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Experts Tell US the Best 00s PC Games

This article showcases our top picks for the Best 00s PC Games. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).

We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.

The Sims 2

This product was recommended by Aisling Gomez from Plane Beauty

The Sims 2 is one of the best PC Games of the 00’s for many reasons. One of the main reasons is that it’s unlike any game on the market – what other game lets you be the creator of your own story? The possibilities are endless! The Sims 2 even have expansion packs that give the ability to look after pets or become a vampire! It’s a classic, so no wonder why they’re up to the 4th edition already.


American McGee’s Alice

This product was recommended by Daniel Hess from To Tony Productions

Just landing in the first year of the decade, American McGee’s Alice is an amazing PC game that broke a lot of interesting ground for the dark turns a video game could take. Delivering a Tim Burton style Alice world that is arguably better than what he himself would create many years later. For fans of the story or those who love all things macabre, this is one to find and play.


Viva Piñata

This product was recommended by Steph Andrusjak from HorrorCultFilms

Breeding colourful, cuddly pinata creatures sounds easy, right? Wrong! What appears to be a cutesy game for children is actually one of strategy which is just as fun for adults to play as it is for kids. One of the game’s main challenges is balancing the breeding programme whilst keeping the population in harmony with each other. This is harder than it looks as fights break out, pinatas get sick and predators attack. Master growing the correct plants to attract a variety of species, find your pinatas a soul mate to dance with and allow the lineage of your confectionery-filled creatures to flourish. If you manage to keep the peace and stay within budget, you can transform your garden into a pinata paradise!


Grand Theft Auto; San Andreas

This product was recommended by Alina Clark from CocoDoc

GTA San Andreas pretty much defined our PC gaming experience in the 2000s. In my case, I was either playing GTA San Adreas, or I was playing Super Mario as a kid. While GTA was initially released for PS2, it was the PC version that rubberstamped the game in the top echelons of PC gaming. While it didn’t seem overly complicated or intricate at the time, I have come to appreciate the fine-eye development and the extremely captivating nature of the whole game. Stepping back into the shoes of CJ as an adult will ultimately take you all the way back. The characters, array of activities and the whole gameplan is still as awe-inspiring as it was back then.


Half-Life 2 – PC

This product was recommended by Magdi Talal Hussein from Magdi.Shop

It was only a given that a list talking about PC classics from the early 2000s would mention the Half-Life series at some point or the other. The first game was a brilliant FPS in its own right, but it was the incredible quality of Half-Life 2 that cemented this series as one of the best franchises in gaming history.


Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

This product was recommended by Magdi Talal Hussein from Magdi.Shop

While Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was initially released on the PlayStation 2, it was the game’s release on the PC a year after that arguably cemented the title’s reputation as one of the best open-world games of all time. Stepping into the shoes of CJ and getting embroiled in a wildly captivating story of crime and betrayal was quite a blast indeed.


The Longest Journey

This product was recommended by Magdi Talal Hussein from Magdi.Shop

While point-and-click titles were all the rage on the PC during its golden years, even the most devout fan of the genre had to admit that the genre started dying out after the advent of the 21st century. So, props must be given to The Longest Journey for managing to be a commercial success even during the downward spiral of the point-and-click genre’s popularity.


The Sims 2

This product was recommended by Magdi Talal Hussein from Magdi.Shop

The Sims was one of the biggest games of its time, but the game was still fairly lacking in many departments. However, with the advent of The Sims 2, players finally realized just how impressive the true potential of this franchise really was.


Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic

This product was recommended by Magdi Talal Hussein from Magdi.Shop

Of course, it would be impossible to talk about BioWare’s dominance during the early 2000s without mentioning a title that most people still consider to be the best game in the Star Wars franchise – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Featuring a group of memorable characters and one of the greatest plots in video game history, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a game that no fan of the Star Wars series or good RPGs should miss out on.


Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn

This product was recommended by Magdi Talal Hussein from Magdi.Shop

BioWare’s reputation might have fluctuated over the years but you can’t deny just how big the studio was in the early 2000s. After all, it did release the sequel to one of its most popular and beloved games, Baldur’s Gate, around that time.


