2004 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Madden NFL 2005, NBA Live 2005, ESPN NBA 2K5, Tony Hawk's Underground 2, WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw, Doom 3, Dragon Quest VIII, Gran Turismo 4, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Half-Life 2, Halo 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Myst IV: Revelation, Ninja Gaiden, Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen/Emerald, Pikmin 2, Everybody's Golf 4 (Hot Shots Golf Fore!), Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, and World of Warcraft. New intellectual properties included Fable, Far Cry, FlatOut, Killzone, Katamari Damacy, Monster Hunter, N, Red Dead Revolver, SingStar, and Sacred. The Nintendo DS was also launched that year, the first major console of the seventh generation.
The year has been retrospectively considered one of the best and most influential in video game history due to the release of numerous critically acclaimed, commercially successful and influential titles across all platforms and genres at the time. The year's best-selling video game was Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The year's most critically acclaimed titles were Dragon Quest VIII and Gran Turismo 4 in Japan, and Half-Life 2 and San Andreas in the West.
Legend
Hardware releases
The list of game-related hardware released in 2004.
This seventh generation of video game consoles began this year with the launch of the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable (only in Japan for the latter).
Sony also released the PlayStation 2 slimline, a smaller revision model of the PlayStation 2.
As of 2026, the Nintendo DS is the best-selling handheld game console of all time and the 2nd best video game console overall (right behind the PlayStation 2).
Date System January 1 PlayStation 2 "PlayStation®2电脑娱乐系统在上海和广州与您见面 (PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system meets you in Shanghai and Guangzhou)" (Press release). Sony China. 1 January 2004. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. October 29 PlayStation 2 slimline November 17 Atari Flashback November 3 PlayStation 2 slimline November 21 Nintendo DS November 25 PlayStation 2 slimline December 2 Nintendo DS PlayStation 2 slimline December 11 PlayStation Portable
Trends In 2004, the total U.S. sales of video game hardware, software and accessories was 9.9 billion compared with 10 billion in 2003. Total software sales rose 8 percent over the previous year to 6.2 billion. Additionally, sales of portable software titles exceeded 1 billion for the first time. Hardware sales were down 27 percent for the year due in part to shortages during the holiday season and price reductions from all systems.
Video game consoles GameCube Xbox PlayStation 2 Sony released an internal hard drive for the PlayStation 2 on March 23 The third major hardware revision of the PlayStation 2 (model number SCPH-70000) was released in Japan on November 1
Handheld game systems The dominant handheld systems in 2004 were: Game Boy Advance SP N-Gage Additionally, Nokia released an updated version of their original N-Gage, called the N-Gage QD. Nintendo released the Nintendo DS on November 21 in the United States. In Japan Sony released the PlayStation Portable on December 12.
Best-selling video games + Best-selling video games worldwide in 2004 Rank Title Platform Publisher Sales Japan USAEurope Worldwide1Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasPS2Rockstar Games 5,144,2141,750,000+6,894,214+2Prince of Persia: Warrior WithinPS2, XBUbisoft56,4145,132,6121,158,6126,347,928+3Pokémon FireRed / LeafGreenGBAThe Pokémon Company2,392,0052,367,4315,800,0004FIFA Football 2005EA Sports56,07553,804+4,500,0005Halo 2XBMicrosoft Game Studios42,3104,288,3974,330,707+6Madden NFL 2005PS2, XBEA Sports3,7054,274,2434,277,948+7Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi HimegimiPS2Square Enix3,327,167 3,327,1678ESPN NFL 2K5PS2Take-Two Interactive 2,632,393 2,632,3939Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (Winning Eleven 8)PS2Konami1,120,2721,500,000+2,620,272+10Need For Speed: Underground 2PS2, XBElectronic Arts 2,453,8292,453,829+
