Top 10 Games of the 2010s Decade... So Far

I may not have a list of favorite games of the Seventh Generation, but I can give you guys a list of my favorite games of this decade... so far. The criteria are as follows:

• One game per franchise.
• They have to have been released between 2010 to 2015, at least from their country of origin. That is why Bayonetta is nowhere on the list because it first came out in Japan in 2009.
• Only original games. No HD remasters.

Just remember, these are my personal picks. If your favorite games are not anywhere on the list, that means I either haven't played them or reluctantly booted them off the list while picking the candidates. Without further ado, these are my Top 10 Games of the 2010s decade... so far.

___________________________________________

10. Lego Marvel Super Heroes

I'm a huge fan of Traveller's Tales' Lego games based off of licensed properties like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and The Lord of the Rings. Sure, they are not really challenging, but what I love most about them is the replay value, with tons of hours of content to explore and stuff to collect and this is no different.

Like the Lego Batman games, this one has an original story, filled to the brim with superheroes and villains we all know and love and a ton of humor that may seem childish at times (it's a kid's game, after all), but can come across as really hilarious. Many Marvel fans will even geek out at the many references towards other incarnations, especially the alternate character skins.

It's nice to play characters such as Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Black Widow, and many more that make it a joyful experience. When I'm not doing story mode, I like to explore the Manhattan hub, taking on various side missions, collecting Gold Bricks and unlocking playable characters. I am quite amazed that the developers have done their homework, since they included some obscure Marvel characters like Howard the Duck, Squirrel Girl, the Taskmaster, and even the Guardians of the Galaxy (this was before the movie came out).

Is it the greatest Lego game to date? Probably, though with Lego Star Wars II, at least there were no glitches unlike this one. If you love Marvel and are a completionist, this is the game for you.

9. Tearaway

I'm quite disappointed that there hasn't been a lot of interesting games on the PS Vita, which is probably why the device hasn't been selling well. Nevertheless, it still has its share of gems including Tearaway.

One thing to immediately compliment is the overall design, where everything is made out of paper cutouts, including the water and wind. Each world explored is very bright and colorful, matching the fun and lighthearted tone.

Tearaway is 3D Platformer, where you control a messenger named Iota (male) or Atoi (female) who has to deliver a message to a being called a You (the player). As you progress, you fight the main enemies of the game called Scraps and solve some basic puzzles.

It manages to take advantage of the PS Vita's features like the gyroscope, the touch screen, and camera to help the player along on their journey. I've said this before and I'll say it again: it's amusingly awkward having my own face recorded in the game.

It's great to have a 3D Platformer when there are few and far in between nowadays, and on a handheld system. This is not a game to miss out on.

8. L.A. Noire

L.A. Noire was one of the biggest surprises back in 2011. When I rented it from my local library, I couldn't stop playing it because of how mind-blowing it was.

The first thing to comment on is the overall presentation. The game captures 1940s Los Angeles pretty spot on, and it was probably the biggest open world I've seen at the time. It also offered some terrific acting and motion capture, even capturing their faces to make it even more realistic, which actually plays a big part, and I'll get to that in a moment.

L.A. Noire succeeds in actually immersing the player in actually having them feeling like a detective while playing it. There are many times where the player has to investigate the scene of a crime, collecting clues and interrogating people for information. It's also one of the fewer cases where graphics do matter. Thanks to the facial capture technology, the developers were able to have their characters look like they are telling the truth or lying with some subtle movements and blinking. All of that couldn't be done in the last generation in gaming, making this a technical achievement.

What keeps it from getting higher on the list is that some aspects felt really limited or restricted, especially when it comes to choosing to do combat or interrogating people. Regardless, L.A. Noire managed to amaze me with its story, acting, music, and immersive gameplay that will occupy me for some time.

7. The Last of Us

I know a lot of people are expecting this to be pretty high up on the list, but at least I included it. I do think it's worthy of the praise it's gotten and I do say it is Naughty Dog's best game on the PS3 (and PS4), even better than the Uncharted series.

Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories, but I love the game's story. Sure, it's yet another "zombie" apocalypse tale, but it's the chemistry between Joel and Ellie that sells it. I grew attached to them, and even Joel himself was starting to view Ellie as his own daughter. The ending itself made me think really hard about the journey I just took.

The gameplay itself is really well-done. There are elements of survival horror, third-person shooting, and stealth that blend really well. Naughty Dog nailed the survival aspect down, as there was so much tension just trying to sneak around Clickers and infected humans while conserving ammo and supplies. Not that many games I have played can really succeed in those aspects and I applaud it.

It's been two years and I still haven't bothered playing the multiplayer. I'm just not that interested. As I said in my Top 10 Games of 2013, it was the single player alone that made me adore The Last of Us. It's an emotional journey that I will never forget.

6. Rayman Origins

I've never played a single Rayman game before this, but I still decided to check out Rayman Origins after Gexup and T-McBee repeatedly praised it. All I can say is: this game is flipping insane!

A great thing about this game is its fast-paced gameplay that kept me entertained and not once did it bore me. While it has unlimited continues, it is still very challenging to play. The developers really took their time to make the level designs as well-crafted as possible even for the platforming and power-up collecting that require a lot of precision.

It also has a great co-op feature. I had so much fun playing this game with my sister and had a lot of laughs while doing so.

Rayman Origins is a masterpiece in the 2D Platformer genre. It's got a whacky art style, insane sense of humor, great music, and fun gameplay that pretty much got me interested in the Rayman series overall. And before you ask, I still haven't played Rayman Legends. I probably should fix that.

5. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

I first tried out this game at a friend's house and was instantly hooked that I bought a copy for myself afterwards. My friends and I continuously played it a lot, even at my high school's video game club, competing with other players.

