RPGFan Feature - Best RPGs of the 00s: John P. Hussey's Top 10

As you can tell from top ten list, my role-playing experience over the past decade has been dominated by JRPGs and the Sony brand. While there have been some truly spectacular games on Sony's new system, including the gem Valkyria Chronicles, the PlayStation 2 still remains the best role-playing console of the decade, with four games out of my top ten. In retrospect, 2008 was an amazing year for RPG fans, with four games (Etrian Odyssey II, Final Fantasy IV, Fallout 3 and Valkyria Chronicles) being released, as the PlayStation 3 began to hit its stride and the DS continued its dominance. The Game of the Year vote at RPGFan that year was particularly difficult, and I was the lone editor who fought for Valkyria Chronicles. I stand by my vote, and it remains the best "Next Generation" game to date. However, while brilliant in so many ways, even Valkryia Chronicles can't stand up to the PlayStation 2's best: Kingdom Hearts and Dragon Quest VIII. The Disney-infused epic became a paragon for Action RPG fans, and Dragon Quest VIII is simply one of the best games ever made. Even though the 00s didn't resonate with me as much as the 90s did, it was a solid decade that I will treasure for years to come.