7: Silent Hill 2
This, too, was a game of the 00s. Released in 2001, Silent Hill 2 is the game that to this day defines the Silent Hill series. Without Silent Hill 2, this franchise would arguably not be where it is today. A venerated giant of horror gaming. Silent Hill 2 is a freakishly good game, with a surprisingly deep story, featuring elements that are rarely – if ever – seen in mainstream gaming. It’s a very personal horror story, rich in symbolism and hidden meanings.
For whatever reason, not even the Silent Hill series itself pursued that line of narrative design any further in the subsequent titles, but this second installment still remains one of the most gruesome, most horrifying and touching examples of horror games out there.