Welcome to Lazygamer’s top 100 games of this generation. This isn’t a list based purely on scores, but rather a look at the 100 games and franchises that shocked and amazed us. This may have been the greatest generation of gaming ever produced, with the real winner being anyone who played at least one of these games.
100 – Resident Evil 5 (PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3)
A new generation called for a new kind of Resident Evil, with Capcom releasing a game that was less of a horror and more of a thriller. Despite those criticisms though, Resident Evil 5 still retained enough magic from the previous games to be a solid affair that was a ton of fun when an extra player was roped in to battle the hordes.
That added co-op helped establish the more explosive nature of this sequel, which wrapped up several dangling plot threads and finally put an end to the machinations of one Albert Wesker who had been terrorising the heroes of these games since the beginning of the franchise.
99 – Prototype (PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3)
With sandbox games really finding their groove on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, Activision released Prototype in a year that was crawling with such genre contenders. Prototype was essentially a zombie apocalypse sandbox, but one where the player had far more freedom than usual.
Able to play the game in stealth or in all-out action mode, there was a ton of variety on offer, as well as extras that were worth pursuing and experiecing.Bloody, violent and over the top, the game never went viral but it certainly did leave a lasting impression.
98 – Street Fighter X Tekken (Xbox 360, Playstation 3)
The collaboration that many thought was impossible felt made a mark in 2012, balancing the rosters of Tekken and Street Fighter and seeing which franchise really was the best. Translating the 3D fighting mechanics of Tekken into the template created by Street Fighter 4 and beyond, the game was superbly balanced.
Tight, efficient and technical to a fault, Street Fighter X Tekken remains one of the preferred arenas for fighting game fans all over the world.
97 – GTA IV (PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3)
One of the the big games that helped establish the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, GTA IV was the next big chapter in the infamous franchise, as Niko Bellic learned the hard way that the American dream wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be.
Far more sombre and mature than previous GTA games, Rockstar created a technical masterpiece that was also augmented with two packs of DLC that delved further into the seedy underbelly of Liberty City.
96 – The Darkness (PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3)
It may have been bloodier than an abattoir, but The Darkness managed to transcend being a mere product of the 2000s, thanks to some fantastic scripting and a love story on par with any Hollywood romance.
Equal parts violent and touching, some ingenious gameplay kept The Darkness rolling through a gripping story that pushed the envelope on what an FPS could actually achieve.
95 – Warhammer 40K Space Marine (PC,Xbox 360,PS3)
In a genre filled with cover shooters, THQ bucked the trend and instead released a game that didn’t only encourage players to get dirty, but rewarded them for it in a title that took full advantage of the sci-fi setting of the Warhammer 40K universe.
The Warhammer 40K universe had been the domain of the strategy genre before this space marine landed, but the results were faithful to say the least. Uncompromising and extremely faithful to its source material, it’s a cult hit that’ll never see any further sequels thanks to the demise of THQ.
94 – Marvel vs Capcom 3 (Xbox 360, Playstation 3)
With Street Fighter 4 resurrecting the fighting game genre, Capcom decided to revive an old favourite, creating a direct sequel that was filled with nostalgia, new ideas and some magnificently tuned fighting mechanics.
Absurdly bright, ridiculous and crammed with characters, Marvel vs Capcom 3 has become a staple on the fighting game tournament circle. It’s the kind of game that favours every kind of fighting style imaginable, and even if you aren’t great at it, you’ll still look good when you pull off some of those insane attacks.
93 – Left 4 Dead 2 (PC, Xbox 360)
Consoles had been emphasising that playing with friends was the way of the future, but Left 4 Dead 2 was the game that proved that such ambitions were more than possible. Fun, challenging and filled with extras, grabbing a cricket bat and slugging it out with the undead is still worth it today in this immortal title.
Left 4 Dead 2 may have been more of the same, but all that content was just better in the long run. More missions, more enemies and more weapons combined to form one of the finest fames that Valve has ever released.
92 – Driver: San Francisco (PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3)
Despite having a premise that sounded positively ludicrous, Driver: San Francisco managed to pull the car possession angle off with some great driving, exciting chases and solid visuals.
With a surprise around every corner, an expanded world and some fantastic online modes with which to tinker around in, Driver San Francisco gave the veteran franchise the send-off that it deserved.
91 – Ghostbusters: The video game (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
Movie games may have moved onto mobile devices now, but that may be because the Ghostbusters video game set the bar so damn high when it was released. Using authentic likenesses, visuals and voice acting from the original cast, this game clearly wasn’t afraid of no ghost.
Armed with a trusty proton pack and various other movie-related paraphenilia, the game was as faithful as could be to the film source material, while blazing its own path and crossing several streams of awesome.
[button link=”https://www.criticalhit.net/xbox-360/the-lazygamer-top-100-games-of-this-generation-90-81/”]Onto the next 10 great games[/button]Last Updated: December 11, 2013
James
December 11, 2013 at 12:11
The perfect list for my bargain bin hunting this Xmas.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:11
This is going to end in a sea of saltiness and epic trolling, when Call of Duty takes numbers 10 to 1.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
December 11, 2013 at 12:18
Fuck. He’s on to us.
