25 Best Video Games Of The 2000s

6. Halo 2

The first Halo might have brought about regenerating health, two-slot weapon inventories and that Silent Cartographer level, but it was the second that took us all online, had one of the best campaigns designed so far in the behind-the-curtain look at controlling ex-Covenant soldier The Arbiter, and really set about establishing Halo as a console heavyweight in the pantheon of first-person shooters. In terms of actual gameplay Bungie nailed it first time round, the feel of controlling both the Chief and Arbiter continuing here.

Jumps were just as floaty, melee attacks just as meaty and tactile, but the big change was dual-wielding, letting you snap up twin machine guns, shield-rupturing plasma pistols, a couple of needlers etc.

This was before developers (including Bungie) would switch gears and focus on going multiplayer only, and so Halo's lore was fleshed out in an extremely well-designed campaign. The whole thing ended on a cliffhanger that millions got more than annoyed by (time-restraints close to release were eventually blamed), but the ride it took you on, that feel of just getting to play 'more Halo' comprised of vehicular, airborne and on-foot warfare, embodying the Chief in an even greater sci-fi setting - it remains one of Bungie's most important releases as a developer.