Perfect Games Released Since 2010

As the technology evolves, video games become more beautiful, more technically impressive, bigger, longer, and arguably even deeper, brimming with gameplay mechanics and intricate systems, borrowing elements from other genres, and blending the best achievements of titles that came before. Even so, many players would agree that the majority of their most beloved titles from recent years aren’t flawless. Sometimes, we fall in love with something despite its glaring issues, where the sum of the best parts easily outweighs the obvious downsides.

However, there are rare games that are so good that it can be nearly impossible to pinpoint their weaknesses. This list aims to focus on exactly such releases dating back to 2010,​​​​​​and considering multiple factors. These include fun and memorable moments, each game’s innovations and impact on the industry, their technical state and polish, replayability to motivate players to get back to a game over time, and even how well they have aged to be played today. Even with all that in mind, it’s worth remembering that any perspective is subjective, and it’s impossible to include every game that some believe is perfect.

For this list, only original games will be included, so no remakes and remasters of older released titles.

10

Grand Theft Auto 5

Still The Modern Day Open-World King

It may be odd to see Grand Theft Auto 5 in 10th place here, given its status as one of the best-selling video games of all time and its immense popularity, especially in the ever-evolving GTA Online mode. However, despite the impact GTA 5 has undoubtedly had, the game is starting to show its age, and it’s about time for its successor, GTA 6, to finally reach fans after 13 long years of waiting and several delays.

Nevertheless, in classic Rockstar fashion, GTA 5 is the perfect open-world title that is leagues above the competition. It’s set in a modern city, which remains a rarity for the genre given the amount of resources needed to create something like this. Even more recent open-world titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Watch Dogs: Legion can’t touch the bar set by GTA 5, which speaks for itself.

Bethesda’s Peak Achievement

As legendary as Bethesda is today, the studio arguably peaked with 2011’s The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, essentially capturing the genie in a bottle in a way that it never managed to reproduce again. Skyrim was simply untouchable in its achievement back at its launch, with its vast and detailed world, endless freedom, and refined RPG mechanics. Sure, it was never perfect technically, but let’s make an exception for this one, shall we?

After all these years, not only does Skyrim come to mind first when thinking of Todd Howard and his studio, outshining any Fallout game released after, it’s easily the most enduring open-world RPG out there, with countless re-releases, an unmatched breadth of a modding community, and thousands of active players. Fans can only hope that the upcoming The Elder Scrolls 6 will be as impactful and lasting, but at this point, reaching that bar almost feels impossible.

8

God Of War

A Flawless Franchise Revival

God of War is the true gem of Sony’s first-party exclusives from the PS4 era, reaffirming Kratos’ status as one of the most beloved and recognizable video game characters on the planet. One may argue that it shouldn’t have won GOTY over Red Dead Redemption 2, but that’s only a matter of taste and perspective. After all, few would argue that the modern God of War reboot is quite literally a flawless action-adventure title, perfectly achieving what it sets out to do.

God of War is a standout achievement in every aspect, be it visuals, music, exploration, combat, story, characters, or immaculate technical execution. Treating its predecessors with respect while confidently paving the way forward to something new, God of War is perhaps the best franchise revival ever, and it’s even more interesting to see where the series goes next.

7

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Probably Gaming’s Best Debut Ever

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is undoubtedly the biggest triumph of the past year — one that’s been stacked with great releases — and probably the most successful gaming debut ever. The new breed of combat-based RPG with innovative mechanics blending turn-based party combat with a twist, Expedition 33 will probably pave the way for many similar games, but it’s so much more than a jumping-off point.

With its perfect story and characters, the breathtakingly beautiful art of its world, its already iconic music, and a true human soul at its core, it has been too long for players to receive an RPG like this, with many stating that they haven’t felt the same since the early Final Fantasy days. The only potential issue with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could be its rare yet nonetheless frustrating platforming sections, but luckily, these are entirely optional and only grant some extra cosmetics.

6

Minecraft

The Ultimate Creative Sandbox That’s Here to Stay

Minecraft probably wouldn’t have become the best-selling game of all time if it weren’t perfect. The secret here is its simplicity and scaling, rendering it as something that’s here to stay one, two, three, or more decades later. Essentially an open-world sandbox made from interactive blocks, it’s a video game incarnation of LEGO, granting its players pretty much limitless possibilities for creativity.

