Every year, there are certain games that leave a lasting impression on an entire generation of gamers. Over the past 20 years, a number of legendary games have been released, and it's possible that the younger gamers may have missed out on these gems. Some of these titles were highly anticipated back then, while others came out of nowhere and took the world by surprise, offering an unforgettable experience . Let's take a look at these legendary games together.

Among the completely new titles that have been praised by critics, we obviously find the superb Dishonored from Arkane Studios. Its inventive gameplay, compelling story, and fascinating universe rank it directly among the legendary games that must be played at least once in our gaming career. In the same category, Sleeping Dogs has also done well. Much more than just a GTA-like game, this title delivers an ultra-immersive representation of Hong Kong, in the shoes of a police officer infiltrating a real gang war.

As for sequels, The Witcher 3 is undoubtedly one of the legendary games that you absolutely must discover. It took the franchise to a whole new level with its captivating open world and extremely enthralling quests. Also, the new version of DOOM from 2016 managed to bring back from the dead a franchise that was forgotten. Here, id Software has taken the codes of modern FPS games and added a healthy dose of nostalgia and tension. Although relegated to obscurity since then, Max Payne 3 is also a sure bet in the action genre. This third installment, created by Rockstar Games, is very mature, with a dark storyline centered on a main character tormented by his past.

Several legendary games have also been improved for modern machines. This was notably the case for the Mass Effect trilogy, which was bundled into a Legendary Edition with reworked graphics to a great effect. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion received similar treatment in 2025. Players can rediscover this monument of open-world RPGs, recreated with the Unreal Engine 5. While Morrowind shook things up in 2002, Oblivion marked the franchise's entry into the HD era. Everything is more detailed and the feeling of immersion is great. Not to mention the fantastic soundtrack composed by Jeremy Soule. Finally, we highly recommend trying Half-Life 2 RTX, which gives this benchmark narrative FPS a new lease of life. It's the perfect dress rehearsal before the possible release of Half-Life 3.

While some games show their age with outdated mechanics and structures, they still remain legendary! When it comes to first-person shooters, Crysis was a true graphical and technical feat when it was first released. Gears of War 2 delivered a dose of action rarely equaled in gaming at the time, as did Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. The latter is considered by many to be one of the best in the franchise, even though it was released back in November 2012.

We have only mentioned a tiny fraction of the games that can be considered legendary today. Almost every genre is represented, as there is no shortage of choice. The video game industry has given birth to true works of art that will span generations of consoles. It's never too late to try out these legendary games!

We will undoubtedly offer a second part with the aim of compiling a more exhaustive list of the most memorable titles of recent decades.