As we roll into 2026, folks, let me tell you something – looking back at the 2020s in gaming feels like flipping through a photo album of some of the wildest, most beautiful adventures I've ever been on. It's been a decade that's already given us so much, and honestly, it's kind of mind-blowing to think we're already more than halfway through. I remember starting this journey, controller in hand, not knowing what was coming. And man, what a ride it's been. The stories, the worlds, the sheer artistry… it's enough to make a grown gamer get a little misty-eyed.
Right now, sitting at the very top of the mountain, is Baldur's Gate 3. It's got that magic 96/100 score on Metacritic, sharing the peak with titans like Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. But here's the inside scoop: Larian's masterpiece nudges out the top spot because of how those review scores are weighed. The folks at Metacritic give a bit more oomph to the veteran critics, the ones who've been in the trenches for years. It's like having your wise old dungeon master giving the final ruling on a tricky dice roll – their word carries a little extra weight. The founder, Marc Doyle, put it best: "It doesn't have a radical impact... but we do give a little bit more influence to the highly respected veteran critics." So, Baldur's Gate 3 isn't just popular; it's critically revered in a way that resonates with the old guard and new players alike. That's no small feat.
To really wrap my head around how special this is, I had to look back. Way back. And the comparisons are… honestly, a little humbling.
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The 1990s were ruled by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time with a near-mythical 99. In that era, a 96 would have put Baldur's Gate 3 in the same legendary tier as Half-Life, Gran Turismo, and GoldenEye 007. Let that sink in for a second.
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The 2000s saw Grand Theft Auto IV take the crown with a 98. A 96 back then? Man, you'd be in a brutal, glorious brawl with icons like Half-Life 2, BioShock, Uncharted 2, and Resident Evil 4. It even would have just barely edged out its own legendary predecessor, Baldur's Gate 2, by a single, precious point. Talk about a legacy!
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The 2010s were dominated by Super Mario Galaxy 2 (97). In that decade, a score of 96 would have meant going toe-to-toe with only the absolute heavyweights: Mass Effect 2 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Company doesn't get much better than that.
So here we are in the 2020s, and Baldur's Gate 3 is the name on the plaque. But you wanna know the craziest part? The race isn't over. Not by a long shot. The air in 2026 is thick with anticipation for what's still to come. We're staring down the barrel of potential game-changers that could rewrite this whole list before the decade is out. I'm talking about the stuff of legends and forum rumors:
| The Coming Contenders | Why They're a Threat |
|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto VI | Rockstar's next open-world behemoth. Need I say more? |
| The Witcher 4 | CD Projekt Red returning to one of the most beloved RPG worlds ever. |
| The Elder Scrolls VI | Bethesda's next grand fantasy epic. A decade in the making. |
| Half-Life 3 | The mythical one. If it ever appears, all bets are off. |
And get this – the wildcard might be Larian Studios itself. Rumor has it they could drop a new Divinity game before the 2020s are over. Can you imagine? The current champ might just step into the ring and challenge itself for the title. Now that would be a storyline for the ages.
So, what does it all mean for me, just a player soaking it all in? It means we're living in a golden age, right now. The fact that we can debate whether a sprawling, choice-driven CRPG like Baldur's Gate 3 is the defining game of an era that also gave us the open-world mastery of Elden Ring and the pure creative joy of Tears of the Kingdom… that's a beautiful problem to have. Each of these games isn't just a product; it's a world I've lived in, a story I've helped shape, a challenge I've overcome (or, let's be real, been brutally defeated by).
The 2020s in gaming have been about depth, choice, and breathtaking scale. They've been about studios swinging for the fences and, more often than not, hitting home runs that echo through the entire industry. As I look at my library in 2026, I don't just see a collection of icons. I see memories. I see the hundreds of hours lost in the Forgotten Realms, the triumphant defeat of a shardbearer in the Lands Between, and the ingenious contraptions built in Hyrule.
Who will ultimately be remembered as the definitive game of the 2020s? Honestly… I don't know. And I kinda love that. The competition is fierce, the future is unwritten, and the next masterpiece could be just around the corner. All I know is, I'll be here, controller and mouse at the ready, eager to see where this incredible decade takes us next. The story's not over yet – and that's the most exciting part of all. 🎮✨