Video games have come an awfully long way in a relatively short amount of time, both when it comes to graphics and general gameplay. With each passing year, more and morebig-budget titlesare released, helping to further push the boundaries of what many gamers had thought possible. Some years have been much more fruitful than others though, either due to the quality or the quantity of the games released throughout them.

The best years in gaming tend to offer a decent mix of both, bringing sequels to fan-favorite franchises while also introducing innovative new IPs. Then there are the years that helped to usher in newhome console generations, which typically bring with them a whole host of exciting new video games. There are many things that can make a year great for gamers, but the very best years in gaming tend to offer a little bit of everything.

Although this list includes the number of 90+ rated games for every year that it features, it’s important to note that the vast majority of video games released prior to 2001 are not rated on Metacritic, meaning that certain years may appear to have had fewer critically acclaimed titles than they actually did.

Pac-Man

Space Invaders

While the video game industry first started taking off in the 1970s, 1980 was the year in which it experienced one of its first real peaks.The Atari 2600, one of the first-ever home video game consoles, was given a significant second wind with the launch ofSpace Invaders, causing it to become one of the most-wanted bits of tech on the market.

Back in 1980, though, the best gaming experiences couldn’t be found sitting in front of the TV, but rather in arcades, where the superior version ofSpace Invaderscontinued to gobble up quarters.Pac-Manalso hit arcades in 1980, showing that video games had much more widespread, mainstream appeal than a lot of people expected.

Super Mario Bros.

Tennis

Video games were hot in the early eighties, but thenthe video game crash of 1983brought everything to a halt. The video game market was flooded with shovelware, lackluster titles that were hurried out to make a quick buck with no regard to their quality, with one of the most notorious of these beingE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.E.T.was so bad that many of its unsold cartridges ended up buried in landfills.

Then, in 1985, Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System in the West. The NES was like a shot in the arm for the North American video game industry, launching alongside a slew of titles that would be looked back on as absolute classics. This includes the originalSuper Mario Bros., which launched one ofgaming’s biggest and longest-running franchises, influencing countless games for decades to come.

Super Mario Odyssey

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Following the financial disappointment that was the Wii U, a lot was riding on Nintendo’s next console, the Nintendo Switch. A home console/handheld hybrid that has since gone on to become one ofthe best-selling video game consoles of all time, the Nintendo Switch really came out swinging, launching withThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

A few months later, the Switch was treated toSuper Mario Odyssey, another landmark release that helped to make the console a must-have for many gamers. These weren’t the onlynotable video game releases in 2017though, withCuphead,Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice,Nier: Automata, and the Western release ofPersona 5also dropping that year.

Tomb Raider

Virtua Fighter 3

The 16-bit era of gaming had many top-tier releases, but no single year really stands out from that era, with all of the excitement spread out fairly evenly. In 1996, though, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System gave way to the Nintendo 64, which joined Sony’s previously-released PlayStation in helping video games make the leap from 2D to 3D.

Not only was 1996 a massive year for video games in terms of innovative new hardware, but it was also huge for its high-quality releases.Super Mario 64drew the blueprint for how 3D games should control, while some of gaming’s most treasured franchises were also established in 1996. This includes Capcom’s survival-horror mainstayResident Evil, as well as the classicTomb Raiderfranchise.

Red Dead Redemption

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Five years into a console generation, one might think that things could start getting stale. However, 2010 proved that the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii all had plenty more to give. Some of the generation’s best games were released that year, with somehighly-anticipated sequelslikeMass Effect 2andSuper Mario Galaxy 2hitting store shelves.

Rockstar Games deliveredRed Dead Redemptionto critical acclaim, plus gamers got to play the likes ofGod of War 3,Halo: Reach, andAssassin’s Creed Brotherhood. While 2010 wasn’t necessarily a great year in terms of new IP, it was a great year for high-quality gaming experiences in general, with great new titles coming out regularly.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

The momentum that the gaming industry had in 2010 was carried over into 2011, which saw the launch ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, a game that’s still a part of the conversation today. Not only that, but 2011 also saw the full release ofMinecraft, which has since gone on to become one ofthe best-selling video games of all time.

In terms of hardware, Nintendo launched its 3DS handheld. It had a rough start at first, likely due to a combination of its relatively high asking price and a lack of noteworthy games. However,the 3DS would eventually become a wildly successful handheld, with many top-tier titles released for the console throughout its lifespan.

GoldenEye 007

Star Fox 64

Tekken 3

The PlayStation 1 and the Nintendo 64 really started to hit their stride in 1997, which saw the release of some of the generation’s defining games. On Nintendo 64, the big release of 1997 wasGoldenEye 007, which quickly became one ofthe most beloved multiplayer shooters of the eraand firmly established the N64 as a multiplayer machine.

On PS1, the big game wasFinal Fantasy 7, the first numberedFinal Fantasygame to skip a Nintendo console and one that is widely considered to be one of the best games ever made. These two titles alone make 1997 a fantastic year for gaming, but there were plenty of othercritically acclaimed video gamesreleased that year, maintaining a ’90s hot streak that would continue into the next year.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

World of Warcraft

A few years into the sixth console generation, all three major consoles had well-established libraries full of great games. 2004 just added to the pile, though it’s notable for having two of the biggest game releases of the entire generation. Xbox fans got their hands onHalo 2, the hotly-anticipated sequel that helped innovate online multiplayer gameplay for console gamers. The PS2 receivedGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which is generally considered to bethe bestGTAgame of the era.

The PC also received two of its most important game releases in 2004, withWorld of Warcraftlaunching and never really relinquishing its spot as the premiere MMORPG.Half-Life 2was also released on PC in 2004, with many praising it as a revolutionary FPS thanks to its physics-based puzzles and innovative storytelling mechanics. It was such a success that many fans are still holding out hope for aHalf-Life 3, though it still hasn’t materialized just yet.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

When it comes tovideo game reboots, few have been quite as successful asGod of War(2018). The game does a fantastic job of humanizing series protagonist Kratos, who had previously been both defined and consumed by his rage. That wasn’t the only great Playstation exclusive released that year either, withMarvel’s Spider-Manalso hitting shelves toward the end of the year.

Elsewhere, Xbox players were treated toForza Horizon 4, whileSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatewas released on Switch. As for multiplatform titles,Red Dead Redemption 2,Monster Hunter: World, andFortnitewere among the most notable, althoughindie darlings likeCelesteandReturn of the Obra Dinnalso deserve a special mention.

The Last of Us

2013 saw the release of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but neither console really launched with that compelling of a lineup. Instead, the year is remembered for some truly fantastic PS3 and Xbox 360 releases. These included some of the biggest games of the generation, helping to ensure that thesefan-favorite consoleswent out with the fanfare that they deserved.

PlayStation gotThe Last of Us, while both consoles were treated to the likes ofBioShock Infiniteand the record-breakingGrand Theft Auto 5. 2013 was also when the Nintendo 3DS really started to hit its stride, withFire Emblem: AwakeningandThe Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worldsjust two ofmany great titles released for the consolethroughout the course of the year.