2001 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Madden NFL 2002, NBA Live 2002, NBA 2K2, WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It, Capcom vs. SNK 2, Crazy Taxi 2, Dead or Alive 3, Final Fantasy X, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Myst III: Exile, Silent Hill 2, Sonic Adventure 2, SSX Tricky, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Tekken 4, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, and Virtua Fighter 4. New intellectual properties include Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Advance Wars, Animal Crossing, Burnout, Gothic, Black & White, Devil May Cry, Fatal Frame, Ghost Recon, Halo: Combat Evolved, Jak and Daxter, Max Payne, Oni, Onimusha: Warlords, Operation Flashpoint, Pikmin, Pro Evolution Soccer, Red Faction, Serious Sam, and Tropico.
Three major video game systems were released in 2001: the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance by Nintendo, and the Xbox by Microsoft. Sega, which had been a major competitor in the video game hardware market to this point, ended its involvement in the market after the failure of the Dreamcast.
The year 2001 is remembered for its influence on the video game industry with the release of many games recognized as classics. Many video games released in 2001 defined or redefined their respective genres, including hack and slash game Devil May Cry, first-person shooter game Halo: Combat Evolved, and open world action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto III, which is regarded as an industry-defining work.
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. It was the peak year for the sixth generation of video game consoles, with the launch of the GameCube and Xbox, the latter focusing on online games (following SegaNet the previous year), and the Dreamcast's last year of production with Sega's exit from console manufacturing. Storytelling and mature themes also became a more mainstream trend.
The year's best-selling video game worldwide was Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal, the fourth year in a row for the Pokémon series (since 1998). The year's most critically acclaimed titles were Gran Turismo 3 and Final Fantasy X in Japan, and Halo and Grand Theft Auto III in the West.
Legend
Hardware releases
This is a list of game hardware released in 2001.
Nintendo released two consoles this year; the Game Boy Advance, the second & final entry in the Game Boy family (excluding revision models), and the GameCube, Nintendo's home console entry in the sixth generation of game consoles.
Microsoft entered the video game industry this year with the launch of the Xbox. Month Day Console March 21 Game Boy AdvanceJune11Game Boy Advance22Game Boy Advance September 14 GameCube November 15 Xbox 16 Pokémon Mini18GameCube
Top-rated games Major awards GameRankings named Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty the Game of the Year for 2001, citing its position as the highest-rated title of the year with an aggregated score of 97% based on reviews from more than 50 gaming publications. +Game of the Year awards for 2001AwardsGame of the YearPlatform(s)Publisher(s)GenreElectronic PlaygroundGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen worldGameRevolutionGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen worldBritish Academy Games AwardsGran Turismo 3 A-SpecPS2Polyphony Digital Racing British Academy Games AwardsHalo Combat EvolvedXBBungieFPSBritish Academy Games AwardsMax PayneWINRockstar GamesThird Person ShooterD.I.C.E. Award for Game of the YearHalo Combat EvolvedXBBungieFPSGame Developers Choice AwardsGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen worldGolden Joystick AwardsGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen worldJapan Game AwardsFinal Fantasy XPS2SquareSoftRole-PlayingEGM MagazineHalo Combat EvolvedXBBungieFPSEurogamerGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen worldGame InformerMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyPS2KonamiStealth gameGameSpotGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen worldIGNHalo Combat EvolvedXBBungieFPS
Critically acclaimed titles
Famitsu Platinum Hall of Fame In Japan, the following video game releases in 2001 entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40.
