Best PC Games Of The Early 2000s

The golden age of PC gaming is one thing that enthusiasts glance again on fondly to this present day, with the evolution of this gaming platform taking heart level as a bunch of fantastic titles ended up gracing the PC within the early 2000s. From very good first-person shooters — a staple of PC gaming at that time — to a few really imaginative titles that driven the bounds of gaming to new heights, PC video games have been on a meteoric upward thrust at first of this extraordinary decade.

Comparable

The Absolute best Motion Video games On PC

Those PC video games are motion masterpieces.

Those that need to try one of the crucial biggest video games introduced at the PC within the early 2000s want handiest check out this checklist. Irrespective of your personal tastes in terms of positive genres in gaming, those video games have the pedigree and high quality required to woo even essentially the most cussed avid gamers round.

Up to date on March 29, 2025, via Mohamed El Ouardighi: Gaming within the early 2000s was once an unforgettable technology, full of groundbreaking titles that left an enduring have an effect on. To rejoice that golden age, we’ve got expanded our checklist of the most efficient outdated PC video games from 2000-2010, including much more main points to honor those mythical classics. Whether or not you grew up enjoying them or are finding them for the 1st time, those video games outlined a technology and nonetheless hang up nowadays.

Crimson Faction

Methods

Launched

Would possibly 22, 2001

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ because of Blood, Violence

Prior to growing its hit open-world action-adventure sequence Saints Row, Volition began a dystopian sci-fi sequence set on Mars with Crimson Faction in 2001. The plot is just about your usual sci-fi, particularly of flicks from that technology. An exploitative mining company on Mars known as Ultor mistreats its miners as they dig the pink planet’s assets, and an rebellion inevitably follows.

This gameplay, alternatively, delivers one of the crucial maximum improbable FPS struggle, sound, and degree design of the 2000s. A big a part of that was once additionally the sport’s Geo-Mod engine, which provides you with the pleasing skill to spoil chunks of our surroundings. Even if it won’t examine to trendy destruction mechanics nowadays, it was once a game-changing function on the time.

Grand Robbery Auto 3

Grand Robbery Auto 3

Launched

October 23, 2001

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Sturdy Language, Violence

Everyone seems to be mindful that obtaining betrayed is slightly not unusual within the prison global, and that is the reason the basis of the 1/3 sport within the Grand Robbery Auto sequence. You play as Claude, who was once betrayed via his female friend all through the most important theft and infrequently escapes police custody. To actual revenge, you want to grow to be the prison overlord.

Grand Robbery Auto III options the entire normal GTA mechanics together with the UI the place you’ll be able to see your cash, well being issues, armor, and the provided weapon. Whilst it will not be as well-known as another video games within the franchise, it will nonetheless come up with an excellent revel in if you make a decision to play it.

Go back To Fortress Wolfenstein

Launched

November 20, 2001

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood, Language

An 80s sport sequence that continues to be simply as notorious to this present day, because of the brand new imaginative and prescient from MachineGames, is Wolfenstein. Go back to Fortress Wolfenstein got here out two decades after the first-ever 1981 Fortress Wolfenstein sport. It is also the successor to the vintage 1992 Wolfenstein 3-D sport, which offered the enduring Nazi-killing device, B.J. Blazkowicz, as a Doomguy of types.

Comparable

Each and every Wolfenstein Recreation In Chronological Order

The Wolfenstein sequence has observed an extended line of video games pop out through the years, and this is the chronological order of each and every name’s unlock.

Should you loved the place MachineGames took the Wolfenstein sequence with titles that upload extra tale and enemy selection, you can need to try Go back to Fortress Wolfenstein. It revitalizes the graphics from the 1992 model whilst enforcing extra minimize scenes and tale beats, secret rooms, and much-improved enemy designs.

Age Of Empires 2

Age of Empires 2

Methods

Launched

November 14, 2019

ESRB

t

The Age of Empires sequence stands as a pinnacle of real-time technique gaming, inspiring numerous titles inside the style. This undying vintage from the early 2000s boasts an intricate useful resource control machine, not easy you to masterfully stability accumulating, economic system, and armed forces manufacturing to thrive and successfully confront adversaries.

With a mess of civilizations to choose between and the sport’s wealthy ancient backdrop, you’ll be able to immerse your self in epic battles and huge conquests. Whether or not attractive in exciting solo campaigns or competing in opposition to buddies, Age of Empires 2 provides unending alternatives to decide who will emerge victorious and declare the name of the remaining empire status.

American McGee’s Alice

American McGee’s Alice

Launched

December 5, 2000

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence

Should you’ve learn the unique Alice in Wonderland tale and watched the animated Disney film, likelihood is that this sport ruined your early life reminiscences of Alice and her time in Wonderland. Introduced proper at the start of the technology in 2000, American McGee’s Alice places a dismal, ominous spin at the literary vintage.

