Crowning a single year as the GOAT for anything whatsoever is a controversial exercise; you're bound to anger someone or another. Doing it for video games is especially hard, because there have simply been too many great years that either propelled the industry forward or delivered a lifetime's worth of gaming memories.

Years like 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2013 gave us some of the most influential titles and consoles of all time, while 2017 and 2018 became known as the new golden age of gaming. However, if I had to choose one year (with a gun to my head) that not only gave us an unbelievably high number of stellar releases but also left an indelible mark on the industry (and gamers), I would pick 2007. And I have 14 reasons that will make my case.

14 Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Nintendo Wii)

Prime example of innovation done right

It says something about what's to come when you start the list with a game as remarkable as Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. The third entry in the Metroid series became the first true showcase of the Nintendo Wii's new motion controls, allowing players to shoot enemies with unprecedented accuracy, unlock doors, and shatter enemy shields in a satisfying fashion.

Retro Studios also fully used the nascent HD-era technologies to pack the game with visually stunning levels that stopped players in their tracks. What's more, you could control Samus' ship for the first time in the series to navigate to the various planets in the game or call in an artillery assist when stuck in a tight spot. Nintendo even ended up implementing the much-loved motion controls in the first two installments of the series.

Sadly, if you want to acquire the game today, you have to rely on the used market (Amazon, Walmart, eBay), since Nintendo no longer sells new copies.

13 Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS 3)

Naughty Dog in uncharted territory

PlayStation has given us landmark franchises that defined multiple console generations, and Uncharted is unequivocally one of the best. It all started in 2007 with Uncharted: Drake's Fortune as Naughty Dog stepped in a new direction, giving birth to the outspoken and reckless treasure hunter, Nathan Drake. The studio took players on the ride of a lifetime as Nate traveled the globe in search of riches and adventure, propelled by a deep down desire to prove himself worthy of his legacy.

The first game in the series, which has now become way bigger than the studio ever imagined, wasn't as well-rounded as the later titles in the series, but it's where it all started. The cinematic gameplay, chaotic combat, satisfying platforming, and a rich roster of lovable characters — these are the elements that went on to define the series. I discovered the franchise only with Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, but it didn't take me long to go back and experience the marvelous early days of Nathan Drake.

12 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Back to the present

Call of Duty was already a four-year-old franchise by the time Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare came out in 2007. However, Infinity Ward wasn't content with revisiting the World War 2 era once again, opting instead to bring the series to a contemporary setting. Taking players across the globe, the game armed players with advanced technology and superior weapons in a fight against a rogue army, delivering a cinematic campaign rarely attempted before in the series.

While the single-player story gave rise to some of the most iconic missions in the series, the multiplayer component completely changed how gamers played online. Customizing loadouts with perks and attachments, chasing killstreaks and rank progression, and getting hooked to a detailed XP system became the new hallmarks of the modern FPS multiplayer experience. Even 18 years later, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare's multiplayer servers are alive and kicking, proving the game's lasting appeal and impact.

11 Crysis (PC)

Yes, it can finally run Crysis

"But can it run Crysis" became a meme, but the origins of the catchphrase highlighted the sheer technological superiority of Crysis, Crytek's first installment in the trilogy. The FPS offered players a power fantasy filled with an advanced nanosuit with superpowers, open-ended gameplay with futuristic weapons and vehicles, and a world that looked more realistic than anything that had come before.

Crytek's engine was so ahead of its time that barely anyone was able to play the game at maximum settings (no pun intended), but despite the generic story and setting, the game managed to set itself apart. The two sequels pushed things forward and stayed true to the series' defining traits — groundbreaking visuals and futuristic gameplay — but the first game can still hold its own. A remastered version was also released in 2021 for a generation of players and hardware.

10 God of War II (PS2)

It's time for war, once again

God of War II came out mere months after the PlayStation 3's launch in late 2006, but it was made with the PS2 in mind. Before Santa Monica rebooted God of War in 2018, players were enjoying a very different breed of god-killing and avenging in the 2000s. What the studio did with God of War in 2005 received a healthy upgrade with the sequel, garnering the same universal acclaim yet again.

Whether you consider the bloody, brutal combat or the bombastic boss fights, God of War II never lets you rest. The gorgeous level design and satisfying revenge plot make for a breathtaking action-adventure title that pushed the series to new heights, and was undoubtedly one of 2007's highlights.

9 BioShock (PC, Xbox 360)

Shockingly masterful and creative

Before Columbia, there was Rapture. Bioshock and its sequels proved to be some of the most impactful games of all time. Set in the underwater city of Rapture, the first game gave players tools they'd never seen before — injectable plasmids that gave them superhuman powers, environmental gameplay that forced them to think on their toes, and atmospheric storytelling that grappled with complex themes rarely tackled in such a fashion.

The year 2007 was home to several landmark new IPs, but BioShock was surely one that had a far bigger and more emotional impact than most.

8 Assassin's Creed (PS3, Xbox 360)

The birth of the creed

The original Assassin's Creed came out in 2007, telling master assassin Altair's story and setting the stage for one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. Set in the Holy Land in the 11th century, the game allows players to inhabit a rich, historically accurate world filled with deadly assassins and templars locked in an everlasting struggle for peace through contrasting ideals. Accessing genetic memories through the Animus hooked players like never before.

Players were introduced to unique stealth mechanics, satisfying combat, and a solid narrative revolving around magical artifacts and even a modern-day element. The game had its issues, and later entries received more acclaim, but it was more than successful in achieving its goal — establishing a new IP based on rich lore, innovative gameplay, and painstakingly created sandboxes.

7 Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo Wii)

Conquering the galaxy

In a year filled with Assassin's Creed, BioShock, Crysis, and Uncharted, Super Mario Galaxy still shines bright. Nintendo certainly knows how to make engaging games, and Super Mario Galaxy remains one of the company's greatest games ever. Being Mario's first 3D adventure in 5 years, and the first Mario game on the Nintendo Wii, expectations ran high, but the game proved to be an instant classic. It's one of the only games to have a 97 Metacritic score.

Jam-packed with more gameplay innovations than you can remember, a revamped platforming approach, and endlessly creative challenges for the titular plumber to overcome, Super Mario Galaxy was so influential that it received a rare sequel in the form of Super Mario Galaxy 2. You might not be able to pick up a new copy today, but it's still possible to buy a pre-owned copy from eBay or Amazon.

6 Team Fortress 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Another win for Team Valve

Team Fortress 2 was a Half-Life mod in Team Fortress Classic, that Valve later turned into a full-fledged multiplayer shooter with genre-defining class-based gameplay. The company chose a light-hearted aesthetic that gave the characters unique personalities, and allowed players to focus on their tactics and abilities.

The game went free-to-play in 2011, relying on microtransactions for cosmetics and other upgrades, and it was rewarded for doing so. Multiple unique modes, maps, and weapons and constant free updates kept the game fresh and popular. It inspired many other greats of the genre, such as Overwatch, and remains one of Valve's most successful ventures.

5 Halo 3 (Xbox 360)

Home run

While Halo 3 came to PC only in 2020 as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, it enjoyed years worth of stellar online multiplayer. While the game is regarded as one of the greatest of all time, the single-player campaign was nothing to write home about. Nonetheless, what Bungie managed to achieve with the game's multiplayer component was downright phenomenal.

The variety in the game's maps, excellent matchmaking, and endless customizable modes created one of the biggest and most active multiplayer communities ever seen. With Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the game's multiplayer still lives on, easily being one of the most popular options among all the installments.