12 Most Influential Video Games Of The 2000s

2. Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time

Not a huge commercial success at the time of its release but deservedly lapped up by critics, The Sands of Time was a wonderful reimagining of a franchise that had all but gone stale at the time. The game was brilliantly written, with a wit an liveliness that makes it a spiritual ancestor to the Uncharted series. Its humour and charms made it feel more like a successful Pixar movie rather than a video game.

But it wasn't just the writing and story of Sands of Time that left an indelible mark on the industry, but also its freewheeling, time-warping combat, which was speedy, dynamic, and stylish. Instead of the slashing and auto-targeting that defined action-adventures up to that point, you'd cartwheel over enemies, run along walls, and use the time-manipulation mechanics to incredibly cinematic effect. It set a new bar for the presentation and fluidity of combat.

While the series eventually lost its magic touch, Sands of Time's impact on storytelling and gameplay is evident in many of the major action-adventures today.