With its four distinct modes ranging from survival and adventure to hardcore and creative, and a seamless multiplayer mode to boot, Minecraft can be almost as intriguing to explore for non-gamers, simply admiring it as a flexible content creation platform. Over the years, dedicated Minecraft enthusiasts have recreated the most iconic places and locations from countless media franchises and even the real world, and these creations constantly awe like nothing else in the gaming medium.

5

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Nintendo’s Open-World Marvel

Yet another open-world game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, is probably among Nintendo’s finest creations in the iconic series and beyond, which already says a lot. Breath of the Wild managed to capture true, undiluted video game magic, creating a world of adventure to whisk players far away in an instant, delivering hours upon hours of sheer fun.

It’s particularly impressive how this gigantic game works on limited portable hardware. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a technical and artistic marvel, with each small decision behind its every element feeling exactly right. Its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, later reinforced Nintendo’s perfect understanding of the winning formula, matching or even surpassing its predecessor by introducing a whole new creative layer to the original, entrusting players with incredibly flexible tools for endless possibilities.

4

Baldur’s Gate 3

So Good It Almost Feels Like A Dream

After Baldur’s Gate 3’s launch, the discourse around Larian’s game mostly revolved around it being “too good,” putting the rest of the RPG developers of the past years to shame. It is surely impossible to compete with Larian’s expertise in the genre, and Baldur’s Gate 3 is the pinnacle of the studio’s years-long experience, single-handedly raising the bar for classic turn-based CRPGs delivered on a technical level never seen before.

For many, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a dream come true. This title is so packed with freedom in being the character you want to be, branching stories, and combat possibilities, that it remains one of the most played single-player titles even today. It really is the perfect RPG, only scaring off those players who aren’t on board with its turn-based nature or dice-roll mechanics.

3

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A Wholesome RPG Classic That Aged Beautifully

For those players who couldn’t get behind BG3, there’s an equally strong alternative offering. A decade later, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains the pinnacle of open-world narrative-driven RPGs for fans who value story, quests, and characters above all. The Witcher 3 embodies the best qualities of an old-school dialogue-heavy game, coupled with the modern open-world formula that has mostly remained unchanged for the past 10 years. With its unmatched atmosphere, epic scope, and constantly exciting plot, The Witcher 3 has aged beautifully, arguably remaining CDPR’s best game ever.

The rumors of a new DLC looming on the horizon have once again tempted many to give it yet another playthrough, showcasing immense love for Geralt and his companions. If any, the most commonly mentioned issue with The Witcher 3 is the game’s abundance of pointless question marks featuring little more than extra loot, especially on Skellige, which is not nearly something major enough to detract from this exceptional RPG journey we don’t get too often.

2

Red Dead Redemption 2

Easily Among The Best Of The Decade

Back in 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 was outshone by God of War for that year’s GOTY award, but over the years, not only has RDR 2 become much more respected, but it has consistently topped various rankings of the best games of the decade, and that’s hard to argue with. It feels as if Red Dead Redemption 2 is like fine wine, only becoming more appreciated with age, showcasing an unmatched presence in online discussions.

Red Dead Redemption 2’s greatest achievement is its open-world and its people, which, many years later, have little to no competition in how authentic and believable it all looks and feels. While RDR 2 is technically perfect, probably more so than any other game yet, there are somewhat outdated design decisions and restrictive missions that some players aren’t too fond of, hoping that the upcoming GTA 6 will address those minor quibbles.

1

Elden Ring

Reaching For Absolute Greatness

Elden Ring is the result of years of evolution and iteration of FromSoftware’s trademark formula, coupled with a long-awaited decision to place the signature Dark Souls gameplay into a world of unparalleled freedom and scale. The result is a fantasy open-world RPG unlike any other, with unmatched combat, character builds, and boss and enemy variety, some of the most intricate worlds and lore in the genre ever, and the feeling of an epic journey that is so rare in modern gaming.

The interesting thing about Elden Ring is that Hidetaka Miyazaki himself has stated that he’s still in the process of making a perfect fantasy RPG, and Elden Ring is not it, albeit it’s pretty close. Let’s hope that FromSoftware’s true magnum opus still lies ahead, even if it’s hard to imagine how the studio can top a masterpiece of this scale.