The Most Influential Games Of The 21st Century

Earlier in 2019, GameSpot celebrated gaming history and gave recognition to some of the most influential games of the 21st century. If you happened to miss this series, then you're in for a treat.

The games we highlighted aren't the best, and they aren't necessarily games that you need to rush out and play today, but there's no question that they left an indelible impact on game developers, players, and in some cases, society at large. These are the games that helped shape the industry’s current most cutting-edge trends and design philosophies.

We spent countless hours as a team debating which games would make up this concise list of 10. Alongside each game we've listed here, you'll find a link pointing to a feature detailing why we've deemed as one of the most influential games of the 21st century.

Below you’ll find what we've come up with, and we hope you’re as satisfied as we are with what we've chosen. Though if you're inclined to see what the best games are on current platforms, then be sure to check out our features highlighting the best PS4, Xbox One, and Switch games. Otherwise, scroll down to see GameSpot's picks for the most influential games of the 21st century.

Which games from the 21st century do you think are some of the most influential? Let us know in the comments below.

"There's no denying that Nintendo's current identity is deeply tied to the lasting influence and legacy of the Wii. The innovative motion-control-centric console broke down the restrictive barriers on games with a novelty done right, successfully opening the medium's floodgates to new audiences. But the Wii would not be the smash hit it was if not for its massively popular pack-in, Wii Sports. A mini-game collection that emphasized simplicity and accessibility above all else, Wii Sports wasn't about blowing your mind with spectacular high-definition graphics, nor was it keen on being the revolutionary next step in game design. Like the Wii, it focused on one thing: reaching people who had not played video games before. Wii Sports single-handedly drove the success of the motion-control trend while expanding the game industry's demographic reach. But more importantly, it set the trajectory for how the industry would approach accessibility." [Read the full article]

-- Matt Espineli, Editor

"Dark Souls came from an underappreciated Japanese studio which had cultivated a niche following through the challenging gameplay and obscure design of its previous games. On lists of notable game releases of 2011, Dark Souls still looks like an awkward outsider. And yet, what it achieved resonated with game developers and players in a way that made it one of the century's defining games." [Read the full article]

-- Tamoor Hussain, Editor & Global Head of News

"These days, it's hard to imagine gaming without GTA being a part of the equation. GTA 3 arrived at the right moment, offered the right kind of technical and design innovation to captivate a massive audience, and ultimately set Rockstar on a path that would lead it to become one of the most powerful entities in the entire industry. GTA 3's influence is all around us, and even though it might take years for Rockstar to make a new GTA entry, it's worth remembering, while playing any open-world game, that its existence is owed in some small part to the craving for open worlds GTA 3 instilled in us all those years ago" [Read the full article]

-- Peter Brown, Managing Editor

"The Sims blended the best of what simulation games could offer with lessons learned from none other than Quake, which laid the foundation for modern game modding and the communities that surround it. With accessible modding tools and a built-in sharing platform, The Sims brought community-made content to a broader audience. Through this platform, it fostered a space to explore games as a passionate and social experience. That had a greater impact on players than it did the development of other games, but it was an important one all the same. The Sims resonated especially with girls and women--for many of them, it was a gateway into a world that was otherwise incredibly hard to reach." [Read the full article]

-- Kallie Plagge, Reviews Editor

"The impact Minecraft has had on the industry for the past decade is irrefutable, even if the game's influence has changed and evolved over the years. In its humble beginnings, Minecraft stood as a counterpoint to developers' worries that releasing an indie game in beta against triple-A giants might be a mistake. Minecraft reminded the 21st century that games didn't need detailed narratives, challenging gameplay, or HD graphics to be popular. A game that's accessible for all can create a community built to last, and one that's open to updates and expansions can endure for a decade." [Read the full article]

-- Jordan Ramee, Associate Editor

"2004 was a hotbed for games that would go on to leave a lasting impact on the industry. World of Warcraft popularized the massively multiplayer online sub-genre, Doom 3 impressed with its mesmerizing visuals, and Halo 2 set a new standard for console multiplayer going forward. Another title that would leave a tremendous impact on the gaming landscape was Half-Life 2. It was arguably the most anticipated game of the 2000s, and the sequel to Valve Software's seminal debut became something of a force of nature within the games industry, reshaping PC gaming as we knew it." [Read the full article]

-- Alessandro Fillari, Editor

"Halo changed the conception of what games could be for a lot of players. It rocked the shooter world with ideas that have become standards to this day, and its approaches to gameplay and presentation made for that truly "epic" experience that games have continued to try to capitalize on ever since. But more than anything, it altered gaming for console players, elevating the experience with an amazing single-player campaign, a huge and expansive game world, and the first steps into the future of multiplayer. Playing Halo in 2001, it felt like things had changed--almost 20 years later, we're still feeling the shockwaves." [Read the full article]

-- Phil Hornshaw, Editor

"It's obvious that [League of Legends] helped put esports on the map for a lot of mainstream audiences before the explosion of titles like Fortnite and PUBG. From record viewership numbers on Twitch to hosting one of the biggest esports events ever at Madison Square Garden in 2016, Riot Games' prodigal son has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2009. In doing so, it's changed the way that people experience and access esports, taking fans from the days of bootleg broadcasts of regional streams to an international gauntlet of iconic stadiums at every year's World Championships. Blizzard and Valve, the top dogs when Riot Games entered the scene, are now playing catch-up to the well-oiled Ferrari that is the League of Legends production model, and it shows." [Read the full article]

-- Ginny Woo

"In 2007, the newly annual Call of Duty series--while incredibly popular--had a lot of competition. It was a landmark year in games, particularly for shooters; BioShock, Team Fortress 2, and Halo 3 all arrived that year, as did Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, and Portal. These days, you might not expect the yearly Call of Duty entry to capture lasting attention among a sea of inventive new franchises. But in 2007, the fourth Call of Duty game, Modern Warfare, was a standout in its own right. Modern Warfare not only marked a shift for the series--it also fundamentally altered multiplayer shooters for over a decade to come." [Read the full article]

-- Kallie Plagge, Reviews Editor

"Nowadays, when a new shooter is announced or comes out there's one question that consistently pops up: is it going to have battle royale? It's one that's asked both seriously and in jest ever since the sub-genre's popularity exploded just a few years back. The fascination with large-scale multiplayer, where only one player or team per match is left standing, took off like never before when PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds hit Steam early access in March 2017. And while there were battle royale games that came before it and, of course, many that came afterward, PUBG is undoubtedly the force that thrust battle royale into the mainstream." [Read the full article]

-- Michael Higham, Associate Editor