The year 2000 saw the release of numerous video games as well as the launch of the PlayStation 2. Critically acclaimed games originally released in 2000 include sequels such as Madden NFL 2001, NBA Live 2001, NBA 2K1, WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role, Baldur's Gate II, Diablo II, Dragon Quest VII, Final Fantasy IX, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, NFL 2K1, Resident Evil – Code: Veronica, Spyro: Year of the Dragon, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, alongside new intellectual properties such as Deus Ex, Hitman, Jet Set Radio, Perfect Dark, Skies of Arcadia, The Sims, SSX, Vagrant Story, and Sin and Punishment. The year's best-selling home video games worldwide were Pokémon games for the third year in a row (since 1998), while the highest-grossing arcade game in Japan was Virtua Striker 2.
Legend
Hardware releases
The list of game-related hardware released in 2000.
Sony released the PlayStation 2, which as to this day is still the best selling video game console of all time (with 160m+ units sold). Sony also released the PS One, a small revision model of the original PlayStation that can be played portably with a LCD add-on.
Date System March 4 PlayStation 2 July 7 PS OneSeptember 19PS OneSeptember 29PS One October 26 PlayStation 2NovemberPS One November 24 PlayStation 2 November 30 PlayStation 2 December 9 WonderSwan Color Unknown Sega NAOMI 2 (arcade)
Top-rated games
Game of the Year awards The following titles won Game of the Year awards for 2000.
Awards Game of the Year Developer Publisher Genre Platform(s) GameSpot Chrono Cross Squaresoft Square EA RPG PS1 IGN BAFTA Interactive Awards Deus Ex Ion Storm Eidos Action RPG WIN, MAC IGN Electronic PlaygroundDeus ExIon StormEidosAction RPGWIN, MACGameSpyDeus ExIon StormEidosAction RPGWIN, MAC Electronic Gaming Monthly Final Fantasy IX Squaresoft Square EA RPG PS1 Golden Satellite Awards Electronic PlaygroundFinal Fantasy IXSquaresoftSquare EARPGPS1Core MagazineFinal Fantasy IXSquaresoftSquare EARPGPS1 IGN The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Nintendo EAD Nintendo Action-adventure N64 Nintendo Power Awards GameRevolutionThe Legend of Zelda: Majora's MaskNintendo EADNintendoAction-adventureN64Electronic PlaygroundThe Legend of Zelda: Majora's MaskNintendo EADNintendoAction-adventureN64DailyRadar UKThe Legend of Zelda: Majora's MaskNintendo EADNintendoAction-adventureN64Electronic PlaygroundJet Set RadioSmilebitSegaPlatformDC Computer Gaming World The Sims Maxis EA Life sim WIN, MAC GamePower GameSpot GDC Awards Interactive Achievement Awards Electronic Gaming Monthly Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Neversoft Activision Sports PS1, DC Game Informer GameRevolutionTony Hawk's Pro Skater 2NeversoftActivisionSportsPS1 BAFTA Interactive Awards MediEvil 2 SCE Cambridge Sony Hack & slash PS1 Pokémon Yellow Game Freak Nintendo RPG GBC DigitiserMetropolis Street RacerBizarreSegaRacingDCElectronic Gaming MonthlyShenmueSega AM2SegaAction-adventureDCIGNMetal Gear Solid (Metal Gear: Ghost Babel)KCEJKonamiStealthGBCInteractive Achievement AwardsDiablo IIBlizzard NorthBlizzardAction RPGWIN, MACJapan Game AwardsPhantasy Star OnlineSonic TeamSegaAction RPGDCJapan Media Arts FestivalDragon Quest VIIHeartbeatEnixRPGPS1RPGFanGrandia IIGame ArtsUbisoftRPGDCVSDA AwardsPokémon StadiumNintendo EADNintendoStrategyN64
Critically acclaimed titles
Famitsu Platinum Hall of Fame The following video game releases in 2000 entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40.
TitlePlatformPublisherGenreScore (out of 40)Vagrant StoryPS1SquaresoftAction RPG40Tekken Tag TournamentPS2NamcoFighting38Final Fantasy IXPS1SquaresoftRPG38Dragon Quest VII: Eden no Senshi-tachiPS1EnixRPG38The Legend of Zelda: Mujura no Kamen (Majora's Mask)N64NintendoAction-adventure37Phantasy Star OnlineDCSegaAction RPG37Ridge Racer VPS2NamcoRacing36Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren 2 (Shiren the Wanderer 2)N64NintendoRoguelike36Biohazard – Code: Veronica (Resident Evil – Code: Veronica)DCCapcomSurvival horror35Trade & Battle: Card HeroGBCNintendoCard battle35The Typing of the DeadDCSegaEdutainment35Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 7PS2KonamiSports35Grandia IIDCGame ArtsRPG35MotoGPPS2NamcoRacing35Tsumi to Batsu: Hoshi no Keishōsha (Sin and Punishment)N64NintendoRail shooter35
Metacritic and GameRankings Metacritic (MC) and GameRankings (GR) are aggregators of video game journalism reviews.
