The early 2000s were a golden age for PC gaming. It was a time of innovation and creativity, when developers pushed the boundaries of what was possible in gaming. From first-person shooters to massive open-world RPGs, the early 2000s saw the birth of some of the most beloved and influential games of all time. In this guide, we’ll explore the best PC games of the early 2000s.
PC Games of the Early 2000s
The early 2000s were a great time for PC gaming, with many popular and beloved titles released during this period. Notable games included the Max Payne series, the first two entries in the Far Cry franchise, Warcraft III, Age of Empires II, and the first two installments of the Command & Conquer series. Additionally, the SimCity series saw its peak popularity during the early 2000s, with SimCity 4 released in 2003. The early 2000s also saw the release of a variety of popular RPGs, such as Baldur’s Gate II, Icewind Dale, and Neverwinter Nights. The popular real-time strategy game Starcraft was released in 1998 and continued to be popular throughout the early 2000s.
- The Sims
- Age of Empires II
- Half-Life
- Baldur’s Gate II
- Grand Theft Auto III
- Max Payne
- Counter-Strike
- Medal of Honor
- Sid Meier’s Civilization IV
- Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
The early 2000s were also a great time for adventure games, with titles such as Syberia, The Longest Journey, and the Broken Sword series. Puzzle games were also popular, with the Myst series, The Incredible Machine, and the Professor Layton series all released during this time. The early 2000s were a great period for sports games, with the Madden NFL series, the FIFA series, and the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series all receiving multiple entries during this period. All in all, the early 2000s provided an abundance of options for PC gamers, with titles ranging from classic strategy games to immersive adventure titles.
Action and Adventure Games
Action and adventure games were some of the most popular genres of the early 2000s. These games put players in the shoes of an action-hero, giving them the power to explore exotic locations, fight off hordes of enemies, and save the day. Action and Adventure Games are video games that involve a lot of action, problem solving, and exploration. They often involve characters with the goal of completing tasks, solving puzzles, and overcoming obstacles. Action and Adventure Games typically involve fighting enemies and completing various levels, often with the ultimate goal of saving the world or restoring peace. Many of these games also involve a story, characters, and an immersive environment. Some of the most memorable action and adventure games of the early 2000s include the following:
Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III was released in 2001 and quickly became one of the most popular games of all time. Players take on the role of a criminal in the fictional city of Liberty City, where they can explore the city, steal cars, and commit all sorts of crimes. The game was praised for its open-ended gameplay, which allowed players to complete objectives in any order they chose.
Max Payne
Max Payne was released in 2001 and is widely considered to be one of the best third-person shooters of all time. The game follows the story of Max Payne, a former NYPD detective who is on a quest for revenge against the criminals who murdered his wife and child. Max Payne was praised for its excellent story, tight gunplay, and innovative bullet-time mechanic.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was released in 2003 and is widely considered to be one of the best action-adventure games of all time. The game follows the story of the Prince of Persia, who must use the Sands of Time to undo the damage caused by an ancient enemy. The game was praised for its excellent story, intuitive puzzles, and unique time-manipulation mechanics.
First-Person Shooters (FPS)
The early 2000s saw the rise of the first-person shooter genre, with games like Half-Life, Unreal Tournament, and Doom 3 redefining what a shooter could be. These games put players in the shoes of a soldier, giving them the power to take on hordes of enemies using a variety of weapons. Some of the most memorable FPS games of the early 2000s include the following:
Half-Life
Half-Life was released in 1998 and is widely considered to be one of the best FPS games of all time. The game follows the story of Gordon Freeman, a scientist who must fight his way out of a secret research facility after a portal to an alien world is opened. Half-Life was praised for its excellent story, tight gunplay, and innovative puzzle-solving mechanics.
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament was released in 1999 and is widely considered to be one of the best competitive FPS games of all time. The game pits players against each other in a variety of deathmatch and capture-the-flag modes. Unreal Tournament was praised for its fast-paced gameplay, wide variety of weapons, and robust modding community.
Doom 3
Doom 3 was released in 2004 and is widely considered to be one of the best horror FPS games of all time. The game follows the story of an unnamed marine who must fight his way through a demonic infestation on a Martian base. Doom 3 was praised for its excellent atmosphere, intense gunplay, and innovative lighting and sound design.
Real-Time Strategy (RTS) Games
Real-time strategy games put players in the role of a commander, giving them the power to build and manage a variety of military forces. These games require quick thinking and careful planning, as players must manage their resources and deploy their forces in order to outwit their opponents. Some of the most memorable RTS games of the early 2000s include the following:
StarCraft
StarCraft was released in 1998 and is widely considered to be one of the best RTS games of all time. The game pits players against each other in a variety of futuristic battlefields, where they must build and manage their forces in order to outwit their opponents. StarCraft was praised for its balanced gameplay, wide variety of units, and robust multiplayer community.
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings was released in 1999 and is widely considered to be one of the best historical RTS games of all time. The game puts players in the role of a medieval ruler, where they must build and manage a kingdom in order to outwit their opponents. Age of Empires II was praised for its excellent story, intuitive controls, and robust modding community.
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos was released in 2002 and is widely considered to be one of the best fantasy RTS games of all time. The game pits players against each other in a fantasy world, where they must build and manage their forces in order to outwit their opponents. Warcraft III was praised for its excellent story, intuitive controls, and innovative hero-based gameplay.
Role-Playing Games (RPG)
Role-playing games put players in the role of a character in a fantasy or science fiction world, giving them the power to explore, fight monsters, and complete quests. These games require strategic thinking and careful planning, as players must make decisions that will affect the outcome of the game. Some of the most memorable RPGs of the early 2000s include the following:
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind was released in 2002 and is widely considered to be one of the best open-world RPGs of all time. The game puts players in the role of a prisoner who must explore the island of Vvardenfell and unravel its mysterious past. Morrowind was praised for its excellent story, intuitive combat, and massive open world.
Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights was released in 2002 and is widely considered to be one of the best Dungeons & Dragons RPGs of all time. The game puts players in the role of a hero who must explore the city of Neverwinter and save it from a mysterious evil. Neverwinter Nights was praised for its excellent story, intuitive combat, and robust modding community.
Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn was released in 2000 and is widely considered to be one of the best isometric RPGs of all time. The game puts players in the role of a hero who must explore the city of Amn and save it from a mysterious evil. Baldur’s Gate II was praised for its excellent story, intuitive combat, and deep character customization.
Sports Games
Sports games put players in the role of a professional athlete, giving them the power to compete in a variety of sports. These games require quick reflexes and careful strategy, as players must make split-second decisions that will affect the outcome of the game. Some of the most memorable sports games of the early 2000s include the following:
Madden NFL 2003
Madden NFL 2003 was released in 2002 and is widely considered to be one of the best American football games of all time. The game puts players in the role of a professional football player, where they must compete in a variety of football games. Madden NFL 2003 was praised for its realistic gameplay, intuitive controls, and wide variety of teams and players.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was released in 2001 and is widely considered to be one of the best skateboarding games of all time. The game puts players in the role of a professional skateboarder, where they must complete a variety of skating challenges. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was praised for its intuitive controls, realistic physics, and wide variety of levels and tricks.
FIFA 2003
FIFA 2003 was released in 2002 and is widely considered to be one of the best soccer games of all time. The game puts players in the role of a professional soccer player, where they must compete in a variety of soccer matches. FIFA 2003 was praised for its realistic gameplay, intuitive controls, and wide variety of teams and players.
