The 6 Best Video Games Released Since 2010, Ranked
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. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.
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Every decade is known for having its masterpieces in every single medium, and that is especially true with video games, which continue to improve with every decade. This ranges from classic video games like Final Fantasy VII to modern sensations such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Either way, the popularity of the medium continues to increase, but does the quality? Many fans have different preferences on which decade has the best video games, but they can see a clear difference in quality and design from the 2010s onward.
The 2010s, and now the 2020s, are home to some of the most beloved titles of all time, and that is why this list will feature the six best video games since 2010. Based on aspects such as design, gameplay, narrative, visuals, originality, influence, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these games are truly one-of-a-kind. Six isn’t a lot of video games, especially in an era oversaturated with masterpieces, but this list will whittle down the candidates to the handful that can be considered the best.
6 ‘Mass Effect 2’ (2010)
Right at the start of the decade, a sequel to one of the best games of the 2000s came out and instantly improved upon the first game, now becoming a staple of the 2010s. Mass Effect 2 takes place shortly after the events of the first game, where Commander Shepard saved the galaxy. After certain events, they awaken two years later to learn that entire colonies are being wiped off the face of the galaxy. They must now lead a new mission to face off against this threat, but first players need to build a crew and upgrade their ship to lead into a suicide mission in order to save the galaxy, again.
The first game was incredible, but Mass Effect 2 improved almost everything, making it the definitive entry in the franchise as well as a marvellous game that represents the start of the 2010s perfectly. To start, the worldbuilding in this game is some of the best ever, and it accomplishes this through a rich history of races that continue to evolve as the game progresses. This lore defines the characters and their biases, with the narrative slowly changing them and their role in the story. Mass Effect 2 uses its grand political plot alongside its compelling characters and masterful story to build one of the best video game narratives, proving why it is one of the best games since 2010.
5 ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023)
There have been over two and a half decades since 2010, and that is a lot of time for new video games to come out, with some of the best being recent masterpieces, such as Baldur’s Gate 3. Set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, this game follows the player after they are captured and infected by a Mind Flayer. The parasite will soon turn gamers into a Mind Flayer unless they find a cure, which is why they set out on a quest to find one alongside many other infected party members. But their adventure gets even more challenging when a war brewing between mortals and gods gets in their way.
2023 was one of the best years for video games in a long time, and out of all the titles, Baldur’s Gate 3 was still unanimously the best. This gaming experience is unlike anything else gamers will play, bringing the classic Dungeons & Dragons formula to life with even more agency. Players can do almost anything they want in this game, with experimentation being a core feature of what makes it so engaging. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a beloved video game of the 2020s that unanimously won Game of the Year because of its unprecedented agency, scale, and influence. It was a true love letter to the game industry, and fans could feel that passion in every ounce of the world.
4 ‘Minecraft’ (2011)
This list mentioned 2023 as one of the best years for gaming ever, but a couple of other years stand out, such as 2007 and 2011, the latter of which has two games on this list, starting with Minecraft. This game was a massive hit when it came out, and it hasn’t slowed down since. Dropped in a world with nothing, players must mine, craft, build, and explore their surroundings to expand their horizons. They can do whatever they want, from building their dream house to exploring vast biomes to fighting the Ender Dragon in the End. The limit is their imagination, and that is exactly the appeal of Minecraft and why it is so popular.
Minecraft doesn’t necessarily have a story, which some see as a necessity in games, but the beauty of the game is that players can create their own narratives. It is all about intrinsic motivation in Minecraft, with the drive of players encouraging them to do whatever they want. This title has only added more things to do since its release, including new biomes, new creatures, and items to craft. Minecraft is a player-friendly game that gives them a world to make their playground, proving to be one of the best sandbox video games that innovated and impressed gamers and critics alike.
Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most? Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek
Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one.
🚀Star Wars
💍Lord of the Rings
🧙Harry Potter
👑Game of Thrones
🖖Star Trek
01
What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning? Every universe is built around a different answer to this question.
02
Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit? The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully.
03
How do you prefer your conflicts resolved? The shape of a world's conflicts tells you everything about its soul.
04
Who do you want beside you when things get difficult? Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for.
05
What is your relationship with power? How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are.
