The Most Replayable Video Game Of Every Year Of The 2010s

From 2010 to 2019, each year saw the release of at least one incredibly popular single-player game that captivated players. These games, whether massive open-world adventures or quick, arcade-style titles, were endlessly enjoyable and kept players coming back for more, often restarting the game repeatedly. They became defining experiences for their respective years.

There were many popular multiplayer games, such as different versions of Call of Duty and Battlefield, but choosing one feels a bit too obvious. These games are made to be incredibly addictive! So, let’s focus on some single-player games that people kept coming back to during the year they were released.

Fallout: New Vegas (2010)

The Dustbowl

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: Rock Band 3
Other Games To Consider: Pac-Man Championship Edition DX

The year 2010 began with a hit: Fallout: New Vegas. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment for Bethesda after the popularity of Fallout 3, this game offered a similar open-world experience but with a new setting in the Nevada desert and a more complex storyline.

Fallout: New Vegas featured a complex Karma system that tracked player actions and dialogue. Different factions within the game also meant NPCs would react to players based on their choices. With its numerous locations, smooth combat, and a story full of branching paths, fans continued to enjoy the game long after its 2010 release.

Minecraft (2011)

The Evolution Of Video Games

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Other Games To Consider: The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Minecraft first became available in a very early form in 2009, but it didn’t officially launch until 2011, and that’s when it really took off. Initially, it was only available on computers and mobile devices – the versions for game consoles didn’t come out until 2012. Even then, it was hard to avoid hearing about Minecraft!

The game ran well on almost any computer, even older ones, and the basic idea was wonderfully simple: explore a generated world and do anything you want, by yourself or with others. Players who enjoyed LEGOs as kids especially loved it, but Minecraft offered even more freedom and at a lower cost, which explains why it remains so popular.

Borderlands 2 (2012)

A Handsome Sequel

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: Guild Wars 2
Other Games To Consider: Trials Evolution

Borderlands 2 improved upon the original in almost every way, and many fans consider it the strongest game in the Borderlands series. It featured more refined shooting, a wider range of character options, and a compelling villain who drove the story forward. A great villain can make or break a game, and Handsome Jack is truly one of the best, thanks to his confident and unpredictable personality.

Whether playing solo or with others, Borderlands 2 kept players engaged with its diverse character classes and the endless search for powerful, game-changing weapons. It’s a huge game with tons of content, and all the downloadable content adds even more reasons to revisit it.

Grand Theft Auto 5 (2013)

Street Hustle

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: DOTA 2
Other Games To Consider: Rogue Legacy

Despite the massive excitement for Grand Theft Auto 6, people are still actively playing Grand Theft Auto 5. It’s not just that they’re getting ready for the new game – many players genuinely still enjoy GTA 5 itself. While the story doesn’t offer much in the way of choices that change the outcome, the endless opportunities for causing mayhem and having fun in the open world are incredibly rewarding, and that’s a big reason why the game was so popular when it launched in 2013.

The game’s three-player structure was a fresh idea, making it the largest GTA title released up to that point, and players are still finding hidden content. However, the real key to GTA 5‘s lasting success is Grand Theft Auto Online. While it didn’t start strong in 2013, Rockstar spent months, and even years, refining it. Eventually, they transformed the online mode into a hugely profitable venture.

Destiny (2014)

Bungie Is Back!

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: The Elder Scrolls Online
Other Games To Consider: Mario Kart 8

While Borderlands helped popularize the “looter shooter” style of game in 2009, and Borderlands 2 offered a stronger narrative, Destiny was a truly unique experience. Coming from Bungie – the studio behind the groundbreaking Halo: Combat Evolved – Destiny aimed to create a new kind of first-person shooter RPG where players could personalize their characters by choosing from three different classes.

The game featured expansive environments where players could encounter each other, form lasting teams for cooperative missions, and socialize in a central hub area bustling with activity. Though it didn’t officially label itself as one, it played much like a massively multiplayer online game, and stood out in 2014 with its incredibly smooth and satisfying shooting mechanics.

Super Mario Maker (2015)

Make Your Mario

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: Star Wars Battlefront
Other Games To Consider: Rocket League

To mark Mario’s 30th anniversary, Nintendo did something amazing: they released Super Mario Maker. This game let players create their own Mario levels in the classic 2D style. Players could choose from different visual styles inspired by games like Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U, and build the Mario level they’ve always imagined.

The Wii U’s touchscreen made it incredibly simple to create levels and instantly test them before sharing them online. For a short time in late 2015, it became hugely popular – even eclipsing the Minecraft craze – and gave people a great reason to own a Wii U, despite the console’s overall difficulties.

Pokemon GO (2016)

Go Outside And Touch Grass-Types

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: Overwatch
Other Games To Consider: Final Fantasy 15

Pokémon first became incredibly popular in Japan in 1996 with its release on the Game Boy, and then gained a huge following in the West in 1998. The series continued to thrive on Nintendo handheld consoles with each new game. However, Pokémon GO was a game-changer. Unlike traditional Pokémon games, Pokémon GO was accessible to anyone with an Android or iOS smartphone, opening up the franchise to a much wider audience.

Pokémon GO took over the summer of 2016, and it was released at just the right moment – a game about finding Pokémon in the real world using augmented reality was exactly what people wanted. While the initial excitement has cooled down, the game still has a dedicated and active fanbase.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild (2017)

A New Era For Nintendo

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: Fortnite Battle Royale
Other Games To Consider: Cuphead

The Wii U wasn’t successful, but Nintendo’s Switch quickly gained popularity, largely due to the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Though the game was also available on the Wii U, it truly became a must-have title on the Switch because the console could be played on the go.

As a huge Zelda fan, Breath of the Wild completely blew me away. It wasn’t just another Zelda game – it redefined open-world adventures, and honestly, I think it even made other open-world games better! The world was absolutely massive, and being able to climb almost anything, combined with gliding with the paraglider, made exploring Hyrule so incredibly fun. Seriously, when it came out in 2017, everyone was talking about it – and for good reason!

Monster Hunter: World (2018)

An Inviting First Step

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Other Games To Consider: Tetris Effect

For over ten years, the Monster Hunter series stayed largely the same, creating a dedicated fanbase of long-time players. Then, in 2018, Monster Hunter: World introduced changes that made the game more accessible, though it still remained challenging.

Instead of being limited to small, separate areas, players could freely explore a vast world to hunt monsters, either solo or with friends. The game was designed to be highly replayable, focusing on a core loop of battling monsters, collecting their resources to craft better equipment, and then taking on even bigger challenges.

Slay The Spire (2019)

Deal Me In

Core Multiplayer Games To Consider: Apex Legends
Other Games To Consider: Super Mario Maker 2

From 2010 to 2019, roguelike games were becoming increasingly popular, with many strong contenders appearing each year. In 2019, Slay the Spire stood out as a major release – it was a deck-building game with different characters and ways to play.

Players selected a character and explored a series of randomly created rooms, battling enemies in a turn-based system where every action was performed using cards. Though simple to understand, the game was surprisingly difficult, with rewards being rare. Despite the challenge, players found the fast-paced card combat incredibly addictive and kept coming back for more.

2025-12-01 23:07