The “best retro games of the 10s” may seem like a crazy phrase. After all, how can games that only came out a mere… uh… 14 years ago… be considered… oh God… we’re getting so old! So very, very old! But before the relentless march of time does us in, we’re going to reminisce on some games that blew our minds in the last decade or so.

We’ll talk about the incredible rise of indie games, the surprising mainstream acceptance of gaming culture, the rise of VR, and the increase in online multiplayer games. We’ll even chat about cross-platform play. The 2010s gave us Minecraft, Dark Souls, SKYRIM – each one deserving of an entire textbook of their own. But we’ll devote what space we can in this love letter to the games that made life worth living in the decade gone by.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

Our list of iconic 2010s games can start right here, where Link paraglided into a gorgeous new world with stunning vistas and glorious music. Climb mountains (but not in the rain). Chuck weapons at your enemies, then beat them over the head with their own arms. Summon Ganon’s horse or even the Master Cycle to rip and ride over the countryside.

This game just blew everything out of the water.

You would think after all these years, there was no gold left to mine in Hyrule, but you would be so, so wrong. Nintendo does miracles every damn day, and BotW is the proof. And wouldn’t you know it – they would take the same world and up the ante even further in Tears of the Kingdom. It’s actually a little scary. Why doesn’t this world ever get old?

Recommended Casino Game: World of Lord Elf King will have you battling monsters, casino-style.

The Last of Us (2013)

Speaking of beating a dead horse, you might think that the gaming community would get tired of zombie games, but as the industry has proven time and time again, nah.

This game puts you in the position of Joel, a man escorting young Ellie across an apocalyptic America. Importantly, this land is NOT ravaged by the undead but by people infected with a fungus (that makes them behave like the undead). Among classic video games of the 2010s, this is definitely one of the most beautiful. This world shines, sparkles, and twinkles with art. And it also starves you of ammo and demands that you figure things out and solve problems for yourself. Not a bad lesson for life, actually.

Recommended Casino Game: Zombie Town.

Minecraft (2011)

We’re fudging a bit here. The alpha and beta versions came a couple of years before 2011, but the full version hit the world in 2011, and nothing has ever been the same since. This is one of the biggest franchises of all time, massive enough to rival Mario and Pokémon.

You can do anything you want in this world. Every block can be removed and replaced (even bedrock, if you have a few hours to spend mining). You can be a survivalist, battling your way through hostile mobs. You can be an imperial architect, building sculptures into the heavens. You can be a dwarf, delving into the center of the Earth. You can even be a dragon hunter, casting ender pearls into the air to find your way to the end of the game that has no end.

Replayability? Meet your definition. It just doesn’t get old, really. Seems to be a theme with these classics.

Recommended Casino Game: Blocky Blocks.

Collage of three games: Link fighting a robot in Zelda, Minecraft castle build, and two characters exploring a post-apocalyptic city.

Dark Souls (2011)

Is this one of the must-play 2010s games? If you’re a glutton for punishment, yes. If you love dark, gothic aesthetics, then also yes. If you want to experience the source of half the memes on the Internet, one more yes.

FromSoftware’s Dark Souls essentially launched a new genre: “soulslikes.” They’re hard, with boss fights that take many reps to get right. They’re often cruel, with jump scares and enemies that absolutely obliterate you out of nowhere. But they’re heartfelt in their strange way. They’re satisfying to “git gud” at. And with jolly cooperation, you can get the aid of other players when you really need it.

Dark Souls is a meditation on perseverance that has no doubt saved at least one real soul in our world. No matter how deep and lonely the night, you can still hear Laurentius commanding you from the Great Swamp: “Don’t you dare go hollow.”

No matter what ending you’re after, the world of Lordran offers you a special experience that is going to make you feel something. (And if there’s an “amazing chest ahead” according to a soapstone message, be sure to go grab it.)

Recommended Casino Game: Dark Fortress, a slot of knights and monsters.

Fortnite (2017)

This is probably one of the best retro games of the 10s just due to the cultural impact. Along with PUBG, Fortnite absolutely grabbed a whole generation of shooter fans and is still cranking out updates and new seasons to this day. By the time it’s all said and done, Fortnite may rack up more tie-ins with other IPs and artists than any other game. If you were a kid, teen, or 20-something during the 2010s, you definitely played some rounds of this colorful and super fun battleground shooting game.

