By Metacritic’s displayed 2004 release-year ranking, Half-Life 2 leads with a 96 Metascore, followed by Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Halo 2, both at 95. But “best” depends on the measure: GameSpot named World of Warcraft its overall Game of the Year for 2004. These are different judgments—one an aggregate ranking, the other a publication’s award—and both help explain why 2004 remains a remarkably varied year for games.
How to read the best-games lists for 2004
Metacritic’s 2004 release-year page ranks releases using displayed Metascores aggregated from critics. Its ordering is a useful snapshot of critical reception, not a universal verdict; scores and rankings can change. Metacritic also labels Half-Life 2 its 2004 PC Game of the Year and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas its 2004 PS2 Game of the Year.
GameSpot’s award is a separate editorial choice. Its editorial team selected World of Warcraft as its overall 2004 Game of the Year from ten nominees, as reported by Game Developer on December 23, 2004. That result does not contradict the Metacritic ranking: the outlets used different methods.
The highest-ranked games in Metacritic’s 2004 list
The scores and release dates below are as displayed on Metacritic’s release-year list, accessed in 2026. The dates are listed release dates; platform and genre identify the kind of experience each game offers.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches#1 Best Overall
- 🕹️Officially Licensed: Officially licensed Atari titles, ensuring an authentic gaming experience, includes bonus games.
- Portable Gameplay: Powered by 4 AA batteries (not included) or by a USB-C cable (not included). IMPORTANT NOTE: Please use standard non-rechargeable batteries.
- Collector's Item: A must-own for collectors and fans of video games, celebrating Atari's pioneering legacy spanning over 50 years.
- Headphone Jack: 3.5mm headphone jack lets you enjoy Atari on the go on your own privately. Built-in speaker with volume control and brightness adjustment
- 🎯 Iconic Titles: Relive iconic Atari classics like Pong, Yars Revenge, Breakout, Asteroids Centipede, Missile Command, and many more with 100 games in one compact unit.
| Game | Metascore | Listed release date | Platform and experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Life 2 | 96 | November 16, 2004 | PC; first-person shooter |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 95 | October 26, 2004 | PS2; open-world action-adventure |
| Halo 2 | 95 | November 9, 2004 | Xbox; first-person shooter |
| Burnout 3: Takedown | 94 | September 7, 2004 | PS2 and Xbox; arcade racing |
| Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow | 93 | March 23, 2004 | Multiple platforms; stealth action |
| Unreal Tournament 2004 | 93 | March 16, 2004 | PC; arena-style first-person shooter |
| Rome: Total War | 92 | 2004 release-year listing | PC; historical strategy |
Metacritic’s page also includes Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater among its highly ranked games. The listed dates and platform labels should be treated as the page presents them, rather than as a guarantee that a current edition is available for every system.
What each standout offers
Half-Life 2: a tightly directed shooter
For a player looking for a single-player first-person shooter, Half-Life 2 is the highest-scoring title in Metacritic’s 2004 list. Its 96 Metascore is an aggregate figure, while its PC Game of the Year label is Metacritic’s own platform-specific recognition.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: an open world to roam
San Andreas is the open-world choice among the top three. Its 95 Metascore ties Halo 2, and Metacritic separately names it the PS2 Game of the Year for 2004. Choose it for free-roaming action-adventure rather than a focused shooter campaign.
Rank #2
- Kids Friendly Design: This P30S handheld game console is specially designed for kids. It has a stylish arcade - like appearance. The body fits a child's hand, and the game settings also cater to kids psychology, thus being very attractive.
- Excellent Gaming Experience: Equipped with a 3.0 - inch high - definition screen and excellent speaker sound, it provides an excellent visual and auditory experience for video games. This handheld game console is small and lightweight, convenient for kids to use and carry. Its ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip, allowing children to fully enjoy the games.
- Rich Collection of Classic Games: This retro handheld game console contains 220 interesting kids video games, including various types such as entertainment, sports, and adventure games, just like those found in many retro game consoles. While playing these games, kids can cultivate skills such as hand - eye coordination, thinking, and problem - solving.
- Convenient Rechargeable and Long - lasting Battery: The video game console is equipped with an 860mAh lithium - ion battery. It ensures that kids can play games without interruption, because there is no need for frequent battery replacement, which is very suitable for playing portable games outdoors. It is a great addition to the world of handheld games for children and can bring more fun to them.
- Absolutely Surprising Gift: Our handheld game toy is a surprising gift for kids, teenagers, and even adults. It is the best gift for birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. Our customer support team will serve you wholeheartedly.
Halo 2: console-focused science-fiction combat
Halo 2 shares the 95 score with San Andreas and represents the Xbox-first-person-shooter lane in the list. It is a strong pick for players seeking science-fiction shooting rather than an open-world structure.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Burnout 3 and Pandora Tomorrow: racing or stealth
Burnout 3: Takedown puts speed and crashes at the center of an arcade racing game; Pandora Tomorrow shifts to stealth action. Both make the list’s range clear: 2004’s most acclaimed releases were not limited to shooters or open worlds.
Unreal Tournament 2004 and Rome: Total War: PC multiplayer or strategy
Unreal Tournament 2004 is the PC shooter option for arena combat, while Rome: Total War offers historical strategy. The scores place both among the year’s highly rated releases without suggesting that their audiences or play styles are interchangeable.
Rank #3
- Face Off with Friends Online: Online play is available across all eight titles, featuring rollback netcode for a strong and stable online experience!
- Hit the Training Bag: Training Mode is now available across all titles with tons of features to help you master combos and setups!
- Expanded Language Support: 14 languages will be supported including English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Castilian Spanish, Russian, Polish, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Arabic!
- A Museum’s Worth of Content: Explore art and music galleries with official art, concept art, design documents, and more never-before-seen content.
- Customize Your Experience: Fine-tune specific features of your gameplay experience via EX Settings specialized to each game, various Display Filters, button customization, and more.
What contemporary awards add
GameSpot’s December 17, 2004 Best and Worst awards finalists show another way to understand the year: by craft and category, not just an overall ranking. Its finalist categories included story, technical and artistic graphics, original and licensed music, sound effects, voice acting, and new character. The finalist pool featured games such as The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Katamari Damacy, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Myst IV: Revelation, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. These are finalists, not necessarily category winners.
GameSpot’s overall award went to World of Warcraft, a PC MMO whose November 23, 2004 release date is listed by Metacritic. The ten GameSpot nominees were Burnout 3, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Half-Life 2, Halo 2, Ninja Gaiden, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Rome: Total War, Unreal Tournament 2004, and World of Warcraft.
Which 2004 game should you play or revisit?
- For the highest Metacritic score: start with Half-Life 2.
- For an open-world action-adventure: choose Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
- For an Xbox-era shooter: consider Halo 2.
- For arcade racing: try Burnout 3: Takedown.
- For stealth: consider Pandora Tomorrow.
- For arena shooting or historical strategy: look at Unreal Tournament 2004 or Rome: Total War.
- For the year’s GameSpot award winner: explore World of Warcraft.
These recommendations describe the original games and their historical recognition, not present-day availability or compatibility. Before buying or installing an older release, check the specific edition, platform, region, and retailer listing; a 2004 ranking does not establish current stock or whether a copy works on modern hardware.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
