Perfect Dark, Halo, Elden Ring, The Last of Us, RDR and Gears of War have made it into the top 20 most highly rated original games of the 21st century according to Metacritic

Metacritic has compiled an interesting selection - the top 20 most highly rated original games of the XXI century.

Here's What We Know

The list includes only those games that are not sequels, prequels, spin-offs, remakes, relaunches or a product based on pre-existing intellectual property.

Gamers will see many familiar titles, but it's unlikely that many could have guessed that the leader of such a top would be the shooter Perfect Dark (2000). Perfect Dark was innovative and generated a lot of buzz in its day, but it is rarely mentioned as an example of a perfect game. Nevertheless, according to the average score on Metacritic, it is the best original game of the twenty-first century (at least its first quarter).

Cult games such as BioShock, Elden Ring, The Last of Us, Red Dead Redemption, Gears of War, Minecraft and Tom Clancyʼs Splinter Cell also made the top 20.

The only 2024 game to make the list was the highly rated JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio from the makers of Persona.

The highest-rated original games of the 21st century according to Metacritic:

• Perfect Dark (Nintendo 64, 2000) - 97 points out of 100;
• Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox, 2001) - 97 points;
• BioShock (X360, 2007) - 96 points;
• Elden Ring (PS5, 2022) - 96 points;
• LittleBigPlanet (PS3, 2008) - 95 points;
• The Last of Us (PS3, 2013) - 95 points;
• Red Dead Redemption (X360, 2010) - 95 points;
• Devil May Cry (PS2, 2001) - 94 points;
• Gears of War (X360, 2006) - 94 points;
• Jet Set Radio (Jet Grind Radio) (Dreamcast, 2000) - 94 points;
• Metaphor: ReFantazio (PS5, 2024) - 94 points;
• God of War (PS2, 2005) - 94 points;
• Company of Heroes (PC, 2006) - 93 points;
• Dwarf Fortress (PC, 2006) - 93 points;
• Braid (X360, 2008) - 93 points;
• SSX (PS2, 2000) - 93 points;
• Minecraft (PC, 2011) - 93 points;
• Tom Clancyʼs Splinter Cell (Xbox, 2002) - 93 points;
• Okami (PS2, 2006) - 93 points;
• Skies of Arcadia (Dreamcast, 2000) - 93 points.

Source: Metacritic