The Best Gaming Year Ever: Is It 1998, 2004, 2017, or 2023?
The best gaming year ever, comparing 1998, 2004, 2017, and 2023 across releases, innovation, cultural impact, and industry-defining moments.
Gamers love debating the best year in gaming. Four years consistently top the conversation: 1998, 2004, 2017, and 2023. Each has a legitimate case. As a studio that studies gaming history, here's our breakdown.
Why is 1998 the best year in gaming?
1998 delivered Half-Life, Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, StarCraft, and Baldur's Gate in a single calendar year. Four genres were redefined simultaneously, making it the most genre-defining twelve months in gaming history. Many of these titles remain the gold standard in their respective genres nearly three decades later.
The releases: Half-Life. Ocarina of Time. Metal Gear Solid. StarCraft. Resident Evil 2. Baldur's Gate. Thief: The Dark Project. Pokémon Red/Blue (US). Fallout 2. Grim Fandango. Xenogears. Banjo-Kazooie.
Why it's legendary: Four genres were redefined simultaneously. Half-Life reinvented FPS storytelling. Ocarina of Time defined 3D action-adventure. Metal Gear Solid created cinematic stealth action. StarCraft became the template for competitive RTS. Each of these games is still referenced as the gold standard in its genre 28 years later.
The argument against: Many of these games haven't aged gracefully in terms of controls and visuals. Their influence is undeniable but the raw playing experience in 2026 is rough.
Why is 2004 the best year in gaming?
2004 brought Half-Life 2, World of Warcraft, Halo 2, GTA: San Andreas, and Metal Gear Solid 3 to players worldwide. WoW redefined MMOs for a generation, Halo 2 made online console multiplayer mainstream, and San Andreas pushed open-world ambition to new heights, giving 2004 unmatched cultural impact.
The releases: Half-Life 2. Halo 2. World of Warcraft. Metal Gear Solid 3. GTA: San Andreas. Fable. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Counter-Strike: Source. Far Cry. Burnout 3. Doom 3. Katamari Damacy. Sly 2.
Why it's legendary: Half-Life 2 pushed physics-based gameplay forward. World of Warcraft defined MMOs for a generation. Halo 2 made online console multiplayer mainstream. GTA: San Andreas was the most ambitious open world to date. Metal Gear Solid 3 delivered the best story in the franchise.
The argument against: Fewer genre-defining moments than 1998, more refinements of existing ideas than revolutionary new ones.
Why is 2017 the best year in gaming?
2017 stands out for consistent excellence across every genre. Breath of the Wild reinvented open-world design, Persona 5 became a JRPG gateway for Western players, Hollow Knight proved indie scope could rival AAA, and titles like Nier: Automata and Divinity: Original Sin 2 pushed their genres forward simultaneously.
The releases: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Super Mario Odyssey. Horizon Zero Dawn. Nier: Automata. Persona 5. Divinity: Original Sin 2. Hollow Knight. Cuphead. Resident Evil 7. What Remains of Edith Finch. Night in the Woods. Prey. Nioh. Yakuza 0.
Why it's legendary: Breadth. Every genre had a masterpiece. BotW reinvented Zelda AND open-world design. Hollow Knight proved indie games could match AAA in scope. Persona 5 became the JRPG gateway for Western audiences. Nier: Automata pushed narrative experimentation further than any AAA game before it.
The argument against: No single game from 2017 had the cultural impact of WoW (2004) or Ocarina (1998). The year was excellent but lacked an industry-shaking singular moment.
Why is 2023 the best year in gaming?
2023 delivered peak individual achievement with Baldur's Gate 3 (arguably the best RPG ever made) and Tears of the Kingdom expanding open-world creativity. Alan Wake 2 pushed narrative horror forward, while standout indies like Cocoon, Dave the Diver, and Sea of Stars rounded out an exceptional twelve months.
The releases: Baldur's Gate 3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Resident Evil 4 Remake. Alan Wake 2. Final Fantasy XVI. Hi-Fi Rush. Cocoon. Lies of P. Armored Core VI. Street Fighter 6. Pikmin 4. Sea of Stars. Dave the Diver.
Why it's legendary: Quality concentration. Baldur's Gate 3 may be the best RPG ever made. Tears of the Kingdom expanded BotW's formula with creative building tools. Alan Wake 2 pushed narrative horror to new heights. The indie output (Cocoon, Dave the Diver, Sea of Stars) was exceptional. Street Fighter 6 revitalized fighting games.