Title Platform(s) Publisher Genre Score (out of 40)Gran Turismo 3: A-SpecPS2SonyRacing simulation39Final Fantasy XPS2SquaresoftRole-playing39Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren GB2GBCChunsoftRoguelike38Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyPS2KonamiStealth38Culdcept SecondDCMedia FactoryTurn-based strategy37Dai Rantō Smash Brothers DX (Super Smash Bros. Melee)GCNNintendoFighting37Dōbutsu no Mori + (Animal Crossing)GCNNintendoSocial simulation37Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibōken 2 (The Last Hope)GBAEnixRoguelike36Madden NFL 2001PS2Square EASports35Onimusha (Onimusha: Warlords)PS2CapcomHack and slash35Kessen IIPS2KoeiReal-time tactics35Crazy Taxi 2DCSegaDriving35Zeonic Front: Kidō Senshi Gundam 0079 (Mobile Suit Gundam)PS2BandaiStrategy35Capcom vs. SNK 2: Millionaire Fighting 2001DC, PS2CapcomFighting35Magical VacationGBANintendoRole-playing35Battle Network Rockman EXE 2 (Mega Man Battle Network 2)GBACapcomTactical role-playing35
Metacritic and GameRankings In the West, Metacritic (MC) and GameRankings (GR) are aggregators of video game journalism reviews.
+ 2001 games and expansions scoring at least 88/100 (MC) or 87.5% (GR) Game Publisher Release date Platform(s) MC score GR score Halo: Combat Evolved Microsoft Game Studios November 15, 2001 XB 97/100 95.54% Grand Theft Auto III Rockstar Games October 22, 2001 PS2 97/100 95.19% Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Konami November 13, 2001 PS2 96/100 95.09% Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec Sony Computer Entertainment April 28, 2001 PS2 95/100 94.54% Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 Activision October 30, 2001 PS2 97/100 93.43% Devil May Cry Capcom August 23, 2001 PS2 94/100 92.6% Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Activision June 11, 2001 GBA 95/100 89.88% Madden NFL 2002 EA Sports August 19, 2001 PS2 94/100 92.32% NBA 2K2 Sega October 24, 2001 DC 93/100 92.82% Mario Kart: Super Circuit Nintendo July 21, 2001 GBA 93/100 91.54% SSX Tricky EA Sports November 5, 2001 PS2 92/100 92.49% Advance Wars Nintendo September 10, 2001 GBA 92/100 92.38% Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Nintendo December 14, 2001 GBA 92/100 92.36% The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages Nintendo February 27, 2001 GBC 92.2% Final Fantasy X Square July 19, 2001 PS2 92/100 91.73% Super Smash Bros. Melee Nintendo November 21, 2001 GCN 92/100 90.52% Conker's Bad Fur Day Rare March 5, 2001 N64 92/100 89.28% NHL 2002 EA Sports September 24, 2001 PS2 92/100 88.84% Pro Evolution Soccer Konami March 15, 2001 PS2 91.69% The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons Nintendo February 27, 2001 GBC 91.37% Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 Activision November 18, 2001 GCN 91/100 91.12% IL-2 Sturmovik 1C Company November 18, 2001 WIN 91/100 90.65% Golden Sun Nintendo August 1, 2001 GBA 91/100 89.1% Twisted Metal: Black Sony Computer Entertainment June 18, 2001 PS2 91/100 88.52% Castlevania: Circle of the Moon Konami March 21, 2001 GBA 91/100 88.11% Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil Namco March 22, 2001 PS2 91/100 84.76% Madden NFL 2002 EA Sports November 17, 2001 GCN 89/100 90.39% Ico Sony Computer Entertainment September 24, 2001 PS2 90/100 90.29% NCAA Football 2002 EA Sports July 23, 2001 PS2 90/100 90.25% Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy Sony Computer Entertainment December 3, 2001 PS2 90/100 90.22% Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader LucasArts November 18, 2001 GCN 90/100 90.04% Black & White Electronic Arts March 30, 2001 WIN 90/100 89.79% NFL 2K2 Sega September 19, 2001 DC 90/100 89.35% Civilization III Infogrames October 30, 2001 WIN 90/100 88.75% Madden NFL 2002 EA Sports October 31, 2001 XB 90/100 88.72% Unreal Tournament Infogrames March 13, 2001 