Lemming42
Arcane
Similar to the "post-decline gems" thread, except focusing specifically on what I think must be the single worst period in gaming history.
I'm making a big list of every game I think is worth playing from 1990 to 2024. Not games I adore, not even games I necessarilly like, just games which are worth playing in some way. Mostly PC-only, though the occasional console game breaks containment.
The lists are being composed from memory; I'm only putting down games I can remember without consulting a list or MobyGames or whatever. For every year from 1995 to 2002, I have at least fifteen games per year, often far more. 2003 and 2004 fare relatively well too. From 2010 onwards, I can at least manage ten games per year, with far more in the 2018 - 2023 period, which feels like a real rejuvination of gaming.
For the whole 2005 - 2009 stretch though? Here's my list:
That's it. For a full four-year stretch. 17 games I could think of. And a lot of these games aren't even good - Quake IV is the definition of mediocre, Mass Effect is overall very boring, Oblivion sucks and is only there because it's part of the TES series, BioShock isn't up to much, and then there's shit like Stolen and Titan Quest which are just knockoffs of pre-existing, generally better games. I don't like AssCreed much, I just think it's an interesting experiment/tech demo/whatever. Tomb Raider: Legend fucking sucks and it's only "worth" playing to see the destruction of a once-beloved franchise happen before your eyes.
For comparison, here are my preliminary lists for 1997 and 1998 alone - also composed entirely from memory, and thus incomplete:
Each of these two years individually has more games I could think of than the entire 2005 - 2009 period. And they're mostly better games, too.
That particular four year stretch is truly dire, the most barren in gaming history. What are your saving graces from this shit period?
I'm making a big list of every game I think is worth playing from 1990 to 2024. Not games I adore, not even games I necessarilly like, just games which are worth playing in some way. Mostly PC-only, though the occasional console game breaks containment.
The lists are being composed from memory; I'm only putting down games I can remember without consulting a list or MobyGames or whatever. For every year from 1995 to 2002, I have at least fifteen games per year, often far more. 2003 and 2004 fare relatively well too. From 2010 onwards, I can at least manage ten games per year, with far more in the 2018 - 2023 period, which feels like a real rejuvination of gaming.
For the whole 2005 - 2009 stretch though? Here's my list:
2005
Stolen
SWAT 4
F.E.A.R.
Quake 4
2006
Oblivion
Titan Quest
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic
Tomb Raider: Legend
2007
BioShock
Portal
Assassin's Creed
Mass Effect
Aquaria
2008
Fallout 3
Mirror's Edge
2009
Dawn of War II
Dragon Age: Origins
Stolen
SWAT 4
F.E.A.R.
Quake 4
2006
Oblivion
Titan Quest
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic
Tomb Raider: Legend
2007
BioShock
Portal
Assassin's Creed
Mass Effect
Aquaria
2008
Fallout 3
Mirror's Edge
2009
Dawn of War II
Dragon Age: Origins
That's it. For a full four-year stretch. 17 games I could think of. And a lot of these games aren't even good - Quake IV is the definition of mediocre, Mass Effect is overall very boring, Oblivion sucks and is only there because it's part of the TES series, BioShock isn't up to much, and then there's shit like Stolen and Titan Quest which are just knockoffs of pre-existing, generally better games. I don't like AssCreed much, I just think it's an interesting experiment/tech demo/whatever. Tomb Raider: Legend fucking sucks and it's only "worth" playing to see the destruction of a once-beloved franchise happen before your eyes.
For comparison, here are my preliminary lists for 1997 and 1998 alone - also composed entirely from memory, and thus incomplete:
1997
Realms of the Haunting
Turok
Magic: The Gathering
The Last Express
Outlaws
Shadow Warrior
Blood
Dungeon Keeper
Carmageddon
Claw
Hexen II
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Fallout
MageSlayer
Nightmare Creatures
Dark Forces 2
Take No Prisoners
Total Annihilation
Crash Bandicoot 2
Tomb Raider 2
Myth: The Fallen Lords
The Elder Scrolls: Battlespire
Quake II
1998
Star Trek: Klingon Honor Guard
Die By The Sword
Deathtrap Dungeon
Rage of Mages
Forsaken
Unreal
Descent to Undermountain
Baldur's Gate
Rainbow Six
ODT: Escape or Die Trying
Hexplore
Might & Magic VI
Spyro the Dragon
Delta Force
Fallout 2
Crash Bandicoot 3
King's Quest: Mask of Eternity
The Elder Scrolls: Redguard
Heretic II
SiN
Half-Life
Thief: The Dark Project
Tomb Raider III
Space Bunnies Must Die!
Realms of the Haunting
Turok
Magic: The Gathering
The Last Express
Outlaws
Shadow Warrior
Blood
Dungeon Keeper
Carmageddon
Claw
Hexen II
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Fallout
MageSlayer
Nightmare Creatures
Dark Forces 2
Take No Prisoners
Total Annihilation
Crash Bandicoot 2
Tomb Raider 2
Myth: The Fallen Lords
The Elder Scrolls: Battlespire
Quake II
1998
Star Trek: Klingon Honor Guard
Die By The Sword
Deathtrap Dungeon
Rage of Mages
Forsaken
Unreal
Descent to Undermountain
Baldur's Gate
Rainbow Six
ODT: Escape or Die Trying
Hexplore
Might & Magic VI
Spyro the Dragon
Delta Force
Fallout 2
Crash Bandicoot 3
King's Quest: Mask of Eternity
The Elder Scrolls: Redguard
Heretic II
SiN
Half-Life
Thief: The Dark Project
Tomb Raider III
Space Bunnies Must Die!
Each of these two years individually has more games I could think of than the entire 2005 - 2009 period. And they're mostly better games, too.
That particular four year stretch is truly dire, the most barren in gaming history. What are your saving graces from this shit period?