
Despite being a term used for some time, it’s still hard to pin down exactly what an ‘AA’ game is. Generally, these are games with moderate budgets – typically between $10 and $20 million – developed by small, core teams with help from larger outsourced groups. They offer high-quality experiences that feel premium, but aren’t as expansive as major ‘AAA’ titles. Because their budgets are smaller, AA games often allow developers to be more creative and take risks, sometimes leading to surprisingly successful and critically acclaimed results. In fact, many AA games have become true classics and significantly impacted the gaming industry. Here’s a ranked list of some of the best and most influential double-A games ever created.