+ 2000 games and expansions scoring at least 88/100 (MC) or 87.5% (GR) Game Publisher Release Date Platform(s) MC score GR score Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Activision September 20, 2000 PS1 98/100 94.75% Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Activision November 7, 2000 DC 97/100 94.86% Perfect Dark Nintendo May 22, 2000 N64 97/100 94.55% NFL 2K1 Sega September 7, 2000 DC 97/100 94.5% Metal Gear Solid (Metal Gear: Ghost Babel) Konami April 24, 2000 GBC 95.61% Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn Interplay Entertainment September 21, 2000 WIN 95/100 93.97% The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Nintendo April 27, 2000 N64 95/100 91.95% Resident Evil – Code: Veronica Capcom February 3, 2000 DC 94/100 93.79% Final Fantasy IX Square July 7, 2000 PS1 94/100 92.72% Jet Set Radio Sega June 29, 2000 DC 94/100 91.9% Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Crave Entertainment May 22, 2000 DC 94% Rayman 2: The Great Escape Ubisoft March 21, 2000 DC 93.05% SSX EA Sports October 26, 2000 PS2 93/100 92.39% Skies of Arcadia Sega October 5, 2000 DC 93/100 90.59% NBA 2K1 Sega October 31, 2000 DC 93/100 89.69% Le Mans 24 Hours Sega November 13, 2000 DC 93/100 89.5% Paper Mario Nintendo August 11, 2000 N64 93/100 88.81% Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Activision February 29, 2000 N64 92.4% Vagrant Story Square February 10, 2000 PS1 92/100 91.97% The Sims Electronic Arts February 4, 2000 WIN, MAC 92/100 89.74% Dead or Alive 2 Tecmo February 29, 2000 DC 91.37% Virtua Tennis Sega June 8, 2000 DC 92/100 91.37% Banjo-Tooie Nintendo November 20, 2000 N64 90/100 91.31% Deus Ex Eidos Interactive June 23, 2000 WIN, MAC 90/100 91.03% Madden NFL 2001 EA Sports October 26, 2000 PS2 91/100 90.78% Spyro: Year of the Dragon Sony Computer Entertainment October 10, 2000 PS1 91/100 90.59% The Operative: No One Lives Forever Fox Interactive November 9, 2000 WIN 91/100 88.34% DOA2: Hardcore Tecmo October 26, 2000 PS2 91/100 87.38% Mario Tennis Nintendo July 21, 2000 N64 91/100 87.32% Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Activision October 25, 2000 WIN 91/100 85.77% Mario Tennis Nintendo November 1, 2000 GBC 90.78% Donkey Kong Country Nintendo November 4, 2000 GBC 90.38% Pokémon Puzzle Challenge Nintendo September 21, 2000 GBC 90.2% Crazy Taxi Sega January 24, 2000 DC 90.19% Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes Capcom March 30, 2000 DC 90/100 90.15% Colin McRae Rally 2.0 Codemasters July 7, 2000 PS1 90/100 88.82% Grandia II Game Arts August 3, 2000 DC 90/100 88.81% Madden NFL 2001 EA Sports August 22, 2000 PS1 90/100 88.65% Jane's F/A-18 Electronic Arts January 11, 2000 WIN 88.43% NHL 2001 EA Sports September 28, 2000 WIN 90/100 86.75% Rayman Revolution Ubisoft December 22, 2000 PS2 90/100 85.17% WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role THQ November 21, 2000 PS1 90/100 84.27% Wario Land 3 Nintendo March 21, 2000 GBC 90% Phantasy Star Online Sega December 21, 2000 DC 89/100 89.88% Sacrifice Interplay Entertainment November 17, 2000 WIN 89/100 89.53% Counter-Strike Sierra Entertainment November 9, 2000 WIN 88/100 89.2% Thief II Eidos Interactive March 23, 2000 WIN 87/100 89.14% Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Microsoft August 24, 2000 WIN 88/100 89.11% EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark Sony Online Entertainment April 24, 2000 WIN 86/100 89.08% Excitebike 64 Nintendo April 30, 2000 N64 88/100 89.07% Homeworld: Cataclysm Sierra Entertainment June 30, 2000 WIN 89/100 88.64% Samba de Amigo Sega April 27, 2000 DC 89/100 86.15% WWF No Mercy THQ November 17, 2000 N64 89/100 85.27% Madden NFL 2001 EA Sports August 28, 2000 N64 89/100 84.82% Metropolis Street Racer Sega November 3, 2000 DC 87/100 88.59% Diablo II Blizzard Entertainment June 28, 2000 WIN, MAC 88/100 88.58% MDK2 Interplay Entertainment March 31, 2000 DC N/A 88.08% Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord Battlefront.com May 31, 2000 WIN N/A 88% Ultimate Fighting Championship Crave Entertainment August 29, 2000 DC 88/100 87.8% Superbike 2001 EA Sports October 6, 2000 WIN 88/100 87.32% NHL 2001 EA Sports September 26, 2000 PS1 88/100 84.11% Enemy Engaged: RAH-66 Comanche vs. KA-52 Hokum Empire Interactive July 31, 2000 WIN 86/100 87.96% Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver Eidos Interactive January 27, 2000 DC N/A 87.94% PGA Championship Golf 2000 Sierra Entertainment June 1, 2000 WIN N/A 87.77% Steel Beasts Shrapnel Games September 24, 2000 WIN 86/100 87.58%
