We buy consoles for exclusives but third party titles are the ones we play most. After all, any given company can only release so many exclusives in one year. This decade saw the release of some truly exceptional third party releases from publishers like Rockstar Games, Activision, Capcom, EA, and more.
Whether you own an Xbox, PS4, PC, or even a Nintendo Switch, you had no shortage of amazing third parties to select from these past ten years. Below are some of the finest third party releases of the decade.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: October 26, 2018
While the first Red Dead Redemption is worthy of inclusion, we had to go with its superior sequel. Red Dead Redemption 2 brings the Old West to life through fully-realized, multi-dimensional characters and an expansive, diverse open-world. Like most Rockstar Games, RDR2 has no shortage of side missions and mini-games to occupy one’s time when not following the main path. Red Dead Redemption 2 is not only one of the finest games of the decade, but it is also arguably the best game of the current console generation.
Grand Theft Auto V
via Rockstar Games
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release date: September 17, 2013
Grand Theft Auto V is the only GTA game released this entire decade. What’s even crazier is that it continues to sell well month after month. This is largely due to its online mode, which never seems to run out of content for players to sink their time (and money) into. Of course, the main story is what’s at the heart of the game. Rockstar took a gamble by having three playable characters but the results made for one a gripping (and completely insane) GTA story. Grand Theft Auto V’s popularity doesn’t look like it will slow down anytime soon so don’t hold your breath for the sixth installment.
Mass Effect 2
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release date: January 26, 2010
Mass Effect 2 felt like an incredible season of an awesome sci-fi TV series. It had a central storyline and a series of one-off “episodes” that helped to flesh out the world and characters. Speaking about characters, this entry saw the inclusion of all manner of strange and interesting human and alien allies. Whether it was intense cover-based shootouts or passionate debates, Mass Effect 2 remains consistently engaging throughout. To this day, this is the peak of the franchise.
Batman: Arkham City
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Wii U, Xbox One
Release date: October 18, 2011
Batman: Arkham City is widely regarded as one of the very best superhero-based games ever created. Like its equally excellent predecessor, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City makes players feel like the Dark Knight. Batman can easily deal with large gangs by unleashing punishing melee attacks. He can also take out foes stealthily. There’s even a fair bit of detective work involved during some missions. The expertly realized supervillains and heroes tossed into the mix further cement this as the gold standard for all Batman games to emulate.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: January 24, 2017
Resident Evil 7 is the course correction the franchise needed. Taking inspiration from the canceled Silent Hills, RE7’s first-person camera angle tosses players right in the middle of the game’s terrifying world. The fact that one doesn’t have much in the way of weapons during most of the game only serves to amplify the terror. As if playing RE7 isn’t scary enough, doing so while wearing a VR headset is downright heart-attack-inducing. Like I said in my preview, Resident Evil 7 needs to ship with a pair of adult diapers. It is one of, if not the most, terrifying game of the decade.
Monster Hunter: World
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: January 26, 2018
Monster Hunter: World helped bring the once niche franchise to a wider audience and quickly became Capcom’s biggest selling game of all time. It attained this by making the overall experience more user-friendly while still retaining the franchise’s depth. The dynamic world is also a major factor that won audiences over. It is not uncommon to have one’s hunt interrupted by a wandering monster (or two). Numerous updates and special events have kept Monster Hunter: World thriving since launch and things don’t appear to be slowing down.
Assassin’s Creed: Origins
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: October 27, 2017
Assassin’s Creed: Origins successfully revitalized the franchise. The first major change was an overhaul to combat. Blocking and countering are now central to combat. This forces players to think more strategically during encounters. Perhaps taking a cue from Breath of the Wild, players could now climb almost any surface. This made exploring the large, Ancient Egyptian world more enjoyable. It’s debatable whether Origins or its follow-up, Odyssey, is the better game. We’ll stick with Origins since it laid the foundation for its follow-up.
Nier: Automata
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: February 23, 2017
Nier: Automata combines Platinum Games’ expert combat mechanics with Square-Enix’s signature world-building. Though an action-heavy game, Nier: Automata has a consistently somber tone because of its post-apocalyptic setting. The masterful soundtrack, which is both uplifting and melancholic, gives the experience the kind of depth it deserves. Nier: Automata is one of the most surprising and satisfying titles released this decade for sure.
Destiny
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release date: September 9, 2014
Say what you will, but there was no way I could do a ‘games of the decade’ round-up without including the first Destiny. Because of Destiny, “looter shooters” became one of this generation’s biggest genres. While the story was almost non-existent, the excellent shooting mechanics kept Destiny (and its sequel) alive well after release. It’s unclear what the future holds for the franchise but there is no denying Destiny’s impact this generation.
Ultra Street Fighter IV
Platforms: Arcade, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360
Release date: August 5, 2014
Street Fighter IV not only resurrected the legendary franchise but it also brought fighting games back into the mainstream. Ultra Street Fighter IV is the culmination of years of updates and add-ons. Mechanically speaking, this is the same Street Fighter IV everyone knows, only with more characters, stages, and modes. This decade saw the launch of many exceptional fighting games but Ultra Street Fighter IV manages to knock out the competition.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Release date: May 19, 2015
To those who’ve played it, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the best game of the current generation. This sequel features a huge open-world map filled with numerous side quests and secrets. Some side quests are so involved and intricate they often overshadow the main plot. Consequences matter in The Witcher 3 but it isn’t always easy to tell if one’s choices are right or wrong. Oftentimes, they’re both and neither. The Witcher 3 is so massive it can easily keep one busy for months. To many, it is the pinnacle of open-world RPG titles.
