It's been 25 years since these games were released, and they're still incredible. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for video games released in 2000 that continue to captivate players all these years later.
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00:00Why contain it? Let it spill over to the schools and churches. Let the bodies pile up in the streets. In the end, they'll beg us to save them.
00:09Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the games from the year 2000 that still hold up well today in 2025.
00:20This cave has been purged of evil.
00:23Number 10. Baldur's Gate 2 Shadows of Amn
00:26Minsk will be free. These bonds will not hold my wrath. Butts will be liberally kicked in good measure.
00:35Despite its sequel taking the world by storm decades later, Baldur's Gate 2 remains a great game even today.
00:41The isometric art style is a fairly timeless one. Meanwhile, the gameplay is derived from the ever-popular D&D format and Forgotten Realms setting, even if 2nd edition isn't the most popular version.
00:57While its successor has surpassed it graphically and in terms of scope, Baldur's Gate 2 Shadows of Amn is still a solid and rewarding RPG that you can pour hundreds of hours into and still come back for more.
01:15Number 9. Banjo-Tooie
01:17The turn of the millennium was the heyday for 3D platformers, and Banjo-Tooie can still be counted among the greats.
01:29The sequel to Banjo-Kazooie, this game takes everything that was loved about the first game and just adds more.
01:34The worlds are bigger. There are more power-ups and abilities. You can now play as the bear and bird separately, as well as their friend Mumbo Jumbo.
01:48There are even a few multiplayer modes based on mini-games.
01:53While its sheer size and scope can be a bit intimidating, Banjo-Tooie continues to be a wildly entertaining platformer that makes us guh-huh every time we play it.
02:09Number 8. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
02:18When it comes to skateboarding video games, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater remains the biggest name in the skate park.
02:23The series' second entry upped the ante with more trick options, a more rewarding progression system, and features like a level editor.
02:30Call us nostalgic if you want, but that soundtrack still slaps.
02:34Whether you go for career mode or just free skate, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is just plain satisfying to experiment and play with.
02:40How high can your score go? Can you find every skate letter?
02:44Let's be real, if your inner child isn't jumping for joy at doing a big string of tricks mid-air while playing a Spider-Man, you might be dead inside.
02:52Number 7. Final Fantasy IX
03:02It may not have the kind of fanatical fanbase as the 7th or even 8th entry, but it's still a great game to play.
03:08It's a great game to play, but it's a great game to play, and it's a great game to play, and it's a great game to play.
03:16It may not have the kind of fanatical fanbase as the 7th or even 8th entry, but Final Fantasy IX has aged like wine.
03:25A throwback to the traditional fantasy settings of the early part of the series, Final Fantasy IX features plenty of tributes to elements throughout the franchise up until that point,
03:34helping it feel like a culmination of everything that came before it.
03:46It also introduces innovative new mechanics that switch up both battle and exploration.
03:51Although its graphics are almost more than the original PlayStation can handle, Final Fantasy IX more than makes up for it with a moving story and classic gameplay.
04:08Number 6. Counter-Strike
04:16Originally a Half-Life mod, Counter-Strike evolved to become one of the most enduring multiplayer shooters ever made.
04:22A forerunner of modern team-based competitive games, Counter-Strike pits teams of counter-terrorists and terrorists against each other on various maps with several objectives to complete to win.
04:32The simplicity of its setup, yet the vast room for players to improve their skill level, has made Counter-Strike a perennially popular game for both esports and casual play ever since its release.
04:48Despite spawning many sequels, the original Counter-Strike retains a devoted following among players of any skill level, especially those fond of hacking.
05:02Number 5. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 – New Age of Heroes
05:15It may not have been the first tag-team crossover fighter to feature Marvel and Capcom characters, or the last, but MVC2 remains arguably the best.
05:23Its simpler button inputs, 3-on-3 matches, and incredible, screen-filling combos are the stuff of fighting game legend.
05:30And as baffling as that jazzy soundtrack, it has still been stuck in our heads for decades.
05:43Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is well-loved by beginner players and veterans because it's simple to pick up, but difficult to master.
05:49Its tight controls and expansive roster have helped it continue to be popular in fighting game tournaments to this day.
06:00Number 4. Deus Ex
06:16This cyberpunk action RPG FPS was at the forefront of video games to the point where it was ahead of its time.
06:21Although its graphics are certainly dated, the core gameplay of Deus Ex is essentially the blueprint for most games of a certain size today.
06:30The sheer variety of options in how you approach situations and how you develop over time is on par with many current games.
06:42Your choices affect the narrative, and you can choose which of your abilities to focus on in much the same way that the action RPGs these days do.
06:49It's no wonder why Deus Ex holds up so well.
07:00Number 3. Diablo 2
07:10Sure, there have been remakes, expansions, and sequels, but Diablo 2 has been burned into gamers' minds like the fiery realm of its titular boss.
07:18People have continued playing it for decades because the core gameplay loop of this isometric action RPG is just too satisfying.
07:31Beat enemies, find loot, use loot to beat stronger enemies to find stronger loot, and repeat until real life rudely interrupts your fun.
07:40Between the online community, the high degree of character customization, and the randomly generated areas, Diablo 2 has managed to stay consistently fresh and replayable.
07:56Number 2. Paper Mario
08:00RPGs in general have a longer shelf life than most games, as do games starring everyone's favorite plumber, Mario.
08:13Naturally, Mario RPGs age beautifully, and few more so than Paper Mario.
08:18The paper art style is practically timeless. The characters are all charming and hilarious.
08:31Plus, the turn-based combat with timed button presses for increased attack damage is so good, we're continually baffled by why Nintendo has dropped it for most of the game's sequels.
08:40It may not be the most challenging game out there, but Paper Mario has unfolded under the pressure of time.
08:49Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
08:54The Sims. The original social simulation game.
09:05Perfect Dark. A sci-fi spy shooter with a fantastic multiplayer.
09:10Skies of Arcadia. Who doesn't love Sky Pirates?
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09:57It would have been easy for Nintendo to follow up Ocarina of Time with something safe.
10:02Instead, they delivered one of the weirdest, darkest, and most complex Zelda titles ever made.
10:07And it's incredible!
10:14Link has three days to save the world from the moon crashing into it, but he can repeat those days as many times as he wants.
10:20The huge number of sidequests to do, masks to collect, and areas to explore can be simultaneously fulfilling and daunting even today.
10:28Much like the game itself, our love for it has been stuck in a time loop.
10:39Is there a turn-of-the-millennium game you wish had a turn on our list?
10:42The timing is right for you to share your favorites in the comments.
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