Japan + Best-selling video games in Japan Rank Title Platform PublisherGenre Sales1 Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi PS2 Square EnixRole-playing3,327,1672Pokémon FireRed / LeafGreenGBAThe Pokémon CompanyRole-playing2,392,0053Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire / EmeraldGBAThe Pokémon CompanyRole-playing1,670,0004Dragon Quest V: Tenkū no Hanayome (The Heavenly Bride)PS2Square EnixRole-playing1,611,9745Winning Eleven 8 (Pro Evolution Soccer 4)PS2KonamiSports1,120,2726Sengoku Musou (Samurai Warriors)PS2KoeiHack and slash1,024,2537Jissen Pachislot Shinshouhou! Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star)PS2Sammy CorporationPachislot916,7658Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake EaterPS2KonamiStealth694,3079Gran Turismo 4PS2SonyRacing simulation663,54310Derby Stallion 04PS2EnterbrainSimulation603,815
United States + Best-selling video games in the United States (NPD Group) Rank Title Platform(s) Publisher Sales Revenue Inflation1 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas PS2 Rockstar Games5,144,214$2 Halo 2 XB Microsoft Game Studios4,288,397$3 Madden NFL 2005 PS2, XB, GCN EA Sports4,274,243$4 ESPN NFL 2K5 PS2, XB Take-Two Interactive2,632,393$5 Need For Speed: Underground 2 PS2, XB, GCN Electronic Arts2,453,829$6 Pokémon FireRed / LeafGreen GBA Nintendo2,367,431$7 NBA Live 2005 PS2, XB EA Sports1,723,190$8 Spider-Man 2 PS2, GCN Activision1,569,251$9 ESPN NBA 2K5 PS2, XB Take-Two Interactive1,280,314 colspan="2" rowspan="2" 10 Star Wars: Battlefront PS2, XB LucasArts1,224,927
PAL regions +Best-selling video games in PAL regionsRankUnited KingdomAustraliaTitlePlatform(s)SalesTitlePlatform1Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasPS21,750,000Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasPS22Prince of Persia: Warrior WithinHalo 2XB3Need For Speed: Underground 2Need For Speed: Underground 2PS24The Simpsons: Hit & RunThe Simpsons: Hit & RunPS25Pro Evolution Soccer 4Need for Speed: UndergroundPS26Sonic HeroesRatchet & ClankPS27Spider-Man 2V8 Supercars 2PS28Need for Speed: UndergroundSingStarPS29Halo 2XBGrand Theft Auto: Twin PackXB10DRIV3RGran Turismo 3: A-SpecPS2
Top game rentals in the United States +Top video game rentals in the United States Rank Title Publisher Platform1 Prince of Persia: Warrior Within Ubisoft PS22Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasRockstar Games3DRIV3RAtari4Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 25Madden NFL 2005EA Sports6NFL Street7Red Dead RevolverRockstar Games8James Bond 007: Everything or NothingEA Games9NCAA Football 2005EA Sports10The Sims Bustin' OutEA Games
Critically acclaimed titles
Famitsu In Japan, the following video game releases in 2004 entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" and received Famitsu scores of at least 36 out of 40.
TitlePlatformPublisherGenreScore (out of 40)Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi HimegimiPS2Square EnixRole-playing39Gran Turismo 4PS2SonyRacing simulation39Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasPS2CapcomAction-adventure37Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake EaterPS2KonamiStealth37Kessen IIIPS2KoeiReal-time tactics37Onimusha 3 (Onimusha 3: Demon Siege)PS2CapcomHack and slash36Metal Gear Solid: The Twin SnakesGCNKonamiStealth36Hoshi no Kirby: Kagami no Daimeikyū (Kirby & the Amazing Mirror)GBANintendoMetroidvania36Pikmin 2GCNNintendoReal-time strategy36Mawaru Made in Wario (WarioWare: Twisted!)GBANintendoParty36The Legend of Zelda: Fushigi no Bōshi (The Minish Cap)GBANintendoAction-adventure36Kingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesGBASquare EnixAction role-playing36Sawaru Made in Wario (WarioWare: Touched!)DSNintendoParty36FIFA Total Football 2 (FIFA Football 2005)PS2Electronic ArtsSports36
Metacritic and GameRankings In the West, Metacritic (MC) and GameRankings (GR) are aggregators of video game journalism reviews.
