The Top 7.5 Games of the 00's

The gaming world went through a lot of changes this decade, the Dreamcast died, 9/11, there was a Commander Keen game on Game Boy Color, several new Pokémon were created, and now we live in a high-tech wonderland of motion controls and high definition Dr. Mario. Perhaps the biggest change was the sheer torrent of cool games that started to come out.

Unlike previous decades, games became easier to make, as expensive as Hollywood movies, and finally became the art form that they were destined to be. It rates our highest average gaming decade score at 7.5 which just edged out the 80s with a 7.3 (adjusted for the new system).

Now as we put a bow on the Naughties and blast forward into the 10's let's put our cards on the table and get down to brass tacks. No more fucking around. It's time once and for all to name the OFFICIAL best six electronic TV games from the past decade plus one game so good it's a game and a half.

7. Sinistra (Xbox, Playstation 2, PC)

Taking full advantage of the anger against the Bush administration, Sinistra became one of the greatest political thrillers of the decade and fomented the movement which eventually helped to elect Dennis Kucinich president. With it's meta-memory dialogue system now a videogame staple and the game itself made into an HBO miniseries it's easy to forget that Namco was targeted by the FBI after the game's release. Fortunately, fans took it upon themselves to create new updates and patches to the PC version after the game was initially banned, creating a thriving sub-community that still exists to this day, even after the re-release. Sinistra is more than an important game, it's was quite literally a "game changer".

6. Peabo Penguin's Radical Snowboard Adventure (Wonderswan)

Whether he's catching some air or working on his tan, Peabo Penguin is one "cool" customer. 2004 was the year that the world fell in love in Peabo and his Antarctic Amigos. And from the playground to the office, it seemed like everyone was talking about new ways to collect sweet, sweet Peabo Points. From the original soundtrack by Morrissey to the stylish snowboards (also designed by Morrissey), Peabo was a smash hit and changed the way that we think about optical illusions in gaming. It garnered our highest score ever of 8.8, so you know we're always down for a little Wintery Action.

5. Smallville: Total Justice (Wii)

Best superhero game of the decade or best superhero game of all time? Playing as Smallville's version of the Justice League (Clark Kent, Green Arrow, Impulse, Aquaman, and Cyborg) you travel from city to city shutting down Lex Luthor's evil 33.1 facilities. Presented in a lavish 2d style, the game is as if one of the classic beat 'em ups of the 90s rocketed into the 21st century. Featuring a surprising amount of swearing and frank language about sex, the rated M game left it's WB roots behind...to horrible sales. The strange brew made the game into a cult hipster hit, though and became a staple at college parties. The game even spawned the "I'VE GOT YOU NOW COCKSUCKER!" internet meme and is even occasionally still referenced on the show itself. It may the last 2D game ever made, but at least they went out with a bang.

4. Yu-Gi-Oh! 7 Trials to Glory: World Championship Tournament 2005 (Game Boy Advance)

Sometimes you have to step back and just say to yourself that a game is more than a never ending conveyor belt of pride and struggle. Sometimes there is a singular artistic creation that makes you believe that the universe isn't random but there has to be some force, some energy out there that has to be engineering what you are experiencing into existence. To call Yu-Gi-Oh! 7 Trials to Glory: World Championship Tournament 2005 a mere digital card game would be to call the luxuriant imagery of Fellini's 8½ a funny cat video. A subtle and bittersweet ode to a lost time, Yu-Gi-Oh! 7 Trials to Glory: World Championship Tournament 2005 is a positively transformative and unforgettable experience that would melt the heart of even the coldest of men. Yu-Gi-Oh! 7 Trials to Glory: World Championship Tournament 2005 swept the Spike VGAs and has spawned a generation of imitators. This is it, the once in a lifetime experience, the Halley's Comet moment in which you will be able to tell your grandchildren that I Was There for Yu-Gi-Oh! 7 Trials to Glory: World Championship Tournament 2005.

3. Yu Suzuki's Fuck It (Dreamcast, Dreamcast 2)

Probably the purest expression of frustration in video game form, Fuck It is a minimalist single player kart racer in which you play Girl, who bares a suspicious resemblance to Jetta Maxx from Eternal Champions. Your goal in the game is to get the end of what seems to be a never ending stream of graphics, Japanese dialogue, and code from what appears to be the remains of Shenmue Online. The game is randomly generated, easy to die in, and would literally take a month to complete from beginning to end. Did we mention that there are no saves? Fuck It was an online exclusive, likely due to it's name and the obscene gesture on the cover. Recent developments have allowed the game to be taken apart and you can watch the ending online...you just might want to have a barf bag at the ready.

2. French Fry Twins (XBLA, PSN)

Six years in the making, French Fry Twins was an RPG Tour de Force and a bright star of the burgeoning Caribbean game design scene. A traditional turn based roguelike based on the vintage Atari game Pressure Cooker, FFT might have just been a mild success. However, it's addictive gameplay combined with the over the top personality of it's rockstar designer Madeline Cameron rocketed it to the top of the charts. Cameron, who is somewhere between Pee-Wee Herman and Andre 3000, is known for her salty language and saltier accessories, all made of real french fries, just like her game's graphics. And, of course, pouring ketchup on Shigeru Miyamoto and taking a bite out of his hair at E3 2008 garnered her a police record, over 6 million YouTube hits, and international headlines. What's next for "Mad Madeline"? She recently bought a controlling ownership in the Miami Dolphins and said that she has "some exciting ideas for the uniforms". Yikes!

1.5 Battletoads vs. Awesome Possum (Nintendo 64)

Despite coming out in 2000, this fighter easily takes the top spot for game of the decade. Total joy in a 256-megabit cartridge, BVAP almost wasn't made. Before the collapse of Tengen, it's CEO Rajni Oscar Tengen became depressed and after much reflection decided to go to Europe to "find himself". While half-drunk one night in a Nottinghamshire pub, he met Rare's Chris Stamper who challenged him to a series of increasingly wild and dangerous wagers. Eventually, several 100 pounds poorer, Rajni decided to bet the IP to Awesome Possum, preying on Chris's pure and untainted love of talking animals. Rajni lost the bet (and his right pinky) and the property went to Rare.

A few years later, while watching his brother and Rare co-founder Tim Stamper become addicted to Marvel vs. Capcom, Chris decided to take the opportunity to put his own spin on the concept of a clash between two worlds, this time the radical Battletoads universe against the cornucopia of critters from Awesome Possum. From this humble idea sprang the game of year and a game that is still an unparalleled fighting game experience.

Thanks to the pub owner who wouldn't cut Rajni off for helping spark the next level of interactive entertainment.