2020 should be another monumental year for gaming, with the number of triple-A builds starting to rise, not to mention the PS5 or Xbox Series X consoles that should launch within them. But it's also a big year for a number of video games that celebrate milestones since their original first date, whether they released in recent years or decades before. From the classic arcade days to the latest generation of consoles, there are birthdays that will delight, amaze, and terrify us by reminding us how fast time flies. That's why we've compiled a list that includes 12 of the biggest and most influential video game anniversaries worthy of your calendar, starting with recent history and going back in time...
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - 5to aniversario
(Image Credit: Matthew Forde / CD Projekt) Release Date: May 19, 2015 It's been five years since the third action RPG based on Andrzej Sapkowski's imaginative fantasy novels took the world by storm. Going from fanfare to a hit Netflix series, the Witcher series has seen quite a lift. But it was CD Projekt RED's critical love, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that changed the landscape. Geralt of Rivia is now on a par with the most famous video game protagonists and the game itself has only grown in popularity. Wild Hunt is now recognized as one of the greatest games ever made and should only age like fine wine (and blood).
Rocket League - 5th Anniversary
(Image credit: Matthew Forde / Psyonix) Release date: July 7, 2015 After the fantastic name of supersonic acrobatic rocket powered battle cars didn't set the world on fire, the developers at Psyonix went back to school of handling and they returned with the simple but effective Rocket League. One of the surefire hits of the PlayStation 4, the game has continued to push to 10 million copies, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. This all culminated in Fortnite creators Epic Games' acquisition of Psyonix in May 2019, marking a big goal for the indie studio.
Red Dead Redemption - 10th Anniversary
(Image credit: Rockstar Games) Release Date: May 18, 2010 Rockstar's open western, centering on the story of outlaw John Marston, is considered the way forward for Westerns, and many fans of the firm still they hail this venture as the pinnacle of their career. study. It's easy to forget that Red Dead Redemption was actually the second entry in the series after 2004's Red Dead Revolver; however, it was the tracking that really showed what it meant to be a root-to-tip shot.
Resident Evil 4 - 15th Anniversary
(Image credit: Matthew Forde / CD Projekt) Release date: January 11, 2005 Capcom's prized gem and one of the most played games of all time. After focusing specifically on survival horror for nearly a decade, Resident Evil 4 introduced a handful of action elements, as well as spearheading the 'over the shoulder' third-person perspective, then defines hundreds of later titles. Leon Kennedy's mission to save the president's daughter from the mad cult is considered the pinnacle of the series, and for good reason.
God of War - 15th Anniversary
(Image credit: Sony) Release Date: March 22, 2005 My son, it was a long time ago: 15 years, in fact, since the Spartan warrior began his revenge against the Greek gods. Monica's Sony of God of War has become the gold standard of what an action game could be, while also making Kratos a mascot for PlayStation. The release date wasn't a random choice either, as the Greek god of war Ares is specifically associated with the month of March (hence the reason why subsequent entries dropped on similar dates).
The Sims - 20th Anniversary
(Image credit: Matthew Forde / Maxis) Release date: January 31, 2000 Who knew that designing a house and sending virtual people out to live out their lives would be so enticing? Surpassing sales of 200 million and more, The Sims franchise did what only a few could imagine, and it all started at the turn of the millennium. Filled with a huge and ever-growing community, The Sims went from strength to strength and was even inducted into the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 2012.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - XNUMXth Anniversary
(Image Credit: Nintendo) Release Date: April 27, 2000 Still considered the darkest story in the Zelda chronology, Majora's Mask came two years after the groundbreaking Ocarina of Time. An incredible development twist that transported Link to the mysterious realm of Termina. Although the time mechanics have slowed down a bit, Majora's Mask has experienced a renaissance of late, partly due to its re-release on Nintendo 3DS. Many are now hoping that the upcoming Breath of the Wild sequel will take inspiration from its N64 counterpart.
Tony Hawk & #39; s Pro Skater 2 - 20th Anniversary
(Image Credit: Activision) Release Date: September 20, 2000 In the early 2000s, skate culture was still alive and Neversoft tapped into the fandom with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Although the original has proven its worth, the follow-up is what has cemented the series as not just another typical sports game. With an unforgettable song list, enhanced gameplay, improved graphics, and tight controls, Pro Skater 2 has risen through the ranks to cult cult status and is still ranked the second highest game on Metacritic.
Chrono Trigger - 25th anniversary
(Image Credit: Matthew Forde / Square Enix) Release Date: March 11, 1995 16-bit has rarely been better, as Square's pixel-perfect Chrono Trigger is truly beautiful to this day. Following a group of adventurers who have to travel back in time to try and prevent total cataclysm, Chrono Trigger has not only remained one of the best RPGs of all time, but one of the greatest endpoint games. . Many tried to reproduce his model, but few succeeded in perfecting it.
Super Mario World - 30th Anniversary
(Image Credit: Matthew Forde/Nintendo) Release Date: November 21, 1990 What can we say about Super Mario World that hasn't been mentioned before? A masterpiece, an ingenious platform design, a musical triumph, and something that is now three decades old. On top of that, it introduced everyone's favorite green dinosaur, Yoshi. Mario's jumping efforts are still as prevalent, but many wonder if his 2D efforts will ever go beyond this wonder.
Gauntlet - 35th anniversary
(Image credit: Matthew Forde / Atari) Release date: November 1985 Fantasy has come through the years. Still, it's the Atari Games Hack-and-slash Gauntlet Gauntlet that is most fondly remembered for pioneering multiplayer dungeon crawlers in arcades. After designer Ed Logg's son begged him to create something based on Dungeons & Dragons, he quickly discovered Dandy on the Atari 800 and began rehearsing. And from there, Gauntlet was born and the history of the game was written.
Pac Man - 40th Anniversary
(Image credit: Nintendo) Release date: May 22, 1980 Few games are as visually recognizable as Pac-Man. Originally created to attract more women to arcades (according to creator Toru Iwantani), Pac-Man has been a real hit on the pill, generating more than €14 billion in revenue since its release. . Plenty of suites, spin-offs, cameos, and crossovers have been successful, but the original Pac-Man remains timeless: waka waka sound effects and all.