The 10 Best Games of 2004, According to Metacritic

by

2004 seems almost like yesterday for some gamers of a specific generation, considering it was 16 years ago. In this year, Facebook made its debut, effectively dethroning MySpace’s Top 10 rankings, and the Lord of the Rings film trilogy concluded with Return of the King. However, let’s focus on video games for now. The year 2004 brought about several iconic game releases such as The Sims 2, World of Warcraft, and Katamari Damacy. But which games received the highest ratings among the releases of that year?

According to Metacritic, these ten games were deemed as the best of an impressive year with numerous fantastic releases. We’ll examine each of these highly-rated titles to find out which ones have continued to be well-regarded over time.

10. Rome: Total War

Metacritic Score: 92

In September 2004, the game “Rome: Total War” was launched and garnered widespread praise from both critics and gamers. It’s part of the “Total War” series of strategic games, with recent additions as recently as 2023. This particular installment is set in the time span from 270 BC to 14 AD, where players navigate the ups and downs of the Roman Republic using a blend of real-time combat tactics and turn-based strategy gameplay.

Rome: Total War” is lauded for its robust world-building mechanics and intricate real-time strategy gameplay. Real-time battles display stunning visuals that keep players captivated during extended gaming sessions. If you’re interested, the 2021 “Total War: Rome Remastered” edition on Steam offers an updated experience while maintaining the essence of the original game. A mobile app version is also available, but it has a slightly lower Metacritic score compared to its PC counterpart.

9. ESPN NFL 2K5

Metacritic Score: 92

Even though Madden continues to produce annual football games, many gaming enthusiasts still find themselves drawn to ESPN NFL 2K5 when seeking a high-quality football video game. This classic title is often hailed as one of the best sports video games ever made due to its detailed real-world football references, online leagues, and Franchise mode. ESPN NFL 2K5 established the benchmark for what fans expect from a video game adaptation of the NFL.

If you don’t own it yet, you’ll have to buy a second-hand version of the game since it hasn’t been updated for contemporary gaming platforms like consoles or PCs.

8. World Soccer Winning Eleven 7 International

Metacritic Score: 93

In 2004, another stellar sports title earned its place among the year’s best – “World Soccer Winning Eleven 7 International” garnered an impressive 93 score on Metacritic. Critics have lauded it for its exceptional realism in portraying player actions both on and off the pitch, with animations that left a lasting impression at its launch. However, as time passes, certain aspects like graphics may appear slightly dated. Regardless, this game introduced a higher level of challenge to soccer video games and offered customization through its innovative game engine.

Although receiving considerable acclaim from critics, the game’s user score is relatively lower, averaging 7.3 for a mixed review. As of now, it hasn’t been updated with a contemporary translation, but EA Sports offers a wealth of fresh soccer content such as EA Sports FC 25. However, these games don’t approach the level of critical acclaim that World Soccer Winning Eleven 7 International has garnered. Still, given its high praise from critics, it could be worthwhile to hunt down an older version.

7. World of Warcraft

Metacritic Score: 93

Among all the games on this list, it’s likely that “World of Warcraft” has the most enduring history. This is because “World of Warcraft” continues to produce new updates, keeping its player community active even in today’s times. It’s almost unbelievable that “WoW” debuted as early as 2004, and yet it’s still going strong. At launch, “World of Warcraft” received acclaim for the high-quality gameplay and world-building it offered. Critics hailed it as the best MMORPG at the time, a title some argue remains true to this day.

Players can still effortlessly play “World of Warcraft” today, enjoying all the fresh content that’s been introduced since its initial launch. However, be aware that there is a recurring subscription fee for playing, and certain expansion packs are designated as paid downloadable content.

6. Unreal Tournament 2004

Metacritic Score: 93

The cherished first-person shooter series, Unreal Tournament, hasn’t had a new installment since 2007 which is quite unfortunate. However, Unreal Tournament 2004 was incredibly well-received upon its release, boasting rapid gameplay and advanced graphics (considering the era). It introduced fresh weapons, maps, and enhancements to the series, building on an already strong base. It offered both single-player career mode and online multiplayer, solidifying its position among the top games of 2004.