The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

This product was recommended by Magdi Talal Hussein from Magdi.Shop

While Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series might be considered by many to be one of the most popular RPG series in modern times, there was a time when the franchise was relatively obscure. However, the release of The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind changed this perception completely.


Deus Ex

This product was recommended by Eden Cheng from PeopleFinderFree

Deus Ex is a classic cyberpunk action RPG that explores themes of human augmentation, technological advancement, and even societal inequality. In the game, players take on the role of JC Denton, a cyborg whose first assignment as an anti-terrorist agent is to find and capture those behind a shipment of stolen vaccines for a deadly pandemic. However, as one can expect, he finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that has him facing up against various shady organizations like the Triads and Illuminati, just to name a few. The game received so much critical acclaim with many considering it to be the “Best PC Game of All Time”, because even if the visuals don’t hold up over 20 years later, the sheer breadth of its systems, its storytelling, and the complexity of its level design remain unmatched.


Darkness Within: In Pursuit Of Loath Nolder

This product was recommended by Robin Young from Fitness Savvy

For this reason, I’m highlighting Darkness Within. Due to the subjective nature there are some poor reviews of this game, however, it all depends on what kinds of games you like, so here’s my take. I believe Darkness Within to be one of the great PC games of the 00s. Fans of survival horror games will like the puzzle elements and the story is pretty decent. It’s not like Silent Hill or Resident Evil in that you don’t have weapons, however, the music and overall atmosphere are great. It’s also a fun game to play with someone else as you can help each other work out the clues! The puzzles are tricky enough to make it interesting, but not so hard that you get bored and give up. That said, the easier settings allow hints and clues to help you solve the puzzle if needed. There is also a sequel which I haven’t managed to play yet but hope so in the near future.


Max Payne

This product was recommended by Fintan Costello from Bonus Finder

No list of the best 2000s computer games would be complete without Max Payne. Even after 20 years of its release, this game remains an unbeatable action classic. Having been framed for a murder, former cop Max Payne sets on a revenge mission to clear his name but soon realises that behind all of it is a larger conspiracy involving some major players and institutions. Despite its age, the game still looks great in a nostalgic way with its neo-noir theme and it’s still considered to be one of the best video games to this day. Whether you want to take a trip down memory lane or you’re a new player, I’d argue that this stone-cold classic is the best PC game ever made.


Left 4 Dead 2

This product was recommended by Saskia Ketz from Mojomox

Left 4 Dead 2 is set at roughly the same time as its predecessor – just after an epidemic that turned most people into zombie mutants.


Assassin’s Creed

This product was recommended by Braden Norwood from Scissortail Guild

Without a doubt, Assassin’s Creed is one of the most influential games of the early 2000s, if only for the massive franchise it inspired. For a 2007 title, Assassin’s Creed was relatively groundbreaking, building “up” rather than “out”, which allowed players to climb the highest towers and leap to the streets below. Though the game was relatively repetitive in its mission structure, the lore behind it drew players in and contributed to a series that’s still running strong nearly fifteen years later. And with a litany of books, comics, and shows to come, it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Undoubtedly, all of that is owed to this singular title that started off as a Prince of Persia spinoff.


Diablo Battle Chest

This product was recommended by Stewart McGrenary from Freedom Mobiles

Get all the action with this Diablo box set. With both games and an official guide, you’ll be prepared for any challenge that arises in-game or out!


Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn

This product was recommended by Cindy Corpis from SearchPeopleFree

This is a top-notch PC-based game, released on 24th September 2000. An epic continuation of the best-in-class story, which started in “Baldur’s Gate,” this powerful RPG is set along the Sword Coast’s southern part. It was mainly a detailed and rich location of the forgotten realms, named Amn. This game showcases more than 130 monster types and 300 spells compared to only 60 monster types and 130 spells in Baldur’s Gate. It archives a Metascore of 95 and 9.1 user scores.