The argument against: The industry was simultaneously in crisis: massive layoffs, studio closures, live-service failures (Suicide Squad). 2023 was the best year for games and one of the worst years for the industry.
What is the best year in gaming history?
The best year in gaming history depends on what you value most. 1998 wins for genre redefinition, 2004 for cultural impact, 2023 for peak individual games, and 2017 takes the crown for the broadest excellence across AAA, indie, Japanese, and Western titles in every genre.
| Year | Strongest Claim | Standout Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Historical impact, genre redefinition | Half-Life, Ocarina of Time, MGS, StarCraft |
| 2004 | Cultural impact | WoW, Halo 2, GTA: San Andreas |
| 2017 | Consistent cross-genre quality (our pick) | BotW, Persona 5, Hollow Knight, Nier: Automata |
| 2023 | Peak individual achievement | Baldur's Gate 3, Tears of the Kingdom |
1998 for historical impact. The games released that year set templates that still define genres in 2026.
2017 for consistent quality. The most games-across-genres excellence in a single year.
2023 for peak achievement. Baldur's Gate 3 and Tears of the Kingdom represent RPG and open-world design at their absolute highest level.
2004 for cultural impact. World of Warcraft alone changed how millions of people related to gaming.
If we had to pick one: 2017. The breadth of excellence (AAA, indie, Japanese, Western, every genre represented by a masterpiece) is unmatched.
But honestly? 2026 might join this list. Expedition 33, Nightreign, Nioh 3, Monster Hunter Wilds, Silksong, and GTA 6 (November). The lineup is stacked.
What we make at Choost
Choost Games develops indie titles including Granny's Rampage and Granny's Gambit, both available on itch.io. Every indie studio contributes to what makes a gaming year legendary, because the best years are shaped by small teams with big ideas just as much as by AAA blockbusters.
Granny's Rampage and Granny's Gambit are our contribution to gaming in 2026. Every indie studio adds to the year's legacy, the best gaming years are defined as much by small teams with big ideas as by AAA blockbusters.
For more gaming history, the most influential video games, how dark souls changed gaming, and games ahead of their time posts have more.
The shortest version
1998 wins for genre redefinition, 2004 for cultural impact, 2017 for consistent cross-genre excellence, and 2023 for peak individual achievement. Our pick is 2017 for its unmatched breadth of masterpieces spanning AAA, indie, Japanese, and Western games across every genre.
1998: Genre redefinition (Half-Life, Ocarina, MGS, StarCraft). 2004: Cultural impact (WoW, Halo 2, San Andreas). 2017: Consistent excellence across all genres (BotW, Persona 5, Hollow Knight). 2023: Peak individual achievement (BG3, TotK). Our pick: 2017 for breadth. The truth: Every decade has a year that makes you grateful to be a gamer. We might be living in one right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year in gaming history?
2017 is the best overall year in gaming history for its unmatched breadth of excellence. Breath of the Wild, Persona 5, Hollow Knight, Nier: Automata, Divinity: Original Sin 2, and Super Mario Odyssey all launched the same year, covering AAA, indie, Japanese, and Western games across every genre.
What major games came out in 1998?
1998's major releases include Half-Life, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, StarCraft, Resident Evil 2, Baldur's Gate, Thief: The Dark Project, Pokémon Red/Blue (US), Fallout 2, Grim Fandango, Xenogears, and Banjo-Kazooie. Four genres were redefined simultaneously that year.
Why was 2023 such a good year for video games?
2023 delivered peak individual achievement. Baldur's Gate 3 may be the best RPG ever made, Tears of the Kingdom expanded open-world creativity, and Alan Wake 2 pushed narrative horror forward. Standout indies like Cocoon, Dave the Diver, and Sea of Stars rounded out the year, though the industry also faced major layoffs and studio closures.
Was 2017 or 2023 a better year for gaming?
2017 edges out 2023 for breadth of excellence across every genre, with masterpieces in AAA, indie, JRPG, and action-adventure categories. 2023 wins for peak individual achievement, with Baldur's Gate 3 and Tears of the Kingdom potentially being the best RPG and open-world game ever made. It depends on whether you value consistency or singular greatness.
