10 Video Games That Prove 2010 Was The Best Year Ever
This year’s been great, but eight years ago? That was SPECTACULAR.
2018 has been a phenomenal year for gamers so far. We’ve had God Of War, Spider-Man, season 2 of Life Is Strange, Monster Hunter World, Red Dead Redemption 2 and plenty more besides. Kratos, Spidey and Arthur in particular have had a few gamers claiming this is the best year in recent memory. But if that’s the case, those memory’s mustn’t be too long.
For 2010 served up a truly wonderful feast of games across all platformers. We were like Robert Baratheon at an all you can eat buffet, guzzling down everything the industry served up with insatiable hunger. There are certain things you can look back on now, such as graphics and awkward gameplay ironed out in sequels, but in 2010? These games all, in their own ways, elevated gaming to something new.
Just as an example of the quality on offer here, Limbo, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Dead Rising 2 and even Starcraft 2 had to be set aside for 2010s top ten list. So without further ado, let’s take a look at this blast from the (fairly recent) past.
10. HeartGold & SoulSilver
Generation 2 is for many people the pinnacle of the Pokémon franchise. While RBY has the nostalgia factor, Gold and Silver built on those fantastic mechanics and offered all the Kanto gyms plus eight new Johto ones. For a lot of people, the first Pokémon game they play is their favourite, but there's a lot of reasons to put HeartGold & SoulSilver at the very top.
The new Pokemon introduced are some of the fans’ favourites, not least the starters. Johto is one of the few regions where all the starters avoid the ugly, awkward teenager phase of the middle evolution. Looking at you, Charmeleon.
As well as the likes of Shuckle, Mareep and Pichu, some of the best loved ‘mons here are the Eeveelutions: Espeon & Umbreon. Gen IV’s Glaceon and Leafeon receive nowhere near as much love as Johto’s Pyschic and Dark types.
Finally, the crowning glory of HeartGold & SoulSilver was the battle with Red. For those who played it, all that needs to be said is ‘...’, but for the uninitiated, this was a boss battle against yourself from the first game. Genius.