Financial performance
Best-selling video game consoles RankManufacturerGame consoleTypeGenerationSalesJapanUSAEuropeWorldwide1SonyPS1Home32-bit940,0003,910,0002,940,0007,790,0002Nintendo GB / GBCHandheld8-bit3,370,000 18,860,0003SonyPS2Home128-bit3,940,0001,000,0006,400,0004NintendoN64Home64-bit200,000 2,850,0005SegaDCHome128-bit470,000500,000+2,279,000+6BandaiWSHandheld16-bit1,400,000 1,400,0007NintendoSNES (Super Famicom)Home16-bit10,000 90,0008SegaGEN(Mega Drive)Home16-bit ,000 54,000+9NintendoNES (Famicom)Home8-bit50,000 50,00010SegaSATHome32-bit 810+
Best-selling home video games The following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 2000 in Japan, the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany.
+ Best-selling home video games in Japan, United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Rank Title Platform(s) Sales Japan USA UK Germany Combined 1 Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal GBC 3,448,900 4,000,000+ + 2 Pokémon Red / Blue / Yellow GB 315,443 + 900,000+ 800,000+ 5,715,443+ 3 Dragon Quest VII: Eden no Senshi-tachi PS1 3,900,000+ 3,900,000+ 4 Final Fantasy IX PS1 2,707,000 987,354 + 5 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater PS1, N64 2,307,835+ 6 Gran Turismo 2 PS1 315,173 1,155,469 300,000+ 200,000+ 1,970,642+ 7 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 PS1, N64 100,000+ 1,939,332+ 8 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask N64 601,542 1,206,489 1,808,031+ 9 Pokémon Stadium (Pokémon Stadium 2) N64 42,166 1,701,820 + 10 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4 GBC 1,669,308 1,669,308
The following titles were the top ten highest-grossing home video games of 2000 in the United States and Europe.
+ Highest-grossing home video games in United States and Europe Rank Title Platform(s) Sales revenue USA Europe Combined Inflation 1 Pokémon Red / Blue / Yellow GB + €,000,000 () $367,000,000+ $+ 2 Pokémon Stadium N64 €76,000,000 () $176,000,000 $ 3 Pokémon Gold / Silver GBC + $110,000,000+ $+4The Legend of Zelda: Majora's MaskN64€27,000,000 ()$97,000,000$5Gran Turismo 2PS1€63,000,000 ()$95,000,000$6Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2+€20,000,000 ()$92,000,000$+7Tony Hawk's Pro SkaterPS1, N64$88,000,000+$+8The SimsWIN, MAC$50,773,114€36,000,000 ()$83,773,114$9Madden NFL 2001PS2, PS1+$68,000,000+$+10Diablo IIWIN, MAC$41,051,565€25,000,000 ()$64,051,565$
Japan In Japan, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 2000.
Rank Title Platform Developer Publisher Genre Sales 1 Dragon Quest VII: Eden no Senshi-tachi PS1 Heartbeat Enix RPG 3,900,000+ 2 Pocket Monsters: Gold / Silver / Crystal (Pokémon) GBC Game Freak Nintendo RPG 3,448,900 3 Final Fantasy IX PS1 Squaresoft Squaresoft RPG 2,707,000 4 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4: Battle of Great Duelists GBC Konami Konami Card battle 1,669,308 5 Hoshi no Kirby 64 (Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards) N64 HAL Laboratory Nintendo Platformer 933,000 6 Mario Tennis 64 (Mario Tennis) N64 Camelot Software Nintendo Sports 874,350 7 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters III: Tri-Holygod Advent GBC Konami Konami Card battle 781,000 8 Mario Party 3 N64 Hudson Soft Nintendo Party 767,000 9 Super Robot Taisen Alpha (Super Robot Wars Alpha) PS1 Banpresoft Banpresto SRPG 714,789 10 Ridge Racer V PS2 Namco Namco Racing 689,000
United States In the United States, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 2000.