As we move deeper into the 2020s, it‘s fun to look back at some of the great games that were released in the past and see which ones still hold up years later. While there have certainly been a lot of impressive games released in recent years, sometimes you just can‘t beat returning to an old favorite.
2015 in particular was an interesting year for gaming – no new consoles were released, but revenues for digital and mobile games continued to grow rapidly. According to industry reports, total spending on video games in 2015 topped $61 billion globally.
Out of all the great games that launched in 2015, these 10 stand out as titles that players keep coming back to year after year thanks to their fantastic graphics, gameplay, expansive worlds, and multiplayer connectivity.
2015 in Gaming: Setting the Stage
To understand why these games have maintained their popularity and replay value over the years, it helps to look at the state of the industry in 2015:
- Total video game industry revenue exceeded $61 billion globally
- Digital games made up over 50% of spending for the first time
- Mobile gaming revenue increased 10% year-over-year
- No new video game consoles launched
- Late stages of 7th console generation, early days of 8th generation
With no new consoles hitting the market in 2015, developers focused their efforts on squeezing extra power out of existing platforms like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo 3DS.
This manifested in the form of gorgeous graphics, expansive open worlds, deep roleplaying systems, and thrilling online multiplayer – all qualities that make the following 10 games endlessly replayable even 8 years later.
10. Mortal Kombat X
The iconic fighting franchise returned in 2015 with Mortal Kombat X, introducing new characters like Cassie Cage while bringing back fan favorites like Scorpion and Sub-Zero.
Smooth controls combined with over-the-top violence and spectacular finishing moves make this a thrill to come back to again and again. It remains one of the goriest – and most fun – entries in the legendary series.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
9. Star Wars Battlefront
This online multiplayer shooter arrived alongside 2015‘s Star Wars: The Force Awakens film, letting fans live out their battle fantasies across iconic locales from the sci-fi saga.
From fighting on Hoth as Rebel soldiers to taking down AT-AT walkers on Endor, Star Wars Battlefront captured the look and feel of Star Wars beautifully with photorealistic visuals and effects.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
8. Batman: Arkham Knight
The Dark Knight returned to gaming in 2015 with the fourth entry in the acclaimed Arkham series from developer Rocksteady Studios.
Batman: Arkham Knight let players glide around Gotham City while unleashing fluid combat moves and high-tech gadgets to take down criminals.
With an engrossing story, excellent voice acting, rewarding progression, and fun Batmobile gameplay, Arkham Knight is a superhero adventure worth playing time and time again.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
7. Splatoon
Nintendo surprised players in 2015 with Splatoon, a wildly inventive shooter focused around squid-like characters battling by splattering colorful ink across arenas.
Fast-paced four-on-four matches, a diverse arsenal of ink weapons, fun movement abilities, and continuously updated post-launch content have ensured Splatoon remains a lively experience on Wii U.
Platform: Wii U
6. The Legend of Zelda: Majora‘s Mask 3D
This enhanced remake of the beloved 2000 N64 title gave players a chance to revisit Termina once again, this time with improved graphics and some quality-of-life tweaks.
Finding creative mask-based solutions to problems while reliving the emotional tale and melancholy atmosphere in Majora‘s Mask 3D remains a cathartic blast all these years later.
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Legendary designer Hideo Kojima‘s final Metal Gear entry (for now) offered up responsive stealth action gameplay within huge open world spaces.
Nearly unlimited tactical options combined with a poignant story concerning the futility of war make The Phantom Pain one of Kojima‘s finest achievements – and an engrossing world to re-infiltrate time and again.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
4. Bloodborne
Dark Souls developer FromSoftware unleashed this Lovecraftian-inspired action-RPG exclusive to PlayStation 4 in 2015, serving up nightmarish beasts, foreboding environments, and challenging-but-fair combat.
It‘s grueling yet rewarding loop of dying, learning enemy patterns, gaining power, and eventually overcoming once-impossible foes makes Bloodborne utterly intoxicating.
Platform: PlayStation 4
3. Fallout 4
Bethesda‘s post-apocalyptic RPG series made the jump to current-gen with Fallout 4, retaining the franchise‘s signature open-ended exploration, moral choices, black humor.
Detailed world building and chilling environmental storytelling bring the Boston wasteland to life in this 2015 entry. With near limitless quests to complete, items to craft, and secrets to uncover, the journey through Fallout 4 never truly ends.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red‘s sprawling dark fantasy RPG still impresses with its beautiful open world, memorable quests, fun monster hunts, and poignant story that deftly wraps up protagonist Geralt of Rivia‘s saga.
Eight years later, The Witcher 3 remains the high watermark for narrative-driven action RPGs – and it‘s an adventure truly worth embarking on again and again.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
1. Rocket League
Psyonix‘s ingenious car-meets-soccer mashup came out of nowhere in 2015 to become a multiplayer sensation thanks to its easy pick-up-and-play controls and incredibly fun, competitive gameplay.
Scoring ridiculous highlight-reel goals, pulling off wild trick shots, and refining your skills are all part of Rocket League‘s infinitely engaging loop – and with consistent post-release updates adding new arenas, modes, and customization options, the thrill of the sport lives on all these years later.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Replay Value That Lasts Generations
These 10 titles crafted incredible gaming experiences back in 2015 that continue to resonate with players here and now in 2024. Their fantastic graphics, sound, gameplay mechanics, worlds, stories, and online connectivity make revisiting them an absolute pleasure.
It goes to show that sometimes the passage of time is necessary to see which works of art have that special spark to endure – even amidst stiff competition in such a fast-moving industry as gaming.
These 2015 greats have certainly stood that test and will no doubt remain classics worth booting up for many years yet to come!
