The Glory Days Of Gaming
Remember when online gaming felt like stepping into the future? In the 2000s, every new game seemed to push boundaries—whether it was reinventing multiplayer shooters, making MMOs more immersive, or proving that, yes, people will pay real money for digital land. So, let's take a trip back to an era of dial-up lag and gaming communities that felt like secret societies.
1. Diablo II (2000)
If you ever developed an early-onset carpal tunnel, Diablo II was probably to blame. It made millions of players dedicate their lives to clicking on demons until loot rained from the heavens. In fact, Blizzard took 12 years to make a sequel that matched the original’s hype.
Diablo II ... (PC) [2000] Gameplay by 10min Gameplay
2. Halo 2 (2004)
Halo 2 practically built online console gaming as we know it. Players got into games quickly without searching for lobbies, and this became the blueprint for every other online multiplayer game. It also introduced features we take for granted today, like robust online rankings, party chat, and perfectly balanced matchmaking.
Halo 2 - Theatrical Trailer HD by retro-gaming
3. Guild Wars (2005)
In a world where MMORPGs demanded a monthly subscription, Guild Wars said, "What if you just bought the game once?" The game had unique instanced zones—meaning only your party was in them—making it feel like a hybrid between an MMO and an action RPG.
GUILD WARS PROPHECIES - Cinematic Trailer Remastered HD by MMO.it
4. Counter-Strike (2000)
What started as a Half-Life mod in 1999 turned into one of the most influential multiplayer shooters ever. By the time Counter-Strike dropped as an official release by Valve in November of 2000, it had already begun to define competitive FPS gaming. Skill-based matchmaking was ahead of its time, and its incredibly addictive gameplay laid the foundation for modern esports.
( 2003 ) Counter Strike 1.6 : Old Game PC in 4K 60FPS ( Childhood Memories ) by M Pro Channel
5. Final Fantasy XI (2002)
Back when MMORPGs were a PC-only affair, Square Enix decided to bring this grindfest to PlayStation players, too. The Final Fantasy XI was the first cross-platform between PC and PlayStation 2 MMORPG. It never got a movie, but would you watch a 12-hour film of people grinding for XP?
Final Fantasy XI - The Beginning by Leasious
6. World of Warcraft (2004)
Let's be honest—if you didn't try WoW, did you even game in the 2000s? Take Warcraft's fantasy setting, add MMO mechanics, and you will get World of Warcraft. Released in 2004, WoW streamlined combat and (most importantly) social interactions so even your grandma could roll a Night Elf Druid.
7. LittleBigPlanet (2008)
Imagine if Super Mario let you design your own levels, slap googly eyes on everything, and then share your creations with the world. That’s LittleBigPlanet—the game that took the "Play, Create, Share" philosophy and ran with it. The game was an online playground where creativity thrived.
LITTLE BIG PLANET | PS3 Gameplay by Benedict
8. Battlefield 1942 (2002)
Before Battlefield 1942, online shooters were mostly run-and-gun affairs, where strategy meant you needed to bunny-hop the fastest. Then, DICE came along and made a shooter where you could drive tanks, fly planes, command battleships, and still find time to get sniped from across the map.
Battlefield 1942 (2002) - Gameplay (PC/Win 10) [1080p60FPS] by Mausser
9. Shadowbane (2003)
Most MMORPGs in the early 2000s were about grinding XP, collecting loot, and maybe engaging in some friendly PvP on the side. Shadowbane allowed players to create towns, fortify them, form alliances, and wage war on enemy nations—full-on sieges where months of progress could be erased overnight.
Shadowbane: Throne of Oblivion MMORPG from 2003 is back in 2021 and on Steam by Chris Inglis
10. Demon's Souls (2009)
Imagine exploring a dark fantasy world where everything and everyone is trying to kill you. Welcome to Demon's Souls, which pioneered asynchronous multiplayer with its now-iconic invasion system. One moment, you're fighting off a demon, and the next, "xX_DeathKnight_Xx" is rolling into your world to stab you in the back.