The Sims – The People Simulator

This product was recommended by Cindy Corpis from SearchPeopleFree

This is a strategic life-simulation computer game made by Maxis and created by Will Wright’s superior game designer. It’s all about a simulation of one or more virtual persons’ regular activities in a residential household in the vicinity of SimCity. It was released on 2nd February 2000 for teens and achieved maximum recognition due to its ease of playing. This game achieved a Metascore of 92 and 8.0 user scores as you decide everything and everyone’s fate lies in your hands.


Super Mario Galaxy

This product was recommended by Shiv Gupta from Incrementors

The first Mario game created for the Wii transports you into space to explore 42 galaxies teeming with hundreds of planets, each with its eco-system, adversaries, and gravity. Its revolutionary physics system allows you to bounce between and completely circumnavigate the spherical 3D worlds. Its combination of five well-designed events made competitive multiplayer gaming accessible to everyone in the home, from babies to octogenarians, assisting the machine in selling over 100 million copies and contributing to the concept that games can be a highly communal bonding experience. Super Mario Galaxy is so well-executed that it appears to be effortless.


Pokemon Gold

This product was recommended by Jeremy Ong from Home Security Hub

This is the most adorable vintage 00PC game. It works perfectly, supported with an alternate battery for saving function. There are different colors to pick, blue, red, yellow, silver, and gold; you will discover each one of these colors once you start playing the game! It adds a lot of excitement to the game. Highly recommended


Left 4 Dead

This product was recommended by Jonathan Tian from Mobitrix

Not the most unique concept, but Valve made this entertaining co-op blaster with wonderful technical flourishes. Because the game’s innovative artificial intelligence engine, dubbed Director, altered the amount and intensity of foes, as well as the lighting and music, the experience felt both spontaneous and theatrical.


Wii Sports

This product was recommended by Jonathan Tian from Mobitrix

Until they saw people playing Wii Sports, the industry laughed at the Wii’s odd motion controller and dated hardware. Through a series of five carefully crafted events, everyone in the house could participate in competitive multiplayer gaming, from toddlers to grandparents. There were better Wii games – Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros Brawl – but Sports defined the machine and its ethos.


Call of Duty 4- Modern Warfare

This product was recommended by Jonathan Tian from Mobitrix

Modern Warfare 2 had RPG-style progression mechanics and killstreak rewards that gave the online experience new levels of structure and compulsion. The campaign was fantastic, with Captain John Price providing one of the only truly memorable characters of the genre.


Shadow of the Colossus

This product was recommended by Jonathan Tian from Mobitrix

Shadow of the Colossus reinforced Fumito Ueda’s reputation as a true visionary. But are these massive, sad beings – who exist both as attackers and living architectural models – really the baddies in this scenario? Unexpectedly beautiful.


Silent Hill 2

This product was recommended by Steven Walker from Spylix

A strange, psychological survival-horror game, the sequel took it in bizarre, daring new directions. When troubled protagonist James Sunderland arrives in the titular town looking for his murdered wife, he discovers a Freudian menagerie of fetishistic monsters, including BDSM overlord Pyramid Head. Like all great horror fiction, once read, it haunts you forever.


The Elder Scrolls IV- Oblivion

This product was recommended by Steven Walker from Spylix

When you first emerge from the sewers in Oblivion’s opening hour and discover how far its rich fantasy landscape spreads into the distance, you’re overwhelmed by the amount of freedom you’re granted to explore it. This game defined open-world adventures, a genre that would soon dominate. To play The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind was a chore; Oblivion let you battle, converse, and devise your way through its world with ease utilizing magic or swords or a silver tongue to mold the narrative whatever you chose.


The Legend of Zelda- Majora’s Mask

This product was recommended by Steven Walker from Spylix

The strangest, saddest, and most unforgettable Zelda game of the decade. It sent Link from the realm he had recently saved in Ocarina of Time to a hopeless and twisted location where he became trapped in a three-day time cycle. As a grimacing moon approaches the planet, the citizens of Termina rush about their business, and we try to escape calamity. Link wears masks that convert him into a toddler, a mountain troll, or a mermaid. Rarely imitated in later games, Majora’s Mask’s time travel conveys the tremendous melancholy of a half-remembered myth.


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Written by Zak Parker

Journalist, writer, musician, professional procrastinator. I'll add more here later.

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