The seventh-generation was a great era for gaming. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were making enormous technological bounds and perfecting online play that was introduced in the previous generation. Popular franchises were releasing new games, original games were making a surprising splash, and microtransactions had yet to become prevalent.
Meanwhile, the Wii proved an incredibly unique experience, and while it wasn't as technologically impressive as its seventh-generation counterparts, the novel motion capture gimmick helped it sell millions. In short, the seventh generation was filled with many notable and classic video games, most of which are fondly remembered to this day. Including these.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) - 96
If there's one game that defines the seventh generation, then The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is arguably it. The prior Elder Scrolls games were decently popular, but Skyrim shot through the glass ceiling and became a bonafide cultural phenomenon.
The game has sold over thirty million copies, making it one of the best-selling video games in history, and it generated enormous amounts of critical acclaim for its writing, intricate gameplay, and rich world.
Batman: Arkham City (2011) - 96
The PlayStation 3 version of Batman: Arkham City stands at 96 on Metacritic, making it one of the highest-rated video games of the seventh generation. Arkham Asylum was widely beloved, and Arkham City took everything that was great about that game and multiplied it tenfold.
It was widely regarded as one of the best games of 2011, receiving endless praise for its production values, narrative, and now-iconic control system that made fighting an utter and intuitive blast. It's arguably the greatest Batman game ever made.
Mass Effect 2 (2010) - 96
Few narrative-driven video games made as much of an impact as Mass Effect 2. Even to this day, Mass Effect 2 is widely regarded as one of the greatest narrative-based games of all time, and it heralded newfound respect for video game writing.
Each of the game's countless characters was well-drawn and captivating, and the interactive storytelling on display was nothing short of magical. Video game stories don't get much better than this.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009) - 96
The PlayStation 3 didn't have many great exclusives, but Uncharted 2 was the exception. The first Uncharted was a good game, but it lacked the polish of Uncharted 2. This acclaimed sequel took video game production values to its limit, presenting a genuine Hollywood blockbuster in the form of a video game.
The sense of adventure matched Indiana Jones, the character writing proved surprisingly rich, the puzzles and platforming reminded players of past Naughty Dog accomplishments, and the action sequences were unlike anything else in gaming.
The Orange Box (2007) - 96
Valve outdid themselves with The Orange Box. This compilation actually contained five individual games - the classic Half-Life 2, its companions Episode One and Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal. The sheer amount of quality found within this collection is astounding.
Half-Life 2 and its proceeding episodes are regarded as some of the best first-person shooters ever made, Team Fortress 2 a classic multiplayer experience, and Portal is still critically regarded for its groundbreaking puzzle gameplay.
BioShock (2007) - 96
Few games are as critically daring as BioShock. And in this case, that sense of creative abandon resulted in one of the finest, and most memorable, video games ever made.
BioShock earned widespread acclaim for nearly every aspect of its creation, especially the unique production design and an ambitious storyline that borrowed heavily from classic literature, including Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. This is gaming at its best and most creative.
Grand Theft Auto V (2013) - 97
Coming in at the very end of the seventh generation, Grand Theft Auto V pushed the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 to their absolute limits. And it blew everyone away. Rockstar made gold yet again with Grand Theft Auto V, crafting an immersive experience unlike anything else seen in gaming.
Rockstar are masters of the open-world game, and what they managed to craft with Grand Theft Auto V is nothing short of extraordinary. Also of note is the three-pronged protagonist system - a major creative risk that nevertheless worked wonderfully.
Super Mario Galaxy (2007) - 97
Nintendo and the Wii found it very difficult to compete with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 throughout the seventh generation. While the motion controls were novel and unique, the Wii didn't allow for the caliber of games that its competitors were continuously pumping out.
But then there's Mario. Super Mario Galaxy was released in 2007, serving as the third 3D game in the series (following Super Mario Sunshine). It took full advantage of the Wii's unique hardware, resulting in what is arguably the greatest Mario game ever made.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010) - 97
Super Mario Galaxy 2 began its life as an update for the original, but Nintendo had so many unique ideas and plans that they decided to just craft a whole new game instead. And everyone is glad they did.
The game sold over seven million units and received widespread praise for its imagination and creativity. Nintendo had the near-impossible task of following up the masterpiece that was Super Mario Galaxy, and they somehow managed to craft an even better game.
Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) - 98
The hype was high for Grand Theft Auto IV, as it was the first GTA game on the seventh generation and the first numbered entry in seven years. Just as Grand Theft Auto III did in 2001, Grand Theft Auto IV redefined what was technologically possible in a video game.
Liberty City was the greatest open-world ever crafted in the gaming medium, and the technological mastery was boosted by an impressive story that told a tragic and literary tale about the failed American Dream. By all accounts, Grand Theft Auto IV is a masterpiece.