Few years in the 2000s released better video games than 2004. The heyday of the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube created a whirlwind of iconic originals, incredible sequels to legendary games, and spin-offs that added spice to their respective series.
The indie scene is also starting to gain momentum. These video games, released in 2004, will celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2024. Why not pick it up now and enjoy it once again?
1. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Paper Mario Thousand Year Door It represents the perfect sequel. This game improves on everything from its predecessor while creating a legacy that seems impossible to match. Paper aesthetics blend with Mushroom Kingdom’s original characters to immerse gamers in a cheerful world that few modern titles attempt to recreate.
The game will be re-released on Switch in 2024 with remastered graphics and sounds.
2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
every grand theft auto Installation changes the landscape of open world games. grand theft auto san andreas There was no difference. san andreas It moved the series in a significant direction by creating a Southern California/Western atmosphere that was emulated in sequels like . Grand Theft Auto V. This game increased the potential of the series with modern graphics and adherence to a plot based on historical and human interest.
3. Pikmin 2
pikmin 2 Now that the series has spanned 20 years and added major titles, it’s gaining more attention. The game eliminated many of the strange quirks that fans hated from the first game, such as stressful time limits, while also introducing new strategic techniques through novel Pikmin abilities, such as the purple bodybuilder Pikmin.
4.Halo 2
Hello 2 We cemented this IP’s success by taking on an even bigger and more ambitious undertaking than its predecessor. First-person shooters dethroned console gaming as the most popular genre in the mid-2000s, thanks to Master Chief’s heroic missions and cinematic character qualities.
5. Gran Turismo 4
gran turismo The realism and attention to detail it brought to the genre in the 2000s set it apart from other racing games. gran turismo 4 We didn’t reinvent the wheel, but we gifted gamers everything they needed, including new vehicles and race tracks, in addition to top-of-the-line graphics.
6. The Legend of Zelda Minish Cap
After a controversial cartoonish atmosphere, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind WakerNintendo leaned into its unrefined visual sense. minish cap on Game Boy Advance. The game stays true to the series’ roots while differentiating itself from the console releases by scaling back, both literally and figuratively.The ability to turn links into tiny versions of themselves has long been a popular mechanic zelda A fan favorite, the title became one of the most beloved video games of 2004.
7. Half Life 2
half life 2 did not reach the mainstream popularity of halo 2However, fans of first-person shooter games who enjoy a more diverse approach to the genre will swear that this title is the best game in its category. This game requires more thinking than your average shooter, with carefully designed puzzles and a bold atmosphere and sense of adventure.
8. Metroid Prime 2 Echoes
metroid prime 2 echoes is Nintendo’s 2004 entry into the first-person shooter genre. While the darker aesthetic and higher difficulty level compared to the first game may have turned some people off from this title, Samus’s return to the GameCube represents a pinnacle for the GameCube. There is no doubt that it is. Adventure game on console.
9.Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green
Pokemon Fire Red Leaf Green It began the series’ proven trend of enhancing older games in the series for a new generation of players. Some of the series’ most beloved monsters are heavily featured, helping the game act as a connector between the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance when playing Pokemon.
10. WarioWare Twist!
of warioware The series relies on Nintendo’s willingness to let go of all creative restrictions and let wild ideas fly free.microgames Warioware Twist! It revolves around the game cartridge’s built-in gyro sensor. Wandering around the Game Boy Advance worked better than anyone thought, allowing us to preview the Wii’s motion controls just two years later.
11. Cave Story
cave Story revolutionized independent game development by giving gamers the intimacy of one person’s vision. Players explore caves, battle enemies, and gain new power advantages similar to the SNES side-scrolling adventure games, providing the world with a template for future Metroidvania indies.
12. World of Warcraft
world of warcraft It leapfrogged gaming jargon in a way that made people who had never played a computer game before want to give it a try. The MMORPG genre would never be the same after this title, and the desire for more fantasy gaming experiences and online multiplayer games influenced his Xbox Live and other similar platforms in the 2000s and 2010s. It will be. Of all his 2004 video games featured here, this one may have had the most revolutionary impact.
13. Fable
The action RPG genre had to evolve after the top-down hack-and-slash experiences of the 1990s. fable It featured a third-person perspective, which wasn’t to everyone’s liking, but offered a different category for those who like parading around magical lands with swords and axes.
14. Far Cry
original far cry It was more heroic and stood out in the crowded first-person shooter genre. jack reacherThe main character of the wind, who holds the helm of the story. He is set in a natural environment rather than in space (e.g. Hello or metroid prime) or war (I think) call of duty) Made for more demanding games.
15. Burnout 3: Takedown
Burnout 3: Takedown Along with other games like , it helped fuel the rise of console racers in the 2000s. Gran Turismo, Mario Kart, and Forza It also joins the top of the food chain. burnout syndrome This game has been a popular choice for gamers looking for a racer that lets them sweat and compete against their friends as if their lives depended on victory.
16. Fire Emblem Holy Demon Lightstone
Fire Emblem Holy Demon Light Stone This represents a change in Nintendo’s development methods. Fire emblem series. As sales in the U.S. declined, the game’s easier difficulty helped popularize the strategy series in new ways. Sacred Stones Previously served as a stopgap Fire Emblem Awakening Less than a decade later, the series was saved for Nintendo 3D.
17. Kirby and the Mysterious Mirror
kirby and the mysterious mirror While it doesn’t reinvent the Kirby game, this GBA title focuses more on adventure and puzzle solving than its platform-heavy predecessors. The game’s unlimited exploration never really enjoyed its value and never appeared again in future installments.
18. Mario vs. Donkey Kong
mario vs donkey kong It tapped into the nostalgia of the 1980s for the classic rivalry between a burly plumber and a fearsome ape. The puzzle-platforming action fits perfectly into the GBA style. This game is scheduled to be remastered for Nintendo Switch in 2024.
19. Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within
Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within did not reach its peak sands of time But the sequel refined the fundamental aspects of the original game’s fun and tweaked the tone of its storytelling. The mature and violent combat makes this more of an action game than an adventure title.
20. Super Mario 64DS
nevertheless super mario 64 Although the Nintendo DS was only about 10 years old when it was released, Nintendo made the right decision in 2004 to remake it for a modern handheld game console. Super Mario 64DS It also showed the relationship between Yoshi and Wario in the world of the Mushroom Kingdom.
21. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2 It may be one of this eccentric author’s favorites of 2004, but it still deserves praise. A top-down dungeon exploration action game reminiscent of “”. Diablo More weapons and characters have been added since the first game. By the way, the co-op mode makes this game even more fun.
22. Donkey King Jungle Beat
The Bongo Drums peripheral became one of Nintendo’s most popular toys during the GameCube’s mid-launch period.rear donkey conga Families rocked plastic drums to the beat of classic pop songs, and the adorable monkeys returned to the jungle to romp on the platform. donkey kong jungle beat.