+ 2004 games and expansions scoring at least 88/100 (MC) or 87.5% (GR) Game Publisher Release date Platform MC score GR score Half-Life 2 Valve November 16, 2004 WIN 96/100 95.48% Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Rockstar Games October 26, 2004 PS2 95/100 95.08% Halo 2 Microsoft Game Studios November 9, 2004 XB 95/100 94.57% Burnout 3: Takedown Electronic Arts September 8, 2004 XB 94/100 93.06% Burnout 3: Takedown Electronic Arts September 8, 2004 PS2 93/100 93.32% Unreal Tournament 2004 Atari March 16, 2004 WIN 93/100 92.57% Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow Ubisoft March 23, 2004 XB 93/100 92.37% World of Warcraft Blizzard Entertainment November 23, 2004 WIN 93/100 91.89% Ninja Gaiden Tecmo March 2, 2004 XB 91/100 92.54% Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Nintendo November 15, 2004 GCN 92/100 91.87% Rome: Total War Activision September 22, 2004 WIN 92/100 91.75% ESPN NFL 2K5 Sega July 20, 2004 XB 92/100 90.52% Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Konami November 17, 2004 PS2 91/100 91.77% Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal Sony Computer Entertainment November 3, 2004 PS2 91/100 91.54% Pro Evolution Soccer 4 Konami August 5, 2004 PS2 91/100 91.12% Madden NFL 2005 EA Sports August 9, 2004 PS2 91/100 90.33% Madden NFL 2005 EA Sports August 9, 2004 XB 91/100 89.5% Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 EA Sports September 20, 2004 WIN 91/100 88.24% The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay – Developer's Cut Vivendi Universal Games December 3, 2004 WIN 90/100 90.95% The Sims 2 Electronic Arts September 14, 2004 WIN 90/100 90.76% The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap Nintendo November 4, 2004 GBA 89/100 90.36% Metroid: Zero Mission Nintendo February 9, 2004 GBA 89/100 90.19% Pro Evolution Soccer 4 Konami November 26, 2004 XB 90/100 90.11% Dragon Quest VIII Square Enix November 27, 2004 PS2 89/100 90.05% Madden NFL 2005 EA Sports August 9, 2004 GCN 90/100 90% Pikmin 2 Nintendo April 29, 2004 GCN 90/100 89.44% MVP Baseball 2004 EA Sports March 9, 2004 PS2 90/100 88.89% MVP Baseball 2004 EA Sports March 9, 2004 XB 90/100 88.73% Viewtiful Joe Capcom August 24, 2004 PS2 90/100 87.95% Lumines: Puzzle Fusion Bandai December 12, 2004 PSP 89/100 89.93% Counter-Strike: Source Valve November 1, 2004 WIN 88/100 89.71% EVE Online: Exodus CCP Games November 17, 2004 WIN N/A 89.62% Gran Turismo 4 Sony Computer Entertainment December 28, 2004 PS2 89/100 89.53% NCAA Football 2005 EA Sports July 15, 2004 PS2 88/100 89.45% FirePower for Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3 Microsoft Game Studios June 11, 2004 WIN 88/100 89.43% Far Cry Ubisoft March 23, 2004 WIN 89/100 89.38% Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor DreamCatcher Interactive October 5, 2004 WIN 81/100 89% Football Manager 2005 Sega November 5, 2004 WIN 89/100 88.81% The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay Vivendi Universal Games June 1, 2004 XB 89/100 88.61% NCAA Football 2005 EA Sports July 15, 2004 XB 89/100 88.4% MVP Baseball 2004 EA Sports March 9, 2004 GCN 89/100 87.43% Ridge Racer Namco December 12, 2004 PSP 88/100 88.62% RalliSport Challenge 2 Microsoft Game Studios May 4, 2004 XB 87/100 88.54% Pro Evolution Soccer 4 Konami December 3, 2004 WIN 88/100 88.5% Out of the Park Baseball 6 Out of the Park Developments June 14, 2004 WIN 87/100 88.4% Sid Meier's Pirates! Atari November 22, 2004 WIN 88/100 88.34% Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Nintendo July 22, 2004 GCN 87/100 88.05% NCAA Football 2005 EA Sports July 15, 2004 GCN 88/100 88.01% Sly 2: Band of Thieves Sony Computer Entertainment September 14, 2004 PS2 88/100 87.92% Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots Microsoft Game Studios April 27, 2004 WIN 88/100 87.86% WarioWare: Twisted! Nintendo October 14, 2004 GBA 88/100 87.79% Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 EA Sports September 20, 2004 GCN 88/100 87.68% Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 EA Sports September 20, 2004 PS2 88/100 87.08% Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 EA Sports September 20, 2004 XB 88/100 86.51% ESPN NHL 2K5 Sega August 30, 2004 XB 88/100 86.22% Wings of Power: WWII Heavy Bombers and Jets Tri Synergy September 13, 2004 WIN 83/100 87.83% NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup EA Sports September 4, 2004 GCN N/A 87.61%
Major events
{| class="wikitable col-1center" ! Date ! Event ! |- | January 12 | Ubisoft acquires Tiwak.
| January 20