The Most Popular Game In Each Year of the 2000s

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While some gamers fondly remember the 1990s as a golden age, the 2000s brought incredible advancements to video games that weren’t possible before. New technology sparked a wave of amazing new game series, many of which are still popular today. The decade saw a huge variety of games across all genres – from platformers and fighting games to role-playing games and first-person shooters. Hundreds of great games came out each year, but determining the most popular isn’t always simple. This article focuses on sales figures, but also considers each game’s broader influence on the industry when it first launched – so you might see some games sharing a top spot.

2000) The Sims

The year 2000 was a fantastic year for gaming, with hits like Diablo 2, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, and Perfect Dark. However, the most talked-about game wasn’t any of those, or even Pokémon Gold and Silver, which had been popular the year before. It was The Sims. While Pokémon actually sold more copies that year, The Sims stood out because of its huge impact on the gaming world and its ability to attract people who hadn’t played games before. This social simulation game offered a new level of freedom in gameplay, taking inspiration from titles like SimCity. Since its release, The Sims has sold over 40 million copies and continues to be enjoyed by players today.

2001) Grand Theft Auto III & Halo: Combat Evolved

2001 was a landmark year for gaming, largely thanks to two titles: Grand Theft Auto III on PlayStation 2 and Halo: Combat Evolved on Xbox. Grand Theft Auto III was the first 3D game in the series and set the template for all future installments, quickly becoming a huge hit. Interestingly, though finished in September 2001, its release was postponed due to the 9/11 attacks. Meanwhile, Halo was a system-seller for the Xbox, boasting a compelling single-player story and fantastic multiplayer. Choosing between these two as Game of the Year would have been impossible! Other noteworthy games from 2001 include Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy X, Madden NFL 2002, and Metal Gear Solid 2.

2002) Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

2002 saw a lot of great games like Metroid Prime, Super Mario Sunshine, Kingdom Hearts, Ratchet & Clank, and Madden NFL 2003, but Grand Theft Auto: Vice City from Rockstar Games was the biggest hit. The game’s story is set in a fictionalized version of 1980s Miami, Florida, and cleverly blends real-world events and people into its narrative. It was a massive success, becoming the best-selling game of the year with over 14 million copies sold for the PlayStation 2, and it continues to be popular today.

2003) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Let’s be honest, while Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire was the top-selling game of 2003, we’re giving our award to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Many consider it the best Star Wars game ever made, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a fantastic role-playing game, deeply rooted in Star Wars Legends stories. It beat out some strong competition, including Pokémon, as well as new releases like the first Call of Duty, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Walker, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and Enter the Matrix. But ultimately, Knights of the Old Republic stands above the rest.

2004) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Rockstar Games was a dominant force in gaming during the 2000s, releasing many of the decade’s most popular titles. In 2004, their game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas narrowly beat out Halo 2 to become the year’s best-selling and most popular game. Set in a 1992 version of California and Nevada (represented as the state of San Andreas), the game delivered everything fans loved about the Grand Theft Auto series. It has become the best-selling PlayStation 2 game ever, with over 17 million copies sold on that platform alone, and more than 10 million copies sold across other platforms.

2005) World of Warcraft & God of War

Released in November 2004, World of Warcraft quickly became incredibly popular and remains a dominant force in gaming. It quickly surpassed its competitors, establishing itself alongside the enduring franchise God of War. Both games were huge successes when they launched and continue to shape their genres even today. Other popular games vying for the top spot in 2005 included Madden NFL 06, Resident Evil 4, Half-Life 2, Star Wars: Battlefront II, and Pokémon Emerald.

2006) Gears of War

2006 was a fantastic year for video games, with popular titles like Kingdom Hearts II and New Super Mario Bros., but ultimately, the conversation came down to Gears of War, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Guitar Hero II. All three are excellent, but Gears of War stands out for its groundbreaking impact on the third-person shooter genre. Even though the franchise has been quieter recently (with a new installment planned for 2026), it revolutionized the genre with its innovative gameplay and intense violence. The game’s signature chainsaw attack, replacing a typical melee move, made it incredibly exciting and brutal. While not the first to use one, Gears of War also popularized the cover system, which became a standard feature in many subsequent shooters.

2007) Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare & Assassin’s Creed

We’re skipping the original Call of Duty – though it’s historically important – and focusing on Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare from 2007. This game was a turning point for the series, moving it away from World War II and introducing groundbreaking new ideas. It received many awards and launched a successful spin-off series that’s still going strong, with a reboot released in 2019. However, leaving out Assassin’s Creed would be a big mistake! That game appeared seemingly out of nowhere and completely changed the action-adventure genre with its clever take on the Third Crusade. Like Modern Warfare, Assassin’s Creed became a huge franchise and is considered one of the best video games of all time.

2008) Fallout 3

Surprisingly, the top-selling game of 2008 was actually Wii Play/Wii Fit, largely because it came packaged with the console. While enjoyable and active, we’re choosing a different title. Both Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Grand Theft Auto IV came out that year, and though they’re excellent, we’ve featured Rockstar games quite a bit already. We also want to highlight the incredible success of Fallout 3. This third installment in the Fallout series (we’re not including the spin-off titles here) reinvented the role-playing game, blending action, adventure, and first-person shooting in a way that redefined the genre and revitalized the franchise. Fallout 3 quickly became one of the biggest games of the decade, and it remains a standout title in the series – and one of the greatest games ever created.

2009) Batman: Arkham Asylum

2009 was another strong year for video games, with popular releases like FIFA 10, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. However, Batman: Arkham Asylum stood out as the most popular title. While previous Batman games were good, Arkham Asylum was a huge leap forward and launched a successful franchise. Many fans consider it one of the best games based on DC Comics, although its sequel, Batman: Arkham City, is often seen as even better. Still, Batman: Arkham Asylum truly defined 2009, and I firmly believe that!

What’s the best game from the last ten years, in your opinion? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-07 18:16