've lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day. BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting. CI buried myself in work for years. I'm only recently learning to face it.
DIt transformed me completely. I'm not the same person I was before. EWith warrior's grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have. FI keep moving forward.
Stopping means letting the loss win. NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 6 / 10TEAM DYNAMICS 06 What's your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are. AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up.
BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most. CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation. DI don't do teams. I'm more effective operating solo, on my terms.
EThe heavy hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle. FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 7 / 10MORAL CODE 07 Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are. AClearly — I don't kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly. BI try to hold the line, but I've come terrifyingly close to crossing it.
CPractically — I do what's necessary to protect people, including hard calls. DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won't admit it. EIn battle, victory is justice.
Mercy is earned — not automatic. FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 8 / 10EVERYDAY LIFE 08 When you're not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story. ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends. BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets.
CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I'm sleeping enough. DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions.
ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary. FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 9 / 10FEAR 09 What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of. AThe people I couldn't save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow. BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too.
CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough. DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I've made my choices.
EWhether I'm truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect. FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing.
NEXT QUESTION → QUESTION 10 / 10FINAL STAND 10 The battle is lost. You're outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything. BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going. CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan.
DI don't accept that it's lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore. ECall the lightning. All of it.
The storm answers to me. FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it's not over.
REVEAL MY HERO → Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is… Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed. Queens, New York 🕷️ Spider-Man You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
Hell's Kitchen, New York 😈 Daredevil You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free. Stark Industries, Malibu 🤖 Iron Man Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem. New York City 💀 The Punisher You've been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely.
What's left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief. Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms ⚡ Thor Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry. Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers 🛡️ Captain America You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ Like Follow Followed Powered by Expand Collapse
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Only 5 Video Games From the 2020s Can Be Considered True MasterpiecesDavid is a Senior Editor at Collider focused primarily on Lists. His professional journey began in the mid-2010s as a Marketing specialist before embarking on his writing career in the 2020s. At Collider, David started as a Senior Writer in late 2022 and has been a Senior Editor since mid-2023.
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