Lachlan's Games of the Years
I'm really cornering the market on stupid things that nobody asked for.
See also: Every Game I've Ever Finished
Updated 2023-06-01
2022
Iron Lung
Tunic
Vampire Survivors
Let’s Build a Zoo
Tinykin
2021
Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye
Metroid Dread
Halo Infinite
Age of Empires IV
2020
A year of solid remakes and remasters, both fan-made and official.
Black Mesa
Rayman Redemption
Pikmin 3: Deluxe
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
2019
Outer Wilds
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Cadence of Hyrule
They Are Billions
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
2018
Celeste
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Tetris Effect
Deltarune Chapter 1
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
2017
Stiff competition with 2011 for strongest gaming year of the decade.
Night in the Woods
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Tacoma
Halo Wars 2
Chess Ultra
2016
Stardew Valley
Superhot
Overcooked
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
Abzû
2015
Kerbal Space Program
Undertale
Halo 5
Ori and the Blind Forest
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Crypt of the Necrodancer
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Rare Replay
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
Grow Home
Rocket League
2014
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Mario Kart 8
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Wolfenstein: The New Order
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Shovel Knight
Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Hyrule Warriors
Goat Simulator
2013
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Rayman Legends
Steamworld Dig
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
Pikmin 3
Rogue Legacy
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
BioShock Infinite
Age of Empires II: HD Edition
Rayman Fiesta Run
Saints Row IV
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Sonic Dash
Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time
2012
FTL: Faster Than Light
Rayman Jungle Run
Halo 4
Fez
Black Mesa (Part 1)
Plague Inc.
The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard
Rayman 3 HD
The Room
Thirty Flights of Loving
Kid Icarus: Uprising
2011
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Minecraft
Portal 2
Xenoblade Chronicles
Saints Row the Third
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Rayman Origins
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Frog Fractions
Batman: Arkham City
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition
Pullblox (Pushmo)
Star Fox 64 3D
Mighty Switch Force
Sonic Generations
Rayman 3D
2010
Minecraft (Beta)
Super Meat Boy
Monster Hunter Tri
Super Mario Galaxy 2
VVVVVV
Limbo
Metroid: Other M
Pac-Man CE DX+
Age of Zombies
Cut The Rope
007: GoldenEye
Donkey Kong Country Returns
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
Super Scribblenauts
Sonic Colours
Aliens vs. Predator
2009
Metroid Prime Trilogy
Plants vs Zombies
Minecraft (Alpha)
Pikmin 2 (New Play Control)
Pikmin (New Play Control)
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Halo 3: ODST
Doodle Jump
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Canabalt
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Angry Birds
Trine
Bit.Trip Beat
2008
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Mario Kart Wii
World of Goo
Guitar Hero: World Tour
Gears of War 2
Spore
Dead Space
Call of Duty: World at War
Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
2007
The Orange Box
Halo 3
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Super Mario Galaxy
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Team Fortress 2
Peggle
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
BioShock
Prince of Persia: Rival Swords
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
The Simpsons Game
Link's Crossbow Training
Jetpac Refuelled
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
2006
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Half-Life 2: Episode One
Dwarf Fortress
New Super Mario Bros.
Metroid Prime Hunters
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Wii Play
Red Steel
Wii Sports
Over the Hedge
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
2005
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Empire Earth II
Mario Kart DS
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
Psychonauts
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Lego Star Wars: The Video Game
Shadow the Hedgehog
Madagascar
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Rayman: Hoodlum's Revenge
Rayman DS
2004
Pikmin 2
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Halo 2
Star Wars: Battlefront
Motherload
Garry's Mod
Counter-Strike: Source
Metroid: Zero Mission
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2003
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
Zuma
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Mata Nui Online Game
Beyond Good & Evil
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Rayman 3 (GBA)
2002
Metroid Prime
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PC)
Metroid Fusion
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
Marble Blast Gold
Men in Black II: Alien Escape
Age of Mythology
Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
Star Wars: The New Droid Army
2001
Pikmin
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Halo: Combat Evolved
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
SSX Tricky
Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo
Sonic Adventure 2
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages / Seasons
2000
Rayman 2: Revolution
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Legoland
1999
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
Half-Life: Opposing Force
Super Smash Bros.
Bugdom
Donkey Kong 64
Aliens versus Predator
1998
Half-Life
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Sonic Adventure
Putt-Putt Enters the Race
(The ranking between Half-Life and OoT could go either way, honestly)
1997
Age of Empires
Star Fox 64
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
1996
Super Mario 64
Crash Bandicoot
The Neverhood
1995
Rayman
Star Wars: Dark Forces
1994
Super Metroid
Donkey Kong Country
SimTower
The Elder Scrolls: Arena
1993
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
1992
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Ecco the Dolphin
Super Mario Kart
1991
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Sonic the Hedgehog
Metroid II: Return of Samus
SimAnt
1990
Super Mario World
F-Zero
1989
Minesweeper
1988
Mega Man 2
1987
Punch-Out!!
1986
Metroid
1985
1984
Tetris
1983
1982
1981
Donkey Kong
1980
1978
Space Invaders