2023 is looking to be a great year of games, though any year of gaming history will have a hard time matching up to 2003. The year consisted of many now-iconic games from various developers, from Nintendo to Ubisoft. Even licensed TV shows or movie tie-in games from that year remain memorable for many older video game fanatics.
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Given that games from 2003 will be hitting their 20th anniversary in 2023, it’s an appropriate time to take a look back at the games audiences just can’t forget. Whether they were childhood classics or games that influenced future generations, these titles will forever be iconic, no matter how many years pass after their release.
10Call Of Duty
2003 was a significant year for the first-person shooter genre, as it was the year the firstCall of Dutygame was released. The franchise has gone on to be one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. It has spanned several console generations, with new entries debuting every single year since the second installment in 2005.
The 2003 game, however, was where everything started for theCall of Dutyfranchise. It takes place during World War II and was an early shooter to encourage players to cooperate with their teammates. It also allowed players three distinct armies to play alongside:the Americans, the British, and the Soviets.
9Beyond Good & Evil
Since 2003, Ubisoft has been famous for its innovations in the action-adventure genre. However, one of their earliest entries,Beyond Good & Evil, still remains a fan-favorite even in 2023. Particularly, this game is often considered one of the greatest games ever made, thanks to its compelling narrative and technological advancements.
Players control Jade, a resistance fighter in the year 2435 investigating a government conspiracy involving aliens. The game’s popularity led to a sequel being greenlit in 2008, thoughit has remained in development hell ever since. Perhaps the first game’s 20-year anniversary will jumpstart progress on the long-anticipated follow-up title.
8The Simpsons: Hit & Run
By the timeThe Simpsons: Hit & Runwas released in 2003, there had already been over 20 individualSimpsons-inspired video games. This title, originally released for Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube, has remained one of the best interpretations of the franchise, barring the 2007 platformer penned by writers Tim Long and Matt Warburton.
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Hit & Run, as the title suggests, finds players controlling various characters, stealing other Springfield citizens' vehicles, and using them to attack pedestrians and complete various challenges. Similar in gameplay to theGrand Theft Autoseries, the gameplay perfectly translates the dark humor ofThe Simpsons, leading to positive reviews from critics.
7SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom
In terms of tie-in video games,Battle for Bikini Bottomis one of the best to be inspired by the Nickelodeon cartoonSpongeBob SquarePants. The game features most of the show’s cast reprising their roles as evil robots invade Bikini Bottom. Players control SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy traveling inBanjo-Kazooie-esque levels.
Battle for Bikini Bottom’s strength lies in allowing players to explore SpongeBob’s hometown better than any otherSpongeBob-branded game. In 2020,a remastered version was releasedfor the current generation of consoles, featuring improved graphics and a multiplayer mode, which offered a taste of the nostalgia surrounding the original game.
6Viewtiful Joe
Capcom has had a long history in the video game industry, making tons of profit offfranchises likeMega Man,Street Fighter, andMonster Hunter. One of their attempts at an original IP was the 2003 beat-‘em-upViewtiful Joe. Players control the titular character, an average movie-lover that turns into a comic book superhero to save his girlfriend.
Its fast-paced, engaging gameplay thrilled audiences at the time, as did its character design and art style. Despite its sales, the franchise has never lived up to its original title, with a 2004 sequel gaining poor sales despite good reception. Nevertheless, the character of Viewtiful Joe has remained a video game icon to this day.
5Kirby Air Ride
These days, Masahiro Sakurai is most well-known for his work on theSuper Smash Brosfranchise, though the director got his start creating the character of Kirby for Nintendo. One of the most memorable entries in theKirbyseries came in 2003 with the GameCube releaseKirby Air Ride, which abandoned the series’ platforming formula.
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As the finalKirbygame to be directed by Sakurai, it holds a certain level of nostalgia for fans of the franchise. Up to four players can race against each other on Air Ride Machines, offering a different taste than Nintendo’s other racing spin-off series,Mario Kart. Nevertheless,Kirby Air Rideis one title many fans wish could be rebooted.
4Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
2003 also introduced the third generation ofPokemonto western audiences.Pokemon Ruby & Sapphirewas released in 2002 in Japan, making their debut overseas the following year. Though it didn’t sell as much as the first two generations,Ruby & Sapphireremain fan-favorites among many diehardPokemonfans, particularly the creatures introduced.
Ruby & Sapphirealso introduced many new mechanics which have remained staples of thePokemonformula, such as Abilities and double battles. Both of these mechanics remain a big part of the franchise’s competitive meta, which has only grown in size since.The two received remakes in 2014 on the Nintendo 3DS, upgrading them from 2D to 3D.
3Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
By 2003, theMariofranchise had many RPG spin-offs, includingSuper Mario RPGin 1996 and the originalPaper Marioin 2000. However,Mario & Luigi: Superstar Sagawould be the first entry in an all-new franchise of Mario RPGs, this one centered around combat that allowed Mario to team up with his longtime brother, Luigi.
Superstar Sagais also notable for having one of the deepest stories in theMariofranchise. Future titles in theMario & Luigiseries would follow suit, but none match up to the original. LikePokemon Ruby & Sapphire,it also received a 3DS remake, featuring an entirely new side story centered on Bowser’s lowly minions.
2Sonic Heroes
TheSonicfranchise has had ups and downs, but where it’s always shined is through its supporting cast.Sonic Heroestakes advantage of these characters by featuring four different playable teams: Team Sonic (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles), Team Dark (Shadow, Rouge, Omega), Team Rose (Amy, Cream, Big), and Team Chaotix (Espio, Charmy, Vector).
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Though each of these trios features similar dynamics and moves between them, they all come with their own unique storylines and levels. Critics pointed out the game’s inability to fix previous flaws in theSonicfranchise, but most of the series' fans didn’t care. It was good enough to let players vary up their selection of heroes in this 2003 title.
1The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zeldahad already peaked by 2003, thanks to titles likeA Link to the PastandOcarina of Time. However, 2003 was when the series saw its biggest change yet, albeit aesthetically.The Wind Wakerwas initially released in Japan in 2002, but made its way overseas the next year, becoming one of the most critically-acclaimed entries in the series.
The Wind Waker’s popularity has only increased over time, especially withthe inclusion of Toon LinkinSuper Smash Bros Brawl. An HD remake was also released for the Wii U in 2013 to mark its 10-year anniversary. Perhaps its 20-year anniversary means the beloved title is due for another re-release on Nintendo Switch, satisfying many nostalgic fans.