DC 90/100 87.8% Virtua Tennis 2 Sega October 24, 2001 DC 90/100 87.22% Dance Dance Revolution Konami March 6, 2001 PS1 90/100 83.63% Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Microsoft October 16, 2001 WIN 90/100 82.44% Shenmue II Sega September 6, 2001 DC 89.63% Max Payne Gathering of Developers July 23, 2001 WIN 89/100 89.26% NASCAR Racing 4 Sierra Entertainment February 6, 2001 WIN 89/100 88.5% NBA Street EA Sports June 19, 2001 PS2 89/100 86.92% Pikmin Nintendo October 26, 2001 GCN 89/100 86.71% Final Fantasy Chronicles Square June 29, 2001 PS1 89/100 86.7% NHL 2002 EA Sports December 10, 2001 XB 89/100 86.33% Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies Namco September 13, 2001 PS2 89/100 86.07% Max Payne Rockstar Games December 12, 2001 XB 89/100 85.95% Silent Hill 2 Konami September 24, 2001 PS2 89/100 85.82% Sonic Adventure 2 Sega June 23, 2001 DC 89/100 83.26% Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal Interplay Entertainment June 22, 2001 WIN 88/100 88.73% Super Monkey Ball Sega September 14, 2001 GCN 87/100 88.7% Red Faction THQ May 22, 2001 PS2 88/100 88.32% Dark Age of Camelot Vivendi Universal Games October 10, 2001 WIN 88/100 88.08% Return to Castle Wolfenstein Activision November 19, 2001 WIN 88/100 86.75% SSX Tricky EA Sports December 10, 2001 XB 88/100 86.6% Wario Land 4 Nintendo August 21, 2001 GBA 88/100 85.34% Madden NFL 2002 EA Sports August 13, 2001 PS1 88/100 85.08% Tribes 2 Sierra Entertainment March 28, 2001 WIN 88/100 84.85% Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis Nintendo June 21, 2001 GBA 88/100 83.62%
Financial performance
Best-selling home video games + Best-selling home video games in Japan and the United States Rank Title Platform(s)Publisher Sales Japan United States Combined1Pokémon Gold / Silver / CrystalGBCNintendo826,1253,127,6593,953,7842Final Fantasy XPS2Squaresoft2,434,015746,6323,180,6473Gran Turismo 3: A-SpecPS2Sony1,656,9591,172,3222,829,2814Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyPS2Konami750,5601,800,000+2,550,560+5Madden NFL 2002PS1, PS2EA Sports 2,220,1122,220,1126The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of AgesGBCNintendo772,8581,248,1912,021,0497Grand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar 1,965,8321,965,8328Super Mario AdvanceGBANintendo777,8991,172,323+1,950,222+9Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StonePS1, WINEA83,9541,628,7441,712,69810The SimsWINEA 1,482,1821,482,182
+ Highest-grossing home video games in the United States and Europe Rank Title Platform(s) Sales revenue USA Europe Combined Inflation1Pokémon Gold / Silver / CrystalGBC€221,000,000 ()$289,038,324$2Grand Theft Auto IIIPS2€54,000,000 ()$146,940,325$3Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone€92,000,000 ()$137,148,445$4Gran Turismo 3: A-SpecPS2€64,000,000 ()$115,264,403$5Madden NFL 2002PS1, PS2$110,000,000+$+6Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3€24,000,000 ()$102,000,000$7Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyPS2+ $87,000,000+$+8The SimsWIN$60,499,079€25,000,000 ()$82,499,079$9Super Mario AdvanceGBA+€23,000,000 ()$56,000,000+$+10FIFA Football 2002€52,000,000 ()$47,000,000+$+
Japan + Best-selling home video games in Japan Rank Title Platform Sales Sales revenue Inflation 1Final Fantasy XPS22,434,015¥17,600,000,000+ (+)$+2Gran Turismo 3: A-SpecPS21,656,959 colspan="2" 3Dragon Quest Monsters 2GBC1,138,756 colspan="2" 4Dragon Quest IV: Michibikareshi MonotachiPS11,039,443 colspan="2" 5Onimusha (Onimusha: Warlords)PS21,000,000+ colspan="2" 6Minna no Golf 3 (Everybody's Golf 3)PS2871,167 colspan="2" rowspan="2" 7Dai Rantō Smash Brothers DX (Smash Bros. Melee)GCN838,2378Pocket Monsters: Gold / Silver / Crystal (Pokémon)GBC826,125 colspan="2" 9Winning Eleven 5 (Pro Evolution Soccer)PS2789,515 colspan="2" 10Super Mario AdvanceGBA777,899 colspan="2"
United States