Best Video Games of 2000

Bend Studio's 2000 PS1 sequel to Syphon Filter — Syphon Filter 2 expands Gabe Logan's conspiracy-hunting across a two-disc campaign that continues the Syphon Filter virus storyline, adds playable Lian Xing segments, refines the aiming and taser mechanic of the original, and delivers the most content-rich game in the PS1 Syphon Filter trilogy.

Team Ninja's 3D fighting game with a counter-system that rewards defensive timing and multi-level stage environments where fighters can be knocked across floors and through breakable structures. Dead or Alive 2 on Dreamcast delivered the arcade experience with the series' defining gameplay mechanics and exceptional 3D presentation.

Capcom's 2000 PS1 action-platformer and the intended conclusion of the Mega Man X series — Mega Man X5 adds a time-limit mechanic threatening destruction of Earth, introduces dual selectable protagonists (X and Zero with substantially different combat systems), and features Axl Rose-inspired boss names in Western localization, making it Keiji Inafune's intended X series finale.

The Dreamcast's definitive Resident Evil experience and the first entry to abandon fixed camera angles for fully 3D environments. Code Veronica's Antarctic setting, complex Ashford family narrative, and dual-protagonist structure made it the most ambitious Resident Evil story to that point.

The beloved 2000 Neversoft Spider-Man game that defined an era of superhero games. Web-swinging, wall-crawling, zipline attacks, and a Spidey that quipped his way through encounters with Doctor Octopus, Venom, Mysterio, and an original symbiote-invasion storyline that felt pulled straight from the comics.

Smilebit's remarkable Dreamcast reinvention of House of the Dead 2 — all firearms replaced with keyboards, all zombies requiring typed words and phrases to kill. The Typing of the Dead is simultaneously an excellent horror shooter and a legitimate typing tutor, famous for bizarre and random word prompts and two-player co-op keyboard action.

The PS1 wrestling game that launched one of gaming's longest-running sports franchises. Yuke's wrestling engine delivered Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, and the complete Attitude Era roster in a PS1 exclusive that proved the platform could host premium wrestling — kicking off the SmackDown series that ran uninterrupted for two decades.

The peak of Capcom's RPG ambitions on the original PlayStation, Breath of Fire IV introduces a dual-protagonist narrative structure that boldly humanizes its antagonist emperor Fou-Lu alongside series hero Ryu in a story with genuine moral weight. Stunning hand-drawn sprite work, a haunting Eastern-inspired soundtrack, and a refined combo battle system that lets players chain elemental attacks across the party make this the definitive entry in the series.

Sonic Team's frantic multiplayer puzzle game where players place directional arrows to guide mice (ChuChu) into rockets while deflecting space cats (KapuKapu) toward opponents. ChuChu Rocket! was the first online multiplayer game on a home console and one of the most chaotic and enjoyable party games of the Dreamcast era.

SNK's 2000 Neo Geo fighting game and the second chapter of the NESTS Chronicles — The King of Fighters 2000 expands the Striker System to two Strikers per team (from KOF '99's one), features the largest KOF roster to that point, introduces Ramon and Vanessa as new characters, continues the K' and NESTS story arc, and runs on the powerful NESTS team with expanded boss encounters.

Kirby's N64 adventure and the first Kirby game in 3D environments. The Crystal Shards introduced the ability to combine two copy abilities together — mixing Stone and Cutter creates a stone cutter blade, while Bomb plus Ice makes ice bombs — creating 35 unique power combinations that rewarded experimentation.

The final and largest Mario Party game on Nintendo 64, Mario Party 3 added the Millennium Star story mode, a Duel mode for one-on-one competition, 70 new minigames, and six new boards. The most content-rich entry in the N64 Mario Party trilogy and a beloved N64 party game in its own right.

Sony Cambridge's 2000 PS1 sequel to MediEvil — MediEvil 2 relocates Sir Dan to Victorian London in 1886, adds new weapons including a Tesla staff and blunderbuss, introduces the interchangeable hand mechanic allowing Sir Dan to swap limbs for different abilities, and continues the undead hero's darkly comic adventure through a Jack the Ripper-adjacent mystery.

Capcom's 2000 PS1 sequel — Dino Crisis 2 abandons the survival horror approach of the first game for full action gameplay with point-based extinction points, two playable characters (Dylan and Regina), and a faster, more frantic dinosaur combat that divides fans of the original but delivers its own high-intensity experience.

Tetsuya Mizuguchi's Dreamcast rhythm game about news reporter Ulala defeating alien invaders through dance battles — a visually spectacular '60s space-age aesthetic with a rhythm-game call-and-response mechanic and Michael Jackson making an actual cameo. Space Channel 5 is one of the defining examples of games as pure style.

Square's survival horror RPG sequel shifted toward Resident Evil's tank controls and survival horror mechanics while retaining the Active Time Battle system from the original. Parasite Eve II's ANMC creature designs, detailed environmental storytelling, and atmospheric MIST facility make it the darker, more action-oriented companion to its predecessor.

Media.Vision's 1999 sequel to Wild Arms — a JRPG that retained the original's western-world aesthetic while expanding the ARM weapon system and puzzle tools for three character protagonists. Wild Arms 2's government agency premise and improved production values made it a satisfying expansion of the original's formula for PS1 JRPG fans.

Square's late PS1 action-RPG with two protagonists sharing the same world with different motivations — treasure-hunter Rue seeking resurrection magic, princess Mint seeking world domination. Threads of Fate's dual narrative, real-time combat, and shape-shifting mechanic make it a distinctive Square alternative to Final Fantasy's dominance.

The portable Mega Man X experience for Game Boy Color, adapting stages from the first two SNES Mega Man X games. Mega Man Xtreme's compact level selection, Zero as an unlockable playable character, and Challenge mode made it the best Mega Man portable experience available before the GBA era.

Vivarium's Dreamcast pet simulation where a human-faced fish creature evolves, speaks, and holds conversations using the microphone peripheral. Narrated by Leonard Nimoy, Seaman is gaming's most unusual life simulation — a creature that talks back, asks questions, and eventually leaves. One of the Dreamcast's most distinctive and remembered experiences.