Frequently Asked Questions
The most-asked questions about video games of the 2010s, part 1.
What does 'Video Games of the 2010s, Part 1' actually cover?
It is a fan-curated encyclopedia section spanning roughly 2010 through 2014, capturing the final stretch of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 generation alongside the early years of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The editors treat that five-year window as one cohesive era of design choices, community culture, and hardware transition.
Who are the most frequently discussed figures of this period?
Designers and studio leads like Hideo Kojima, Hidetaka Miyazaki, Neil Druckmann, and Gabe Newell come up constantly, as their respective projects defined the era's creative peaks. Community figures tied to streaming and content creation also feature prominently in the entries.
Where should a newcomer begin exploring this era?
Start with The Last of Us (2013) for narrative-driven action, Dark Souls (2011) for demanding action-RPG design, and Portal 2 (2011) for puzzle mechanics. Together those three titles showcase the breadth of what the period offered across genres.
Which hardware platforms defined Part 1?
The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 carried the first few years, while Nintendo's Wii U (2012) represented a transitional experiment with the GamePad. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launched in late 2013, opening the next-generation cycle that Part 2 explores in full.
What is the single most cited landmark title of this window?
The Last of Us (2013) is most often pointed to as the era's defining achievement, because it proved a video game could deliver a cinematic, emotionally layered narrative on par with prestige television. Its commercial and critical success reset industry expectations for what interactive storytelling could accomplish.
What major cultural or community moments defined the period?
The 2014 'Gamer' controversy and the Gamers Unite protest became flashpoints in the ongoing debate about gaming's public image. At the same time, Twitch and similar streaming platforms turned live gameplay into a mainstream entertainment format for the first time.
How did the indie scene shift during these years?
Valve's Steam Greenlight (2012) and hits like Fez, Limbo, and Transistor demonstrated that small teams could reach global audiences without a traditional publisher. By 2014 the indie market had solidified as a permanent, influential pillar of the industry rather than a niche curiosity.
What design or technology trends were most significant?
AAA studios pushed toward sprawling open worlds and cinematic set-pieces, with Grand Theft Auto V (2013) becoming a benchmark for scale. In parallel, early motion-control experiments and the first consumer VR prototypes began appearing, foreshadowing the input-method changes to come.
Which genres were most prominent in Part 1?
Action-adventure and open-world titles dominated the big-budget space, while the indie sector leaned into precision platformers, roguelike loops, and experimental mechanics. Narrative-driven single-player experiences and cooperative multiplayer modes also saw significant growth throughout the window.
How does Part 1 set up the rest of the decade?
It establishes the hardware transition, cements indie as a legitimate creative pillar, and surfaces the cultural debates that would intensify in the latter half. Part 2 picks up from the full PS4/Xbox One generation and tracks the continued evolution of streaming, competitive play, and mobile gaming.