Don’t forget to thank the bus driver, and have a good match. Chase the high of that elusive #1 Victory Royale.

Recommended Casino Game: Bubble Shooter (it has shooting!)

Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

One of the most iconic 2010s games, without a doubt. This game is the most memorable PS4 release for many players.

The journey of Arthur Morgan is a wild one, full of violence and betrayal. But in the end, it’s a touching story that undoubtedly gave us one of the most stirring moments of the decade in gaming, if not gaming as a whole. Seriously, if you haven’t played it, be prepared to get invested in a character in a way that proves how far games have come as a storytelling medium.

Of course, you can do ridiculous things and even have a GTA-style experience if you want. Just don’t miss out on that sunrise…

Recommended Casino Game: Journey to the West.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

“Hey. You’re awake…”

We really started the decade off right with a game that would become an all-time great and one of the most classic video games of the 2010s. Bethesda absolutely brought this series to incredible heights in Skyrim, spawning an experience that people would play and replay again and again. The story of the Dovahkiin and his love of shouting has carried us through many a dull night at home. Take on dragons. Climb mountains. Get married. Put buckets on people’s heads. Sneak around and shoot people (in the knees) with arrows. Live so that the announcing heralds will have to say:

“All hail Dovahkiin, the Dragonborn, Hero of Skyrim, Master of the Thu’um, Dragonslayer and Restorer of the Blades, Rightful Heir to the Throne of the Empire of Cyrodiil, Kingslayer of Emperor Titus Mede II, Thane of Whiterun…”

You better earn all those titles, friend!

Recommended Casino Game: Dragon Boom.

Game screen with colorful underwater creatures, coins, and a glowing '$0.51' display. A red fish swims in the background.

Hollow Knight (2017)

This is another of the must-play 2010s games. Hollow Knight is a modern Metroid-vania game that invites you to explore the various themed areas of Hallownest.

Team Cherry partially funded this through Kickstarter, and they absolutely crushed it. Indie games this decade would show that major studios DO NOT have a monopoly on big games. In fact, Hollow Knight and other games on this list made us wonder: what really are AAA studios doing if they aren’t giving us incredibly fun, memorable games? Visual polish only takes you so far.

Grab the minimalist “nail” weapon and head out to find just how many cool insect-type forms enemies can take while still keeping things fresh. This game has such a unique vibe it’s actually ridiculous.

Recommended Casino Game: Lucky Lady Bug.

Undertale (2015)

It’s honestly a little daunting to write about Undertale. It really is a lot more than a game. When a video game spawns a dozen serious fanfic alternate universes, each with robust communities, you’re in special territory. People connected with this game on a spiritual level. And if you get a look at it, you might wonder: why? It looks like a little EarthBound rip-off. So why are people living and dying by it?

Well, the experience was truly special. And quite creative. It was a game that invited players to make the choice about whether to kill any monsters at all. The choice you made had a huge impact on the story. The game delved into meta lore and offered deep conversations that would have you caring about 2D sprites on a screen like never before.

And like so many games on this list, the music of Undertale was defining. These songs get covered and played by people who have never even touched the game.

The series is ongoing, and Toby Fox is a game development legend headed straight for the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

Recommended Casino Game: Monster Destroyer.

Game screen showing two rows of green and gray monsters in a fiery setting. 'Option Menu' and 'Features' buttons are visible.

The Legacy of 2010s Gaming

There are a few trends that really made an impact in this era. One that we just hit was the power of independent developers to create highly important games. We didn’t even talk about Stardew Valley, an indie farming sim that sold over a million copies in just its first two months on Steam!

Open-world gaming continued to flower, giving us environments and worlds with more locations than we could keep track of. It gave us characters and narratives galore. It gave us something we can’t always get in real life: total freedom.

And then there’s battle royale games like Fortnite. Slugging it out with countless players around the world is SUCH gripping gameplay.

Experience them for Yourself!

Grab a Switch, a PlayStation, or Steam, and give some of these games a shot. You’re going to get seriously hooked. Or, dip into a community like r/undertale and see just how deep the rabbit hole goes.