When Xbox Series X and the PS5 dropped they both did so with multiple launch titles, including the popular Borderlands, all of which had had great success on the consoles previous gens. Sometimes though, a launch title is completely brand new and changes the future of the console.
Several launch titles have received otherworldly praise, with a few even being a big influence for later games down the road. When it comes to this kind of game, these dozen are the most well-received by Metacritic.
Madden NFL 2001 - 91%
The first Madden game of the 21st century was a release title for the Playstation 2. Starring former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George on the cover, Madden NFL 2001 had a plethora of customization options and historic NFL teams, as well as the introduction of Madden cards.
With it being the first football game on the PS2, Madden NFL 2001 blew critics away with its stunning graphics at the time. The game's presentation has been lauded, and the superb gameplay has also received high marks as well, making this Madden among the best in the series.
DOA2: Hardcore - 91%
Another launch title for the Playstation 2 (albeit just in North America) is DOA2: Hardcore, which is more or less a port of Dead or Alive 2. The game's plot remains intact, but the graphics have greatly improved, with things such as secret characters and new costumes thrown in.
Critics were enamored with this "hardcore" version of Dead or Alive 2, particularly due to its graphics, character design, and eclectic cast of fighters. The heavy amount of extras that were thrown into a mix was a huge selling point.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 - 91%
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 was a launch title for the Gamecube in 2001, featuring Tony Hawk and a roster of twelve pro skaters. Players can either skate all around the world or treat themselves to customization, as they can create their own skater or build a skate park from scratch.
While not nearly as adored as the PS2 version, the Gamecube version of Pro Skater 3 still did well with critics. Much of the praise went to the soundtrack and new tricks to perform, as well as the control scheme which worked seamlessly on the Gamecube controller.
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon - 91%
Released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon was yet another tale in the fabled conflict between Count Dracula and the Belmont clan. In this 2-D side-scroller, Nathan Graves has to make his way through Dracula's Castle in order to defeat the resurrected Count Dracula.
Circle of the Moon plays like any other Castlevania game, with the same kind of pacing and mechanics. Critics enjoyed the game's card system, the DSS (Dual Set-up System), although some took issue with how dark the game's graphics were.
Flower - 91%
Flower was originally released on the Playstation 3 in February 2009, before being ported to the Playstation 4 years later as a launch title. Created by the developers of flOw, Flower is a serene game in which the player controls the wind to blow a flower petal across the air.
Flower completely won over critics with its simple yet relaxing nature, being a game that is meant to evoke positive emotions. With no dialogue or text and relying solely on emotional cues, this game can really give any player a pleasant experience never felt before.
Demon's Souls - 92%
Published by Sony in early 2009, Demon's Souls saw new life as a remake for the Playstation 5. While the game's difficulty and arduous quest remain the same, everything else is amplified and built from the ground up.
The remake of Demon's Souls holds up to the original, featuring the same dark and majestic fantasy land that the 2009 interaction was known for. Critics enjoyed how much better the game plays, thanks in part to the quality-of-life changes. Even with these changes and improvements in graphics, the challenging nature of Demon's Souls is still very much apparent.
SSX - 93%
SSX burst into the scene on the Playstation 2, being the first of a few extreme sports games produced by EA Sports BIG. The game offers fast gameplay, detailed tracks, and the ability to bust out totally unrealistic snowboarding moves.
Winning multiple gaming awards months after its release, SSX was one of the highest-selling games in late 2000. Critics fell in love with this snowboarding title, commending the graphics, gameplay, and soundtrack. Much of the praise went to the game's track design, which some saw as vibrant and cleverly designed.
Super Mario 64 - 94%
Marking Mario's first foray into 3-D, Super Mario 64 is a timeless masterpiece that has gone on to become of the most influential video games in gaming history.
Super Mario 64 was widely anticipated by gaming critics when it was first unveiled, and it has definitely lived up to the hype. Its nonlinear open-world gameplay was heavily applauded, and it's this kind of gameplay that has gone on to inspire many 3-D platforming titles in the future.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 95%
Twilight Princess is one of the darker games in The Legend of Zelda series, as it follows Link in his quest to save the kingdom of Hyrule from falling into Twilight. A dark, brooding atmosphere haunts this game - no thanks to characters such as Midna and the game's villain, Zant.
Considered by some critics to be the best Zelda game ever, Twilight Princess earned props for its mature themes and dastardly puzzles. There's also a "realistic" feel to this title that critics believed makes this game heavier than many other iterations of Zelda.
Halo: Combat Evolved - 97%
Microsoft made a big statement when the Xbox hit the shelves in 2001, making Halo: Combat Evolved a launch title for the console. The first game of the Halo series has players ride vehicles, snipe enemies, and experiment with alien technology all as Master Chief.
Halo: Combat Evolved is esteemed as one of the best first-person shooter games ever made, and has gone on to modernize and define the FPS genre. Critics have called this game the most integral launch title around, as its success has helped put the Xbox on the map.