06
How does your universe treat good and evil? A world's moral architecture tells you more about it than any map.
07
What role would you naturally fall into? Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying?
08
What do you ultimately believe about the future? The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you.
Your Universe Has Been Chosen You Belong In…
Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose.
Star Wars
You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast.
- You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance.
- You'd find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources.
- Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story.
- The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is.
Lord of the Rings
You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world's beauty is worth protecting even at great cost.
- Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate.
- You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival.
- Tolkien's universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance.
- Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world.
Harry Potter
You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what's right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise.
- The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle.
- You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete.
- Harry Potter's universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying.
- That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely.
Game of Thrones
You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it.
- Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation.
- You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don't confuse the world as it is with the world as you'd like it to be.
- Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer.
- Winter always comes. You are already prepared.
Star Trek
You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation.
- Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear.
- You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is.
- The Federation is the universe's most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better?
- You don't just hope that's possible. You think it's the only thing worth working toward.
3 ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)
Rockstar Games is one of the most prolific game studios of all time, best known for the Grand Theft Auto franchise, and is releasing what is likely to be one of the best video games of the decade. However, for now, their magnum opus is still Red Dead Redemption 2. Set during 1899, the dying era of the Wild West, Arthur Morgan is a cowboy on the last leg of his journey. After he finds out about his tuberculosis diagnosis, he sets out on one final adventure, hoping to find redemption and forgiveness for his life as an outlaw before passing away.
Despite being one of the best and most loved video games since 2010, Red Dead Redemption 2 did not win Game of the Year in 2018. Whether or not that matters to fans is irrelevant, because its legacy hasn’t diminished, remaining a quintessential video game experience. As Rockstar’s best video game of all time, it is known for its scale and ambition, which players can feel in its world and narrative. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a master of immersion, letting players put themselves into the character and setting. Arthur is one of the greatest video game protagonists, and gamers get to experience his story firsthand, making the conclusion even more tragic. There aren’t many better games than Red Dead Redemption 2, especially since 2010.
2 ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ (2017)
Nintendo is a treasure trove of family-friendly games that everyone can get behind because of their simplicity and creativity; this includes one of their best games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Ganondorf and his army of machines pushed Zelda against the wall, forcing her to seal the Gerudo King away alongside herself. 100 years later, when Link finally awakens, he must set out on an adventure across Hyrule, which is now overrun by the wilderness. With the seal weakening, Link must conquer the dungeons and use them to help him defeat Ganondorf and free Zelda once and for all.
Nintendo has many great video games, but Breath of the Wild is arguably the best in a long time, not just being a fun new title, but also an innovative game that reinvented the open-world format. Adopting open-air freedom, the game allows players to run, soar, and climb anywhere, offering a sense of traversal agency unlike any other game. Breath of the Wild encourages exploration in every facet of its design, using techniques where three landmarks are visible from almost every point on the map. The runes and gimmicks add another layer of experimentation that accentuates its core pillars, making it a video game that is a blast from start to finish. Breath of the Wild is a testament to the industry and a video game that cemented itself as one of the best since 2010.
1 ‘Portal 2’ (2011)
Everyone knows Valve, mainly because they created the beloved gaming platform, Steam, where most players buy their games. However, they used to be one of the best game makers as well, with many incredible classics, such as Portal 2. Taking place after the first game, Chell wakes up in the same scientific testing facility, except now it is worn down and abandoned, except for one little robot. With his help, players maneuver the crumbling facility to find a place to escape. However, after accidentally waking up GLaDOS, the robot is itching for revenge after what they did to her in the first game.
Valve is no stranger to masterpieces, releasing other renowned titles like Half-Life 2. However, the 2010s brought Portal 2, which is arguably their best game. The portal gun is one of the most innovative mechanics in video game history, and this game used it for even more puzzles and imaginative challenges. The puzzles weren’t just fun, but they were also thought-provoking and titillating, with the extra systems making every level unique. Portal 2 is a master at teaching the player, doing so in a subtle way that they naturally learn the game. What’s more, it also boasts sharp writing and witty dialogue that make a charming narrative, proving why it isn’t just one of the best games since 2010, but of all time.
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