20 video games that were all the rage in the ‘00s

The millennium started with the debut of The Sims, and that’s all anyone needs to know about its era’s first decade. These weird little computer creatures have evolved greatly over the past 20-some years, but they’ll never shed their unique language, body movements, and green diamonds above their heads. 

When Halo: Combat Evolved was released in 2001, the gaming world changed. The series went on to release several more iterations of the game, and it’s made billions in revenue since its debut. 

When it came out in 2006, the Nintendo Wii was a revolutionary game console, and with it came Wii Sports, the next best thing to playing actual sports. There’s no telling how many televisions were broken by a flying Wii remote after a backhand in tennis. 

Wii Sports wasn’t the only awesome game to play on the console. Mario Kart Wii was just as entertaining, with courses like Coconut Mall, Maple Treeway, and the updated Rainbow Road keeping kids occupied for hours on end. 

Has there ever been a zoo tycoon in real life? Probably not, and that might be why the game Zoo Tycoon was so fun for millions. Players got to design and run their own zoo, something most never thought was possible until the game came along.  

As if Star Wars weren’t addicting enough, George Lucas and Co. had to adapt it to video game format. Although there had been Star Wars video games before, Star Wars: Battlefront got a whole new generation interested in the franchise. 

There were several Grand Theft Auto versions that were released in the ‘00s, but none sold better than San Andreas. This version was also loved by critics, making it a major success for developers all around. 

Call of Duty also released several iterations throughout the ‘00s, and Modern Warfare II snuck in the decade at the last minute. It was strangely addicting, even for those who wouldn’t have considered themselves gamers. 

Just about any racing game is fun, but something about Gran Turismo 4 was particularly intoxicating. The tracks, the cars, the gameplay — it all made for one entertaining game that had people everywhere itching to get home to their PlayStations. 

For some reason, doing certain activities as an animated human with anthropomorphic animals is much more fun than doing those same activities as an actual human. Animal Crossing made the dreams of those who want to spend all day with an animal come true, and it still is to this day. 

Super Smash Bros. had Nintendo fans in a chokehold for an entire decade. Just when you were bored of the old version, a new one was released. The makers continued releasing new Super Smash Bros. throughout the ‘10s, but the future of the series is still uncertain. 

Anyone who didn’t love typical video games still loved Guitar Hero. It made everyone believe they had the musical of Slash despite the game piece operating almost nothing like an actual guitar. 

Guitar Hero was eventually one-upped by Rock Band. Why only play a guitar when you can have a drummer and a singer join you? Rock Band didn’t live on like other video games have, but it was lots of fun while it lasted. 

The best part about Dance Dance Revolution is that even if it wasn’t your turn, you could still hone your skills by practicing in the background. The best players (or the most addicted) were able to dance along to the songs without watching the screen. 

Tony Hawk is about the only person who’s famous for skateboarding. Of course, he has his own video game. For most people, playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater was far easier than learning how to actually ride a skateboard. 

World of Warcraft changed the lives of many in the ‘00s. If you weren’t playing the MMORPG yourself, you knew someone who was. And that person was likely spending most of their free time playing it. 

Madden NFL, formerly known as John Madden Football, didn’t lose any popularity throughout the ‘00s. Fans of the game still lined up to buy the new version every year. The same fun game continued staying fun thanks to a few upgrades each year and a new crop of players. 

Those who preferred America’s sport to football opted for Backyard Baseball. This darling game started on the computer and eventually migrated to other consoles, but it always kept its charm of playing a virtual pick-up game of baseball with your friends in the summer. 

Kingdom Hearts was a dream for video game and Disney lovers. Where else could you interact with Winnie the Pooh and Donald Duck in the same universe? Kingdom Hearts still has a strong fandom, and they’re all eagerly awaiting the franchise’s next release. 

Crazy Taxi started as an arcade game, but its popularity transcended the business and became available for players at home on a variety of game consoles. There have been loads of iterations of this game, but what remains through each is the joy of being a reckless driver with no real-world consequences.