2007 was one of the best years we ever had for video games

You know, by the time we get to the end of December, 2023 is going to have been a phenomenal year for games. Actually, even if it ended right now, it’d still be spectacular.

Think about it, assuming nothing gets delayed, once December rolls around, we’ll have seen the release of Starfield, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Final Fantasy XVI, Octopath Traveler II, Pikmin 4… the list goes on. No matter what console is your favourite, there’s been nothing but bangers left right and centre (aside from a few slightly disappointing releases, of course). Even then though, can any year ever hope to compare to 2007 when it comes to video games?

Take a look at the launch trailer for Assassin’s Creed (2007) below.

It’s been said many times, but it’s still a very valid take that 2007 really was one of the greatest ever years for game releases. Bioshock, Crysis, The Witcher, Mass Effect, Portal and Assassin’s Creed came out, kicking off six iconic series. A number of existing fan-favourite franchises got brilliant new releases, too, such as Halo 3, Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

“2004 and 2007 was the golden age of gaming if you ask me,” Reddit user Wilhelm_c4t wrote. “Watching gaming grow was a huge part of the fun of it. To be part of an era of advancement, a social movement so massive it took the world by storm for decades. As it becomes more explored over time it loses a bit of its magic every day,” cheesemangee added.

Obviously, looking back on 2007 now, 15 years later, most of us probably can’t help but keep our rose-tinted glasses on. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, after all. Even so, it’s undeniable that it was a truly wild year for new IPs - we really didn’t know what was about to hit us.