Alice’s adventure right into a reimagined Wonderland this is tied extra to the trauma of her circle of relatives’s dying in a space hearth and receiving psychiatric care in Rutledge Asylum reasonably than an blameless crumple a rabbit hollow. You’ll be able to additionally see the affect of third-person journey sport mechanics popularized via Tomb Raider, comparable to traversing ledges, swimming, mountaineering and swinging from ropes, and fixing puzzles.

Risen

Risen

Launched

October 2, 2009

ESRB

m

Printed via THQ Nordic, Risen is likely one of the maximum underrated video games launched within the early 2000s. On this sport, the primary personality’s send crashes whilst within the sea, and also you wash ashore on a random island. As you move, you can be told that the island is in grave threat, and you’ve got to pick out an aspect shifting ahead.

The most productive phase about this sport is that the tale totally adjustments in response to the aspect you pick out. You’ll be able to all sides with The Inquisition and be told magic or aspect with Bandits and hone your struggle talents. Excluding the primary tale, you even have many aspect quests that may liberate particular pieces on this open-world sport.

Mafia

Mafia

2002 marked the release of the 1st access within the Mafia sequence, which has since observed a whole remake with the Definitive Version in 2020. Set within the fictional Illinois town of Misplaced Heaven, it tells a gripping crime story of a cab motive force who joins the mob within the Nineteen Thirties. Even if Vito Scaletta would later dazzle within the sequel, Tommy Angelo’s tale is each and every bit value enjoying.

Comparable

Mafia: Definitive Version – 8 Absolute best Missions

Mafia has a very good selection of missions, and those are the most efficient.

Along Grand Robbery Auto 3 from the yr prior, it marked the beginning of what can be an extended line of video games that includes gangs down the street. The unique incorporated the riding components, however there wasn’t a lot open-world exploration like within the remake and long run Mafia video games, strictly narrative-based missions.

The Operative: No One Lives Eternally

The Operative: No One Lives Eternally

Methods

Launched

November 9, 2000

ESRB

m

A primary-person stealth-shooter hybrid that featured a quick-witted femme fatale protagonist, Cate Archer is remembered fondly via many enthusiasts of gaming to this present day. The degrees on this sport have been colourful and sundry, and there have been instances when No One Lives Eternally featured sun shades of the immersive sim style.

The sequence might not be mentioned at the moment, however the general gameplay of the 1st two video games continues to be forged and holds as much as this present day. If you wish to revel in this nostalgic romp in fashionable instances, you can be pleasantly shocked at simply how a laugh the sport is. Enthusiasts can handiest hope that hobby arises for a sequel that allows you to peek into the following bankruptcy of Cate Archer’s entertaining adventures.

Diablo 2

Methods

Launched

June 28, 2000

ESRB

M for Mature: Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence

Diablo is likely one of the maximum mythical hack-and-slash sequence of all time, and it is simple to peer that the second one sport had an enormous function to play in that. It was once a groundbreaking sport complete to the brim with attractive enemies and an excellent dungeon design. Combating your approach in the course of the many baddies was once a really thrilling revel in that many enthusiasts nonetheless gush over.

The truth that many nonetheless play Diablo 2 to this present day displays simply how good the sport was once for its time. This sport, at the side of Warcraft, cemented Snow fall’s title as probably the most biggest online game corporations round at the moment. Whilst this recognition may’ve been seriously broken in recent years, Snow fall is aiming to win again the agree with of its enthusiasts as soon as once more with every other access within the Diablo sequence.

Thief 2: The Steel Age

Motion

Simulation

Stealth

Methods

Launched

March 21, 2000

ESRB

t

The Thief sequence is cherished via many for its steampunk aesthetic, nail-biting gameplay, and an unflinching focal point on stealth that makes each and every degree annoying and tasty. On the center of the sequence is Garrett, everybody’s favourite thief whose unlawful movements land him in a heap of hassle.

Comparable

Mafia: Definitive Version – 8 Absolute best Missions

Mafia has a very good selection of missions, and those are the most efficient.

Thief 2: The Steel Age took the whole lot nice in regards to the first sport and carried out it in an international the place myth and generation have been blending in combination to make one thing wholly distinctive. The result is that each and every degree of Thief looks like a tale in its personal proper as you have a look at the quite a lot of tactics new and outdated have blended on this universe.

Resident Evil 4

Launched

January 11, 2005

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

The Resident Evil sequence has all the time been well-known for its survival horror taste, and Resident Evil 4 took it to the following degree. This sport was once approach forward of its time when it comes to graphics and gameplay. Taking part in as Leon S. Kennedy, tasked with rescuing the president’s daughter from a Spanish cult, you revel in a well-crafted tale stuffed with struggle, soar scares, and hard enemies.

Moreover, there may be the Mercenaries mode, which is a blast. It comes to killing enemies and incomes issues, offering a large number of enjoyment after you whole the primary tale. Even now, it is nonetheless a a laugh and tasty facet of the sport.

Grand Robbery Auto: Vice Town

Grand Robbery Auto: Vice Town

Launched

October 29, 2002

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Sturdy Language, Sturdy Sexual Content material, Violence

The Grand Robbery Auto sequence dominated over the open-world shooter style for a very long time, and Vice Town was once certainly one of its biggest masterpieces. The entire funding into this sequence got here after enjoying the sport, and the titles introduced later on already had you anxiously looking ahead to to take a look at them out.