It’s regrettable that playing Unreal Tournament 2004 has become quite challenging nowadays because Epic Games took it off the Steam store along with other titles from the same series. If you already own it, you can still enjoy its past glories, but if not, your chances of playing it depend on whether the developers choose to release a remastered version.

5. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow

Metacritic Score: 93

The Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series kicked off in 2002, quickly becoming one of Ubisoft’s most successful franchises. The second installment, titled Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, was released and garnered positive reviews upon debut. Notably, its multiplayer mode was highly praised for being an improvement over the original. In fact, many critics found the multiplayer aspect to be more engaging than the story mode, although playing alone was still deemed a tough test.

Even though “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow” is available on the Xbox store, you can’t buy it digitally at the moment. Therefore, acquiring a used physical copy would be your best option to relive this well-appreciated 2004 video game for now. However, keep in mind that rumors suggest that “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell” is getting a remake, which might mean that “Pandora Tomorrow” could receive the same treatment soon.

4. Burnout 3: Takedown

Metacritic Score: 94

In 2004, instead of following Mario Kart’s lead in the world of racing games, many of us opted for the exceptional game, Burnout 3: Takedown. Developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts,

I’m sorry to say that you can’t purchase this cherished racing game digitally. Instead, you’ll have to track down a pre-owned physical version if you want to play it again. On the upside, the 2018 remaster of the 2008 release, Burnout Paradise, is accessible on PC and various consoles. Although it didn’t quite match the greatness of Burnout 3, it should suffice for now.

3. Halo 2

Metacritic Score: 95

Among all the games on this list, it was Halo 2 that stood out most vividly in my gaming memories from 2004. A significant addition to online multiplayer, Halo 2 played a pivotal role in introducing an entire generation to the world of online gaming. Beyond the core memories of multiplayer, Halo 2 was highly acclaimed for its captivating storyline, furthering the journey of the legendary character Master Chief. The campaign mode was particularly praised for its cinematic quality, which was impressive at that time.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can jump right back into the epic world of Halo 2 through the DLC (Downloadable Content) for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, specifically Halo 2: Anniversary. This optimized PC version invites me to relive the magic of multiplayer, one of the original’s standout features.

2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Metacritic Score: 95

In light of all eyes eagerly anticipating the release of GTA 6 next year, it’s not at all unexpected to find Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas listed among the best games from 2004. While it doesn’t quite claim the number one position, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas boasts an impressive Metacritic score of 95, making it one of the highest-rated games in the GTA series. By the time San Andreas was released in 2004, the GTA franchise had already made a significant impact, but this game stands out with its exceptional ratings within the series. Interestingly, only GTA 5 from 2014 has managed to surpass it with its score of 97. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was widely acclaimed for its rich, engaging gameplay that many considered a hallmark of PS2-era games, earning it the title of masterpiece.

Players have an opportunity to return to the world of San Andreas through the Definitive Edition, available on Steam. Additionally, fans of Grand Theft Auto can find a variety of other games within the series that deliver the action-packed, exhilarating missions it’s renowned for.

1. Half-Life 2

Metacritic Score: 96

In 2004, Metacritic ranked Half-Life 2 as the top game, and that assessment holds up well today. This first-person shooter from Valve places players in a pivotal role within the resistance against an alien empire. It won numerous Game of the Year accolades due to its innovative use of physics and graphical detail, which were impressive for the period. Its storytelling also sets it apart from other games in the genre.

You’re able to purchase “Half-Life 2” for your PC through Steam, as well as the entire library of Half-Life games. In actuality, it received an update last year for its anniversary, which included fixing bugs and adding new content. As for the long-awaited “Half-Life 3”, we can only speculate about its release.

Read More

2025-07-09 19:14