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Episode 656: Top 1010 of the Decade

by James Jones, Greg Leahy, Jon Lindemann, and Guillaume Veillette - January 18, 2020, 5:30 pm EST
Total comments: 10

Didn't we just do one of these? What do you mean it's been ten years?

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Last week we gave our top games of 2019, but this week we're doing the whole damn decade. This massive episode is one long exercise in naming the best of the last ten years. The amazing thing is that we were around to do this same thing ten years prior.

I hope you enjoy what must be our must futile enumeration effort to date.

I also hope you'll be joining us for our next RetroActive: Rhythm Thief. You've already missed the eShop sale, but this is still a hell of a lot cheaper than Ghost Trick. You're welcome. Post thoughts there, and listen here in about 3 weeks.

As always emails are to be delivered to the inbox.

This episode was edited by Guillaume Veillette. The "Men of Leisure" theme song was produced exclusively for Radio Free Nintendo by Perry Burkum. Hear more at Perry's SoundCloud. The Radio Free Nintendo logo was produced by Connor Strickland. See more of his work at his website.

This episode's ending music is Between Heaven and Earth from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Composition of Fire Emblem: Three Houses by Hiroki Morishita and Rei Kondoh. It was selected by James. All rights reserved by Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Talkback

ejamerJanuary 19, 2020

Fun to hear everyone list out their favorite games.

Gui's list was probably closest to mine, and quite frankly held some surprises -- some of the games that he talked about are ones I didn't think would even be in the running for this type of discussion from most people. (La-Mulana comes to mind; I feel like many people don't appreciate that game, but the feeling you get after piecing together some tough clues and reaching that next level of progress is fantastic. If would also have made my top list, despite the moments of "Oh, that's absolute BS" you experience at some parts.

pPatkoJanuary 21, 2020

I made an aggregate of their top 10s for y'alls enjoyment (if you're into that kinda thing). The top spot is the ONLY game that all 4 hosts had somewhere on their list. The top 11 (because of a 3-way tie for the 9th spot) only has one game that only one host had on his list and everything else after the 11th is unique to a single host's list. So not a lot of overlap! Great lists, guys. Now I know what to prioritize in my backlog. Without further adieu, I present RFNs Top 28 of the 2010s... (Did my best to keep it hidden. Highlight to reveal!)

35 1. Breath Of The Wild
18 2. Rhythm Heaven Fever
18 2. Super Smash Bros Ultimate
15 4. Ghost Trick
13 5. DKC Tropical Freeze
10 6. Pikmin 3
10 6. Super Mario Galaxy 2
10 6. Xenoblade Chronicles
9 9. Super Mario 3D World
9 9. Super Mario Odyssey
9 9. Xenoblade Chronicles X
8 12. Mario Kart 8 / Deluxe
7 13. Fire Emblem Awakening
6 14. Professor Layton And The Unwound Future
6 14. Super Mario 3D Land
5 16. Sin & Punishment 2
5 16. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
4 18. Bayonetta 2
4 18. Bravely Default
4 18. La Mulana
4 18. Super Mario Maker
3 22. Dragon Quest XI S
2 23. Metroid Samus Returns
2 23. Pacman Championship Edition 2 Plus
1 25. Etrian Odyssey IV
1 25. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
1 25. Radiant Historia
1 25. Shovel Knight


(Replaced your formatting with the Spoiler tag, which also works in the comments section of the article. -Gui)

MacManJanuary 21, 2020

Loved the episode and the insight into everyone's opinion of what were the best games of the decade :).  I was a little surprised that no one mentioned Batman Arkham City - Armored Edition!  It had come out on the WiiU back in 2012(?).  This game was amazing in almost every way and is highly replayable. 

ejamerJanuary 21, 2020

Quote from: MacMan

Loved the episode and the insight into everyone's opinion of what were the best games of the decade :).  I was a little surprised that no one mentioned Batman Arkham City - Armored Edition!  It had come out on the WiiU back in 2012(?).  This game was amazing in almost every way and is highly replayable.

Making a "definitive" list is nearly impossible because of how people experience different games at different times.

Does a remake (even a really good remake) deserve to be on the list?  Hard to say!  But I like the fact you are making an argument for it.  :)

LemonadeJanuary 21, 2020

This episode reminded me that i really need to play Ghost Trick. I got a few months ago, but havent started it yet.

pPatkoJanuary 21, 2020

Quote from: Lemonade

This episode reminded me that i really need to play Ghost Trick. I got a few months ago, but havent started it yet.

Same here! I'm so glad I picked it up back in 2015 when it was only a third the price it's going for these days.
( /^ω^)/♪♪

ejamerJanuary 21, 2020

Do it! 
I used to own Ghost Trick, but traded it away after finishing the game. Totally regret that. Borrowed it from a friend this month and beat the game a second time... yep, still awesome. Fantastic game and deserving it's spot on the list.

Batman is an interesting situation for Wii U and this list.

Jon and then after a gap Greg are the two most likely to have listed it, but in both cases they would have played it on a different console a year earlier.

Those early weird Wii U ports had a lot of good game but...I associate them with other systems

PLAY GHOST TRICK

I may as well post the individual lists.

Jon

10 - Monster Hunter Generatoins Ultimate
9 - Metroid Samus Returns
8 - Super Mario 3D World (Land honorable mention)
7 - Super Mario Maker
6 - Donkey Kong Country Returns Tropical Freeze
5 - Xenoblade Chronicles X
4 - Super Mario Odyssey
3 - Mario Kart 8/Deluxe
2 - Super Smash Bros Ultimate
1 - Breath of the Wild

Honorable mentions: Splatoon, NSMB2 Deluxe, Ori and the Blind Forest, Axiom Verge, Dead Cells

Gui
10 - Etrian Odyssey IV
9 - Pac-Man CE 2+
8 - Dragon Quest XI S
7 - La Mulana
6 - Ghost Trick
5 - Super Mario 3D World
4 - Xenoblade Chronicles
3 - Pikmin 3
2 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
1 - Rhythm Heaven Fever

Honourable mentions: Overcooked 2, Shin Megami Tensei IV ,Sin & Punishment 2, Dragon Quest 9

Greg

10 - Shovel Knight
9 - Pikmin 3
8 - Xenoblade Chronicles
7 - Bayonetta 2
6 - Sin & Punishment 2
5 - Super Mario 3D Land
4 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
3 - DKC Tropical Freeze
2 - Super Smash Bros Ultimate
1 - Super Mario Galaxy 2

Honourable mentions: Splatoon, Mario Maker, Runner 2, Axiom Verge, Celeste, Skyrim, Dark Souls

James

10 - Radiant Historia
9 - Super Mario Odyssey
8 - Xenoblade Chronicles X
7 - Bravely Default
6 - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 + Torna
5 - Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
4 - Fire Emblem Awakening
3 - Rhythm Heaven Fever
2 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
1 - Ghost Trick

Honorable mentions: Layton vs Wright, Smash Bros Ultimate, Phoenix Wright Spirit of Justice, Fire Emblem Three Houses

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