Introduced on PC in 2003, this sport had an in depth tale that took you thru other portions of the enormous global. This global of crime is really rewarding since you’ll be able to additionally purchase a lot of comfy homes. And aside from the primary tale, you need to additionally purchase other corporations and whole aspect missions.

BioShock

BioShock

Launched

August 21, 2007

ESRB

m

BioShock is every other sport that was once approach forward of its time and won sure opinions. Set within the 60s, you discover Rapture, a hidden town within the ocean, after Jack survives a aircraft crash. Drawing inspiration from Gadget Surprise 2, the sport provides its personal particular contact to create a novel revel in.

The gameplay, which makes a speciality of each weapons and superpowers known as Plasmids, blends in combination seamlessly. On best of that, the tale options one of the crucial memorable twists in online game historical past, which is one thing we may not wreck for you in our easiest outdated PC video games checklist, in fact. You will have to play the sport to revel in it your self and perceive what we are speaking about.

Halo: Battle Advanced

Halo: Battle Advanced

Methods

Launched

November 15, 2001

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ because of Blood and Gore, Violence

Halo is likely one of the most well liked online game sequence available in the market, iconic to various people’ gaming lives within the 2000s. So, it was once a for the reason that the release of the 1st sport on PC was once a huge tournament for the platform.

The primary Halo sport is a brilliant stepping-off level for the sequence that is a blast to play thru. Later video games may’ve polished up one of the crucial technical sides of the sequence, however Battle Advanced has a appeal of its personal that is onerous to withstand.

A long way Cry

Launched

March 23, 2004

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood

A long way Cry is the poster kid for Ubisoft’s copy-paste sport design, however there was once a time when the sequence was once really groundbreaking. This was once with the release of the 1st A long way Cry sport, which was once an absolute blast to play thru, slightly actually. It wasted no time in hanging you into huge ranges with spectacular open-ended design, an enormous success for its time.

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13 Video games The place You Do not Win In The Finish

In those video games, your onerous paintings does not repay.

The sport may really feel dated via fashionable requirements, however it is nonetheless a laugh to play when the whole lot clicks into position. The tropical island location brimming with mercenary enemies would construct a roadmap for long run A long way Cry video games using new shocking open-world environments.

Nationwide Hockey League

Nationwide Hockey League is likely one of the few gaming sequence that caught to their annually launches in response to the actual game. Even all through the beginning of the 2000s, Digital Arts got here out with a model of this sport on each the Console and PC once a year. Each and every new model tailored to the adjustments within the groups.

Excluding those adjustments, the more moderen titles gave a greater revel in as a result of the development and evolution of sport construction. The sport simulated a real hockey sport the place the staff with the next selection of targets takes all of it.

Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy

The general public have truly blended emotions in terms of David Cage and his writing abilities. On the other hand, without reference to non-public opinion, there is no denying that his studio has been pushing the bounds in terms of narrative-heavy video games.

This might be observed in Fahrenheit, which was once an engrossing sport with a super narrative. The fast-time occasions have been strangely attractive, with the measured nature of the sport’s tempo being certainly one of its largest shining qualities.

Myth: The Misplaced Chapters

Myth: The Misplaced Chapters

Methods

Launched

September 20, 2005

ESRB

m

Myth is a mythical sequence that had remained dormant for the longest time sooner than the announcement of every other sport rocked the Xbox fandom. Now’s the very best time to revisit the honour years of this sequence, with the 1st sport being an evident place to begin.

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10 Delisted Video games That Have been In fact Value Taking part in

We want lets play those titles another time.

Myth was once a good sport in its personal proper, with The Misplaced Chapters including far more content material to the already forged name. Whilst Myth: Anniversary is the easiest way to revel in this nice sport, The Misplaced Chapters was once the optimum method to play the 1st Myth for the longest time.

Counter-Strike

First-Particular person Shooter

Tactical

Methods

Launched

November 9, 2000

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence

The release of Part-Lifestyles opened the floodgates for an entire host of laptop video games from the early 2000s which have been huge in their very own proper. The style by which those video games used the malleable Supply engine was once lovely attention-grabbing to witness.

One such superb squad-based multiplayer shooter that was once advanced thru this engine was once Counter-Strike. The sport temporarily established itself as one of the crucial tactical multiplayer titles round, and one this is nonetheless going sturdy to this present day.

Sid Meier’s Civilization 3

Flip-based technique video games have all the time been a supply of enchantment for avid gamers as a result of the specified making plans and technique. Even if, Sid Meier’s Civilization 3 takes it to a complete new degree because you’re left in an enormous unexplored global the place it’s a must to construct a civilization whilst keeping off many risks.

As you discover the arena, you can meet many teams of bandits and a couple of different civilizations. Whilst the general objective is to succeed in victory, you are allowed to make a choice your individual path. You’ll be able to both make a selection violence and demolish the whole lot, or take over the arena with sheer construction and growth.