TiMsTeR1033
December 11, 2013 at 12:19
you dont want to open that can of worms
Major Commodore 64 Darryn B
December 11, 2013 at 12:19
We’re using only Higgs-Boson particles to denote the superiority of Call of Duty in this list.
TiMsTeR1033
December 11, 2013 at 12:20
very clever hiding it like that! that’s the GOD PARTICLE!! I am no fool!
Weanerdog
December 11, 2013 at 12:46
You mean the COD particle
WhiteRock
December 11, 2013 at 15:46
That would be a sad day in hell…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:14
Haggar is one of those characters that I actually aspired to be. When I was 9 years old, I wanted to be Haggar. I wanted to be a wrestling god / Mayor/Crimefighter, who would go out at night and piledrive crime through a flaming table.
I blame wrestlemania, comics, gangsta rap, metal and WWF (yes F).
Mark Treloar
December 11, 2013 at 12:27
Instead you became this.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:28
Disgusting hey? I could have been a barrel-chested man snor with a job in politics.
HvR
December 11, 2013 at 12:30
More like this
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:44
Oomf oomf oomff!!
TiMsTeR1033
December 11, 2013 at 12:30
you blame the world wild life fund! you got issues! hehehe
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:31
It’s that dirty panda…. he just sat there, his eyes burning deep into my soul.
Eddie V
December 11, 2013 at 14:25
Worlds Wealthiest Fakers…..
Ricardo Harvey
December 11, 2013 at 12:21
Nice to see the darkness making its way here, really loved that game
TiMsTeR1033
December 11, 2013 at 12:26
Was a great game as was the second one!
Craig Boonzaier
December 11, 2013 at 12:26
I got really sad when the list ended, wanted to see more.
TiMsTeR1033
December 11, 2013 at 12:27
Never played Ghost busters actually never seen it on xbox 360 in stores..
Lardus-Resident Perve
December 11, 2013 at 12:29
Space Marine was a GREAT game that deserved to kick off a franchise of games! I remember so vividly when I got “blood lust” and my Smurf-marine looked more like a Blood Raven from all the Orc guts 😛
That Tall Twit Norm
December 11, 2013 at 13:14
FOR THE EMPEROR!
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 11, 2013 at 13:26
That’s what I keep telling people!
Admiral Chief of pixels
December 11, 2013 at 12:30
Awwwww yeah L4D2!!!
Anyone up for some L4D on steam tonight?
TiMsTeR1033
December 11, 2013 at 12:33
No thanks, those witches and their crying still haunts me..
#blankspace
December 11, 2013 at 13:25
been a good while since i played L4D2 think its time i boot it up again
Admiral Chief of pixels
December 11, 2013 at 12:31
I really dug Prototype though
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 11, 2013 at 12:31
Prototype 2 sucked ASS
Admiral Chief of pixels
December 11, 2013 at 12:32
Yeah, heard about that one, glad I stopped after P1
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
December 11, 2013 at 12:38
I found it to be quite the opposite
TiMsTeR1033
December 11, 2013 at 12:38
You enjoyed it? I never played it
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
December 11, 2013 at 12:39
I played both and found the 2nd one to be better than the 1st
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 11, 2013 at 12:39
Game was fine, but I couldn’t for the life of me tolerate Heller….He seriously made me stop playing
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
December 11, 2013 at 12:42
I found Alex to be kinda emo, Heller was a bit more badass.
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 11, 2013 at 12:43
Heller was too stereo typical black African American. Couldn’t take it. He was as generic as it get’s Nothing major against the game, it was fun though. not trying to shit on what you like
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
December 11, 2013 at 12:46
Lol, that’s just my opinion. And I knew that you didn’t like him because he was black… YOU LACIST!
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 11, 2013 at 12:47
Wha, wait ..uhmm no I didn’t mean it in that way…DAMN YOU!!!!!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:33
Prototype was cool in the beginning, and absorbing the DNA of selected individuals and getting a glimpse at how you become this creature was awesome. It just really lost the plot halfway through and that ending… sigh!
TiMsTeR1033
December 11, 2013 at 12:33
Me too! I never finished it.
Admiral Chief of pixels
December 11, 2013 at 12:45
I kinda liked the entire experience tbh
CaptainNemo42
December 11, 2013 at 13:09
How often is that the case for games this generation. Something I think this gen will be remembered for will be the amount of games with really “meh” endings. Sadly, I can’t see that changing any time soon.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:32
I actually liked Driver, that was a decent addition to the series.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 11, 2013 at 12:33
The only one of these I’ve actually played is Prototype. It was okay, just found it got boring after a couple of hours.
Space Marine & GTA4 are on the backlog. :/
The rest I haven’t played.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:34
Same, Space Marine is still in its packet…. :/ Ugh this backlog is starting to annoy me.
TiMsTeR1033
December 11, 2013 at 12:37
GIMME YOUR GAMECUBE! seriously I wanna play supermario sunshine. lol
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:45
Shutup Paper Mario made me the man I am today! 😛
That Tall Twit Norm
December 11, 2013 at 13:12
*made me the banana I am today!*
Fixed.