Demon's Souls Remake (PS5) 4K 60FPS HDR Gameplay - (Full Game) by FA GAMEZ
11. Phantasy Star Online (2000)
Back in 2000, the idea of an online RPG on consoles was like trying to explain TikTok to your grandma—confusing and met with skepticism. But SEGA brought MMO-style gameplay to the Dreamcast (yes, really) and allowed players to team up in four-player co-op to loot their way through sci-fi dungeons.
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis Launch Trailer by Mizugumo Video Game Launch Trailers
12. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
Online shooters were mostly arena-based, where every player had the same weapons, and leveling up was just something you did in RPGs. However, Modern Warfare made multiplayer actually addictive by popularizing persistent progression, killstreaks, and custom load-outs, meaning that the more you played, the better your arsenal got. FPS games haven't been the same since.
Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare Remastered - Game Movie on Gamematics
13. Quake Live (2009)
Built on the bones of Quake 3, Quake Live ran on virtually anything (even low-end office PCs, much to the dismay of productivity managers everywhere) without downloading a massive game file—making high-octane FPS action easily accessible to almost everyone. It kept the spirit of classic Quake alive with tight movement and that deliciously smooth rocket-jumping action.
QUAKE LIVE. a livestream. a LIVE stream. a QUAKE livestream. by Ruby Ranger
14. Age of Empires III (2005)
The Age of Empires series was already a titan of the RTS genre. But Age of Empires III took the traditional "build an army, crush your enemies" formula and layered in RPG mechanics, diplomacy, and tactical decision-making, which made online matches feel unique every time.
Age of Empires III (Year 2005) by Jardi-Gol the Player
15. Lineage II (2003)
If you think modern MMOs are tough, take a look at Lineage II, which took massive-scale player battles to a whole new level. Forget casual raiding—in this MMO, clans waged wars with literal thousands of players on the battlefield, and one bad decision could set back weeks of progress.
Lineage 2 First Impressions "Is It Worth Playing?" by TheLazyPeon
16. Team Fortress 2 (2007)
Whether you were a sneaky Spy or a healing Medic, you were essential for the team's success on TF2. Plus, let's not forget that this game invented loot boxes (for better or worse) and gave us the "Meet the Team" videos that live rent-free in every gamer's brain. Not to mention, hero shooters wouldn't be what they are today without TF2!
[SFM] Team Fortress 2 Trailer 2 Reanimated (READ THE DESCRIPTION) by Joey[MZ]
17. MapleStory (2003)
In the early 2000s, MMOs were big and usually required a beefy PC to run. MapleStory made gaming accessible to pretty much anyone with an internet connection. It had colorful, anime-inspired graphics and simple but satisfying combat with player-run markets, guilds, and in-game weddings.
MapleStory Gameplay - First Look HD by MMOHuts
18. Second Life (2003)
Second Life created a virtual world where people could be whoever or whatever they wanted. It was a full-blown society where residents could buy land, build houses, design clothes, and get married. But it was also a bit weird (looking at you, furry convention drama, and in-game cults).
Second Life Gameplay - First Look HD by MMOHuts
19. Dofus (2004)
Most MMOs followed the same formula at that time: click enemy, spam attacks, and win. Dofus mixed turn-based combat with deep character customization, and battles played out like a chess match, where positioning and timing your attacks were just as important as having good gear.
DOFUS - Trailer by DOFUS Official
20. RuneScape (2001)
If you are a 2000s kid, you probably played RuneScape when you were supposed to be learning about fractions. Player-made legendary scams (RIP to anyone who fell for the "trust trade"), and the chaos of early PvP made it one of the most memorable and beloved online games ever.
RuneScape released! | 04 January 2001 | Chronological Time Traveller #1 by Slayermusiq1