It's great to have a fighting game that takes inspiration from Super Smash Bros. and adds new things that make it its own, like the many super attacks required to defeat opponents. It's also quite mind-blowing when the stages represented also mash up with other franchises, like Sandover Village from Jak and Daxter mixing in some elements from the Hot Shots Golf series.

Not to mention that the character roster, while it leaves a lot to be desired, is quite good, having an elaborate moveset based on the games they were in. A Youtuber by the name of Bob the Pet Ferret is currently doing a video series based on them, so you can see that the developers really did their homework when designing this game.

I am disappointed that there isn't more content made for the game. I heard that the next DLC pack was going to feature Dart from The Legend of Dragoon and Abe from the OddWorld series as playable characters, including a stage that was a mashup between Gravity Rush and Journey. What a waste.

I haven't had this much fun in a fighting game both online and offline. I am also not afraid to say that I enjoyed this more than the Super Smash Bros. games, mainly because PlayStation All-Stars had more comfortable controls. Hopefully a sequel will be made to improve on it and provide a bigger roster. Also, stay tuned for my Top 10 Favorite Characters list.

4. Portal 2

I've never played the original Portal, but I am well aware of its story and how much of an impact it left on the gaming industry thanks to unique gameplay, great writing, and of course, one of the best villains in video game history, GLaDOS. Those things were enough to get me prepped up for this game, and it did not disappoint.

I have to praise this game for not rehashing stuff from its predecessor. It still features the portal puzzles that we've come to expect, but also new additions like the gel paints that make it all the more challenging.

The story leaves a lot of twist and turns that make it all the more intriguing. GLaDOS is still just as mean and hilarious as she was, but the game also introduced new characters. Wheatley is stupidly funny and Cave Johnson steals the show for me, mainly because of J.K. Simmons' performance. And let's top it all off with one of the most satisfying conclusions ever, complete with awesome music.

Of course, let us also not forget one of the best co-op experiences ever. A lot of the puzzles required a lot of teamwork, therefore solving them was very rewarding. I am glad to have played this game and Valve Software really succeeded in giving us another masterpiece in puzzle solving.

3. BioShock Infinite

We live in a time where generic first-person shooters are taking over the market. However, among the genre came the BioShock series that brought us unique worlds and emotionally gripping stories. I do like the original BioShock, and I will admit it did a couple of things better than this game, but that doesn't mean BioShock Infinite isn't admirable.

The story, while complicated at times, is really well-written, that I find myself finding new details in every playthrough. Of course, the character who steals the show is Elizabeth herself, who is one of my favorite female characters in gaming. This is part of how lovable her personality is that she brings a smile on my face. As well as that, there is a lot of depth to her character because of the mystery surrounding her and why she is able to create dimensional tears.

It still has the familiar gunplay and awesome powers that go with them. In addition, Elizabeth serves to be a pretty competent companion, providing ammo and supplies. Even during combat, she is able to fend for herself, not once feeling like a burden, which puts the escort mission trope to shame.

There's also a lot more fun to be had with the Burial at Sea DLC, revealing how connected it is to the original BioShock. I still name it my favorite game of 2013 because it is one of the best experiences I have had in gaming.

2. Gravity Rush

I've praised this game enough since it was the first game I've reviewed when I started blogging, and I talked about it again on my 12 Favorite Games of All Time list. What else is there left to say?

The gameplay is well-crafted, exploring the open world of Hekseville, collecting gems, upgrading powers, and all that jazz. The art style is beautiful, using cel-shaded graphics to emulate the comic book style. The score is one of my all-time favorites, featuring memorable tracks and building upon on this game's world. Just listen to the track "Gravity Daze" and you know you're in for a huge adventure.

And lastly, Kat is yet another one of my favorite female protagonists ever. Her likable and selfless personality makes her an absolute delight to play as.

I adore this game so much and I am glad that I bought a PS Vita for it (thank you, PlayStation All-Stars). I was so invested in this game's mythos that it deserved to be expanded more in an upcoming sequel. Nearly two years ago, I was full of joy that the teaser for the sequel was announced, and I am patiently waiting for its release.

1. Red Dead Redemption

I know there have been some amazing sandbox games in this generation of gaming, like Assassin's Creed II and Grand Theft Auto V, but none can top Red Dead Redemption for me. From beginning to end, I spent many hours on both the single player and multiplayer that it left a huge impression on me. I'm not even huge with westerns, yet this game indirectly got me into the genre.

There is just so much to do in the Wild West when not doing the story missions, including horsebreaking, helping out strangers, collecting bounties, and playing gambling mini-games. Actually, the last one I don't really care for that much, especially the Five Finger Fillet challenges which can go to the underworld.

Overall, what I said about L.A. Noire can apply the same here: I felt truly immersed throughout this game, like I was actually living and breathing in the Wild West, taking the sights in various landscapes and towns.

Just when I couldn't get enough of the single player, Rockstar provided even more content, including an additional story mode, Undead Nightmare, and the multiplayer. I had so much fun with the multiplayer, unlocking various goodies like characters and weapons, and even taking part in a lot modes like co-op or showdowns. This is probably the best multiplayer experience I have had because of them that not even the online mode of Grand Theft Auto V could top it.

Red Dead Redemption succeeds in a lot of things from its gameplay, music, visuals, story, acting, and hours worth of content that satisfied me as a gamer. It's no surprise that it is one of my favorite games of all time, and my favorite game of this decade.

_____________________________________

And that is my Top 10 list. What are your favorite games of the decade so far? Feel free to comment, Stay tuned for my next post where I list my 25 Favorite Films of the 2010s Decade so far.