Jonah Cash
December 11, 2013 at 13:06
The Darkness will probably be in the top 5 of most under rated games for this generation!!! It has a very good story line and it plays well too, the combat with the extra two “arms” works amazingly well!!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 11, 2013 at 13:10
I’ve got the 2nd one on the old backlog. 1st wasn’t released on PC. :/
Jonah Cash
December 11, 2013 at 13:13
Not a big problem, not necessary to play the first to understand the second…. But man you should get to it. It really was a hell of a lot of fun!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 11, 2013 at 13:25
I will… eventually lol I’ve only just started playing Bioshock 2.
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 11, 2013 at 12:34
SF X Tekken is really unbalanced though…Tatsunoku VS Capcom was waaaaaaaaay better
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:36
I hope Tekken X SF will do us justice. I was really excited to take Ryu down with King, but it just felt so bare-bones. Capcom really made it as vanilla as possible and it could have been so AWESOME!
Namco… please… as a fan, I beg you. Make me a happy Banana!
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 11, 2013 at 12:38
Dude, I am so hype for that game! Tekken engine with SF characters, HELL FREAKING YESS!! Sf X Tekken was extremly bare bones. I really don’t get why fighting games have gone this route. No more story mode or unlocking characters. caters just for tourney play.
EDIT: what ever happened to beach volley ball in Tekken 3 or the side scrolling beat em up ….. sigh
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:42
I liked what Tekken 6 did with the mini RPG (same with the last Soul Calibur). Hopefully Namco will do the same for Tekken X Street Fighter. I wonder if it’s going to be a next gen title? That would be wicked.
Also, I’d kill for a Virtua Figher X Tekken! Oh man… Wolf Hawkfield vs King or Iron King! EPIC BATTLE!!!
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 11, 2013 at 12:46
That would be freaking epic. Ahh man Jack Bryant vs Jin…..sigh, needs to happen!!!!!! and never played Tekken 6 actually. The soul games always did have cool mini games. Capcom stripped out EVERYTHING
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:48
Dude.. Akira Yuki vs Heihachi!!! A true test of which Karate is the best! FIGHT!!!!!
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 11, 2013 at 12:50
Sigh…I need this to happen!!……I recently got me a fighting stick. seriously fightings games just aren’t the same once you use a stick. You never wana go back
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:56
Yeah, I need a stick as well…. I chickened out of getting one the last time, but I think the time is nigh.
Umar koeksisterRpgFan
December 11, 2013 at 12:59
Indeed, no time like hammer time! go for it
El Capitan del Blade
December 11, 2013 at 12:37
Space Marine was excellent!, IF you’re a Warhammer 40K fanboy! Loved every blood -drenched second of it…..
Tarisma
December 11, 2013 at 13:04
It was pure warhammer wielding, spray and pray loving, orc smashing fun.
That Tall Twit Norm
December 11, 2013 at 13:08
Ork ork ork…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:40
Crackdown better be in the top 50 or I’m flying down to Jozzie, kicking your trash cans and invading your offices. 😛
Gavin Mannion
December 11, 2013 at 12:52
UP to Johannesburg you mountain dweller
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
December 11, 2013 at 12:58
Pfft, I’m a southern-hemisphere-centric kinda lad. It’s all “down” from me.
Brenz
December 11, 2013 at 12:40
Starting a best of list with RE5 doesnt say much for what is coming in the future lists….
Gavin Mannion
December 11, 2013 at 12:52
lol it’s number 100.. so every game is better 🙂
Kromas
December 11, 2013 at 12:56
And to be honest it was better than 2,3,4 and 6.
Rock789
December 11, 2013 at 12:47
Good list so far – nice way to start the 100.
I must say, Driver: San Francisco for me was such a surprise hit. Got it on sale and wasn’t expecting too much – just wanted a new racing game and there were none on the horizon at that time. Once I’d started playing it, though, I couldn’t stop… And pretty much played it till I’d completed everything there was to do! Such an awesome, fun game to play! Great ending to a shweet franchise. I wish there were more like it.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
December 11, 2013 at 12:53
i fucking loved that game..and it will always hold a special place; the preview for it it was one of my first overseas press event trips.
Rock789
December 11, 2013 at 12:57
It is an awesome game – honestly one of my all-time faves! Heck, I still load it up from time to time to just drive around, have some fun and retry some of the stunts (some of them are INSANELY hard… Which makes it worth it when you get it right). So cool!
That musta been one helluva press event, though – musta been shweet. 🙂
Jonah Cash
December 11, 2013 at 13:08
Do a top ten list of the most under rated games of this generation and I promise you will put The Darkness in the top 5…. I had such a good time with that game, and even with the second one!! It just works, and the story line is compelling and gameplay surprisingly good for a dude with 4 “arms”!!
Willem Swanepoel
December 11, 2013 at 14:15
I think Skyrim will be number 1 and CoD with be number 2 on their list 😉
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 8, 2014 at 13:24
I can’t not say Liberty City in Nico’s accent..