Fortnite: Battle Royale
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Release date: September 26, 2017
PUBG may have been the first game to popularize Battle Royale but it is Fortnite which took the mode into the stratosphere. What helps Fortnite stand out from similar titles is the ability to create structures (forts) on the fly. Not only can players build structures, but they can also place walls around themselves to provide impromptu protection. Thanks to a slew of updates, Fortnite has yet to grow stale for the millions of players who continue playing it. It’ll be interesting to see how it fares next decade.
Borderlands 2
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release date: September 18, 2012
The Borderlands games were looter shooters before looter shooters were a thing. Picking up where its successful predecessor left off, Borderlands 2 lets up to four players take on a variety of main missions and side quests where they get to blow the holy hell out of hordes of enemies and find mountains of loot. While having “millions” of guns is somewhat excessive, it perfectly fits with the over-the-top nature of the game. While the original Borderlands and the recently released Borderlands 3 are also great, Borderlands 2 perfectly embodies the spirit of the series.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release date: August 21, 2012
Where many of this decade’s shooters have come and gone, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive remains steadfast. Global Offensive is an updated version of the now legendary Counter-Strike: Source. It features improved graphics and minor gameplay adjustments. Other than that, it is still very much in line with its predecessor and has now overshadowed it. This mostly comes down to the game’s simplicity; which makes it palatable to the large audience that consistently watches it on streaming services like Twitch. With over 11 million active players, we won’t see Global Offensive go away any time soon.
Far Cry 3
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release date: November 29, 2012
This is the game that cemented Far Cry as one of the decade’s biggest franchises. Far Cry 3 has it all: tight first-person shooting, excellent stealth mechanics, exceptional characters and voice acting, a massive open-world to explore, and dynamic enemy encounters. Its stand-alone off-shoot, Far Cry: Blood Dragon, is just as phenomenal. Far Cry 3 and Blood Dragon were so good that they continue to overshadow all subsequent sequels and expansions.
Portal 2
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release date: April 19, 2011
This follow-up features the franchise’s signature portal gun and adds new elements like light bridges, tractor beams, lasers, and gel that affects movement speed. Portal 2’s exceptional pace and learning curve masterfully prevent players from becoming overwhelmed. Aside from its gameplay, Portal 2 features a quirky story with many eccentric characters like the infamous GLaDOS and the now fan-favorite, Cave Johnson. The co-op portion is just as good (if not better) than the single-player campaign thanks to its challenging puzzles which require both players to coordinate. Portal 2 is about as perfect as a puzzle game gets.
Dark Souls
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release date: September 22, 2011
Let me just say with all sincerity that the first Dark Souls is the Dark Souls of Dark Souls games. Despite its insanely brutal learning curve (or perhaps because of it), Dark Souls has become an internet meme. It is now the standard for all punishingly difficult games. Unlike its many imitators, Dark Souls knows how to give players a challenge without being unfair. If you die, it’s because you weren’t paying attention. If you haven’t played this one, you owe it to yourself to try out the recently released remaster. Come prepared to die many times, however. This is not a joy ride.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release date: November 11, 2011
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the epitome of a sandbox game. While there is a central story, players are free to roam across the massive map and find their own adventures. This is easy to accomplish given the variety of side quests and distractions around every corner. Though Skyrim is not a great looking game (pre-mods), its variety of locales: from high mountain tops, secluded villages, fortified castles, and dark caverns do a brilliant job of making the world feel alive and vibrant. There’s a reason this game has seen numerous ports. It’s just a fun experience.
BioShock: Infinite
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release date: March 26, 2013
BioShock: Infinite literally took the series to new heights and is by far one of the best narrative-driven shooters out there. Taking place in the fictional floating city of Columbia, Infinite features large, open areas that are in stark contrast to the claustrophobic environments of the first two BioShocks. Like its predecessors, the game’s storyline focuses on themes of identity, destiny, government, and even race. The new setting also allows for aerial combat thanks to the city’s monorail-like system. Elizabeth, your AI-controlled partner, is widely considered the most fleshed-out companion character in a game. Not only does she provide Booker with ammo and health mid-combat, but her relationship with him is one of the most authentic seen in gaming. BioShock: Infinite is damn near a masterpiece.
Overwatch
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Release date: May 24, 2016
I doubt anyone could have foreseen Overwatch becoming the undisputed king of eSports. Entire industries (such as the official Overwatch League) have sprung up because of this game; with many of its top players becoming overnight stars. But what is it that makes Overwatch such a juggernaut? It mostly comes down to the addictive 5-v-5 gameplay featuring a variety of diverse, memorable characters. Constant updates also keep Overwatch in the spotlight. With Overwatch 2 having been officially announced, it seems nothing can derail this train.
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